Do You Remember that Hurricane Named Charley?

I live four hours north-west of UM in Sarasota. Each time I drive home, I must travel through the cities of Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte that were ravaged by hurricane Charley. As I drove from Sarasota back to UM at the end of our month-long winter break, I once again drove through two cities that made national news about five months ago.

Much has occurred in our nation and throughout the world since hurricane Charley touched land in southwest Florida. President Bush was elected to a second presidential term, a tsunami devastated Southeast Asia, and Iraq successfully held democratic elections, to name a few major events.

As November rolled in, the hurricane season finally blew out to sea. The various news broadcast networks now had other current events to report on rather than hurricanes. The media spotlight was turned off in southwest Florida just when those without homes began their rebuilding process.

Five months after hurricane Charley disappeared from Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, do Americans realize that light posts on I-75 are still bent in half? Or that piles of rubble the size of a two story house still exist where houses once stood? Five months from now will all of the victims of the Southeast Asia tsunami be identified? Will all of the structures be rebuilt? Will anyone remember these tragedies or even care?

Although the hurricane and tsunami left different death tolls, the harsh reality of each’s effects are equally felt by those directly affected. The news broadcast media subjugates these once major news events until they are replayed for the “year-in-review-montage” that every news network plays the week before the New Year.

Instead of reporting on news of entertainment value, such as award shows, sports updates, and celebrity break-ups, news networks should report on truly informative news. News shows should update the nation on topics of important concern. As I have opined before, news networks have lost some sense of the real news stories. The citizenry needs to be enlightened on the daily happenings concerning pertinent human affairs. No one would probably ever let me run a news network; I would air too much real news. Leave the entertainment updates to ESPN and E!.

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What do Golden Globes and Prince Harry Have in Common?

One morning during my winter break, I sat watching one of the major news networks, though it could have been anyone of them, for about an hour and a half. It was your typical news show where two anchors report the latest news events. I had hoped to start my day by informing myself on the morning’s developments in our nation and our world. To my astonishment, I was not informed of any ongoing crises in this world. Had the Iraq War finally ended? Were the tsunami ravaged regions finally rebuilt? Was California given a break from the snow and rain? Had no shots, explosions, or other violent acts been committed within this nearly two hour period?

For this short period of time, our world was in a state of peace. With no urgent news at hand, the news anchors were finally able to focus on the real stories. I had grown tired of hearing about the reality of death and destruction. So, I listened intently.

Television viewers were informed on the secrets of the French physique, Prince Harry’s Nazi debacle, the weekend movies to see and not to see, and all the latest gossip over the upcoming Hollywood movie awards. As I sat learning that French women savor their food in moderation, “Elektra” suffers from the curse of Ben Affleck, and Prince Harry is the world’s biggest moron (despite a fine education), I realized that all of the stories of death and destruction were just “filler” for these pressing news stories.

How can anyone possibly worry about the newest death toll in Iraq when Jamie Foxx received three Golden Globe nominations? The report on how important fashion is at these award ceremonies enlightened me to the life of a show biz star. But wait, no more diets- French women are encouraging people to eat the foods that they enjoy. (The only catch is not eating until explosion.)

Once this news program ended and the next one aired, the temporary world peace came to an end. The anchor reported on the court-marshalling of U.S. Army Spc. Charles Graner Jr. for his role in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, the latest developments in the Iraq war, and the rising waters in South California and the mid-west. As I watched and listened to the stories I originally tuned in for, depression began to set in, once again. Finally, watching the news wasn’t entertainment or a joke anymore. Without haste, a beautiful news bunny and hunky reporter returned to report on the And 1 street basketball team; the peace had returned.

In the end, Charles Graner Jr. became the scapegoat in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, as there was a failure by journalists to question the roles of top Pentagon officials. While the real news was swept under the rug, we at least know how French women stay thin.

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Where is the Voice of Our Generation?

As the United States prepared itself for the 2004 presidential election, I did as well. From the moment I realized that I would be eligible to vote in the 2004 election, I began to tune myself into the issues that concern our country and the rest of the world. Like many young apathetic students, I felt I never had time for the daily events of the world and our nation. Once my country officially recognized me with the right to vote, I understood that I could no longer hide behind a veil of ignorance.

With knowledge of current events, I find myself at a crossroad. As I witness my country use its military might for both “presidentially-assured, positive” destruction in the Middle East and for selfless aid in the Southeast Asia region, I cannot help but ponder over the hypocrisy of our country’s choices. These are the two faces of American foreign policy.

So, I write here today to ask college students a simple question; something that the citizens of the ‘60s did not think twice about. Why is it that in our current time of war, we seem so indifferent to make our youthful opinions known? Do we not care about life beyond our country or our state or our city or our college? Are we satisfied with the policies of our country? In a military quagmire that slowly begins to mirror the Vietnam War, why are we miserably apathetic? Do we need a draft before we begin to strongly protest the Iraq war or how our government is handling its world power? Where is the outrage?

The nation is divided in half between red staters and blue staters. Fifty percent of the U.S. wanted change, but in the end more was lost than hours in lines at the voting booths. Was that fire for change left at the voting booth? The flame ought to burn brighter than ever. Not even those who pushed for round two of our current administration could possibly be satisfied with the current mess we are in now.

As we continue the process of burying our service men and women, we at home in the U.S. sip Starbucks and listen to our iPods. I ask that you turn off that iPod, put down that PDA, and hang up that cell phone. It is not too late to turn on a news broadcast, read the newspaper, and search the Internet. It is time to educate ourselves of the current events in this nation and beyond. College is the time to form our own opinions. This country is built upon freedom of speech, religion, press, and the right to assemble. Never forget this and never allow anyone to impede upon these unalienable rights. Make your youthful opinions known; peacefully protest, write articles, send letters, create songs, start web blogs. Let your voices be heard; there is always someone who is listening. This is how we make change in America happen.

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Can the Southeast Asia Earthquake Unite the World?

Readers of my commentaries, which have been graciously published by The Hurricane, know by now that I focus on social and political issues. But now I am about to embark on presenting the most brilliant revelation UM has ever heard. Space aliens; we need an alien invasion. This moment of extreme clarity came to me while I was watching the 1952 movie adaptation of H. G. Wells’s novel, “The War of the Worlds.” Since 9/11, I have been pondering on what it would take to better our world, and at last, this stunning 1950’s visual effects movie has given me the answer.

We need aliens from another plant to infiltrate the earth’s atmosphere and wage a war on what billions of humans call home. How could an alien invasion possibly help the world’s current violent condition, you ask? Like in “The War of the Worlds,” an alien invasion would cause all nations to put aside their cultural, religious, ideological, and political differences in an effort to defeat the enemy aliens. As the aliens begin to wreak havoc, a world coalition of militaries, which would be called the World Military Defense (WMD), would fight off our foes.

An alien invasion could be a solution to many of our planet’s problems. The Iraq War would come to a quick halt as insurgents and coalition fighters now point their weapons to the skies instead of against each other. Osama bin Laden would hide in a cave and make threatening videos against the aliens. Greed and animosity amongst people would gradually cease to exist. All human efforts would be directed towards overcoming the enemy aliens. People will realize that there is no longer a place for the trivialities of human differences.

But, then, reality hit me during the last weekend of 2004 as territories in the Southeast Asian region were ravaged by a tragedy of biblical proportions. A 40-foot tsunami, one of the most devastating natural disasters in world history, not space aliens, is beginning to unite the world, at least temporarily. Over 40 nations and counting are focusing their attention to the heavily damaged countries as they donate millions of dollars and military aid to the relief efforts.

We cannot stop the catastrophic forces of Mother Nature. We can, however, make sure that humankind never allows itself to create a disaster of mass destruction.

We should only be satisfied when all nations and all people unite for making the planet a better place to live. The tsunami was an unfortunate cause for the planet to come together to provide aid, but the war in Iraq and on terror continues to go on. Suffering and death goes on unabated. Bombs continue to explode in Iraq. We can come together for a natural disaster such as this tsunami, but still the rest of the world remains the same. I still believe we will need the aliens.

The Facebook.com: I Went To UM And Got Poked

It appears that today’s technological devices are inhibiting person to person interaction in today’s society. From digital media players to PDAs to Blackberrys to instant messaging to the new thefacebook.com (“An online directory that connects people through social networks at college.” (From website)), we block out the world on the streets and hide in the shadows of our computers and digital messaging devices.

The creation of these new communication devices have brought new ways of communicating with the world, while taking away a large amount of the person to person interaction we experience on a daily basis. Removing face to face contact, we gain the courage to talk with members we may be sexual attracted to on thefacebook.com, whom we otherwise would have only admired from afar. Instant messaging gives us the freedom to say things that otherwise would not be said in public, and the ability to cover ourselves when we have stepped over personal boundaries by replying “J/K (Just kidding).” This non-emotional, non-face-to-face communication has its benefits but also creates some difficulties.

Instant messaging and digital media devices take over our primary attention and make public interaction secondary. Digital devices allow us to bring our music, books, and lectures with us at all times as we walk to class or work. Now that we have all of these new tech devices that allow instantaneous communication, will they eventually cause a disruption of physical human interaction? Will this instant text messaging cause us to lose our ability to approach someone we may be attracted to or stunt out ability to communicate on a professional level? Is thefacebook.com an aid in forming relationships or is it the beginning of socially acceptable internet relationships? Is this impersonalizing human interaction or are we witnessing an evolution in human communication?

These impersonal tech communication devices allow us to worry less about rejections and bad conversations. However, part of the human experience is the ups and downs that go along with communicating with people. How do we learn from our verbal mistakes and triumphs when we are becoming dependent on devices that require non-emotional communication?

These new tech devices enhance our communication process but should not become our primary means of communication. We seem to be isolating ourselves more by using them and becoming less daring to approach other human beings. Until tech devices can reveal our emotions, emoticons will have to suffice for now.

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Civil Rights For Us Americans? Yea, Whatever

It has now been over a week since the 2004 presidential election took place and 59,459,765 out of more than 120 million U.S. citizens reelected President George W. Bush to a second term in office. President Bush won by 3.5 million votes. I have had some time to reflect on this historic election and allow my emotions a chance to calm down. An opinion written on an emotional high or low would be beneficial to no one.

Two days after the election, a student for Kerry said to another student wearing a “W-Four More Years” t-shirt, “The country is going to sh--.” The Bush supporter responded, “Yeah, whatever.” Eleven states have outlawed gay marriages, paving the way for the government to attack more civil liberties. Yea, whatever. Our President has misled the country with his reasons for engaging a war in Iraq. Our fellow brothers and sisters are dying every day as they still search for weapons of mass destruction and wage war against people who have no fears in battle, did not seek war, and have now basically lost everything. Not to mention the number of civilians we have killed and wounded in the process. Yea, whatever.

After this election, civil rights for Americans seem uncertain. Eleven state governments have successfully enacted an amendment to define marriage, a term defined by monotheism. And where has separation of church and state gone? If our government can regulate against one minority group, then I feel that there is nothing to stop it from doing it to another. If there are enough people in 11 states that cannot see that the rights of homosexuals are no different from the rights of everyone else, then would those 11 states still allow Jews to attend synagogue, Muslims and Buddhists to still go to their temples, or Christians to practice their faith as they please? Should we bring back designated “white” and “colored” bathrooms and water fountains?

Americans are forgetting that we all deserve the same rights. Marriage is a word. Who are we to stop two, loving, same-sex citizens the right to marry and share the same rights given to heterosexual married couples? Every single person on this earth and in this country deserves the right to be happy and enjoy his or her life like the next person. We should learn to live in a country in which tolerance is our guide. Do not let your ignorance, hatred, or mental sufferings interfere with others’ attempt to reach happiness.

I am a firm believer in upholding civil rights for all Americans, no exceptions. To those who enjoy all the civil rights America has to offer: Why are you and not others guaranteed all your rights? Are some citizens more equal under our constitution than others? The answer is not, “yea, whatever.” It is, “absolutely not.”

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Talk The Talk

Are you a man or woman of eligible military service age? Do you currently support President George W. Bush’s decision to occupy Iraq? If you answered “yes” to both of these questions, then wouldn’t you want to serve your country in Iraq? As soon as you cast your vote for President Bush, shouldn’t you sign up for military service?

With continued questioning over our prolonged stay in the Middle East, the gulf between United States citizens who are for and against the war in Iraq grows larger each day. More than 1,000 soldiers and counting have already lost their lives while serving our country. That does not include the thousands of Iraqis who have died or the military personnel and civilians who have been wounded. On Friday, October 22, the New York Times reported that the resistance in Iraq numbers over 20,000 (this includes sympathizers, foreign fighters, the network of Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and homegrown insurgents). The earlier reports from military intelligence estimated the insurgency between 2,000 and 7,000. Additionally, British aid worker, Margaret Hassan, who has done nothing more than deliver food and medicine to Iraqis for the past 30 years, begs for her life.

After our country was led into the Iraq War under less than truthful assumptions, it is now difficult to understand the exact nature of our occupancy. Essentially, we broke it, so we own it. If one has a strong argument for the positives of the Iraq War, why wouldn’t one want to help one’s country with military service? If you support a cause, shouldn’t you be willing to take part in that cause?

I hope that we can all agree that war is a method of action that ultimately should never be used, and going to war under false pretenses is inexcusable. It takes courage for a person to voluntarily put his or her life directly in the line of fire. When faced with the question of going to war, most people do not want to leave the comfort of their lavish American lifestyles. Under the circumstances of our country’s volunteer army, it is extremely easy to support the war and easy to let others do the heavy fighting.

The quagmire in Iraq is getting deeper. Support for our troops is unconditional, but if you think you know the real reasoning behind President Bush’s decision to invade Iraq (weapons of mass destruction were never found) and are in support of this decision, then I strongly encourage you to show your patriotism and serve your country in Iraq after you cast your vote for President Bush. If you are willing to talk the talk, then you should be willing to fight the fight. Do your country a favor, you who support the war: Be willing to replace a soldier who wants to return to his or her family. Enough talk. Your first step of action is visiting www.goarmy.com.