Hudson Tragedy

On Friday, October 24, 2008, Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother were murdered in their South Side home and then this morning the body of her nephew was discovered.  This is a horrible thing that occurred and I hope that the person who did this will be caught and prosecuted.  However, I have to look at how hard this tragedy has hit so many not because they are related to Jennifer Hudson, but because they themselves have experienced a tragedy like this.  How many of these stories have we heard on the news every night?  How many times do you tune yourself out to hearing: "Another CPS Student Shot" or "Woman Murdered"?  Every one feels bad for the victim's families but they do not receive the same mass attention that the Hudson family is receiving.  Why is that?  Because the people who have also experienced murders and child abductions are just normal every day people and Jennifer Hudson is a celebrity.  I just can not help but think of what a horrible thing occurred to this family but how much attention this event is drawing, mostly due to Hudson's star power.  I think that maybe this mass murder will cause people to look at the world differently and realize that it can happen to anyone.  

But, I have to wonder also how the families of other tragedies like this are feeling hearing how much attention this story is getting and how little, or maybe not little, attention their own story got.  This truly reveals the biases of the media and the public to concern themselves with events that happened to celebrities.  And to also mass publicize the details and what not for everyone to read.  I truly feel for the family of Jennifer Hudson and that of the other families who have experienced such a tragedy.  

Maybe this will show what situation the country truly is in and how people are willing to do anything they can for their own possible gain.  What is your take on the media coverage of this murder?

I'm wearing a pin! And you can't stop me!!

A few weeks ago, Mr. Bolos told us about something that happened to his daughter.  She wore a button in support of a candidate, to school.  He informed us of how excited she was but that she was asked to remove the pin.  I originally thought it was strange but then I noticed something in my family.  My brother has been wearing a pin in support of Obama for a week.  I asked him if it was cool for him to wear the pin and he said it was fine.  Both of these stories absolutely shocked me!  Both of these stories take place in a public middle school and involve a child wearing a pin in support of a political candidate but each was treated differently.    

I believe that every person has a right to wear whatever pin they want whether it be for a political candidate or for something like a movie or sport.  But the argument is that these kids are not even of voting age and are supporting a candidate, and also that due to their young age, they are changing the minds of others just by wearing the pin.  I don't believe that someone, even as young as middle schoolers, should be asked to remove a pin that is in support of something they believe in!  And if it isn't a distraction in the classroom then the teachers should not bring it up because that is just creating a distraction!  Both of these issues are that of freedom of expression and in school involving students, things get o be a bit tricky!  But I believe that if a student, any student, wants to wear a pin, whether political or not, to school then unless it is disruptive to the learning environment, that they should be allowed to!! (except in private school settings)  What do you believe?  If you wore a pin to school, supporting a political candidate, would you be offended if you were asked to remove it?  I know i would be!

Size 4 the new Size 14?

Society has always been fixated with the appearance of others.  The first impression people get of others is always based off their outer appearance; whether the person is dressed in the style, or stuck in another decade, or if the person is heavy vs. being skinny, whatever they look like on the outside is the first thing that people think about each other.  But recently, I have noticed that people are calling others "fat" if they are not a size 0 or 2.  I noticed it in regards to Cheryl Burke, a dancer on the TV show Dancing With the Stars.  Over the summer, she gained a few pounds and it was only slightly noticeable to the people who have seen her in previous seasons.  But how is going from 120 pounds to 125 or 130 pounds considered fat?  

I don't understand that whole thing of being fat if you are not a size 00,0,1, or 2.  Or if now being a size 4 is like adding and entire 10 to it and making it a 14.  It has been proven that people who are larger are generally picked on and given jobs fewer times than people who are smaller and more attractive.  But why is society so fixated on the outer appearance and being skinny when the country is heading towards an obesity epidemic?  And why is there a different standard for men than for women?  What do you think?

Society's Expectations of Women VS. Men

In our society, men and women have different expectations as to what they are going to act like, dress like, and speak.  If people do not fall into these categories, or step out of their determined "role" then they are considered outcasts.  Women are expected to be: nice, not too aggressive, attractive, smart, gentle, emotional, mature, and caring.  However, men are expected to be: more aggressive, charming, intelligent, athletic, powerful, attractive, immature, lazy, and outdoors-y.  But, if a man is less athletic and more caring or emotional then they are called harsh names such as "gay", "homo", and "womanly".  And if a woman steps out of her expected "role" and is more athletic and outdoors-y then they are called: "lesbians", "manly", "transgendered".  I noticed that in the VP debate, Biden was not taking shots at Sarah Palin because he knew if he did, he would be criticized.  But he was still respectful of her and looked at her when she was speaking, but she never looked at Biden.  Sarah Palin was always looking at the camera, smiling, and winking.  And that was so that she appeared to be falling in line with what society feels are the characteristics that a woman should have and show to the world.  It is not right to expect these sorts of things from men or from women and it is becoming ridiculously annoying.  JUST STOP IT!!  Men can be gentle, caring, and athletic or any of the traits that people expect women to posses.  And women can have the same traits men have so society needs to just get over what they think is right and let people act the way they want.