tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5593690888738366482024-03-04T20:37:01.522-08:00Abstract Mind. Concrete Jungle.Jason Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838155951058963723noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-559369088873836648.post-76278290802392913862013-06-16T21:28:00.003-07:002013-06-18T12:57:00.017-07:00In My Eyes<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I treat my eyes as if windowpanes allowing me to see a
perfect view of life. My perspective is all I have.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I finally found the equally important time <i>and</i> energy to express this perspective
as it relates to the cataclysm between <a href="http://www.neontommy.com/news/2013/05/lapds-racial-profiling-and-excessive-force-usc-party">LAPD
and the students of the University of Southern California</a>, as well as the
following Dr. Dre aftermath (pun intended).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The evening of May 3<sup>rd</sup>, to me, was a celebration
deeper than just the last day of classes. It was the culmination of literal
blood, sweat, and tears over the course of last 5 years. Nearly three of those
years were spent at other colleges building up my academic portfolio so that I
could transfer to USC. And my next 2 years as a USC student were either spent
recovering from a <a href="http://dailytrojan.com/2011/09/04/two-students-injured-in-off-campus-shooting/">gunshot
wound that almost took my life</a>, dedicating my time to community service projects
that included creating a <a href="http://jasonasneed.blogspot.com/2013/04/product-of-my-dreams.html">mentorship program</a> for Foster Care youth and at-risk teens in the LAUSD system, or
various <a href="http://youtu.be/kjNTeMHyt6U">artistic projects</a>. I was celebrating the fact I proved the Romans 8:31
Bible verse, “If God is for us, who can be against us,” correct. I should probably read the book more often
because I got a variation of that specific verse tattooed on my chest in 2008,
substituting the word “us” for “me” (vain act, or premonition, decide for
yourself). Long story shorter, this was
my time to enjoy the fruits of my labor.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Before the party on
23<sup>rd</sup> St, I was at a banquet on a yacht in recognition of all the
hard work the Directors and Assistant Directors of Program Board accomplished
over the course the year. I was the AD for the Black Student Assembly so I
wanted to share in the final moments with my classmates who all helped provide
the school with remarkable events and concerts in the 2012-13 academic school
year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I wiped the elated smile off my face along with the mucus
that sprayed from the mouth of an officer yelling, “disperse” about an hour
later. The most interesting view from my windowpane eyes as I helped move the
crowd down the street were a few classmates of mine from the yacht banquet
tucked safely across the street at an identical party on 23<sup>rd</sup> St. I
worked just as hard as them. I produced just as many events of substantial
quality. And moreover, I was celebrating my accomplishments with friends in a
peaceful manner. Why wasn’t their party being handled with the same intensity?
Was there a difference?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I understood that difference when an officer nonchalantly
stated that “if it had been 20 years ago, [they] could’ve beaten [me] to a
bloody pulp, left [me] in the street, and there would’ve been nothing [I] could
do about it.” Clearly a USC education wasn’t necessary to calculate the rough
20-year mark of the televised Rodney King beating. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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A couple points resonated with me about this comment. One
was that his statement reaffirmed my thinking that the actions of LAPD that
night were indeed race based and that in his mind, 79 police officers in riot
gear and a helicopter was an example of letting us off easy. The second point I realized is that no matter what I do in life, as a black male I will be
constantly scrutinized with an innate skepticism that seems to be burned into
the minds of my society. The fact that it was 20-years after the Rodney King
beating and he felt comfortable saying what he said to me is a testament to how
far we, as a society, have to go.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As I was walking away to refuge after the ordeal had
subsided, I stopped to speak to 3 students to gauge how much media attention
the 79 LAPD officers and helicopter on Hoover was getting. The group consisted
of two girls and one guy, all of Asian decent. They were still pretty drunk
and were waiting on a friend to come let them into the front lobby of an
apartment complex. They had no idea what I was referring to so I calmly explained
to them the situation expecting their jaws to drop at any given moment. Instead
it was my jaw that dropped at what I heard next. In her tired, slightly slurred
words she said, “Well you guys shot the guy on Halloween and you guys murdered
the two Asian students so I think you deserve it. That’s what LAPD should do.”
Baffled I told her, “well you know that neither of those incidents were USC
students so by “you guys”…you mean?” She gives me the most irritated look in
the world and her friend, who was equally irritated by my presence said to her,
“Ugh! Just let him leave!” Literally sick to my stomach, I continued my night’s
walk to avoid any more drama. I was more heart broken than infuriated because through
her uninhibited tone I could tell that her opinion was likely to be shared by
other USC students. She just needed the liquid courage to tell me to my face.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The following two
weeks were the most stressful of my life, or at least equivalent to a couple
nights in the hospital with a hole in my chest. On top of the finals and trying
to figure out where to begin my life legacy, I now had the burden of helping
orchestrate a movement that had an essence of what was seen in the 60’s, but
was unique to our generation’s ability to mobilize using social media as a
catalyst. My body and stress do not mix. I lost 15lbs in that time because my
body began rejecting food. I remember vomiting in the hallway trash can moments
before accepting the “Survivor Award” from the Center of Black Culture and
Student Affairs office with a humble smile.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stress is
different than anger. I wasn’t angry because although I was in the epicenter of
the storm, nothing that happened to me was the direct result of my own actions.
Instead it was the result of how others felt of my complexion. Therefore the only
personal responsibility that I took on was the weight of the voiceless
minorities in my city that were looking to us to remain strong and endure so
that we could all share in victory.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was angered however
when I sat down and fully read Walter M. Kimbrough’s “<a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-kimbrough-usc-dre-20130521,0,4154084.story">Why
USC and not a black college, Dr. Dre?</a>” article in the LA Times. As I said
earlier, I am only sharing my own life perspective. And through my windowpane
eyes a black male physically shot me down over a pair of Dre Beat headphones
when I first got to USC, and in my last week at USC another black male verbally
shot me down over Dr. Dre again. I do not have a Bible verse embedded in my
skin fit for an ironic circumstance such as this, but it does make me
reconsider omens.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I worked, in lack
of a better term, “my <i>ass</i>” off to
overcome more obstacles at the age of 23 than most 40 year olds in order to
rise to the ranks I currently hold today, and in the midst of our movement
against social injustice this man had the <i>audacity</i>
to tell me and classmates we are not worthy of such an endowment? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In his article,
Mr. Kimbrough quoted that “ [a] new report on black male athletes and racial
inequities shows that only 2.2% of USC undergrads are black men, compared with
56% of its football and basketball teams, one of the largest disparities in the
nation.” And though this is not a backed up fact, I’d say roughly only 30% of
that 2.2% of black, Trojan men are non-athletes. This leaves less than 1% of
the student population at the University of Southern California to those that
are similar to me. For those that reside on the west coast, specifically in LA
and Compton cherish USC as a prize within our community. In Dr. Dre’s
childhood, the opportunities to attend USC for young black kids were even
slimmer than they are now. Most of the kids from my generation only experience
life at USC vicariously through the fictional lives of the LA natives Quincy
and Monica in the movie Love & Basketball by Gina Prince Bythewood, which
was released in the year 2000. With that being said, our 1% is more like Dr.
Dre than anyone else. We are rare breeds of men that succeeded in spite of our
environments. The misconception that because we are at USC, we were born with
silver spoons in our mouth could not be farther from the truth. I chose USC
over Howard because I wanted to attend the best university from my given
options, and not just the best university for blacks. More importantly, it was
cheaper for me to attend USC than a HBU because they can afford better
financial packages. That is called being economically savvy, not selling out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Without Dr. Dre
and other black males who I witnessed rise to greatness, I may have never had
the heart to fight for my life or the courage to thrive in an environment that
is historically inconsistent with substantial black success. I can understand
fear and hatred from those outside of my race. That fear stems in ignorance and
is perpetuated by the daily stereotypes they consume in their choice of media.
What I cannot accept is the fear and hatred we as blacks have amongst each
other. Why write an article condemning a man who is not even an alumni of the
institutions of which you praise? Why not instead ask that the esteemed alumnus
of those institutions to follow his lead and donate what they can to their alma
maters in-need? Do not get me wrong. The money donated by Dr. Dre would have completely transformed an HBCU, but it also may have encouraged more black youth to pursue their academic careers at USC. At the end of the day, we have been pushed out
and pushed around for far too long to continue the exhibition of this “crabs in
a bucket” mentality.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The police
officers may view me as a criminal, a few ignorant students at USC may view me
as a monster, and other blacks may see me a member of an illusory bourgeoisie
that they continuously take shots at, but my degree tells me that I am a
Trojan. And as I stood tall walking across the stage embracing the cheers from
family and friends, I also took with me the permanent scars from the incidents
that transpired during my time at USC. I still have a bullet lodged in my lower
right lung and a skull full of “USChangemovement” memories that will
continuously replay in my head forever.
Each memory and scar will serve as a reminder of who I am, what I have
been through, and how far I have to go. I am not sure how quickly our society
will evolve, but I do know that before the curtains close on my windowpane eyes,
the 6% of African-Americans I met at USC will be amongst the main catalyst for
that evolution. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every story ends
in a catharsis and this song describes my personal purgation:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/x3RlkpI-2nk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<!--EndFragment-->Jason Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838155951058963723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-559369088873836648.post-83154678666143193742013-05-05T14:49:00.002-07:002013-05-05T20:03:23.680-07:00Am I a Monster?<b>From THEM:</b><br />
To be honest, I cannot blame anyone for their perceptions of me. LAPD is constantly in the news because one of my co-workers looses their cool and throws an extra punch too many while a camera is recording.<br />
<br />
What I can blame you for, however, is <i>not</i> understanding that in my line of work, showing weakness is a death warrant. I am a nice guy once you get to know me. I have a family that I love. I have kids that I am raising to fight the injustices of the world without fear and wife who supports my every action.<br />
<br />
I am only a cop because I gave up on my real dreams a long time ago. So I adapted to the best profession to suit my personality. I hate offices. I hate crime, especially after I lost a close friend to gang violence. I love excitement and would like to feed my wild side. So here I am now, your local police officer.<br />
<br />
<u>The Night:</u><br />
I am finally ending my shift and I cannot wait to go home. I've had an extremely long day and all I can think about is my bed.<br />
<br />
I get a distress call from the dispatch. The officer in danger is a friend and all I was thinking was, "Not on my watch." I threw on my sirens and sped to the destination with my game face on.<br />
<br />
I arrive to the scene and see a large crowd of students. Mostly black with a few white and latino kids also.<br />
<br />
<i>Thoughts:</i><br />
"Wait, why are they calling me racist? I'm not racist."<br />
"Don't look weak"<br />
"The faster you all go home, the faster we can all go home."<br />
"He's looking at me. Show him you mean business."<br />
"I'd hate to do it, but if they get too close I'll hit them with all my God given might."<br />
"JUST LEAVE!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>From US:</b><br />
To be honest, I cannot blame anyone for their preconceived perception of me. The media constantly perpetuates images of those who look like me in a negative, arrogant, or flamboyant manner and I understand that.<br />
<br />
What I can blame you for is choosing whether or not you allow those images to prevent you from getting to know me rather than making assumptions.<br />
<br />
I'm a pretty nice guy once you get to know me. I made it a prestigious university after working hard in school. I have a deep passion for helping others. Now I am about to graduate and would simply just like to have fun on the eve of finals to celebrate my accomplishments and the accomplishments of my peers.<br />
<br />
<u>The Night:</u><br />
Just came from a yacht ride with some friends from student government in celebration of a year of hard work and good programing.<br />
<br />
My phone died so I decide to walk to a friend's house because she usually has friends over that are filled of good energy. I was feeling great, but when I saw that there were a few other friends that I enjoy spending time with at her house, I became elated.<br />
<br />
We know of a "ConGradulation" party happening near campus so we decide to go. I usually don't like to go to house parties, but this one has security and they are checking student ID so hey, why not?<br />
<br />
We get there and see that there is an identical house party across the street with friends of mine who don't have as good of a tan as me (if you catch my drift).<br />
<br />
<br />
The party was fun. I saw plenty of friends of all races all enjoying themselves and enjoying the music. LAPD arrives to shut down the party as a result of a noise complaint. That's okay. I had fun and saw the people I needed to see. We were leaving.<br />
<br />
I hear commotion behind me and see a friend getting hauled off in cuffs. Then I see another friend who was recording the situation wrestled to the ground by several cops. Then two more friends being tackled. I look at the house across the street and the police are telling them to stay inside the gate to stay away from harm.<br />
<br />
The next thing I know, we are at a complete face-to-face stand off with LAPD and the SWAT Team.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Thoughts:</i><br />
"Look at how they are looking at me. Racists!"<br />
"There's an identical party right next door. Why are you treating us this way?"<br />
"You are telling me to leave, but our cars are behind the barricade you just created."<br />
"I couldn't imagine how people used to get fire hosed and bit by dogs for similar situations."<br />
"Why are you arresting her and hurting her? She's a Trustee Scholar."<br />
"Whatever happens, I am willing to stand in solidarity with the people by my side."<br />
"Something has to change."<br />
"What did I do?"<br />
"Why are you treating me like a monster?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Analysis:</b><br />
These may have been the thoughts of a select few involved in the events that took place the night of May 4th. Those individuals may be the outliers of a population of police and African-Americans. It is possible that this event and those similar can be prevented or rationally avoided through proper communication. But when you look at the skin, the badge, or the attire what do you choose to imagine? The monster or the man?<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
How To Help:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://makiahisms.com/2013/05/04/im-a-scholar-not-a-criminal-the-plight-of-black-students-at-usc/">Exceptional article by someone else affected.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-racial-profiling-at-usc">Petition</a></div>
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<br />Jason Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838155951058963723noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-559369088873836648.post-84121656093032085202013-04-22T10:42:00.002-07:002013-04-22T10:51:32.288-07:00Weekend 2 Remember<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnzh2vuelNvSuq_c2jj05YdV21DHgAXqQky5bV-1IlmtZBmkkaukYa9MHBv6dCQWQJK-JLC_6rgUmrORV1rUEfepKOroYpwyK4tCwy8hj2J0Nm1gPC5UQA4FnA5u2xhtIve7ecd2sEiM/s1600/photo-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnzh2vuelNvSuq_c2jj05YdV21DHgAXqQky5bV-1IlmtZBmkkaukYa9MHBv6dCQWQJK-JLC_6rgUmrORV1rUEfepKOroYpwyK4tCwy8hj2J0Nm1gPC5UQA4FnA5u2xhtIve7ecd2sEiM/s1600/photo-12.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a>My first Coachella experience is finally in the books and its memory is ready to be eroded away by distance and time. But before the stories I begin to tell friends become increasingly exaggerated, I figured I might as well give my honest opinion.<br />
<br />
Even with my dirt filled lungs, scorched skin and dehydration, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I came into the atmosphere with no expectations except to maintain a good mood for 72 hours, and although I did not make it the full 72 hours, I was able to witness multiple unique musicians exposing their souls in artistic melodies. I would have never cared to know these people had I not been there to make that personal discovery.<br />
<br />
We had our scheduled bands, Dj's, and rappers to see, but the best part for me was allowing the music to dictate where we wandered. Hearing a beautiful voice or insane electronic instrumental, walking over to get a better view, and asking the nearest stranger what musician is currently sweeping you off your feet is something that everyone who has an ounce of hippie/indie love in their DNA should experience.<br />
<br />
The top unexpected musicians that I saw were 2 Door Cinema Club who had my entire group dancing as if we would never tire, Vintage Trouble who is a mix between old school Al Green and country music, Beardy Man who is a one man band equipped with a keyboard, a looper, and his voice for beatboxing, and Action Bronson who is a chef turned rapper.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsOCK4GI-VGSptpwHcrPCMllXfuWZT9MjmnFeByqQeiIJfWvxKXIJ4WY2JMaBDtdp4IOnRSj-GnrCQLA-74bOResq_ZsB_yDMoUL_hi6OAvoE5syToRRqJJAJaBjI_lAjpbUuQQcgUpc/s1600/photo-13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsOCK4GI-VGSptpwHcrPCMllXfuWZT9MjmnFeByqQeiIJfWvxKXIJ4WY2JMaBDtdp4IOnRSj-GnrCQLA-74bOResq_ZsB_yDMoUL_hi6OAvoE5syToRRqJJAJaBjI_lAjpbUuQQcgUpc/s1600/photo-13.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a>For those of you who have yet to check this event off your bucket list, I have a few suggestions. One, there is no such thing as too much sun block. Two, you are in the desert and will have a couple moments where you are on your camel searching for the water oasis. Three, come with an open mind because there are interesting sites to see.<br />
<br />
<br />
As for me, I think that I will hold out for a premiere lineup since I have the first notch in my belt. The producers went from an epic performance from Kanye West, to resurrecting Tupac in hologram form, to a surprise appearance by R.Kelly. No offense to Kells, but he doesn't quite fulfill the excitement requisite set by the previous years. However, a couple of people in the front row stressed from the heat were quite elated by the possibility of a golden shower.<br />
<br />
My only regret is that I could not be in two places at once. Until next time Coachella..Jason Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838155951058963723noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-559369088873836648.post-71929669577868691012013-04-16T22:20:00.001-07:002013-04-16T22:35:47.234-07:00Product of My Dreams<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Will you become a product of your environment, or a product
of your dreams? This is the question I
pose to the students involved in my mentorship program. All of whom are
considered “at-risk” because they either reside in group-homes or attend LAUSD
high schools that lack adequate resources. Hence the title of the program,
“Product of My Dreams.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My inspiration for this program spurred from reflecting on
my own experiences growing up in South LA and the series of people and events
that encouraged me to fulfill my potential. I structured Product of My Dreams
in a way that will create an optimal learning environment for students that may
have never considered their futures to be valuable.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every month we highlight a different major and/or career
field. This year we have covered Entrepreneurship, Cinematic and Photographic
Arts, Law, and we will end this academic school year exploring Music and
Creativity.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5dAG-4pqFiTCTuNLwBMU8Elw4PSVopViFAz91_0HCtxH9HY9e5t8lCPrZKCQDd0yc6pK_gmz2yScXrIvxtpYpuhIEQCz3_BHrWSK-8ZcYW1QJj9LehxU5I0DN0gT5i8-RDIEwXg7d4w/s1600/IMG_1245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5dAG-4pqFiTCTuNLwBMU8Elw4PSVopViFAz91_0HCtxH9HY9e5t8lCPrZKCQDd0yc6pK_gmz2yScXrIvxtpYpuhIEQCz3_BHrWSK-8ZcYW1QJj9LehxU5I0DN0gT5i8-RDIEwXg7d4w/s1600/IMG_1245.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Each career installment has 3-4 segments. We begin the day
with a panel discussion, take the kids on a tour, give them a technical crash
course on the related material, and then we facilitate a participation
activity. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For example, the next installment, Music and Creativity,
will begin with a panel of student-artists from USC and UCLA. These students
vary from full-time and part-time musicians, poets, producers, promoters, and
students in the fine arts. Next, the kids will get a chance to explore the
Thornton facilities when we break them up into groups and they choose a nice
space for their individual workshops. Some kids will learn how to song write,
some will learn how to write poems, others will design the album cover work,
and the kids who are feeling extra creative will work with the musicians to
compose melodies that compliment the lyrics the writers create. Last, but not
least, they will present and/or perform their creative works.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUX9agv5imyFMNj_htyyzkIgKlV0zXXEKAdvMANrSYncwlgkb_AYI-cZiw-HiTVXpROuxnv4v1fNCiLPErvGDtQc5oo__PxOO9DgFSL62soD1XdusobSbkQRPh3KDvi3xoHysr4enJztk/s1600/IMG_1433-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUX9agv5imyFMNj_htyyzkIgKlV0zXXEKAdvMANrSYncwlgkb_AYI-cZiw-HiTVXpROuxnv4v1fNCiLPErvGDtQc5oo__PxOO9DgFSL62soD1XdusobSbkQRPh3KDvi3xoHysr4enJztk/s1600/IMG_1433-1.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a>We typically work with about 30-40 teens each session. The
different segments accommodate people that may have different learning styles. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The most important element to this program rests in the
quality of the mentors and volunteers. My team and I hand select each panelist
and volunteer before every session to ensure that they have an understanding of
how to approach the teens and also that they themselves have the ability and motivation
to inspire others. This creates cohesion of like-minded individuals, all
passionate about their craft. The teens feed off of this passion and become
more engaged in the activities of the day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
My goal is to spark passion, make the kids comfortable with
their presence in a college setting, as well as displaying an array of role
models of students who came from similar circumstances yet have risen above
those circumstances to new heights.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It takes a village to raise a child and dream to create a
destiny. This program will hopefully do both.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VJDwlKKcAF4pFklyN6j3YWa3CXM7JCWNGaimr8AZqnDjBLEtgmUFaSXZaqIA2i5IxKuDSl8XtPUKBQEMwg7Of4t3nvaGl2T8qsYQGth94cSXp8bW0SMLHl4rXGW7aip18QpEBeHnvSk/s1600/IMG_1152-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VJDwlKKcAF4pFklyN6j3YWa3CXM7JCWNGaimr8AZqnDjBLEtgmUFaSXZaqIA2i5IxKuDSl8XtPUKBQEMwg7Of4t3nvaGl2T8qsYQGth94cSXp8bW0SMLHl4rXGW7aip18QpEBeHnvSk/s1600/IMG_1152-1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jason Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838155951058963723noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-559369088873836648.post-11441294600135102282013-04-08T12:04:00.000-07:002013-04-08T12:04:17.560-07:00Bleeding the Creed
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<br />
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I guess the red
gushing blood and the exposed white bone constituted the assumption that Kevin
Ware does indeed bleed Louisville colors. Isn’t that the creed most of us pledge to our
given universities? At what cost would
you actually be willing jeopardize your body to test the theory? Kevin Ware’s injury yet again raises the
question on whether student athletes should be paid.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
As for now,
athletes receive full or half tuition, board, required course related books,
and a monthly stipend.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
To students at
premiere universities such as the University of Southern California, just one
of those listed options would be well received and appreciated. However, in a
study by researchers at Ithaca College and a national athletes’ advocacy group,
athletes on full scholarship at Division I universities still end up paying
approximately $3,000 every year.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
At USC in
particular, $3,000 is incomparable to the rough $50,000 of debt most students
accrue.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The idea that even
those on a “full ride” have to take out loans in order to avoid placing
additional burdens on their family is absurd. In the 2011-12 year the FBS full athletic
scholarship failed to meet the entirety of attending school by a $3,285
average. This left a large portion of players on a “full” athletic scholarship
living below the federal poverty line.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2d2d2d; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2d2d2d; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The National College Players
Association (NCPA) and the Drexel University Sport Management Department
produced a study called, “The $6 Billion Heist: Robbing College Athletes Under
the Guise of Amateurism” where they determined what college football and
basketball players would make in a fair market using public information on the
value of their scholarships and the revenue generated by each athlete. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2d2d2d; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #2d2d2d; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The study found that each
player on the top ten revenue-generating teams would miss out on their hard
earned $3.5 million over the course of a 4-year stay at a university.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Kevin Ware
specifically is worth $1.6 million annually in a fair market.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Paying fair market
value for players may in fact cause unforeseen problems as a result. Especially
giving kids that large amount of money at such a young age. Yet, with this
argument I see little difference between the ages 19 and 22. In fact,
universities understand the type of money that some of their athletes will
receive once drafted to the NBA and NFL, but do little for the players’
financial literacy and professional development.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Somewhere along
the road to national championships, the term “Student-Athlete” gets convoluted.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Most players are
encouraged to pursue majors that impose the least on their commitments to their
sport. Disciplines such as business are replaced by communications, or
sociology. Each of the two is valuable in its own right, however neither
provide the information essential to wealth management. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The 30 for 30
Documentary, “Going for Broke” showed that on average, NFL players go bankrupt
3 years after their retirement from the league. These bankruptcies are
typically the result of extravagant purchases and assisting family members who
conveniently turn into leeches.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
There are very few
athletes that have not only raised their jerseys beyond the rafters, but they
themselves have risen beyond the courts or playing fields as entrepreneurs.
Magic Johnson is the most notable with his most recent business ventures.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
This information
has been widely discussed for years and has been raised in the same breath as
the adequate financial payments for student athletes question, yet nothing has
been done on a national scale by the universities that have all the resources
necessary to make a substantial change. It’s almost as if they do not care.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The NCAA and
universities are not responsible for hospital bills of their injured players.
Why? Well, because they argued in court that the players are
“student-athletes,” and not “employees” therefore freeing them of liability.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
If Kevin Ware
happened to be a senior, his dream of making it to the NBA by being showcased
through a college medium would have taken just as severe of a break as his leg.
On top of the searing pain Ware would have normally been left with a hefty
hospital bill that would add that nice salty burn. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The NCAA has an
insurance policy of up to $90,000 for student-athletes, but only during championship situations
and with the stipulation that the players must be completely disabled, which
Kevin Ware was not. Luckily for Ware’s wallet Louisville paid for his medical
expenses. But to call Louisville’s move to pay for the medical bill is hardly
honorable, it should be protocol.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Why wouldn’t
universities want to take care of the individuals who equally contribute to
admission rates, alumni financial support, and billions of dollars of generated
revenue? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
When will we stop vilifying
athletes for choosing to enjoy the fruits of their labor by accepting finances
under the table and begin by reconstructing the academic curriculum for student
athletes and creating a policies that take care of the players who clearly do
anything necessary to win. Even if that means showing the audience what it
means to bleed their university’s colors.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jason Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838155951058963723noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-559369088873836648.post-22713848577415553092013-04-01T15:42:00.001-07:002013-04-22T11:25:05.096-07:00The ConversationLos Angeles, California. Home of the palm trees, cool breeze, and beach. There is basically two seasons. Beach weather and weather that people on the east coast would still consider beach weather. However, there is a side to LA that most people do not quite know too much about. The side that they only hear about through music and/or movies. Both reasons why other races love us and fear us at the same time.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Why do I feel like I was born onto a battle field of a war which had begun long before I arrived. A war where as a result, countless of lives have been lost. This is not a war of the kind experienced by my Iranian brothers where missiles are liable to fly over head at any time, but it is of the nature where I am liable to die walking down the street if I am unconscious of my personal color coordination or from a baseball hat ordained with a team not favored in that particular neighborhood. My sophomore year in high school I remember getting off the bus at Crenshaw High School at a time when two local gangs were in a murder contest and had to hide behind a car in a parking lot so that I would not become the victim of a drive-by. In another incident, me and a group of my friends were robbed at gun point for our cell phones.<br />
<br />
To make matters worse, those we hire to protect and serve often act as catalysts for the perpetual hatred. At the age of 16, me and a friend of mine were pulled over driving home from a workout in an area that was known for gang violence. I forgot my ID at home, something which at the time was irrelevant to me. He asked me what was I doing in the area as if I needed a reason. He asked me where I lived and searched my address in the computer. He saw that I did not live too far. The officers congregated by their car, put me in handcuffs, told me that I fit the description of someone that committed a robbery (black, 5'10-6'2), and told my friend to drive away. This is an old tactic. This is what the cop actually translated to us by the series of questions to me. I was wearing a blue hat in area that was inhabited by a gang whose primary colors were red ("what are you doing over here?"). My address was going to specify if I was either a predator or bait. If I lived too far away from the area, they would've thought I was there to violate a rival gangs territory (No, I was playing basketball), and if I lived in the neighborhood then they know that the spectrum of colors that I simply thought were stylish would provoke violence from the local inhabiters of the neighborhood. The answer was B. So, the fact that I did not have my ID gave them an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. He told my friend to drive away, which translates to make sure that you go far enough away to where they can no longer see you, but you can see them. The cops then drove me a block away, got me out of the car, unlocked the hand cuffs, and told me to walk home. This translates to, we have no current intentions of personally harassing you, but we know that because of your attire you are liable to get jumped walking through this neighborhood to get home.<br />
<br />
Fast forward 5 years. I get accepted to USC as a transfer student. I went to 2 different colleges prior to attending USC. I finally feel as though "I made it" although I have not physically left my Los Angeles dwelling. Long story short, me and my roommates throw a party after the first home of the season in 2011 and I get shot in the chest by a gentlemen who had the bright idea to steal from our homes. These are just a few accounts <i>many</i> from my time growing up in "Killer Cali." It is very possible that I could just have bad luck, but I as well as many others know that this is not true. It is a common story of most African-Americans, especially black males who grow up in these hostile environments. I made it to USC and still almost lost my life. Most others who are not as fortunate simply adapt to the lifestyle out of pure survival. Others do it because media and their reality tells them that it is a part of their culture and "normal."<br />
<br />
This is not a justification, but an explanation of a point of view from a guy with an abstract mind who grew up in a concrete jungle. Where those who make it out have had to battle with being different, duck for cover, and mentally overcome their environments just to make it to the same places that our counterparts have been blessed to receive without having to grow up so fast. This is not to say that every African-American has it bad, is bad, that I had it the worst, or that other races and creeds do not have their own issues. This is just my addition to a conversation that has yet to be had. Maybe this conversation will cause someone to look at me for me instead of a criminal. Or if not a criminal, without the innate skepticism that is to be had for the black race.<br />
<br />
I was told by a gentlemen heavily intoxicated by the cheapest of liquors that I do not belong at this institution and that I took the place of someone who was more capable. "If it wasn't for that Affirmative Action!" he said. I could nothing more than laugh at the situation, because it would've taken me an entire semester with ample resources for me to get him to understand the blaze that me and my cohorts have risen from; our stories strikingly similar as we cope with our new life at a predominantly white institution.<br />
<br />
I hope that this conversation continues. I would like to hear other people's stories also, because this is what produces substantial change...<br />
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Jason Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838155951058963723noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-559369088873836648.post-57428045811042411762013-03-26T22:32:00.000-07:002013-03-26T22:32:46.152-07:00Spoon Fulls of Bullets
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Tomorrow’s
headline should read: Spoons, leading cause of obesity for overweight
Americans. The headline, although flawed in its validity, is the same argument
used by most supporters of gun control. The objects themselves serve inherently
different purposes, however both are lethal if wielded by the wrong hand. The proposed gun regulations currently target
the type of guns people can obtain. Instead, the regulations should govern what
types of people can obtain the weapons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Not
everyone that uses a spoon is fat. It takes certain mindsets to produce
obesity, all of which have nothing to do with the spoon itself. The same is true
for a pistol. Legislation to ban the sale of magazines capable of holding more
than 15 rounds of ammunition is currently being signed and debated by several
politicians. In all fairness, guns such as the .223 caliber, Bushmaster AR-15
were recovered from the crime scenes of several mass shootings throughout the US.
The fact that guns are dangerous will never be disputed, but focusing on laws
that prohibit the availability of certain types of guns will not cure the
dilemma of mass shootings in America. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">More
prevalent than any high-powered weapon or extended clip were the signs of
mental illness displayed by each shooter prior to their incident. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">In fact, upwards of 38
out of the 62 mass shooters in America displayed signs of mental health
problems prior to the killings. A large majority of the remaining individuals
experienced some form of bullying, or recently lost their job.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Jared
Loughner, who shot 19 people inside of a shopping center in January 2011, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">was known to make
outbursts during his high school classes and often complained about hearing voices
in his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">As
a country, we have failed those children in Sandy Hook and those innocent
people in Loughner’s targeted shopping mall. How is it that someone who both voluntarily
and involuntarily expressed signs of mental illness can casually walk into a
store and purchase a weapon and ammo? In
fact, it is easier to purchase a gun in some American states than it is to
vote.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Out
of the 62 cases officially classified as mass shootings in America, 80% of the
criminals purchased their guns legally.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">This
past Sunday afternoon, John Hickenlooper, Governor of Colorado, mourned the
loss of his long time friend </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Colorado prison chief, Tom Clements, as he also
signed the legislation banning assault rifles. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">In the midst of heartache, emotional
decisions are often the easiest. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Our nation allowed
legislators to pass the Patriot Act following the September 11 attack out of
emotion. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">We
need to retreat from what is easiest and conduct the proper deliberation to
formulate the best decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Who
can blame anyone for wanting to fix a faltering system especially when the
decisions we make today have the possibility of preventing the occurrence of
other tragedies? However, if we must take anything away from crafty policy
makers during the aftermath of 9/11, it should be that protecting our citizens
is the number one priority, and number two is to protect our rights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">It
is true that legislators who would like to assess gun violence in conjunction
with mental illness are also currently being pressured into making a hasty
decision. So, given the fact that there is a possibility that guns will be
regulated, will those new regulations prevent mass murders. I assume that reasonable
minds would venture to say, “no.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> Just as spoons are not the cause of obesity,
the rescindment of every spoon manufacturer would not prevent obesity either.
Sure it may become slightly more difficult to kill people as quickly, it will
not prevent the incidents caused by unstable and provoked people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">I
myself was shot in the chest by a .22 caliber handgun in an incident at my USC
apartment September 4, 2011. The bullet entered my chest piercing my lung and
liver. The only reason I am alive is because that same bullet was slowed down
by first piercing the middle finger of a girls whose hand was on my chest. If
an individual has it out to shoot someone, whether or not the gun has a
magazine size of 14, or 1,400, there is not much that can be done to protect
that individual.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">If
legislation were to pass and another mass shooting were to occur, but this time
the deranged criminal used nothing except handguns, where will the legislation
stop?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">I
am personally reminded of the dangers of gun violence every time I take a
labored breath. I just refuse to sit around blaming the gun for its magazine
size. Attention needs to be focused on those that pull the trigger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jason Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838155951058963723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-559369088873836648.post-69343738737119239802013-03-12T15:58:00.000-07:002013-03-12T15:58:17.605-07:00Can't Help but Watch
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I used to wonder how many people
would attend my funeral. Now I wonder
how many views my death would get if it happened to be captured on camera.
Humans have always had an innate fascination with death, specifically dealing
with the afterlife. But what we are
seeing today is reminiscent of ancient Rome with the barbaric crowds that
filled the Flavian Amphitheater, also known as the Coliseum. What are the affects of viral videos that spread
on a daily displaying grotesque and demoralizing images for the world to view
at leisure?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Have you ever questioned your need
to satisfy your curiosity about a gory online video? Hovering your finger over the
keypad, finally giving in with a guilty yet excited click. Your stomach
cringes, then you again question why you were curious to watch the video in the
first place. Just me? I refuse to believe so. In fact, there are hundreds of
thousands, even millions who enjoy (I use the word loosely) watching the demise
of others. Studies have shown that the
chemical released in the brain while watching a fight or scary scene are also
what we call the flight or fight mechanism. Gradually our society has been
desensitized to the sites sounds and even bodily reactions of deadly scenarios.
Evidence of this feat can even be seen in the evolution of film in America.
Movies that were once considered legitimately scary such as the 1958 premiere
of The Blob have been replaced by movies similar to the Saw series and The
Human Centipede. For those unfamiliar
with these movies, Saw is, the director, James Wan’s way of fulfilling his
strange desire to dismember victims in the most horrendous fashions without
actually completing the act. The Human Centipede is a movie about an evil
doctor who decides it will be highly entertaining to sew the mouth of his
victims to the anus of another, until he creates a centipede-like train of
humans. The kick is, he only feeds the first victim, or the head of the train,
allowing the rest of them to be fed through…I think you get the point.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The question I raise is where do we
draw the line? Has our skin grown thick enough to where we can watch a real man
go through the same ordeals online and feel no remorse? America seems to be placed in a bubble free
from reality similar to the story of Siddhartha. Siddhartha was once a rich
prince in what would now be known as Nepal. He was pampered his entire life,
drenched in his every pleasure. It was only until Siddhartha decided to escape
the palace that he discovered a world filled with death, disease, and
destruction, when he ultimately became enlightened. Siddhartha was transformed
into whom we now call Buddha. I compare
America to the story of Buddha due to the world’s current state. Our nation is
surrounded by the same conditions that were present during Siddhartha’s era.
The same death, disease, and destruction can be found outside of America, as
was his palace. We have become
desensitized to certain human emotions while viewing the brief online and
television programs. When we see riots happening overseas we watch it just as
casually as any other video that finds its way to our browsers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I am apparently not the only one
that has had this abstract idea. In 2008, a movie by the name of Untraceable
was released to be more of a social commentary rather than a box office hit.
The serial killer in this movie was Untraceable and actually did not kill
anyone himself. Instead he created apparatuses that would kill victims only if
people logged onto a website to witness the death. Of course, the humanistic
intrigue with death killed multiple victims in this movie before he was finally
obtained. Who is to blame, the killer or the killers? The Roman gladiators who
were forced to fight to the death with wild animals, or crowds of people that
came to watch? Boxing has been transformed into the UFC and a boring fight is
one when no smelling salts or gurneys were used. I would say that our society might
revert back to the days of ancient Rome, but at times we value the lives of
animals more than humans.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It seems as though well-traveled
individuals to different have a more cultured perspectives (always exceptions)
and outside perceptions of America tend to be consistent. Not saying that we
are the ones that kill the most or commit the most heinous atrocities, however
we seem to be the main ones that enjoy watching it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jason Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838155951058963723noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-559369088873836648.post-13885766530179699902013-02-24T23:57:00.001-08:002013-04-10T15:51:06.543-07:00What is the Role of an Artist?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Art is often viewed as a mirror,
reflecting the beautiful hues created by the universe’s masterful hand. Art is said to be man’s imitation or
interpretation of a world beyond our own understanding. From a historical standpoint, art has been the
most effective means at deciphering the voices of civilizations that have long
since faded away. Even in its most
primitive forms, art has been a practical, social commentary used to illustrate
the inner workings of a particular culture. In some cases, art has been the
only documentation we currently have of the minds of intellects, philosophers, scientists,
and craftsmen of the past. If one were
to fully adopt the philosophy of Aristotle then I would imagine that this
summary would be an adequate depiction of what art must be. It was Aristotle who first attributed the
tendency of art in its original form and its imitation of life to the natural
human characteristic to mimic others as a primary source of learning. This
observation is true, however it does not account for the artistry that extends
the boundaries of one of the worst words known to man, “normal.” With this theory, the works of artists such
as the painter Pablo Picasso and science fiction novelist H.G. Wells, author of
“The Time Machine” and “The War of the Worlds” would have been deemed worthless
even though we have clearly seen the affects of their work on the masses. When assessing the role of art as it relates
to the past, we can easily see the gravity of its importance. And although we
may not see it through the same lens, art is equally as important to our society
today. The question is then, what role
do the artists themselves pose as benefactors within the greater context of
society?<o:p></o:p></div>
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The relationship society has with its artists is quite interesting.
A relationship I would characterize as historically “love, hate.” Good art has
a degree of shock value that can go one of two ways, either the audience will
appreciate the uniqueness of the work and praise the artist, or the audience will
not be ready to fully comprehend the artist’s experience. Hence the term that
an artist was “before their time.” Work from artists such as <span style="color: #262626; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Doménikos Theotokópoulos aka
El Greco was shunned, criticized, and ignored while he was living because society,
at the time, found his work too confusing to understand. Whereas Jean Michel Basquiat received an
ample amount of fame during his short time on earth for work many consider
controversial. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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What separates humans from other animals is that humans have
the ability to adapt through socializing. The manners in which we do so becomes
our culture our shared ideology become our society. For instance, an individual that makes a new
tool will show others how to do the same through language. The style of the
tool and language they use become a representation of their culture. Man continues to evolve through this process
of social adaptation where the more we produce and learn from its production,
the more our brains develop. There is truth to this concept, but is only a
surface level explanation for a much more complex reality. If this were
completely true, then I would assume everyone in their respective culture would
develop to be carbon copies of each other.
There is a certain innate uniqueness we possess as individuals within a
society that allows us to analyze the surrounding environment differently than
others. We are each malleable to the influences of our societies, but our
differing perspectives give birth to artistic creation. Artists are what I
suppose more vulnerable to these influences than others not only due to the
public critique of work that carries pieces of their soul, but I would assume
that they are also more vulnerable to life experiences as they happen. In order
for someone to accurately convey an emotion through a vehicle of art, they must
be fully cognizant of that emotion as they are experiencing it in order to
transfer that feeling. This may be the reason why artists are, generally
speaking, people who are flamboyant in personality and seem to deteriorate from
the inside because of the difficulty they have of fitting in. It is like watching a child trying to force a
shaped, wooden block into the wrong opening. Society tries too often to force
artists back into what is considered to be “normal” (there’s that word again)
through closed-minded critiques, up until that wooden block chips or breaks. Although Oscar Wilde enjoyed much of his
success while he lived, once his reputation was unsympathetically defamed, his
depression seemed to lead to his demise. Depending on the political and social
atmosphere at the time,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We are fairly knowledgeable about the Kurt Cobain affect
that society can have on the mind of artists, but what about the ways society
changes from art? There is an immense
power in art. It extends past the casual
museum painting contemplation and manifests itself in such phenomenon as the
original radio broadcast of H.G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds” that sent American
citizens into a frenzy, and D.W. Griffith’s troubling, racist masterpiece, “The
Birth of a Nation” which created black stereotypes still reoccurring in media
sources today. To ethically critique art
is to limit the restrictions on the artists’ autonomy and only judge the work
based on aesthetics. Limiting an
artists’ autonomy can be seen as also limiting one’s creativity, not allowing
them to fully develop can be derived from an inspired state. Plato, however,
understood that power art has to influence behavior, and therefore declared it
dangerous and in need of censorship. His
forward thinking essentially predicted the creation of media and propaganda.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Artists have one duty and that is to be true to themselves. We are
all biological phenomena, never to be duplicated again. There is something
intrinsically special to this notion.
Artistic autonomy therefore is important for the evolution of art to
remain in tact. Plato was not crazy to imagine a society of citizens pacified
by distractions however. When you have specific entities that control mass
media, sadly this becomes inevitable. Art should not be owned or
controlled. If I were to make a
prediction I would venture to say that if the citizens can find a way to
maintain the freedom of the internet, we will then find ourselves submerged in
a new age renaissance where the artistic genius of the common man are equally
as powerful and accessible as the spoon fed advertisements we are bombarded
with daily.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jason Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838155951058963723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-559369088873836648.post-54373202578037778822013-02-20T11:59:00.002-08:002013-02-20T14:06:42.346-08:001 Abstract Idea<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Is it possible for technology to surpass the natural
evolution of the human race? These are questions that have commonly been raised
in movies such as The Terminator, I, Robot, etc., but can a phenomenon like
this actually happen?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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There is a viral video that has recently spread amongst the
nation of a 1-year old girl riffling through applications on an iPad. She
maneuvers through the different screens effortlessly as if she has been using
Apple products since the 1<sup>st</sup> generation iPhone. Her father then sets
a magazine in front of her to see how she reacts to a non-interactive “tablet.”
His daughter grows increasingly frustrated as she tries to swipe and click the
different advertisements to no avail. The video ends with the words “For my 1
year old daughter, an iPad is a magazine that does not work. It will remain so
for her whole life. Steve Jobs has coded a part of her OS.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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Regardless of any physical human traits that may or may not
be jeopardized by the advancement of technology, such as an entire new
generation with eye problems and carpal tunnel, we now occupy an interesting moment in the
history. I like to think of this time in
relation to the book Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell who deconstructed the notion
of success as more than just hard work, but as a combination of a number of variables
that act in one’s favor, specifically the idea of timing. The older people that now run companies are
now out of touch with this new, over stimulated generation of people. They are
constantly trying to learn how we think, the ways we use social media, and
essentially how to use the new gadgets that seem to be spit out by Apple and
Android every minute. We are in an era of innovation where everyone born
between the late 80s and early 90s are basically the last ones to have had a childhood
highlighted by the use of the imagination. We were the last ones who were told
more often than not to “Go outside and play” and explore the creative industries
of our mind instead of having a parent set an iPad in our face. The interesting thing that separates us from
the generation prior to us is that we are still young enough to have a firm
grip on the use and direction of technology in its current state. The movers
and shakers of tomorrow will be the ones that will be able to utilize both the
real world and the technological world effectively. Am I the only one innately curious, yet
slightly fearful of what tomorrow brings? A world completely obsessed with the
imitation of life and nature instead of enjoying the real thing. A world where
we have to take online classes to learn what it means to be human. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This is all speculation of course, but one thing that I
realized is that in the age of information and technology, where you can ask
your phone, “What is the meaning of life?” and your phone will answer you
verbally in seconds, the term “survival of the fittest” has been transformed
into the “survival of the least distracted.”<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXV-yaFmQNk</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Jason Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838155951058963723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-559369088873836648.post-39501277459908005052013-02-08T15:07:00.001-08:002013-02-09T07:46:27.312-08:00Make Me Do It!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">After President Obama’s inauguration, Cornel West
boisterously voiced how absolutely disgusted he was by the fact that Obama was
sworn in with the late Martin Luther King Jr.’s bible. With Black History Month quickly approaching,
and America’s first African-American president getting sworn in to his second
term on the same stage that MLK gave his “I Have a Dream Speech,” it only
seemed fitting. Right? An event of this magnitude speaks to the resilience
African-Americans have displayed after such a long history of being subjected
to deplorable physical and mental conditions. Right? What exactly was Cornell West so upset about?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Before I discuss Cornel West’s rant, I think that
there is certainly a troubling view of Obama’s presidency. This view, to me,
resembles that of a middle school or high school election when someone’s friend
gets elected to office. The next day that kid expects the water fountains to
overflow with soda, the termination of the teacher that gave them the failing
grade in math, and for their friend to begin lobbying the principle to
implement a new “No Homework” policy.
The heart of the friend, and the newly elected hall monitor breaks when
they both learn the difference between what is known as an elected official and
what we consider a caped crime fighter.
There are many systematic issues that currently exist in America which
deserve focused scrutiny from America’s premiere decision makers. Once Obama was elected it seemed as if most
people expected him to cure America of all its ills. For a few months, “Obama”
was a word many African-Americans thought could get them out of a speeding
ticket and to many others, a word that exemplified a post racial society
(whatever that means). This view of Obama’s position was misconstrued and idealized
him as a savior instead of what he actually is, a catalyst for liberal change
within a democratic society similar to other presidents in the past that
demonstrated their openness to the outcries from the US citizens. The savior view takes the self-accountability
out of the public. What good is a
democratic society without self-accountability?
I do not mean the accountability that is shown by getting out to vote,
but the kind of accountability that citizens show when they present their
desires to their elected officials in the form of demands instead of questions.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Dr. West’s agitation was essentially that by President
Barack Obama merging his presidency with the prophetic ideology of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr., Obama diluted the very messages that Dr. King fought and
ultimately died for. Dr. West stated
that Dr. King fought against three specific crimes committed by the US. One is a crime against humanity and is
commonly know as the Jim Crow Laws, which were rules designed to segregate,
humiliate, intimidate, and far too often included the lynching of black
people. The second was the war crime of
carpet-bombing in Vietnam. Carpet bombs were a series of aerial attacks with
unguided missiles over Vietnam that covered large selected areas of land. These
attacks obliterated every inch of the selected areas, killing hundreds of
innocent civilians and children in the process.
The third crime MLK fought against was poverty and homelessness, which
is considered to be a crime against humanity when a nation is able to provide
reasonable accommodations for each of its citizens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I agree with Dr. West that MLK’s legacy has been
egregiously diluted over the years, but I think that this is true for
African-American history as a whole. The separation of Black History from
American History is absurd in theory when they are, in essence, one and the
same. MLK’s message specifically has been reduced to an echo of the “I Have a
Dream” speech. So, if Dr. West’s frantic
outburst was about the fact that media now has a vehicle to fashion the message
of MLK in a way that is more ABC Network instead of HBO, then I share his
concern. However, Dr. West was not speaking to the media or the authors on
history, he was directing his comments towards Barack Obama himself. I have two issues with this intent. The first is simple. Past whatever personal
conflicts that Dr. West and Obama have developed over the years, Dr. West, as
well as millions of other people of all races understand that if Dr. King had
not displayed enough confidence to stand by the people, the people would not
have enough confidence to stand by Obama.
A presidential inauguration for any person other than a white male is an
inspiration in itself, whether that person is female, male, yellow, purple,
etc. My second issue is that I realized
that this “hall monitor” complex has also gotten to our public
intellectuals. As the President of the
United States, I believe that there is an immanent separation between the man
(or woman) and the function of the job.
The people elect the candidate based on their favorable traits, but the
mechanisms of the office do not easily allow that person to operate as he or
she chooses. If Obama were asked how he
feels about the mass incarceration of African Americans and the correlations
between the diminished rights of ex-convicts compared to that of blacks
subjected to Jim Crow (see “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander), I would
imagine a very strong degree of empathy.
Similarly, I’m sure President Warren G. Harding enjoyed an occasional
glass of whisky during the prohibition era.
As a person, Obama may agree that the incarceration system needs to be
completely reconstructed. He may believe
that individuals arrested for drug possession and drug abuse should be treated
as health issues instead of criminal cases. He may also believe that the
because of the gross disproportion of African-Americans in prison, a new racial
caste system has been created within the last few decades. But it would not be
a wise move for Obama, the elected official, to pass an executive order
releasing convicted criminals into the general population. Public Intellectuals, especially tenured
professors at premiere universities such as Princeton, have the benefit of voicing
their ideologies without the fear of hearing the phrase “you’re fired!” or in
the case of Obama, impeached. Barack
Obama is the President of the United States, and like other presidents in the
past there are policies that you can agree with and some you may not. Many Americans are opposed to the drone
attacks overseas that has been the cause of death for a number of US
citizens. However, some people find
Obamacare a favorable new addition to the American lifestyle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Now, I am a novice historian at best, but I see a
pattern in the ways most liberal policies were passed in America. The
presidents are nothing more than the final step after the organized voice of
the masses. For example, Fredrick Douglas was born a slave yet he learned how
to read and write and escaped slavery, which was all illegal at the time and
punishable by rather heinous methods. He became a great orator and became an
instrumental figure in many abolitionist movements. Through continuous personal
dialogue, Douglas greatly influenced the conscious of Abraham Lincoln in regards
to the ways that blacks were treated. These conversations eventually helped
inspire Lincoln’s decision to abolish slavery.
Their relationship, unusual in nature but great nonetheless, should have
been included in the 2012 movie “Lincoln” for a more historically accurate
depiction. If Ford Theatre can produce a two-hour, two-man play on their
conversation alone, I think Douglas could have at least had a cameo. I
digress. The common theme underlying
movements such as Civil Rights, Women’s Liberation, and even Al Capone with his
organized crime rings during prohibition, is that the voice of the people must
be bold, unified, and speak loudly for anything to get done in this
country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Black Public Intellectuals seem to hold themselves to
a high esteem simply because they were once in close proximity to the civil
rights leaders of the past. If anything, these men and women should utilize
their position to mobilize the nation to fix whatever issue they feel deserves
the most scrutiny. Pointing fingers towards Obama will not solve the problem of
mass incarceration and neither will hosting small debates about the
subject. The reason why I call Obama a
catalyst for liberal change within a democratic society is because there are
certain moments in political history when it is apparent that the person in
power is liberal, and if given the opportunity to make a tough decision, they
will lean towards the left. This is true for Supreme Court Justices as well,
such as the fairly liberal rulings of Justice Earl Warren who served from 1953 until his
retirement in 1969. One of his court's most famous decisions was Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. Dr. Cornel West
should not frown upon this moment in history, but capitalize on its full
potential. In fact, he should heed the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt who
stated, after listening to the arguments presented by a group of activists whom
wanted his legislative support, “You’ve convinced me. Now go out and make me do
it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://youtu.be/FBXb5oHXTv8">http://youtu.be/FBXb5oHXTv8</a></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Jason Sneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09838155951058963723noreply@blogger.com0