“I’D RATHER REGRET DOING SOMETHING THAN REGRET NOT DOING SOMETHING.”–@KANYEWEST
Click to Watch "The Best Day Ever"
I went to a community forum recently. One of the parents in the audience emphatically argued that youth today should watch the history channel or the discovery channel instead of programs that lack educational value like Spongebob Squarepants.
While channels like the history and discovery channel are explicit in their goal to provide information and to educate, there are not many elementary school aged kids, teens or young adults who enjoy watching the history channel. But there are elementary aged kids, teens, and young adults that enjoy Spongebob Squarepants–including myself.
So what can we learn from Professor Spongebob?
In an episode from season 4 titled “Best Day / The Gift of Gum” Spongebob wakes up in the morning excited to experience a brand new day. Unfortunately, things don’t go exactly as planned….
Kanye West premiered the video for his latest single “Power.” What is your idea/definition of power? What images of power do you see in the video itself?
If you don’t know what to make of the video, MTV has hooked you up with some CliffNotes.
D.U.M.B. Assignments:
1. Think about a time or experience when you felt powerful. Describe in detail the situation. Why did you feel powerful? Who were you with? How did you use your power? What were the reactions of those around you to the power you felt you had?
2. Think about a time or experience when you felt powerless. Describe in detail the situation. Why did you feel powerless? Who were you with? What were the reactions of those around you to your lack of power?
“You have the power to let power go.”– Kanye West
“WE PROBABLY WOULDN’T WORRY ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF US IF WE COULD KNOW HOW SELDOM THEY DO.” –@HUEYBOONDOCKS
On Tuesday, August 3rd 2010 Bill Cosby was a trending topic on twitter. Not because he said something funny but because it was rumored that he had passed away. Sources such as TMZ and Twitter have become the breaking news mecca [I first learned of Michael Jackson’s fatal heart attack on twitter].
Fortunately, Cosby is alive and kicking, releasing a statement to dispel the rumors. The trend itself inspired me to google the Jello-loving “Dr. Huxtable.”
Over eight seasons, The Cosbys became everybody’s favorite family–tackling serious issues through the power of comedy.
“In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.”– Bill Cosby
“Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it.”– Bill Cosby
“I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”– Bill Cosby
This weekend I was one of many who went to see the Chistopher Nolan film, Inception–and helped it to remain #1 at the box office with a grand total of $193.3 million.
Walking into the theatre, I had already been warned that I needed to pay “close” attention. Others were so excited that they couldn’t put their thoughts into words and said, “I don’t want to ruin the movie for you, BUT the ending was amazing!”
What I liked most about Inception was not its visual effects or score [both of which were amazing] but the concept/idea of the film.
The film’s main concept is simple: Ideas and dreams are powerful. Holding on to a thought, idea or concept can change life positively or negatively. Ideas and Dreams can become reality.
What is an idea or a dream that you hold on to? Does this idea or dream affect you positively or negatively? What dreams or ideas have become reality for you?
“You mustn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.” — Tom Hardy as Eames
“You see, I think negative emotions are always trumped by positive emotions.”– Leonardo DiCaprio as Cobb
“The most resilient parasite is an idea.”– Leonardo DiCaprio as Cobb
Want to know more about the Paralympics? Click Here!
Upon first looking at the cover of the video, I knew that it had something to do with athletes that have been labeled as having disabilities. My ignorance would prove to be my doom. For almost all of the athletes, they didn’t even believe in the word “disability.” They felt that the word “disability” was a social construct. At first, I didn’t quite understand what they meant. I think the best way to explain what the interviewees meant is by looking at a quote that the narrator made at the beginning of the video, “Ability is in the eye of the beholder.” Disability is therefore a social construct. These athletes know that they can do anything if they train hard enough and work hard enough, just like anyone else. To these athletes, they aren’t disabled. They didn’t let any excuse or anyone’s actions prevent them from achieving a certain goal. What I really found interesting about the interviews with the athletes was the amount of heart they had. One girl even went as far to say that she didn’t feel any different from Michael Phelps who had just competed in the Beijing Olympics prior to the Paralympic Games. In fact, she beat his time in a training session a year before. Tatyana McFadden said she sees her disability as an ability because she can do anything, plus more. She was born paralyzed from the waist down and was abandoned to an orphanage that couldn’t afford wheelchairs, so her “disability” proved to be helpful to being even more able to efficiently practice normal tasks let alone train for the Paralympics. These are perfect examples of how what some may call a “disability,” isn’t a hindrance to the person who has been labeled as having it.
Tatyana McFadden is a six-time Paralympic Athlete. Click This Image for More!
While watching this documentary, I began to think about the differences between being born with a “disability” and becoming “disabled” due to a tragic accident. Most of the interviewees who were born paralyzed or without a limb say that they never knew anything else. The interviewees who were not born “disabled” shared their story about the way they had become. This made me think about the other types of disabilities that people develop due to growing up in certain conditions or due to a traumatic event. Some of the Paralympic athletes that were interviewed consistently came across adversity in their lives that were both mentally and physically disabling. Three-time Paralympic Athlete, Marlon Shirley, grew up in extremely poor conditions and with traumatizing experiences. He was abandoned by his prostitute mother when he was 3, then lost his foot to a lawn motor accident when he was 5 at a group home, then fortunately adopted at age 9. He then continued his sport training as a hobby which then turned into competitive training in track and winning two gold medals. Before the Beijing Paralympics he suffered from staph infections which lead to many surgeries. When he said “overcoming adversity – is what will define me as a person,” I then understood that disabilities could come from any aspect of life and can hinder a person from achieving their goal, but it is overcoming that adversity, regardless of winning a prize, that defines true achievement.
Marlon Shirley was the 1st Amputee to the 11 second barrier (10.97). Click the Image for More!
After watching the video and thinking of how I would respond to what I learned, I tried my best to avoid clichés. I didn’t want to talk about how “anything is possible if you put your mind to it.” But I soon realized that just like the word “disability,” the word “cliché” can somehow change its meaning based on the person describing it. What I mean by this is that an event, learning experience, or response is only cliché if there is no true underlying heartfelt meaning behind the event. I feel that even though some may say that “overcoming adversity is the key to achievement” is cliché, after watching this video and hearing stories from these people, I understand that it’s not a cliché response, it’s a heartfelt observation.
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Just D.U.M.B. Contributor William Baskerville, III is currently an international relations major at the University of Southern California. His current studies include researching the perceptions of race, gender, disability and other social constructs within a variety of different cultures. William plans to become a U.S. Ambassador.
“Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.”– George Washington Carver
Growing up, we often hear the phrase, “You can do anything you set your mind to.” This simple statement propels us to dream big and accomplish great things.
What happens when you set your mind on the things that you can’t do? In our minds, the things that ARE possible become impossible with the simple seed of doubt. For most, the seed of doubt comes in the form of excuses.
“I attribute my success to this:I never gave or took an excuse.” –Florence Nightengale
Reflect on your mindset as you complete this simple exercise:
You will need two sheets of paper and a pen.
Fold the first sheet of paper in half. On one half of the paper write down 5 major accomplishments. On the other half of the paper write down any obstacles you faced in order to achieve those accomplishments.
Fold the second sheet of paper in half. This time, on the first half of the sheet write down 5 major goals you currently have. On the second half of the sheet write down what has prevented you from attaining these goals thus far.
Looking at both sheets of paper, think about the mindset you have when succeeding and when you are working towards a goal. Are excuses preventing you from attaining your goals?
“We have more ability than will power, and it is often an excuse to ourselves that we imagine that things are impossible.” –François de la Rochefoucauld
So how does one develop the will power to challenge and defeat excuses? Again the answer is in the mind.
1. Create a way to envision your success. [Write an affirmation statement, design a vision board of what your success will look and feel like.]
2. Surround yourself with those who also want to work towards their goal and/or want to see you succeed.
3. Write down the steps that you think you need to take in order to achieve your goal. Find the smallest step. Take it.
Entry Word: FAT*
Function: adjective
Meaning: 1 having an excess of body fat <the popular image of Santa Claus as a fat man in a red suit>
Synonyms chubby, corpulent, fleshy, full, gross, obese, overweight, plump, portly, pudgy, roly-poly, rotund, round, tubby
Related Words beefy, bulky, chunky, heavy, heavyset, stocky, stout, thick, thickset, weighty; brawny, burly, husky; dumpy, squat, stubby; paunchy, potbellied; flabby, soft; buxom
*as defined by Merriam-Webster Online
According to the National Center For Disease Control, “Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years.” The fun list of facts continues on the site, which states:
* Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. In a population-based sample of 5- to 17-year-olds, 70% of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
* Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.
* Obese youth are more likely than youth of normal weight to become overweight or obese adults, and therefore more at risk for associated adult health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis.
While these facts may be shocking to some, it is not surprising to others, who continue to see obesity become the societal norm. Despite all of the health risks over eating presents, it is rare to see children warned of these risks. In fact, most food commercials show how FUN it is to eat:
On one hand we tell children to exercise. On the other hand we children to eat junk food. Do you think it is fun to be fat? How do you think we can best address the issue of childhood obesity?
From Hottentot to Hottie
Said I’m trying to get your clothes off/from what I’m seein’ you look so soft/It’s your body what I’m goin’ off/Say you go ride off, just don’t fall off/Yeah I done had a lot of women they tell me what they can do/but can you show me babe? –Hot Toddy by Usher Raymond ft. Jay Z and Ester Dean
These lyrics are on heavy rotation on U.S. hip hop airwaves. Do you know what a hot toddy is? Of course some people recognize the term as a mixed drink–usually brandy and tea. Just D.U.M.B. Contributing Writer, Tiffany Hobbs digs deeper to find out why the hot toddy is hotter than ever before.
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In 1810, lured away from her home in Africa under the promise of a better life as a worker in America, Sara Baartman became subjected to the voyeurism of a blood thirsty people, set out to mistreat and exploit the casing of a woman so eager to be loved and simply SEEN. Her flesh became their play-thing. Her dignity washed away along with her identity by each pair of eyes that gawked at her exhibit. She was put on display for the world to see and discuss her anatomy due to its “difference”. An animal she was, and without the knowledge to escape her 3 walled cage. She was named The Hottentot Venus. Come see her for a nickel.
That was Sara, then. Today, separated by 2 centuries but more in tune than ever, the legacy of the troubled fetishism of the black female physique lives on and strives via more mediums than Sara or her captors, both physical and ideological, could have ever imagined. Today, the damage enacted 200 years ago is just as significant, but a lot more alarming because of those who are now the facilitators of this exploitation. Therefore, the question is raised: what do a people do when their own acts perpetuate such an inflammatory ideal?
If based on events of the present, the answer is to celebrate it.
Nicki Minaj.
Today we call her Fierce or Vixen or Nicki. She covers magazines, appears on our television screens, flows through the ear buds of our mp3 players and is considered to be the barometer of black female sexuality by many who admire, lust after, and/or resent her brazen show of her aesthetic. She is thick-hipped, wide-lipped, extremely small-waisted, and undoubtedly more-than-ample in the rear. She is almost a caricature in her most popularly revered form. A caricature that could double as the twin to those crafted of Sara Baartman by the illustrators present who documented her “showcase”. The women of today WANT to be…hot. They seek the flashing lights, whispers (whether of adoration or otherwise), and exploitative avenues to put their bodies on the public stage. They are agreeable and encourage the gawking, poking and prodding that Sara quickly grew tired of and wanted to escape.
These women have regressed so far back that they can’t even remember how to get ahead, nor do they seem to notice that their current way isn’t do anything but stifling their advancement. Why should they when society works hard to procure their placement in the media so that their images can continue to gain twitter followers, facebook friends and video shoots?
Their loss is not easily recognizable to their eyes, as their rose-tinted glasses have convinced them that their reality is a respectable one. Their intuition and conscience isn’t heard over the sound of those who promise them what they set out to achieve. Sadly, they don’t seem to WANT to hear the truth. And their actions and the public’s response work easily to mold and increasingly damage who’s watching now.
Today’s audience includes everyone of all colors. However, none are more damaged than the spectrum of black women who stand before these modern figurative cages, gripping the bars as they see themselves on display for the world to gawk at. Yet, no matter how many jackets are placed over the shoulders of this day’s Sara Baartman, they continue to toss them aside and happily put on that show, except theirs doesn’t cost that nickel. These women are giving it away at the expense of their dignity.
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