The romanticism of the few and the proud

We've all seen it. You know, that one commercial where the guy is climbing that mountain with his bare hands. There is really beautiful, inspirational music playing in the background. And there is some low voice using fluffy words to describe how heroic and awesome this guy is. But honestly, the end is the best. This guy, all dressed up looking spiffy in his marines uniform, reaches the top of the mountain. His uniform is in perfect condition, his face is stern, and he didn't even break a sweat. And then comes the punchline: "The few, the proud, the MARINES!"

When we were assigned to blog about something that we, as Americans, romanticize, I could think of nothing better than the glory of joining the armed forces. The commercial I just described isn't the only one. They have them for every group there is: the Army, the Navy and even the National Guard. Every commercial portrays people from these groups in a heroic manner. The Marines one is definitely the most extravagant one I've seen to date. 

Honestly, I think they are just ridiculous. It is fair to assume that at no point during your service in the Marines will you climb a mountain with your bare hands. And if you did, you know you would be on your knees crying and bleeding and wishing you were home. Unfortunately for the Marines, a commercial depicting what actually goes on would not bring in as many soldiers as they desire. This leaves it up to them to romanticize the Marine experience to the point where it has become completely unrealistic. The saddest part is that sometimes these commercials actually convince people that joining the Marines is a super heroic thing to do. I beg to differ.

I really wish I could find a video of this, but I was unlucky in my search. Keep your eyes peeled for it to pop up on T.V. again. 

Progress in an economic recession...

As we all have heard, this year's holiday shopping season was the worst it has been since the 1970s. So what's to blame?

The economic recession, deep discounts, and brutal winter weather have been cited by the International Council of Shopping Centers as the main reasons for the lack of shopping. According to the ICSC, sales in U.S. stores during the week of Christmas have fallen almost 2% from last year. Despite retailers efforts to draw in consumers with incredible discounts, the numbers show that things are bad as ever for the U.S. economy. 

As for me, my post-Christmas Day account of my friends and family's gift load did not seem like the holidays as usual. Furthermore, I have been thinking about how the economy's ability to force people to disinterest themselves with material possessions could actually be a form of progress. 

Once again, I feel the need to quote the transcendentalist genius of Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Property also holds of the soul, covers great spiritual facts, and instinctively we at first hold to it with swords and laws, and wide and complex combinations."

Material possessions hinder our perception of what is important, and ultimately what is part of the true reality of our world. In his essay "Self-Reliance", Emerson points out how "property also holds of the soul". It controls us. Our thoughts and our actions are heavily swayed by our quest for material satisfaction. 

This holiday season, Americans did not go all out on material goods as we have in the past. This article from CNN.com proves it. I argue that this is an example of real, honest progress. Even though we were basically forced to detach ourselves from the usual department store spending spree, we still got through the holiday season with less material rewards than before. From my own account of things, nobody seemed to be complaining. I mean how badly do we need that new iPod after all?

In the end, I hope that this year's unavoidable downturn in holiday shopping could lead to purposeful relinquishing of over the top spending in the years to come. Perhaps we could make a progression in which more Americans can begin to act from Emerson's principles regarding material goods. I am trying to realistic on this topic, so I do not want to cross my fingers. However, I cannot deny my desire for American society to one day make this undeniably true progression. 

The Object of Clothing is...?

Earlier today, I read an article on CNN.com about the activities of an interesting organization. It is called Dress for Success, and it's an international charitable organization that helps provide business class clothes for the less fortunate. The main goal of the group is to equip people with the clothes that will give them the image they need for a job interview. 

In the article, Sonia Jacobson, executive director of the organization's Miami branch, commented on the importance of proper apparel when attending a job interview, "Immediately when that interviewer sees you, they're making an assessment based on how you dress, how you look, your grooming."

Jacobson's comments beg the question: Why are interviewers making assessments based solely off of a candidate's clothing? Shouldn't they be ultimately concerned with the quality of their character and their experience in the field?

Henry David Thoreau, the renowned transcendentalist author of "Walden", would certainly agree. 

"Let him who has work to do recollect that the object of clothing is, first, to retain the vital heat, and secondly, in this state of society, to cover nakedness"

According to Thoreau, clothing serves two practical purposes, and nothing more. Unfortunately, his values are not reflected in the opinions of many job interviewers or those of the general public. 

In the chapter Economy, Thoreau continues to say: "I sometimes try my acquaintances by such tests as this,-- Who could wear a patch, or two extra seams only, over the knee? Most behave as if they believed that their prospects for life would be ruined if they should do it."

After reading the article on Dress for Success, I feel that society truly does ruin the prospects of life for those that do not have the best clothing. I fully support the work of charitable organization, but I really wish that the efforts of Dress for Success were not necessary for people to get a good job. To read more about the recent activities of Dress for Success, click here.

In Our Lifetime...

Earlier this week, our class discussed examples of advancements that have been made in our lifetime which our parent's generation did not get to enjoy. When Mr. Lawler originally posed the question, I began to think of all the new technology that has been developed in the past 16 years. However, as I thought more about the question, I realized that the greatest advancements that have been made transcend technology. This is how I ended up with my decision that our society's increasing environmental awareness is definitely one of the most important advancements that has been made in my lifetime. 

Environmental Awareness in the U.S.A. began in the 1970s with the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The organization was formed by President Richard Nixon to help the government learn more about our impact on the environment, and in turn how the environment affects us. 

Throughout the 90s and 00s, the EPA has passed many acts and guidelines that are working to help protect our environment. In 1990, 2 major pieces of legislation were put forth by the EPA: The Clean Air Act Amendments, and the Pollution Prevention Act. In 1996, the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments were passed. The EPA implemented the Food Quality Act in 1997. (More information on the EPA's history is available here)

All of these acts have been extremely important in making our nation more environmentally aware, and therefore more environmentally friendly. It has been proven time and time again that the benefits of EPA efforts far out weigh the costs. The new effort to "go green" is something that my parent's generation never had, and therefore will never benefit from. That is why I feel very fortunate to experience America's effort to protect the environment in my lifetime. 

Progress in Politics

"However, the campaign is over. That chapter is closed. Now is the time to move on and make sure all of us are doing all that we can to progress this nation." -Sarah Palin, in a recent interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer

This quote from Sarah Palin, along with the election of Barack Obama and other recent quotes are signs that progress is coming to politics. 

This article, published today on CNN.com speaks of Governor Palin's interview with Wolf Blitzer. During the McCain/Palin campaign, the Governor of Alaska was a tough critic of Obama. She was always very skeptical of his relationship with William Ayers, who she refers to as an "unrepentant domestic terrorist.", However, Palin has now declared that: "It would be my honor to assist and support our new president and the new administration." The Governor claims she is also speaking for her fellow republican governors, saying that, "They would be willing also to seize this opportunity that we have to progress this nation together, in a united front." 

It seems that even Gov. Sarah Palin is ready for national progress. Despite her and John McCain's tragic loss in the battle for the presidency, she has a strong desire for our nation to grow and accomplish great things. I believe that Palin is showing the public more of her true self now that the campaign is over. She was playing hard ball in the final weeks leading up to the election, but now that everything is all said and done she is beginning to speak out about her actual thoughts on our nation. Or maybe she is just trying to gain back some respect, who knows? 

Either way it is a sign of the start of political progress as a result of Obama's election. 

"I regret saying some things I shouldn't have said, Like 'dead or alive' and 'bring 'em on.' My wife reminded me that, hey, as president of the United States, be careful what you say." -President George W. Bush in a recent CNN interview

Here we have even President Bush showing signs of progress at the end of his campaign. The President, like Governor Palin, is reflecting back on what they have done for politics. Now that W's final term is coming to an end, he is starting to point out some of the things he regrets from his 8 years in office. In the article, the President talks about moments like his speech in front of a 'Mission Accomplished' banner on May 1, 2003. From what he is saying in the interview it seems as though he knew all along that was not a good idea, but at least he has progressed to a point where he can admit it. 

President Bush and Governor Palin are both examples of the progress that is occurring in American politics. Since the election, the world of politics has become a more reconciled one. Now we have major political figures sharing their personal feelings on what they have accomplished and what they regret about their political efforts. This kind of climate on Capitol Hill is great for welcoming the new President-Elect, who is a major proponent of progress himself. Hopefully, the progression of American politics will continue on January 20th when Obama takes office. I'm pretty sure it will.

Grandma's Boy

This Monday the Obama campaign announced that Barack would be leaving the trail on Thursday to visit his grandmother in Hawaii. Lately her health has become increasingly worse, and now she is in a serious situation. So, after an event in Indianapolis Thursday morning, Obama will fly to Hawaii. He is scheduled to return to the campaign trail on Saturday. While he is gone Michelle Obama will be speaking in his place at previously scheduled events in Akron and Columbus, Ohio. 

So what will the public's opinion be on this?

I personally do not see how any good natured person could condemn such a decision. Sure, he is leaving the campaign trail in the final 15 days, but seriously, its his grandma. Obama has made it very clear in his speeches how important this woman is to him. She raised him. He has pointed out time and time again that without her, he would not be where he is today. 

But what of John McCain's decision to leave the campaign trail to focus on the economy several weeks ago?

It seemed to me as though almost everyone saw what it really was: a publicity stunt to win voters who had doubts about Obama's economic policies. Contemplating the reason for these candidates leaving the campaign trail is a contemplation of the character of the men themselves. McCain decided to try and win over votes by "leaving the campaign" to "focus on the economy". Obama is leaving for 2 days to visit his grandmother, the woman who raised him, because she is incredibly ill. He may be a grandma's boy, but at least we know he's not trying to win a sympathy vote or something. 

Oh, and here's an article if you're interested

Joe the Plumber says: "Obama is a socialist!"

"You see, [Obama] believes in redistributing wealth, not in policies that help us all make more of it. Joe, in his plainspoken way, said this sounded a lot like socialism."-John McCain, in a recent radio address

"Joe suggested that that sounded a little bit like socialism. Whatever you call it, I call it bad medicine for an ailing economy..."-Sarah Palin, at a recent rally in West Chester, Ohio

The McCain/Palin campaign's new favorite word is 'socialism'. Since the last presidential debate, both McCain and Palin have been routinely describing Obama's tax policies as 'socialist'. It is reminiscent of Senator McCarthy's communist witch-hunts during the Red Scare, which served to call out suspected Communists and bring them to justice. Throughout history, political policies have been criticized as 'socialist' or 'communist'. McCain's recent employment of this strategy is just another example of this. 

What is interesting is how McCain will call Obama's policies socialist, but not the candidate himself. When McCain was asked why he used the word 'socialist' in his radio interview, he responded: "That's what it is. 'Spreading the wealth' around is socialism." However, when McCain was asked whether he considered Barack Obama a socialist, he said "I don't know." Thankfully McCain is not taking things as far as McCarthy once did, but it is not a favorable practice either way. 

I would not say that I am surprised by McCain's new strategy. These types of practices are to be expected in a last ditch effort to win over voters. This is just a reminder of how powerful the criticism of 'socialism' remains to this day. America is known as a democratic nation, and it has forever been an opponent of any signs of communism. Tying Obama's policies to socialism makes it appear as though Obama is not a patriot, and therefore not deserving of the presidency. I just hope this sad attempt at derailing Obama's campaign in the final hours remains unsuccessful. 

To read more on the topic, check this out.