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(12/04/12 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Why do so many people hate the holiday season? They begrudgingly buy presents, make threats to Mother Nature and her foreboding snow and scowl at the sound of “Jingle Bells.” Yet, others, like me, put up holiday decorations while our stomach is still full of turkey, await eggnog lattes with a calendar countdown and accept snow with a smile, at least until January. Maybe for some, Christmas holds a bad memory, or, for others, their mother never decorated with as much fervor as mine. Whatever the case may be, I’m telling you that you should leave all your scrooge-ness behind this year. What’s wrong with a time of the year that makes people happy simply because it exists? For many, this has been a hard year. But let me give you a little push back to reality. You have a great life, despite the constant complaining that goes on in your head.You go to school on a beautiful campus and are surrounded by good things.Finals suck, but they’ll be finished soon and you’ll be able to detox the last semester away. Minivans will whisk the young ones back home for mom’s sugar cookies. You will be warm, full and taken care of. If you can’t find the good in that, then maybe you are a true Scrooge. Do you say the holidays are a ploy of commercialism? So what? Our economy needs a sales boost, and increase in sales creates jobs. The holidays give people a reason to eat bounties of yummy things. Everyone knows calories don’t count until Dec. 26 and to see the look on people’s faces when you know you’ve just given them the perfect gift, see family from all ends of the country, or world is great.I spent last holiday in Prague, where sparkly lights and Christmas markets are everywhere, offering warm treats and homemade gifts. It was an amazing holiday, but it made me appreciate spending the holidays at home more than I could have imagined. Prague doesn’t have my grandma’s cheesy potatoes or any Christmas movies in English. So let’s all wait until January to complain about the snow. Let’s stop ourselves from eye-rolling at the blaring Christmas carols and remember to be a little nicer during this month. Let that pedestrian cross because it’s freezing cold outside. Hold that door open for the mom with two kids. Give your change to the bell ringers in front of the grocery store. Just remember that you can be a Scrooge, but that doesn’t mean everyone else has to be. — crshelle@imail.iu.edu
(11/27/12 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>We all remember sitting at our tiny desks in elementary school doing an assignment that required you to cut, your seatmate to color and the boy across from you to glue. We worked together, using teamwork to make a paper mache masterpiece, one that would have been much better than if we had done it ourselves. But this isn’t second grade. At the moment, I have four group projects simultaneously occurring in four different classes. And what’s the common theme? Universal laziness. What exactly have I learned in these group projects? Not the lesson of teamwork, which would require everyone pulling their own weight and probably hasn’t happened since I played soccer in fourth grade. Then, we all didn’t understand that we had any other choice than running as hard as the other kids. This is not communication, which requires everyone in the group to actually respond. Instead, I have learned that teachers would rather grade an assignment for every five of us rather than for every student. I have learned that this is true even if I am learning only my part of the project. This is one fifth of the information I would have learned doing an independent project, yet I am still paying for same amount of my education. I have learned that Google Docs are extremely helpful, but only when group members actually check their email. I have learned that students can get an A by doing no work at all while my other class grades suffer because I’m spending time doing the work of four people. I once enrolled in a class in which the professor told us on the first day that 80 percent of our grade would be a group project. I promptly dropped the class. Even in the best of situations, when every group member actually cares about his or her grade, it is almost an impossible feat to find a time when four or more college students are simultaneously free. We have lives. We go to classes, work, have extracurricular activities. These don’t magically match up when a professor announces, “We’re going to break you up into groups.”And yes, I’ve heard the argument from professors, “The lessons you learn in group projects are lessons you will use every day in the workplace.”Yeah, okay. Here’s a fact for you: groups don’t get promoted in the workplace, but individuals do. Individuals who actually do their work while working with the lazy ones who slide by. In the workplace, I’m getting paid to do the work. At college, I’m paying a professor to teach me. What to do? Boycott all group projects and get a zero? Give horrible evaluations to your group members? Or sit back and do the work, because you know no one else is going to? It’s your choice, and I know college students will continue to complain about this. Lazy students will continue to let others step up and do the grunt work, because group projects will never end. But that doesn’t mean I can’t keep complaining about it. — crshelle@indiana.edu
(11/13/12 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sometimes, in the midst of a crazy semester, it’s hard to remember what to be thankful for. Luckily, you have me. Here are my reminders of what to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.Taylor Swift is finally growing up. She wears red lipstick now. Big Bird is safe. When a professor is smart enough to know group projects are just bad ideas. Katie Holmes survived the divorce, and Suri came out with more sass than ever. When nice people actually have good things happen to them, and you remember that maybe the world doesn’t always suck. Twilight is finally through. Those wonderful moments when your professor decides to curve the test, you wake up after a long night with your phone and ID and the bus is actually on time.‘BOY MEETS WORLD’ spin-off. Need I say more? Despite whoever you voted for, same-sex marriage is now legal in three more states. If that’s not a good thing for you, then it’s still illegal in 41 states.Waffle House. All day, every day. Vice President Joe Biden is coming to NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.” Everyone is starting to get annoyed with Facebook.Miley Cyrus’ hair is starting to grow back. Soon she’ll be married, boring and out of our lives.More people between the ages of 18 and 24 voted. We’re not as disinterested as everyone thought we would be. Ugg sales are down. They’re finally disappearing. George Clooney still looks that good. The holidays are coming. The holidays are coming.Four more years until another onslaught of campaign advertisements and negative paragraph-long political statuses on Facebook that include at least four misspellings. Susan B. Anthony was beat up and arrested when she tried to vote in 1872. All you had was a long line. You’ve almost survived this semester. Almost. And of course, don’t forget about IU basketball and the fact that we are the No. 1 ranked team in the country. Sometimes it’s easy to get bogged down by all the negativity we hear every day, because it’s the easiest thing to focus on. But let’s all take a minute to appreciate something in our lives. — crshelle@indiana.edu
(11/05/12 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I’m sure you’ve heard the spiel in your high school government class or from your parents: Vote, vote, vote, blah, blah, blah. Because of that, I shouldn’t have to write this article. Here’s the problem: Only 49 percent of us, the youth, are voting. What doesn’t make sense about this equation is that 70 percent of our parents are voting. Our parents are voting for our future. Do you really want the same things a completely different generation wants? The candidate you choose or don’t choose will be the one setting forth the policies impacting you as you enter the job market. Or buy a house. Or get married and have kids. We are a third of the electorate, yet we are only a fifth of the vote.I could tell you to vote because people have fought hard so that you might have the right to do so, especially if you’re a woman, or because you should have the right to vote, whereas many other countries don’t. But you’ve heard all of this, haven’t you?Instead, I’m going to tell you to vote, then whine, instead of what most of our generation does — just whine. In the 2000 election, 600 votes in Palm County, Florida, decided the outcome. That president made a lot of drastic decisions for our country, and a lot of you complained. A lot of us are still complaining. But what if 601 more people had voted? Would our world be a different place?It seems like everyone’s complaining these days. I’ve heard it from all my friends. “The country will be the same no matter who I vote for!” “My vote doesn’t matter!” And then the next day, they’re complaining about taxes or our soldiers in the Middle East. I’m fine with your complaints. I can guarantee I’m going to complain about our government at some point, too. But you don’t deserve the right to complain unless you’ve taken your own steps to try to change things. If you haven’t voted, you don’t get to whine.This election is going to have an impact on you whether you vote or not. I can guarantee that. Four of the nine Supreme Court justices are older than 70. The presidential candidate you vote for could have the opportunity to appoint enough justices to ensure a conservative or liberal majority for decades. If you think a president doesn’t have any power to make a change, don’t be quick to think the same for our Supreme Court. This was the judicial body of nine people that decided segregating schools was unconstitutional, gave the Internet First Amendment protection and decided women have a right to choose. Are any of these something you would be willing to give up? I’m not telling you who to vote for. I’m not telling you who to complain about. You can decide that all by yourself. Just try to find the time to vote. I know you know how to complain, but don’t forget, you have to earn the right to do so. — crshelle@indiana.edu
(10/30/12 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Studies show Halloween costumes, which widen the barriers of normal dress code, may show something deeper about who you are. Halloween is the one night where we are allowed to break the rule of never judging a person by his or her clothing. Here’s my take on these frightening costumes.An M&M, or any other sort of group costumeYou and your friends wanted to do a group costume but enough of you didn’t look like the Spice Girls, so instead you just wore tight dresses of varying color with an ‘M’ on your chest. You’re severely lacking in creativity. You could’ve at least been Skittles.A ‘sexy’ version of something I could make insane judgments about you but because it’s Halloween and that’s so overdone, I’ll give you a break this year. Just make sure you wear a jacket so you don’t spread your cold to everyone in your class the next day. However, I will judge you if your costume is both slutty and indolent. If you’re wearing a tight dress and a tiara, I’m going to judge you. If you’re wearing an intricate slutty Princess Jasmine costume, I’ll still judge you but you’ll get points for effort.Anything political You’re witty and genius or you just want everyone to know that you’re slightly politically aware. This is a bit of a step up from the next category, but you’re probably a snob, so that cancels it out. You’re more of a snob if you dress up as Tagg Romney, oldest son of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. After this campaigning, Big Bird is now in this category.Anything pop culture related, such as “Gangnam Style” guy or Suri CruiseYou read the news like crazy. How many times have you checked your Twitter feed today? However, Ryan Seacrest is your reputable news source and you’d like to send out a big thank you to TMZ for giving you all your breaking news. You have no idea what a drone is but god almighty, you knew Taylor Swift and teeny bopper Conor Kennedy weren’t going to last. You’ll get a lot of smiles this year, but sadly this isn’t an annual costume.Anything historicalYou spent half the night attempting to explain who you were. Usually after you yelled “Civil War General Robert E. Lee” over the loud house music, people pretended to hear and politely nodded, instead thinking you were a character in a Tom Hanks movie. Halloween is the only time you get to step out of your white tennis shoes and pale khakis, so you really wanted to go all out this year. However, next year maybe go a bit more public friendly? And leave the bayonet at home.An actually frightening costumeCongrats on bypassing the snobby culture and sexy anything costumes. You like Halloween because it’s scary, plain and simple. It gives you a chance to scare girls in dark places, but just be prepared for something to go awry, because pepper spray sales in Bloomington have gone through the roof this fall. Just keep in mind that Halloween is supposed to be a lot of fun and a little scary, not the opposite. Just don’t look like a possessed child that’s going to eat my brains, OK?Trick or treat, and remember, everyone is judging you.— crshelle@indiana.edu
(10/23/12 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>During this home stretch to the election, gender has suddenly become the hot button issue. Binders of women, birth control rights and equal pay have everyone talking. But why is this still an issue? I am a woman. I can write, read and speak like most males can. I can cook a meal, and I can throw a football. I am an American with supposedly equal rights, but during this election, it seems that all the candidates are trying to do is win my vote because I am different than half of the population. Recent polls have shown a 10 point drop in female support for President Barack Obama, while Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has been gaining the ground he lost. Amid a tight race, I am becoming the deciding vote.I don’t want this. I want a candidate to win my vote because I support his goals and ideas, not because he may use emotional rhetoric in a campaign commercial. Obama campagin recently posted, and quickly took down, an image of an e-card on his Tumblr. The card showed a flapper-esque young woman standing next to the text “Vote like your lady parts depend on it.” Excuse me for saying this, but I vote with my brain and not my vagina. I am part ofhalf of the population of this country, not a minority. Candidates, please do not use my gender as a bargaining chip. In the words of a feminist group slogan, “this body is not a political battleground.”Now, I am fully aware that this election could change many of the rights that I may have as a woman, and I am not belittling the importance of these issues. In fact, women’s issues are very influential in my voting decision. What I’m angry about is the fact that we still have to talk about these issues, and that I still have yet to find a candidate that realizes that being a woman doesn’t make me any less of an American desiring equality.Should my paycheck be equal to my male counterparts? Should I receive government support for contraceptives? Should I be able to get an abortion if I became pregnant from anything other than a rape? Should I be able to look men in the eye?What I’m angry about is the fact that many will skim this article, quickly labeling it as feminist rantings. I quote a bumper sticker I once saw that read, “Feminism: The Radical Notion that Women are People.”Those of my gender have had the ability to vote for 92 years and have been people since the beginning of the human race, yet treating me equally and giving me the right to control my own uterus is still an issue? This is the 21st century, and I really wish we would all start acting like it. — crshelle@indiana.edu
(10/17/12 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I usually try to refrain from using a condescending tone in my columns, but I’m going to take a break from that this week to talk about something that’s really been bothering me. I recently went to a political rally in which potential candidates spoke, and as I looked around, I realized I was surrounded by middle-aged people. A lone teenage girl sat next to me, but she did a sudoku puzzle on her phone during the entire speech. I saw far more people in wheelchairs than people my age. What’s wrong with this picture? How is it that I can care so much about politics while the next person my age cares more about Jennifer Aniston’s engagement ring? Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait to see Jennifer’s wedding dress, but I also know Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama’s contrasting plans for action in Libya. I’m smart enough to know that if Lindsay Lohan gets another DUI, my day will go on unhindered. However, the upcoming election could change things in my and your life, whether you or I agree with the politicians involved. Yet only 51 percent of Americans aged 18 to 29 voted in the last election. Is that number appalling to anyone but me?I’ve heard the arguments from my friends. “My vote doesn’t matter,” they say, or “I don’t know enough about politics to vote.”To that, I say democracy does not do its job unless its citizens participate. If everyone said their vote didn’t matter, why would the government even waste its time with an election that wastes valuable tax dollars?I’m not telling you who to vote for. Go vote for the Green Party for all I care. Just vote.Care about your and your children’s future. Get off Twitter or the IU basketball rumor mills long enough to read each candidate’s take on the issues important to you. Whether it’s student federal loans, foreign affairs, economic growth or social issues, research it for five minutes and take the time to invest in our future.Our parents were all about the “personal is political” mantra. Politics were a part of their generation. They can all tell us where they were when President John F. Kennedy died, how the country united after his death and how it split again during the Vietnam War. What can we say? We remember being in class during 9/11, of course, but what else? The sentiment I hear from most of my friends is annoyance with our government. Bickering, negative campaigning and a lack of bipartisan politics have all contributed to this, but I don’t understand my friends’ way of handling it. To sit back and watch it happen won’t change the negative aspects. Voting for candidates you hope will do their best to represent your views and needs will. Sorry for being the annoying do-what-I-say girl, but at least I’m not pushing a clipboard in your face. If you’ve read the last 400-and-something words, at least you care enough to reconsider your lack of caring. Or maybe you just thought that somewhere in this article, I’d talk about Jen’s wedding details. Sorry I disappointed you.Either way, I hope I made you think. — crshelle@indiana.edu
(10/10/12 9:05pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Remember when movies were light, simple and just generally entertaining? Think back to the 1990s and you might remember a few. “Pitch Perfect” could be one of those ’90s movies, where the soundtrack was just as important as the plot, and humor was a constant, not an occasional, option. And that’s a good thing. Kendrick plays a college freshman who just wants to be a DJ. Instead, her father forces her into the school’s failing a cappella group. The group, led by Snow and Anna Camp, sing tired songs from years ago and needs a kickstart after a competition final goes awry. Enter Kendrick and the amazing Wilson, ready to change a capella.Comedy and song ensues, and you won’t want the movie to end. The audience was cheering by the conclusion of the movie and laughing along the way. Don’t expect anything deep, and you’ll leave loving it and humming for days.By Christina Shelley
(10/09/12 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“My Girl”You never go near bees and, Macaulay Culkin never became a crackhead — he just died when he was 11 years old. Dead bodies slightly freak you out but only in an I-wouldn’t-want-to-be-locked-in-a-basement-with-them kind of way.“The Mighty Ducks”You mean “D2: Mighty Ducks,” right? Because real Mighty Ducks fans know that the second one, “D2: Mighty Ducks,” is so much better, despite the awkward Hans to Jan transition. You still hold some deep-seeded stereotypes: You think that everyone in Iceland is evil, Asians are great at acrobatics, Texans bring their rope everywhere, girls are either tough or want to make out all the time and all African Americans can teach you how to trash talk or knucklepuck because they love street hockey. “The Parent Trap”You understand the importance of a good handshake and you always keep your clothes in a safe spot when you’re going skinny dipping. You know your twin is out there but blame your parents for your separation because they never sent you to camp. Also, Lindsay Lohan was your idol, both her and her twin. She would obviously grow up to be the next Julia Roberts. Therefore, you’ve been feeling a little disappointed during the last five years. Let’s not even talk about how you probably expected a lot more from Britney Spears as well. “Babe” You’re a vegetarian. Or you at least think twice when you eat bacon. Any Disney movie, except for “Lion King,” see belowYou spent most of your childhood watching the same movie 20 times in a row. I hope you’ve realized by now that your hair is never going to look that good, I’m talking to you both, girls and boys. Also, you may think you have a special connection to animals, but most likely the closest animal to you are the roaches in your dorm. “The Lion King”You have obvious father issues, but combined with your hakuna matata lifestyle, you cancel out any serious emotional scars. You’re wary of all uncles.“Home Alone”You never let your parents leave you alone. Babysitters were always background-checked, especially if they even remotely resembled Joe Pesci, and you convinced your parents to put in a security system by the age of 10. By now, you’ve realized that you can just call the police when someone’s breaking into your house. “Matilda”You never wore your hair in braids for fear of being spun and thrown over a spiked fence. To this day, you’re also extremely wary of any sort of chocolate cake. You also idolize your elementary school teachers.“The Land Before Time”This was the natural progression after your Barney obsession. You would never segregate between a ‘swimmer’ or a ‘flyer.’ If you’re currently a geology major, bravo for following your dream. Most likely you’re a hipster now and constantly say, “I totally liked dinosaurs before they were cool.” “Sixth Sense”What kind of parents did you have? Or, were you not allowed to watch movies as a kid? Well, at least you know that you can blame your parents for the exact moment you became the weird kid. Don’t worry, there still may be time. Put down the paper and watch every movie above. — crshelle@indiana.edu
(10/03/12 9:57pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Movies about teachers always find a way to be a bit too preachy. Some teacher decides to work at a school where students can barely read and puts his or her Ivy League education to charitable use, inspiring an entire class with an “O Captain! My Captain!” speech. “Won’t Back Down” doesn’t do this. The conventionally inspiring leads actually have their own problems. Maggie Gyllenhaal shines as an overzealous mother with two jobs who’s trying to better the education of her dyslexic daughter when she can barely do simple math herself. Viola Davis plays a teacher at the school who has a special needs child of her own and understands the need for a change in the education system. The two take on the school, hoping to make it better for their kids. In a story that usually focuses on the background of the students, the two lead actresses provide moving back stories to balance the film, working to make this movie more realistic and believable. By Christina Shelley
(09/25/12 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Is it hard to run for president?I know that sounds like a stupid question.It’s obviously incredibly difficult to run for president, but why do all the recent gaffes by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney seem like elementary mistakes?There seems to be a lot of things going wrong for Romney. There are even rumors of lots of internal disagreements with Romney’s campaign staff. Romney’s made a couple of errors during speaking tours, and if you haven’t heard about it, then you haven’t been paying any attention to the news. Yet Romney’s still in contention with President Barack Obama, with recent polls putting them only around four to six points apart. So what does Romney need to do?First of all, he needs to stop talking about his 47 percent quote. Leave it in the past and let the voters forget about it. At this point, no amount of explanation will change peoples perceptions of the quote. People who agree with the quote already embrace it, and those who disagree with it have already made up their mind.He seemed to try to avert attention from it with the release of a portion of his tax returns, yet he’s still talking about it. An interview on “60 Minutes” this past Sunday included his thoughts on the taped speech. The number 47 should never come out his mouth again, unless he’s ordering 47 cases of Obama’s honey ale. Romney needs to do well on the debates to stabilize his campagin. The first debate is October 3 and will focus on domestic policy. There is no room for a gaffe here, especially amidst rumors that the debate questions were released weeks ago to each campaign team, so he should be well prepared. There will be three questions about the economy, an extremely influential issue for today’s voters, with more than 90 percent of Americans saying that the economy will influence who they vote for this election. If the economy is so imporant to voters, the number Romney should be focusing on during the debates is 8.3. There are 8.3 percent of Americans who are still unemployed. That is a number a lot of people don’t like to hear, especially when they are close to the voting booth. Unbeknownst to most voters, the president’s main affect on the unemployment rate and economy is that it usually gets better when he says it’s improving, whether it is or not. However, in today’s political world, presidents have to promise action in order to get the votes, even if they can’t fulfill their promises. So promise away, Romney, because some voters will believe you. Most simply, don’t make any more mistakes. If that proves difficult for you, then there’s no way you can be president. Does his tumultuous and drama ridden campaign season give Americans an idea of what his presidency will be like? It’s unclear, but perhaps voters will never find out if Romney makes another comment about the unspeakable 47. — crshelle@indiana.edu
(09/18/12 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A book can describe you better than you might be able to describe yourself. Here’s the sarcastic yet totally truthful gist.Your favorite book is “Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger? You’re a freshman English major who’s trying to sound like you’ve read the classics when, actually, your favorite book is “Twilight.” “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer? You enjoy vampires and perhaps haven’t read any book of substance, or you’d obviously have a different favorite book. Hey, at least you read. “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee? You attended high school and understand metaphors. Congratulations. You love the Harry Potter books, all of them, after all these years? You spent your childhood waiting for a letter that never came. You understand extreme disappointment and possess an eternally pessimistic outlook on life. Any Nicholas Sparks or Jodi Picoult novel? You like to cry, and though you know exactly what’s going to happen because you’ve seen the movie or your grandma spoiled the ending, the tears still come. Love “The Hunger Games?” You obviously have no faith in government and like to wear your hair in braids. You have an archery set hidden away in the back of your closet in case the government falls after an angry rebellion.“On the Road” by Jack Kerouac? You’re either a “Twilight” fan and read the book in anticipation for Kristen Stewart’s new movie or you’re a hipster who’s attempting to bring back the Beat Generation. It’s not going to work. You love “A Song of Ice and Fire,” more commonly known as, “Game of Thrones?” You haven’t seen daylight in years.“The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath? You should stay away from ovens. “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen? You’ve read the book. You’ve seen the movies. You obviously love the original miniseries with Colin Firth so much more than the Keira Knightley movie in which they completely ruined the storyline, and you’re still waiting for your Mr. Darcy. You’re going to be waiting a long time. “The Lord of the Rings” series? You’re extremely long-winded and appreciate the importance of a good piece of jewelry. “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand? You’re voting Republican. And you have a lot of extra time. “Fifty Shades of Grey” makes your heart sing? You hate literature unless it gives you instant gratification. — crshelle@indiana.edu
(09/12/12 10:19pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A movie about love without romance. A lewd comedy with moments of heartbreak. This contrast somehow finds its place in “Celeste and Jesse Forever.”The film shows the rise and fall of Celeste and Jesse, soulmates who can’t make it work. Empty of grand gestures of love, “Celeste and Jesse Forever” depicts the moment when you realize things aren’t going to have a happy ending. Jones shines in her portrayal of the regretful Celeste who discovers a day too late that she doesn’t want to end her relationship with best friend Jesse. Somehow, writers Rashida Jones and Will McCormack push through the sadness with laughter and having you leave the theater with a smile. Instead of cross-country love and Empire State building proposals, today’s romance movies stir up a much different sentiment — relatability.Celeste discovers this lesson along with all of us. Love doesn’t always include a chase through New York City to make that midnight New Year’s Eve kiss. Sometimes it never comes. By Christina Shelley
(09/04/12 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When I was younger, my father used to tell me television would melt my brain. I didn’t understand how something so beneficial to my life as the happenings of Doug Funnie could cause such a gruesome effect.Didn’t he have any idea how important his journey to win Patti Mayonnaise’s heart was? While my father didn’t buy my argument then, today I’m smart enough to realize the effect the show had on me and the valuable lessons it taught the kids of the ’90s. Doug dealt with his anxiety of being the new kid in town by utilizing his imagination, and he befriended kids of all colors — orange, blue, green and purple. Cartoons aside, television has changed our society, just as society changes television. Some aspects, like increased exposure to violence, may appear negative. But our history of television has done a lot of good for our society.Perhaps most importantly, it allows people to become more comfortable with unfamiliar ideas. This has been extremely beneficial in reducing opposition to same-sex marriage.Television shows like “Will and Grace” and “Modern Family” have effectively decreased prejudices among viewers. In the 1960s, when women were still expected to be behind the kitchen counter rather than a work desk, Mary Tyler Moore took the nation by storm. Only 32 percent of television characters were female, and most of them never left the home. She helped the country understand that women were intelligent enough to do more than just cook and introduced the feminist idea of a single woman supporting herself, devoid of a man. I’ll readily admit that not all television presents positive ideas nor causes viewers to question their prejudices. Perhaps sometimes, this can be a good thing. During the summer, Aaron Sorkin’s “The Newsroom” caused heated criticism with his portrayal of weak women in the workplace. Similarly, Lena Dunham’s show “Girls” received criticism for showing white girl problems and only white girl problems. Yet these stereotypes and prejudices were heavily discussed, not ignored.Television, good or bad, causes discussion, which can push people to second guess their prejudices and reassess their opinions. When is that ever a bad thing?Opinions seem to be moving in the right direction, despite conservative tendencies to stay with the prejudices of the past. In the last week, Ann Romney ironically told reporters that her favorite show is “Modern Family,” in which one of the starring couples is gay. Her husband has been adamantly anti-gay and, according to the new Republican platform, plans to ban gay marriage.After Ann Romney’s interview, the creator of “Modern Family”, Steve Levitan, wonderfully tweeted the following: “Thrilled Ann Romney says ModFam is her favorite show. We’ll offer her the role of officiant at Mitch & Cam’s wedding. As soon as it’s legal.” — crshelle@indiana.edu
(08/28/12 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With the Republican National Convention this week, all eyes will turn toward presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Perhaps they should instead be on the woman by his side, his wife, Ann Romney.Mitt Romney’s campaign team is privy to this, as well, which is evident by their swift switch of the RNC schedule to position Ann Romney’s speech on prime-time national television. The question is, can she change Mitt Romney’s image with just one speech? With more than a quarter of Americans undecided about who they will vote for in November, I think so. Mitt Romney has problems with the average voter. As the Los Angeles Times puts it, “In almost every poll, more voters than not see him in a negative light.” The article makes a valid point. Voters have failed to connect with Mitt Romney on a personal level. Instead we hear of his wealth, his refusal to release his tax returns and his time at Bain Capital. To make it worse, Democrats have strategically filled in the unknown spaces of his life with corruption.How should they solve this problem? By utilizing the woman who knows Mitt best, the campaign team is cleverly allowing us to see Mitt as a husband and father rather than a wealthy businessman. Mitt Romney has had a problem reeling in female voters, and Ann Romney can help improve her husband’s numbers with them, especially with stay-at-home mothers, who only slightly favor Obama. Mitt Romney has a reputation of being disconnected from the Average Joe. Fifty-two percent of polled voters said Obama cares more about the average person than Romney. This is a number that has to change if Mitt Romney wants to win. If there is one woman who can alter it, it’s Ann Romney. Ann Romney has had her own media blunders, yet she’s campaigned hard for her husband, attempting to personalize him as much as possible by sharing anecdotes, telling their love story and citing his steadfastness during her multiple sclerosis as moments when she was most proud of him. She has the opportunity to do this on national prime-time television to an audience of iffy voters. She needs to paint the picture for America of a loving husband, a dedicated father and, most importantly, a nice guy. It is widely known that the candidate you’d rather have a beer with is the one most likely to win, and I think Ann Romney can convince America to have a beer with her husband. The pressure’s on, Ann Romney. However, knowing the Romneys, it’s highly possible some sort of media blunder will occur. It could be a phrase including “you people” or a side note about how many Cadillacs she owns. Either way, she’s one to watch. — crshelle@indiana.edu
(08/17/12 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has proposed some serious conservative changes in our government, including completely revamping Medicaid to make it a voucher system and cut trillions from the budget.But what exactly does he have in mind for the future of women?First, by following Ryan’s proposal to cut the Medicaid system by more than 20 percent in the next 10 years, low-income women, who are 70 percent of the recipients of this aid, will feel the cuts. Also, the Romney-Ryan ticket plans to repeal Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, neglecting the 13.5 million women without health insurance. The repealing of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, would take away impending birth control coverage the law will provide in the near future.Ryan claims the mandate is “an affront to religious liberty.” Through the Sanctity of Human Life Act, he also supports cuts in Planned Parenthood funding. This act outlaws abortion, forms of birth control and in vitro fertilization.Ryan wants to overturn Roe. v. Wade, taking away the right for women to have safe and legal abortions, even in episodes involving rape or when the mother is at risk. This would outlaw some forms of contraceptives.Ryan said that with the Roe v. Wade ruling, “the Supreme Court made virtually the identical mistake” as it made in the 1857 Dred Scott case, a ruling that said African Americans were not protected by the U.S. Constitution. His new budget ideas would eliminate Title X, a sector that provides AIDS, sexually transmitted disease and cancer screenings and birth control to low income families. Ryan voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which makes it easier for women to file discrimination cases against their employers.The Romney-Ryan ticket has problems with the female voting base, perhaps a catalyst of the negative relationship between Ann Romney and the public. In the first week of August, childless women favored Obama against Romney by more than 20 points, according to a Reuters survey. In late July, according to an NBC News poll, 54 percent of women voters sided with Obama while only 39 percent favored Romney. In the 2008 presidential election, more than 10 million more women voted than men. This number is big enough to push women’s issues to the forefront of this year’s election. Since 1980, the gender gap of voter participation between women and men has only grown, with women increasingly going to the polls. While Ryan obviously isn’t going to call all the shots in the Oval Office if the two are elected, Romney will have to follow through with some of Ryan’s promises to please the Conservative base, which will only cause a step backward for women’s rights.— crshelle@indiana.edu
