AN EXHIBIT OF SYMBOLISM
To learn by example - a concept that is the perhaps most widely preached and yet widely disregarded. As a general society living in North America, we find ourselves drawn to the allure of a self-involved existence based predominately on individual happiness. It matters not if this happiness comes by the cost of others nor if it contradicts all lessons derived from precedent.
A museum designed to reflect my entity in truth - to reflect my values and reveal my aspirations, would essentially be an expression of my own fixation with happiness. The three most significant objects in my possession that I feel are most worthy of creating such an explanation of myself include: my green shoes, dessert cookbook and personal journal.
For me, green shoes are an expression of freedom and a statement of individuality - the vessel that is to carry me through life. Living in Canada, I am blessed with the gift of freedom and have every right to self-expression. By exercising this right in the face of conformity, even on the smallest scale, I am laying question to the many stereotypes I am associated with. I believe that as much as it is human nature to fit in, every person strives to be recognized on an individual front; in striving to achieve such recognition by means of differentiation from the ordinary, confidence and a satisfaction are derived. With the success of allowing myself to break away from the common mould I am becoming a freer person who dares to envision a sea of different perspectives waiting to be explored and unheard voices waiting to be amplified.
A dessert cookbook - seemingly materialistic and devoid of individual significance, is for me an expression of personality and uncharted waters of opportunity. Just as a serious play needs scenes of comic relief, I find myself drawn magnetically to the kitchen to balance any stress or profound monotony in my life. My general routine is not to have one, and very rarely will I use only the ingredients listed in the recipe, instead letting myself be ruled by inspiration. It is at times such as these that my friends and family are exposed to an impulsive, artistic, and genuinely optimistic facet of my character.
The most significant object that I own is my personal journal. It is a composition of unedited thoughts that once accompanied strong emotion. As, inevitably, memories fade, I find that by review of my journal I can recall more clearly the events that led to my reaction. The invaluable quality of my journal is the insight it gives me unto myself. In a collection of pages, I bear witness to the mistakes I have made, my own algorithm for learning, the life lessons I have ignored, what is important to me, my own disillusionment with regards to our uncorrupted society, and my intertwined need and hesitance to take action, in this voyage that we call life.
Janna Byford
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A PAISLEY MATCHBOX
The continual advance, studded by the obtainment of experience and wealth, is unwavering. We exist to learn, to accomplish, and to gain. Wealth can come in the form of wisdom, emotion, or in the sense it is most often applied: material wealth. For some it is the bane of their existence, for others it is the elixir they rise each morning to drink. It forges a link of memory, emotion and physical anchors, investing it into fibers and textures. Aside from the memories of others, material relics are all that remain of a life. It is undeniable that over a lifetime, these relics become sacred in their significance. Concrete in their presence, they are an opening and a trigger to the memories of yesterday.
My life contains relics, selected after considerable contemplation, or arguably deliberate hesitance in admission. When I sit down and really consider the most important of my possessions, they are unchangeably those I have laid out on the table in front of me. My choices are inflexible.
A creaky floorboard flinches in protest as a visitor approaches the first display case. Peering over the edge, a curious face is lighted in the first glimpse. Minimalist, alone and sequestered, a solitary tea cup is innocently resting from a life of hardy use. With a terracotta base, delicate blue flowers are translucently projected in permanence onto the sides. Gazing upon the ornate inside, there is an unscathed covering of varnish. A perfect blue shimmers as the curve of the bowl indicates subtle and intricate webs of intentional cracks. Held by the varnish, suspended in its apparent imperfection, the cup symbolizes the suspension of time and responsibility. Its owner never drank from its perimeter without the washing of spare time. Relaxation embodies its smooth exterior, and its beauty of design speaks volumes to the visual poetry found in taking a moment to slow down.
Just past an enclave, a second display case basks in brilliant incandescent light. Laid out from largest to smallest, three keys are spread on a bed of white. Rusted and furnished with the indications of time and maturity, the keys were purchased at a flea market in Vienna. Rummaged from a ripped shoe box, they belonged to people whose faces are smudged in the expansive landscape of time; I will never know them. Wide oval loops grace the tops, simple ornamentation unlatch its counterpart. This idea, that the key to an unknown, even if the unknown is of another time, is in my possession is what fascinates me. It is emblematic to own the keys to unknown limitations.
A third case presents a sleek manual camera. It is not showy, humble if anything. The age of digital cameras chased this species to the foothills of immortality. Its significance is simple in that it captured fleeting sentiments. The film developed told of stationary ponderings of a world in motion. Visual elegance, set onto crème paper.
Embroidery of a life spent learning.
Elliot Cudmore
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A CONSCRIPTED CALL TO DUTY
The greatest literature of the centuries glorifies the pitiable squadrons of men who would fight for their cause, casting off all those who would restrain them. There is a certain honor to being one of the few who defies the societal standard; there is a certain accompanying dread when that standard relates to the democracy of the few, not the many. There are those of us noble few who would seek a sad regression into immoral conscription, this time in pursuit of a more perfect union. This can never be the answer.
A misbehaving teenager cannot be made to stand tall, and speak with courtesy to his elders; so to cannot a defiant old man be made to vote with his heart. In pursuing a policy of a conscripted vote, we seek to apply a way of living unilaterally across the nation. We seek to remove the privilege of a vote and replace it with an institution, which, at its heart, is no better than those which we rail against around the world.
This nation has stood for equality of opportunity, never equality of outcome. Our collective people have watched as leaders in the vein of Martin Luther King Jr. have asked for the ability to create opportunities for themselves. We, as one nation, granted them that right.
In emphasizing our own rights and privileges, we must never forget that these are merely conduits for action. Like electricity racing through a circuit, when the nation seeks change, our people can charge any atmosphere. In refraining from the use of these known conduits we utilize another, oft overshadowed route to action; the abstention.
Rather than look to declining turnout as a sure sign of the doomsday, perhaps we should look to the process itself. Month after month, we hear of lewd public acts, illegal profiteering, blatant disregard for human life, and a refusal to acknowledge responsibility.
In a nation fast becoming polarized away from the far left and right, our pluralistically elected officials cannot continue to preach partisan interference. The mantra is quickly becoming ‘Do Something.’ This can only lead to increasing political participation in both elections and in the day to day workings of our government’s bureaucracies.
It would be vindicating to believe that every citizen had a candidate and a cause they felt compelled enough to exercise their privilege to vote for. Reality is a much harsher mistress, and many are left with choosing to abstain from such a fundamental privilege. In seeming to mar our democracy with their refusal to participate, these ordinary people are the ones who choose to preserve it.
We may never match Australia or Luxembourg for participation percentages, but we have always prided ourselves on being ‘the land of the free.’ In an era of increasing restraint, why should we place one more shackle on what each of us must do to live up to the high ideals of this country?
Daniel Huntley
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THE RIVER
I am fragile. I am not understood. I am common. But I am. Therefore I have consigned myself to the whims of a volatile and temperamental society. I float in a river whose current whispers the slogans of my ambitious education … be all that you can be… you can do anything…never give up. I am rushing ever onward to a vague future but my thoughts have become stagnant, blocked with the manipulative offerings of a scorpion culture that threatens my dreams should I fall to its deception. It is hard to discern opportunity from fraud in the intricate flow of truth and lies. The river hisses of promises and proposals and forms the portrait of what I imagine I desire to be satisfied with life. I am drowning in my quest to be everything.
Clarification comes to me as I sink and struggle. I realize that my life is borrowed but it is my own. Success is not on a corporate ladder; happiness is not in a marriage. Success and happiness are in their definitions and I am supreme in their delineation. My insecurities are the only things capable of limiting my level of contentment. The sole path to success and happiness is in acceptance. I must accept than I can achieve my own nirvana and I have no obligation to humanity. It is to myself. I will not share my purity of mind because I cannot. The discovery is up to each individual.
My mind burns with redemption as my lungs burn for relief. I become conscious of the fact that I had never begun to swim. I begin to fight the water. It is vicious because I know its secrets. I know the truth. I am dying at the same moment that I have begun to live. My dreams are fluid with delusions but I know them. They are me. I am happiness. I am success. I am love. I am joy.
I surge to the surface and scream. I am. I am. I am. I will not be denied!
Meredith Myers
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THE BIGGEST BREAKTHROUGH IS VERY SMALL INDEED
Mankind has taken its first tentative steps into the 21st century, peeking cautiously into the depths of imagination where the illusory veil of fiction meets the calculated precision of science. There is a breakthrough technology that modern knowledge, coupled with brilliant minds, has only just begun to explicate in the larger sense for practical application. Perhaps one of the most potentially useful inventions ever conceived has already permeated throughout our modern society, but the true power of nanotechnology has yet to be unlocked.
Nanotechnology is not a novel concept. The ancient Greek philosophers Leucippus and Democritus conjectured that if a piece of copper were halved continually, eventually the copper would no longer be divisible. This particle was defined as an atom. In 1959, Richard Feynman discussed the idea of working on the atomic scale during a lecture titled There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom. Feynman believed that, if materials could be manipulated on an atomic scale, more complex molecules and chemicals could be synthesized. He went on further to conjecture about building microscopic robots that could be ingested for medical purposes.
The possibility of surgical nanobots could restructure the way the medical community approaches healing the body. No longer will invasive procedures increase the risk of secondary, and sometimes lethal, infection – swallow a capsule of nanobots, and the microscopic units will work in tandem to defeat any foreign entities discovered in the body. Sporting the ability to inject powerful serums directly into cancerous cells, the therapy will circumvent debilitating side effects related to chemotherapy and radiation. Bones could be mended from the inside and hypothetically strengthened. Repairs could be made to neuronal connections, making once dead areas of the brain respond to stimuli – a resurrection of cerebral functionality.
Nanotechnology has implications far beyond the medical field alone. Techniques are already being used to manufacture stain and wrinkle proof lines of clothing. Advances have even allowed for materials that change properties according to body temperature. Imagination has at last divined its proper arena, an industry where the more prodigious the idea, the more likely it is to be realized. The possibility of self-repairing alloys, swarms of invisible cameras for war reconnaissance, and an unlimited source of clean energy are all here.
With inimitable power comes a costly caveat, a devilish drawback - the ability of self replicating machines to run amok and consume all the matter on the planet in an inexorable march toward proliferation. Unlike giant robots, the enemy would be unseen, nigh invincible. Such is the risk involved with supreme technology.
The future is mired in the surreal and fantastic. The paradigm we have chosen for ourselves shall dissolve as new technologies allow for increased interconnectivity that will ultimately reveal the ultimate in human potential, both for good and ill. It is both an alluring and frightening proposition – seeking the unknown paths of the future. However, like a stranger with candy, one never knows if the reward is truly sweet until the bait is taken.
Michael Burdan
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PRAGMATIC IDEALISM AND THE THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE
“We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today, we celebrate our Independence Day!” These are words from the monologue vocalized by the famed Hollywood actor Bill Pullman in the cinematic feature “Independence Day.” His character had hundreds captivated, even enthralled; even within a looming threat of complete annihilation. That, is the sort of position I consider a “dream job”
To me an employment opportunity should be first and foremost contemporarily meaningful and intellectually challenging. Being the sort of person who is absolutely enthralled at the slightest prospect of learning, I would most certainly covet a position that lets me research constantly at and away from my office desk.
Knowledge commands respect and power. Just as any other human being I am unconsciously drawn towards both. To be able to command rapt attention from a diverse and well-educated group while maintaining the fine line between respect and informal reverie is, in my opinion, a gift from the Gods themselves.
Always the chosen spokesperson for my workgroup or team in school, I derived immense satisfaction from the freedom and enormous responsibility that comes with being the leader of a scholarly group. Individually, I am only as good and as bad as my individual skills are, while in a group I am as good as the best of us and as worst as the worst of us. This very principle allows for human ego to take a backseat to intellectual curiosity. In my opinion, the ability to extricate, understand and reciprocate pertinent information is the principle requirement of a leader. The secondary but very vital requirement, in my opinion, is quick adaptation to profitable changes.
With my feet planted resolutely on solid ground, I choose to lead. I choose to consciously assist others keep that indomitable flame of furious determination burning with zealous intent in every individual who believe in something intellectually fascinating, and do so not because others tell them it is the right thing to do, but because the volition within them tells them that the world they can create with that flame of orange and crimson will be a just world. If at this point you are discounting me as a foolish idealist, you might not remember that pragmatism can only carry one so far. Beyond what is practical, lies the unknown; and the unknown fascinates me, in a way nothing else can.
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”
These lines from Robert Frost’s poem titled “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” gives me direction in my vocation, meaning in my life and determination to take the weakness of head and heart. I am a born leader and my dream job was, is and will remain, to “Accomplish such heights as which will enable me to give without accounting, to help without expecting and to command without reasoning”
Arkaprava Pattanayak
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THE LIES OF CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP: PROFIT MOTIVATION
AND THE SALE OF SCHOOLCHILDREN AS SUBJECTS
Everybody is familiar with the funding shortfalls facing public schools; overcrowded classrooms, overworked teachers, and outdated textbooks are prevalent across North America. When government funding is substantially reduced, school boards seeking to improve their financial situations have few options. One commonly suggested solution is corporate sponsorship and advertising. This apparent panacea, according to proponents, will give schools the funding they need without compromising the educational process. After all, what harm could a few vending machines do?
The problems of sponsorship are more complex than this cursory analysis suggests. One major problem is that corporate funding allows governments to eschew their funding obligations. Faced with shortfalls, parents, educators, and school boards should aggressively lobby governments to uphold their responsibilities to the public, not turn immediately to alternative funding. If schools are able to get by on corporate dollars, governments will have an excuse to further cut funding, creating a vicious cycle of corporate reliance. Though this may seem cynical, it is governments that have allowed the educational system to reach the point where corporate funding has almost become necessary; why would they be hesitant to make the system more reliant on this funding? It may not be too far-fetched to imagine corporate schools in the near future if this strategy is aggressively pursued to fill funding shortfalls.
Also, one must consider the motivations of corporations. Their primary interest is not philanthropic; these businesses are not sponsoring schools because it's “the right thing to do”. If we assume (as economists do) that corporations are profit-maximizing entities, then we are forced to conclude that they will advertise in schools only in circumstances in which they would profit. Viewed in this light, corporate sponsorship is anything but benign. If a soft drink company whose products are known to contribute to childhood obesity and diabetes sponsors a school board in exchange for vending machines in schools, they do so with the expectation that they will earn more than the amount of the sponsorship through these vending machines. School board officials are compromising the health and well-being of students in agreeing to such sponsorships. The motivations of prospective sponsors and advertisers must be thoroughly scrutinized by school boards.
Most importantly, the rights of students must be respected. Children and young adults are the demographic most aggressively subjected to marketing, and to transform our schools into a forum for a further bombardment of advertising would be reprehensible. Students are not passive subjects for corporations to profiteer upon, nor are the school the appropriate location for this advertising to take place. A school is an institution of learning, and advertising of any type would only distract from this acquisition of knowledge. Schools are designed to teach students the skills they need to lead successful lives; to attach that message to the brand of the XYZ Corporation is to send entirely the wrong message. Is there a simple solution to funding shortfalls? No. But selling off schoolchildren as captive subjects to advertising is not the answer.
Matt Whitfield
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THE PROMISE OF THE FUTURE, THE POSSIBILITIES OF NOW
At no time in the history of mankind has our world been as interdependent as it is currently, as the globe continuously becomes smaller and more accessible with the advent of new technology. Increasingly, the economies of separate regions are taking steps towards integration on an international scale, such that complete globalization is within the reach, allowing millions to enjoy economic prosperity and reducing cultural and economic barriers to encourage previously unparalleled communication between communities. But while we may measure the degree of success of worldwide cooperation in dollars, euros or yen, there remains another standard by which we should be judged—our willingness to use science and technology we develop to encourage the next generation to carry on our legacy of advancement, development and innovation.
The greatest step towards globalization involves ensuring educational opportunities for those who would otherwise never garner attention or encouragement to pursue further learning. A truly impressive organization that recognizes the importance of fostering an interest in science education in children domestically and in various communities that cross U.S. borders is FIRST, or For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. FIRST is a multi-national, non-profit organization, founded in 1989 in order to make “science, technology and engineering as cool for kids as sports are today.” Through a network of 25,000 volunteers, including engineers and teachers, FIRST organizes competitions that encourage elementary, middle and high-school students to join teams, face scientific challenges, and participate in competitions that help them develop analytical, mechanical and team-building skills. Apart from programs instituted in America and Canada, FIRST has attracted student participation from Puerto Rico, Brazil, South Africa, Israel and England, allowing groups of students to embrace science and multiculturalism while maintaining the competitive spirit that spurs creativity.
The aspect of FIRST that would make it an ideal company to work for is how they reach out to children with the universal language—science. In a world where scientific breakthroughs occur everyday, where feats of engineering represent the strength of modernization, where we are only beginning to understand the frontiers of technological possibility, it is gratifying to see an organization dedicated to passing this opportunity onwards. In doing so, FIRST brings together children of varied cultural and economic backgrounds, in the hope that they will discover at an early age what we are beginning to realize now—that what can potentially unite people of all nations is stronger and greater than the minute elements that continue to divide us. To work for this organization would signify a commitment to the ideals of globalization and promoting integration, by bringing together students who have not yet reached their potential. To this end our generation can, through companies like FIRST, contribute positively to global societies and force ourselves to recognize an understandable truth: if we are to succeed in bringing about a generation of progress, if we are to leave a better world for those who come after us, it can only begin through the promotion of alliances and sharing our worlds.
Shivaani Prakash
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AN ECCENTRIC HAVEN OF LEARNING
According to some University of Chicago students the “Life of the Mind” can be defined as, “a sequence converging to 0.” To others it is inherent in the Harper Library—which is subject to more conversations concerning its unusual design than the contents of its shelves or the irascibility of its librarians. Some students choose a philosophical approach, and claim that the “Life of the Mind” is ineluctable hierophany—(inescapable physical manifestation of the holy or sacred)—a phrase Microsoft Word regrettably does not provide synonyms for. No matter how one chooses to approach the university’s philosophy, it inevitably produces eccentric results. The University of Chicago’s philosophy is inherent in those who have loved learning for the sake of learning their entire lives. It is a place where education is viewed as more than merely a concrete, factual experience, but rather a philosophy of discovery.
University of Chicago is my dream school because of its array of seminars and classes that are able to sincerely explore the vastness of human knowledge with subject matters that are intriguing and instigating. “Literature and Madness,” and “Venetian Women Writers and the Woman Question” are merely two of the multitudinous selections available to students. Nowhere else is it possible to play for the Javanese Gamelan Ensemble, an ensemble created for the study of ethnomusicology. The ensemble’s performances feature contemporary Indonesian and American compositions in collaboration with traditional Javanese gamelan pieces. I have a personal interest in studying music as a minor, and therefore am impressed with the university’s wide array of subjects, including my personal favorite, “Music, Muses, and Muteness.”
The University of Chicago inspires undergraduate creativity and experimentation beyond the traditional classroom setting. In an environment such as this, the very essence of study and exploration becomes a manner by which students embark upon a path of self-discovery. Scientific research in biochemistry extends beyond the classroom and laboratory, and into the art of analyzing the magnitude of human life and the cosmos. The study of English literature becomes an aesthetic experience in which the emotions must be invoked and passions must be aroused before analysis can occur. Political science and economics leave behind graphical analyses and enter the realm of action-oriented learning, consisting of hands on societal works. Each and every aspect of study entails an otherworldly type discourse, in which students are constantly scouring their creative depths for answers that only lead to more questions. It is by walking through the gothic inspired architecture that one truly understands the university’s ethereal presence. It has a majesty unbridled by any force.
I am a believer of Robert Maynard Hutchins’ words, “Education is not to reform students…it is to unsettle their minds…” These words epitomize my understanding of the “Life of the Mind.” The University of Chicago inspires students to reach within themselves and discover how education is meant to provoke and unsettle, so that they leave Chicago with a better understanding of who they are and what they are meant to do.
Natalie Tapaskar
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GOOGLE: PIONEERING ELECTRONIC IDEALISM
Silicon Valley has always been renowned for its dynamic innovators. These manipulators of machinery dedicate their entire lives to the creation and expansion of applied science. The ultimate goal held by any of these modern pioneers is to take something so technologically profound that only scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration can use it and put it into the hands of the every-day citizen. Though many software companies fall short of this grand emancipation, Google, Inc., seems to have it right. Google takes complicated search algorithms, spam-filters, satellite imagery, and various other technological epiphanies and gives the end-user power to harness them. By doing so, Google positions itself as the single most practical and useful website on the Internet today. What started as a research project between two Ph.D. students at Stanford University has indeed blossomed into a leviathan embodiment of practical science and popular culture.
All Google services permeate from their simple website. Though by no means unattractive, its design blatantly favors functionality rather than flash. From the index, one is presented with Google’s most popular service—the acclaimed web search—and links to its image, video, news, and mapping tools. By following a clearly designated “More” link, a complete list of products is displayed; the rather massive plethora of services includes everything from mail-order catalogs and translating services to three-dimensional modeling software and scholarly papers. While indeed easy to use, the Google website is also easy to access; it loads quickly even under dial-up due in part to its design. Above all, the site and all tools therein reflect a philosophy of elegance through simplicity.
Google acts as an embodiment of what the Internet were conceived to be: a medium through which individuals can quickly access information and knowledge. Moreover, the company’s status as a pop-culture symbol has only increased over time, reflected by the invented verb “to Google” or “to search for online.” The company’s uncanny devotion to these end-users’ experiences is reflected in its function over flash design and its business model. All this notwithstanding, Google’s website and products make the idealistic mandate of the Internet more realistic than ever before. At its core, Google is a service dedicated to making lives easier; it takes something horribly complicated and morphs it into a tool. It is for this goal and its precipitated initiative that Google remains the paramount of web pages.
Justin Crisp
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SURIN PITSUWAN: A NEW LEADER FOR THE CHANGING FACE
OF THE UNITED NATIONS
For those of us born in the latter half of the twentieth century, it’s hard to imagine a world without the United Nations (UN). Their mandate, crafted after the devastating loss of life that occurred in the two World Wars, was concerned chiefly with the prevention and management of conflict between nations, in the hope that future generations could be saved from the brutalities of modern warfare. However, over the decades, the UN has grown into something not entirely anticipated by its creators. Through its various sub- and affiliated organizations, it now manages and participates in nearly every important aspect of the international realm, ranging from economic aid to environmental regulation, as well as its traditional role in conflict resolution and peacekeeping.
The UN’s expanded mission has met with much success; the Human Security Report 2005 (published by the University of British Columbia) argues that since the end of the Cold War there has been a 40% drop in violent conflict, a drastic figure which the authors credit largely to the work of the UN. Nonetheless, it is important to remember the failures of the system, perhaps most glaringly visible in the UN’s inability to halt the Rwandan genocide in 1994 or the atrocities that occurred within supposed ‘safe-zones’ in the former Yugoslavia. With a politically unstable Middle East, an increasingly stratified distribution of global wealth, and growing global environmental problems, the next Secretary General of the UN must be someone who can bridge cultural divides, have respect and credibility amongst both developed and developing nations, and be equipped with the strength of intellect necessary to solve the problems left behind after Kofi Annan’s tenure has ended.
It is my contention that Surin Pitsuwan, a former Foreign Minister of Thailand, would make an ideal candidate for the position. The prestige of the role means that the region of origin of the Secretary General is of substantial political importance; it’s generally acknowledged that it is Asia’s ‘turn,’ and China has gone so far as to threaten to veto anyone who doesn’t meet this criteria. Still, there are two characteristics that Mr. Pitsuwan possesses which are of greater importance than his nationality. He is an excellent diplomat, well-seasoned in negotiation and compromise due both to the fractious nature of Thai politics and that of the South Asian region in general, and he is a moderate Muslim.
Though Western pluralistic convention strives to ignore religious connections in politics, Mr. Pitsuwan’s background, in conjunction with his Western education, would allow him to act as an effective conduit for dialogue in some of the most divisive conflicts facing the international community. It would also strengthen the legitimacy of the UN in the eyes of much of the world’s population, who may view it as too heavily under the sway of the West. Surin Pitsuwan would make an excellent Secretary General; one who is uniquely equipped to lead the UN to success against the challenges facing a global organization in the 21st century.
Guy Halpern
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CHINA, PROSPECTIVE KING OF THE HILL
A decade ago, China was documented as massive solely in terms of its population. In the new millennium, housing the world’s largest population translates into the privilege of housing the world’s greatest potential for success. What was once considered a communist nation in shambles is now conspicuously climbing its way to the top of the capitalist heap. In recent times, China has experienced an industrial revolution parallel to the one in North America and Western Europe over a century ago. An economy once characterized by agriculture and poverty is metamorphosing into a technically sophisticated economic juggernaut.
China’s aspiration is to dethrone the United States at the head of world economic hierarchy in ten years’ time. While the West has become progressively more indolent, the Chinese have become ever-increasingly diligent. China’s traditional veneration of education has cross-pollinated with the government’s free market reforms to produce a highly motivated and increasingly well-educated populace. In supplying university graduates, America is falling behind; there are twice as many graduates with bachelor’s degrees in China than in the U.S. per year. China’s massive population and comparatively few universities ensure unsurpassed brilliance from those obstinate enough to subsist through its educational system. China, however, is not alone in its pursuit of prosperity. India, Vietnam, and Brazil are contenders that have mirrored its recent economic explosion and its single-minded desire for success. Nonetheless, having the most colossal population on Earth has facilitated China’s growth. In addition to Chinese people living in China, there is a large diaspora eager to foster its role as a force in international business. China’s ability to influence more global markets than any other nation has diminished its rivals.
The prospects are bright for China’s citizens, but the once strictly communist government has also loosened its grip around the country’s economic sovereignty. The newly implemented, business-friendly government policies are guaranteed tools for economic progression; they have stimulated investor confidence, both foreign and domestic, have led to the acceleration and expansion of the business cycle, and have inaugurated a previously non-existent middle class. Now that China is open to express its entrepreneurial brilliance within its own borders, it need not resort to exporting its most promising resources, people, to North America and Europe as it did a decade ago. Its dictatorship government also enables the execution of government strategies with maximal efficiency, giving it an advantage over democracies like India. Furthermore, China benefits from being a previous developing nation. It has the ability to proliferate new technologies without the need to waste money upgrading and maintaining old ones.
If history repeats itself, the industrial revolution begun in China will pave the way to an era of Chinese dominion over wealth and technology. If the children of the industrialized world do not step up their game, the Chinese will overtake their jobs and replace them as the dominant force in international markets. In ten years’ time, items will not only convey, “Made in China”, they will boast, “Fabricated and Designed in China”.
Sharron Xiao
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ONE STEP AT A TIME
Let’s face facts: not a lot of our youth today subscribes to the idea of education. They know what it is, they understand the process—but very few pay attention to the potential they could possibly unlock by enriching and immersing themselves into the knowledge school has to offer them.
Coming from a third-world country, I have seen a lot of poverty and corruption rampant because of a nation that has grown illiterate in terms of its masses. You cannot entrust the future of a city, much less a nation, to people who do not understand its very foundations.
In this very same context, if I was given the chance to inherit a million dollars and donate it to charity, I would definitely utilize it in terms of providing more paths towards getting a better education, no matter what city I reside in. Very simply put, I believe with great conviction that education is the first step to enlightenment. It takes us out of the darkness of ignorance and enriches the very people that we are.
The first step in my educational plan will involve creating programs that will inculcate the importance of education into the minds of the youth, even as young as five or six years old. It is imperative that at an early age, our children understand that education is the way to a better future. I seek to make schooling fun and amenable to all so that more of the population will subscribe to the idea.
Second, I see a need for students to be well-read. It is in literature that the heritage of our forefathers lives on, and I have faith in the books and text that we can gather a plethora of thoughts, opinions and form our own just from reading them. The program I can envision is something that makes reading enjoyable and entertaining for children of all ages. With the interest they will develop from reading, they can continue to appreciate the gems of education.
Finally, I can visualize bigger libraries for schools, with better tutoring programs for students that will possibly need it. There are a lot of students nowadays who are either unaware of the tutoring opportunities available, or are just embarrassed to take it. Frankly, I am convinced that if we can get our children to read more and get better grades, we will get them to further this process and enhance the programs we have started with.
I believe with all my heart in investing in the children and their education. It is our future and it is theirs as well. The path to making the world a better place begins with this one small step, and I know that that step is education.
Raiza Abubakar
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BEHIND THE BANTER
The question of immigration in the United States has only become more convoluted as parties use the issues for political maneuvering, and emotions are excited in an effort to motivate votes. In such political crossfire, the purpose of immigration has been replaced by banter between party lines. The current immigration policies employed by the United States are altogether ineffective in that they do not accomplish the purpose or protect the rights championed by this country. Citizenship should be available to all, willing to contribute to society – as it once was – yet, at the same time, the integrity of that citizenship should be vigilantly guarded.
This country was founded by immigrants for immigrants. The original American Dream was that a man could come to America and succeed. Success was not to be determined by class or blood, but by the deservingness of the individual. This is the heritage of America, and cannot be forgotten.
However, even in times of the birth of this great country, people understood that citizenship was a privilege not a right. With that privilege came responsibility. In order to belong to a great society, one must contribute to make that society great. They must be willing to pay a price; they must treat their citizenship with the respect it deserves. They must be willing to obey the laws of society.
Immigrants should not be granted free access to the privileges of American society without first proving themselves. However, American citizens cannot view themselves as an elite society. If for any reason, American society starts to believe that they have privileges granted by race, birth, or class and those privileges should be available only to them, society has betrayed the foundation and heritage upon which it was built. Any person willing to contribute to society and obey all laws should be granted access to citizenship.
The current laws are too stringent regarding people gaining access to citizenship. Building walls increases alienation, betrays heritage, and pragmatically is completely unfeasible. As long as there exists incentive for people to cross borders and gain a better life in America, people will do so, regardless of walls or patrols. There needs to be a way in which all those willing to contribute to society can gain access to citizenship.
However, the opposing argument is much too lenient. To be an American is a privilege not to be treated lightly. Those who pay a price are much more likely to value that which they have paid for. America can only be open to those willing to work for a better America, and uphold American ideals.
The guest worker program supported by Sen. John McCain is a step in the right direction. It provides access to citizenship by those who want it, while maintaining the integrity of citizenship status. As policy is made in the future, political leaders should avoid the polarized and extreme opinions found along party lines and pursue actions that honor the ideals and heritage of this great country.
Jay Boyer
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THE BENEFITS OF A DART
Right now, my eyes are closed and I am facing a map of the United States. It is one of those big ones, like the type they hung in your sophomore history class with Mr. Finkelman. In my right hand is a dart. On the count of three, I am letting in go. One, two, three...pop. It hit. Joplin, Missouri. Up until now, I had never heard of Joplin, but now it’s “Joplin or bust!” Surely, Joplin is my favorite city, the city I want to live in.
I am digesting the thought of being there now. Living there can’t be that bad; thousands of people already do. It would be unbefitting of me, as a child of the late 20th century, not to Google this city to explore the assets of my new favorite city. So I do. And up flashes on my screen the respectably designed website for the Joplin Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. I guess it would be more suiting for me if it said “Resident’s Bureau” since that is where I want to live, but oh well. I will take what I’ve been given.
It appears that Joplin is host to plenty of things that will make it a great place to live; two colleges, one university, waterfalls, a theatre, a baseball stadium. And as I scroll down, I see one that really sells me on Joplin, Candy House Gourmet Chocolates. There is hardly a picture of me as a toddler without this delectable confection smeared all over my face and that same passion still resides in me today. It even looks like there are a few beautiful bed and breakfasts I can call home until I start that beloved rite of passage known as house hunting. Things are looking up in my new favorite city.
“But how could this possibly be your favorite city”, you ask, and rightfully so, “if you have never even been there?” There is a very simple answer to this. Life is what you make of it. New experiences and life challenges can be met with a resentful moan or a willing spirit. Minds can be open to love, share, and learn, or closed off because of personal insecurity about what lies beyond the known. If everyone could approach his or her neighbor with this mind set, how much more fulfilling could life be and how much more could you learn? Maybe that autistic child has a zeal for painting you never knew about or the overweight man down the street used to be a champion runner until his hip broke. And maybe, Joplin, Missouri could be your favorite city too if you took a little time to learn about it. I bet you didn’t know it held a hot air balloon extravaganza. And to think, it all started out with a map and a dart.
Kaitlin Good
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SCAPEGOAT FOR A GROWING PROBLEM: THE INFLUENCE
OF TELEVISION ON YOUTH CRIME
Often times, when a solution is too complex we try to regain control by changing the face of the problem; this is the case for the argument that violence on television is the leading cause for youth crime. American youth may be influenced by television but it’s an extreme reach to say that watching violent programs can be the leading cause of crime among this or any group of people. This statement is fanatical and biased because it ignores the many sociological causes of crime. Television may be a factor but is not the source of the problem. Considering the root causes of crime, as well as the role of television, will help to diminish the merits of the argument that TV violence is the leading cause of crime for today’s youth.
The first obvious objection is the fact that violence is caused by an interrelation of several complex categories that have far greater influence than television alone. These primarily include family structures, economic factors, and social environment. Poverty, along with a lack of opportunity and a lost sense of hope can result in negative or violent acts. Dysfunctional family conditions can also contribute to delinquency because children need support and guidance. One’s social environment mirrors their values. So children raised in a family or community with lack of leadership, equality, and values of individual welfare will grow up with confused morals and priorities. These are the primary causes of violence and they have a much greater influence than television simply because individuals are born into these situations.
By arguing that television is not the leading cause for youth crime I do not intend to prove that it has no influence, but simply that TV is not the primary source. Television plays a role when it becomes an overused form of recreation. Sadly, watching too much television is typical of the categories already known as root causes for crime. Television in excess, especially if it is unsupervised, can cause a child to have an over exposure to age sensitive materials and a mixed sense of values. However, it’s important to remember that there’s a portion of television programming dedicated entirely to children. Seeing and hearing inappropriate things can cause a child to be dysfunctional but, it’s a matter of circumstance that the influence comes from television. The same messages can be received from family, peers, and the outside world. It’s an overstatement to say that if children watch violent programs they will become criminals and, furthermore, there is no real danger in supervised television.
Ultimately, television is a small factor in a much larger problem concerning crime and today’s youth. TV plays its part by containing some matter not suitable for children but, it remains the responsibility of parents to control what is being watched. Television, like art, imitates life and the problem of youth crime exists in reality, not in the cable hook up.
Eleni Elias Liakaris
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FUNDING TREATMENTS AND CONTROVERSY IN SOCIETY
In today’s society, our ever-growing wealth of resources and technological advances has enabled scientists and researchers to make groundbreaking advances toward the survival and medical treatment of mankind. By utilizing embryonic stem cell studies, researchers are able to understand the growth of human cells as well as discover cures and treatments for innumerable illnesses afflicting millions of individuals. With such valuable and lifesaving information available, the government has a responsibility to fund this research in hopes of better serving and treating its citizens.
It is undeniable that embryonic stem cell research is a source of great debate and controversy. Though adult stem cells could be used in the research, they do not contain the developmental potential seen in embryonic stem cells. Many people actively object to the use of embryonic stem cells, calling the act a crime against nature and God. However, a question may be posed to these individuals: Is a single, unborn embryo more valuable than the health and lives of millions of people? It is undeniable that every life is sacred and valuable, but surely the government must be able to realize that if in the immediate future lies cures and treatments for afflicting illnesses and diseases, every step must be taken in order to ensure that these cures and treatments are discovered and employed.
Today’s world is faced with an ever-growing torrent of afflictions and handicaps. With government funding, a large portion of these afflictions will be better understood and treated in order to improve the lives of those who suffer. Until now, transplant patients have had to undergo numerous procedures and studies only to find that their bodies may reject the new organ or tissue. With embryonic stem cell research, doctors and scientists are able to understand why the immune system rejects the transplants and are able to use gene therapy to ensure that the transplant is successful. Presently, funding for embryonic stem cell research is scarce; government funding will enable embryos to be developed purely for scientific research and will assist in making these treatments, transplants, and cures available for people in need.
The debate over embryonic stem cell research should not be based in personal or moral objections, but instead should only concern the good of the people and what is best for society. The development of embryonic stem cell research should not be hindered by people who do not feel the pain of the afflicted or who have not witnessed the joy of the treated and cured. The purpose of the government is to protect and promote the well being of those it serves. What benefit is to be found in allowing valuable materials to decay while millions are suffering, knowing treatment is scientifically possible but cannot be used? It is absolutely certain that with government funding, these treatments, transplants, and cures will improve the lives of numerous people. With such amazing possibilities, it is undeniable that the government has a duty to enable this research and save the lives of those it is bound to protect.
Haley Nessler
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WHO IS THE GREATEST THREAT?
Nuclear weapons are one component of an integrated defense strategy that includes diplomacy and conventional forces. The principal role of nuclear weapons was and continues to be that of deterring any potential adversaries from an attack on America or its vital interests. Changes in the geopolitical environment and the inexorable advance of military technology here and abroad suggest that the position of nuclear weapons in national security policy will evolve with time. Russia maintains very large strategic and tactical nuclear forces. China is actively modernizing its nuclear arsenal. India and Pakistan have dramatically demonstrated the ability of midlevel technology to develop or acquire nuclear weapons. The nuclear age is far from over!
Russia has continued to reduce its nuclear forces. It is estimated that Russia has approximately 7,200 operational nuclear warheads in its active arsenal. This includes about 3,800 strategic warheads, a decrease of some 400 due to the withdrawal of approximately 60 ballistic missiles from operational service. China maintains an arsenal of about 400 warheads: some 250 "strategic" weapons structured in a triad of long-range land-based missiles, bombers, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles; and some 150 "tactical" weapons--presumably lower-yield bombs for tactical aircraft, possibly artillery shells, atomic demolition munitions.
On the other hand, India has an estimated 100 to 150 nuclear warheads. Of these, up to 20 are nuclear bombs that could be dropped from an aircraft. Pakistan has an estimated 25 to 50 nuclear warheads, including up to 20 bombs deliverable by F-16 fighter jets. Three times these two nations have gone to war since independence from the British in 1948. The two have been involved in a conventional arms race since the beginning, allocating huge percentages of their budgets to defense. These countries are not a threat because their powers are focused on defending themselves against each other.
In closing, the United States plans to store many thousands of warheads indefinitely. In addition, it will maintain its 2,000 deployed warheads on alert. There is only one conceivable purpose for the United States to maintain 2,000 nuclear warheads on alert: to target Russian warheads. As a consequence, many of Russia’s warheads will also remain on alert, giving rise to a real risk of accidental and inadvertent launch. These policies also undermine the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), which serves as an important barrier to the further proliferation of nuclear weapons to other countries. The United States poses the greatest threat to North America. We are our own greatest enemy, because our government refuses to keep its nose out of foreign affairs that do not concern the U.S. These actions have resulted in Anti-America sentiments throughout the world, not to mention our uncanny ability to not accept responsibility for our own actions. This provokes thought of the age-old saying, “Every time you point a finger at someone else, there are three pointing back at you!”
Noel Green
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NEW TRIUMPH
The room was stuffy, hot, increasing the irritation felt by the gentlemen sitting within its walls. All had been chosen by circumstance, by the need to resolve the problems existing between the colonies and the mother country, Britain. With reluctance they all became convinced that the monarchy did not sufficiently meet the needs of the colonies inhabitants. They declared their independence, their equality to the English gentlemen who thought lesser of the Northern and Southern gentlemen. They declared in words forever immortalized that all men were created equal and endowed with certain unalienable rights. The question was raised however, did equality yet exist?
The sun beat heavily on brown heads, sweat dripped, and dropped in parched soil, as they labored. Stolen from lands across the sea, they toiled for men who had no pity. With songs, and hope, freedom, they worked for hours, meager food, dirty water, cramped homes. The western man, the eastern culture, the human race, has always felt the need to dominate, an inborn desire to designate someone as the lesser. With the discovery of the new continent, the dark continent, brimming with men who looked stained with the dirt they tread upon, burnt with the blessings of the sun, they knew a worker had been found. For the cultured man, the gentleman, was of need for laborers, people to plant their cotton, grow their cotton, feed their cotton, under the unyielding sun of the Southern skies. For a hundred years, they labored, without compensation, in a land made for the free. The so called home of the brave, the country in which great philosophers had written, had inscribed into the hearts of a new republic, that all men were created equal. Their freedom soon approached, but like all revolutions, like all change, it came with a price attached.
The Earth was stained, curdling with red water, thick, viscous, holding memory of past owners. Every freedom movement comes with a price, a cost… by one now get another 90 years free. They waited patiently, for that day, judgment day, when the white culture would be tried, and found guilty. For separate but equal was not the framers intent. This is what those great leaders of the Civil Rights movement advocated. Brotherhood, affirmative action, black power, hung thick, and rang loud. The Rosa Parks and the Martin Luther King Jr.’s were heard, as they preached injustice at inequality. African American’s gained, earned, no fought for their freedom, and recently earned their equality.
But this is not history, but the present, as the fight goes on today. Different groups, different people, have come together to fight for their own equality. Like the framers and the forefathers of this country have advocated for change, for the equal rights of man, the varying races, ethnicities, the different ages of this country have joined together in unity to protest rights not yet given. Women vied for voting rights, and equal opportunities in the job market. The disabled of this prodigious republic have charged the government with the task of setting things right, of forcing businesses to hire disabled individuals, and provide services for them. The elderly of our society, once put on the backburner, forced to retire before they were ready, placed in nursing homes, the forgotten, contest for their employment rights. Homosexuals, once taboo in this Christian-like and traditional nation, through vigorous fighting have won protection and soon may gain the ability to marry. The young people of this country have asked for more rights in the schoolyard, more protection from abusive parents, equal opportunities in college acceptance. All of these voices have called out in retrospect because of the influence of the Civil Rights movement. The heroes of this time period have sparked a revolution, a call to action that has initiated the beginning of a new civil rights period, one that doesn’t just involve blacks. I believe the impact of the 1960s movement is still, and will always reverberate throughout this nation’s history. This period told of triumphs, proved that this government we live under does react to the will of the people. Furthermore, it will serve as the springboard for more extensive movements, the inspiration for more questions, and clearer civil and equal rights.
Oriana Wellington
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THE TEMPEST
It is ever so interesting to watch a thunderstorm. The lightning and breaks in the sky captivate even the most hard hearted, and can tame the wildest of humanity in its complex dance in the Heavens. Yet, despite its grandeur and profound duplicity, the calmness of the earth after the mighty beast roars is inexplicable. In one glance at the spotted canvas, one can see all of God’s glory portrayed in the colors of the sky. A mixture of pinks and oranges engulfs the faded blue to bring the darkness of night, and yet, the majesty of the light is not forgotten but merely hidden until morning.
What is this creation, able to harness the wandering minds of today so plagued by entertainment, torments, success, and avarice? What is this phenomenon that can bring both pleasure and fear, and yet leave room for wondrous inspiration and the revival of dormant imaginations? Is it possible for one to grasp such influence and manipulate such power into something as simple as words? Certainly!
It is incumbent upon a reader to seek literature works that do not fail to enlighten or broaden ones thoughts and beliefs. For with every fleeting second and every passing midnight, death becomes less and less of an abstraction and life becomes more of a recollection than a reality. A most remarkable and infinite truth remains constant yet hidden in life; it is a lost treasure until discovered and guarded within the heart and soul.
Furthermore, the greatest and most honorable work wrought of thought and hand is one that is able to encompass such dynamism, such beauty, such tragedy, and such conviction that those who read and understand its meanings feel inclined to live every day with a single verse, a single chapter, merely because they feel connected to its power.
“There is no greater love than to lay one’s life down for a friend.” There is no greater love than sacrificial love. Life is the only gift that can be given once. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Forgiveness without suffering is quite meaningless. To feel revenge in one’s heart is quite ordinary; it is the conviction within that allows dismissal and justification. “It is finished” - Victory is won, and benevolence and righteousness triumph over evil, once again. The Bible has endured much adulation as well as its share of severe criticism. Despite such prominent judgments, its poetry and message neither whither nor bend under the pressure of societal conflicts. This work of art and inspiration reveal tales of man’s ancient trials and tribulations, valuable lessons, treachery, deceit, violence, anger, jealousy, tradition, the breaking of tradition, divine sacrifice, willing suffering, forgiveness, unconditional love, repentance, honor, praise, and finally hope; those who long for a written work that not only breaches the far recesses of one’s mind, but the untouchable soul long to escape from a world shrouded in darkness and despair.
Life is inescapable; words of wisdom stand mighty and unyielding. The Bible, no other literary piece of work has proven to be as potent as this.
Amanda Padro
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THE MENTOR OF LANGUAGE
Was there a “method to his madness”? Was he “too much of a good thing”? Well, “as good luck would have it”, he was all of the above. Literally forming spoken word into an art form, the man from Stratford-upon-Avon embellished the English language like none before him. Readers cannot finish a novel, let alone an opening paragraph, without witnessing his contributions to language. Without question, it can be agreed that William Shakespeare was the greatest inventor of all time.
Up until the time of William Shakespeare, English was still primitive and in a state of construction. Words were limited, and most expressions stemmed directly from either Greek mythology or the Bible. However, when Shakespeare’s scribbles began to translate into theatre, English began to mature. By simply converting what was once a verb into a noun, and articulating nouns as adjectives, Shakespeare translated concepts into words never thought possible. But why the big deal over words, simple phonics that we use daily? If taken literally, Shakespeare has wielded his creativity over 1700 words, meaning he is the most active inventor of all time.
Although not initially thought of as an inventor, Shakespeare fits the requirements with ease. The term invention, according to www.Dictionary.com, is identified as “an act or instance of creating or producing by exercise of the imagination, especially in art and music.” Shakespeare had such influence over the importance of spoken word and communication that he developed it into an art form never before seen. Language, before, was something mechanical, used solely to aid what eyes could behold; Shakespeare thought contrary to this and enabled words to delve further. In fact, Shakespeare’s closest competitor in influencing the English Language is the Bible, yet even new translations of the Bible now include Shakespearean English. Words like addiction, champion and generous, which before were only Latin or German roots, could now speak of thoughts never quite interpreted.
Shakespeare surpassed all expectations that he was merely fattening our language; instead, he created word play. And what word play he had! While in part insuring that his own writing logistically verified its desired meaning, the man of “rhyme and reason” could manipulate his own words into puns. Imagine audiences in awe over the levels of Shakespeare’s diction, and then to mind-boggle audiences further, his words would convey double meanings to add humorous puns.
Compared to other contemporary inventors, Shakespeare took more risks and accomplished the most. To this, we owe him gratitude. Novelists such as Charles Dickens and Herman Melville claim their influences lie in Shakespeare’s words and works. More than 20,000 musical pieces link to Shakespeare, and the words of Shakespeare craft our everyday social interaction. When English was still only wet clay, waiting to be molded and glossed, Shakespeare became the sculptor. Because of this, he is a stand alone as the greatest inventor yet.
John Carlson
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INSUFFICIENT
To foresee the future means to dismiss the past while misleading the present. Nonetheless, a prediction is only a predicated assertion which may be supported by past and/or present actuality. So predictions of a future labor shortage come across as ambiguous apprehension being fed through sheer repetition. I am opposed to this belief that our country will experience such an economic alteration to the massive extent as to which has been stated in numerous articles. While the future expresses itself haphazardly, we can only prepare for the possible while considering the impossible. In response experts bestow the assertion that an influx of foreign-born workers will be an effective solution to a future labor shortage. A solution? Yes, but diminutive. Effective? Slightly, but trivial. My opinion, I disagree.
The fuse has long been lit and the flame of the immigration debate continues to burn, waiting to explode in upheaval or be put out by an impartial solution. An insinuated influx only adds fuel to the fire, giving off mixed messages, "We don't need them, we do need them!" In wake of these arguments, Americans are being spoon-fed obscure statistics in regards to the coming "shortage," to the point in which they are too full to apprehend the truth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics conferred vague projections while dismissing important facts regarding the issue. What the data fails to acknowledge is the millions who are now outside of the labor force, who may by then choose to join, the contributions of baby boomers who are projected to work beyond the age of retirement and not to mention the simple fact that many people hold more than one job. More and more younger people are also graduating college which shows an abundance of potential high-skilled workers entering the labor force.
With our country’s capitalistic ideology it is perplexing to imagine that our economy could face a labor shortage. Driven by the laws of supply and demand our country has the flexibility and capacity to counteract and correct such a shortage as more citizens enter a field when wages go up. Economist would like to rely on the act of bringing in more foreign workers to help fill this void but with other countries experiencing an aging labor force as well and a predicted shortage of up to 35 million by 2030, it’s obscure to perceive a significant change in the U.S. labor force, most notably in the high-skilled labor pool.
This dilemma extends beyond demographics; the embodiment of economics is very much relevant as well and the solution lies here at home, investment and education. German polymath, Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe once said, "The greater the knowledge, the greater the doubt!" And the greater the doubt the greater the capacity for success. This is why I refuse to believe, because we have the aptness to preclude this now. A labor shortage is described as "an insufficiency in the labor force," but it seems the figures supporting the claim are insufficient in complete thought!
DeAndre Tabron
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THE LARGEST NUMBER
Regardless of morals, regardless of rearing, and regardless of the overzealous admiration of all other figures, one is the only number of value. Certainly, you could argue the significance of two, and three, and any other digit a puddle’s jump along the number line, but second and third place are neither first, and first has always been, as aptly titled, first to our attention.
Of course, the worship of the number one is not without reason. The fleeting popularity that accompanies a number of such equal technical worth is at the pinnacle of every aspect of society. You can only reassure the number two to a point that you recognize reassurance shouldn’t be necessary without some type of loss, and in a roundabout manner, your attention has found its way back to the number one again. With the number one, you are granted a stipend of narcissism, free of conviction, and what human is inhuman enough to rebuff pride?
Of all the institutions fundamental to a healthy upbringing, it is educational establishments that most fervently impress their conceptions of the number one into our judgment. Though the family conveys messages of the benefits of attaining first place to their children, they will not disown one child in favor of another, more qualified child, should they fail to meet expectations. Thus is the intellectual mêlée that is the college applications process. What finer example of academic competition do we have in our educational system? The twelve-year preparation process culminates in colleges determining the academic superiority of one applicant over the other through a ten-page pamphlet of birth information, test results and cliché essays prompts on favorite authors and hobbies. A minimalist approach? Yes, but the perfect formula for schools thriving with academic diversity.
Throughout high school, the atmosphere hangs heavy with competition as students grapple for the prestigious role of valedictorian, a holy grail to those seeking validation for nights spent with textbooks and weekends without outings. Rankings are incentives for students seeking satisfaction for the hardships they’ve endured. It is an animalistic fracas for first place, but without a ranking system, there would be no pride involved in studying. For many, most of the courses students take in high school are not courses of preference, but rather courses of obligation. In this case, the ranking system acts as a form of incentive for students to pursue all subjects equally. Though an academically competitive atmosphere is always accompanied by pressure, what work does not entail pressure in some form or another? College applications are, in spite of everything, requests for acceptance, and in our pursuits for acceptance, it is anticipated that we experience vast amounts of stress.
Without the academically competitive nature of our educational institutions, we would never quite fully utilize our abilities and truly begin to understand our potential for success. Though the pursuit for the number one is the longest journey many of us will face, it holds the most promise for us at the end.
Victoria Chao
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THE GROWING INSURGENCY
Over the progression and development of society, communities have matured and flourished into prosperous aristocracies not only physically and economically but also socially, intellectually and culturally—until now. Rather than continue along this progressive path, present day society has taken a turn for the worse: imperialistic gluttony and egocentric arrogance. No longer are we a collective community striving for a rounded good, but rather we have become a virulent populace notorious for greed, vanity and envy. No longer does our society exhibit respectable qualities of nobility and dignity but rather we flaunt characteristics of filth, lust, conceit and hate. No longer is there purity, harmony or faith. Instead, morals have been debased, ethics have been forgotten and ideals have been rationalized into beliefs of narcissism and egotism. Thus, this rising insurgency of hatred and conceit has and will lead to a growing conflict of war and violence.
Unfortunately, this phenomenon of corruption is not confined to one nation: it is a global tragedy suppressing a myriad of ethnicities and cultures. Consequently, depth and substance have been lost and envy and pride have been found as its new replacements. Furthermore, individuals have become so absorbed, so enthralled, with these self-righteous convictions that compassion for others no longer exists. Instead, personal egomanias and victorious greed prevail.
Because of this deterioration and lack of sentiment, people have deterred from the conventional unity and communal dependency of a collective society and lead more individualistic and independent lives. As a result, a new hostility has emerged: every man for himself. Although this sense of competition can prove beneficial, the greed and gluttony of many prove far too detrimental to overlook its severities.
Such radicals bestow it upon themselves to seek justice and equity based upon their own tainted fundamentals. Consequently, cultic insurgencies arise clashing with conflicting groups of similar temperance. As a result, numerous wars erupt due to these collisions. Thus, hostilities similar to the Ugandan conflict, the Israeli-Palestinian war, the Shiites versus the Sunnis, Lebanon, Darfur, Sierra Leone, even the political oppression in North Korea arise.
However, the calculated cruelty of such wars adds up to be a sum far too overbearing than a mere conflict: many children, abducted as innocents, emerge from enslaved cocoons of hate as tools of terror. Instead of instruments for innovation and seminal change, these children are manipulated into cold-blooded killers: instruments of mass murder and genocide. These same children will grow to become the leaders of society. These same children, forced to kill in fear of their own lives, are our successors—our future.
Nevertheless, despite the knowledge of such disasters, people still turn the other cheek; the self-righteous concerns persist and people still choose not to act despite the unjust severities other individuals are facing. Thus, rather than solve these conflicts, many societies choose to cover them up. Consequently, if societies continue to ignore these conflicts, such a future will become reality, riddled with growing insurgencies of war and violence.
Julia McPherson
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RIGHT A WRONG?
History is a reverberation of interminable contrast that, in all its repetition, never fails to replace the present. It does not admit to concussion of interests and nor will it ever concede to a side. It remains objective, subjective and absolutely impartial in execution, and in light of this, history concludes for itself one true purpose. This purpose rests not in its capacity of learning from a wrong, but instead alleviation of the error once done. It has never been enough to avoid past mistakes, for in doing so, no actions in rectifying the pasts have been prepared. In reality, the power to change the past is only wishful thinking. In truth, I cannot deny the countless Jews, Slavs and the other undeserved, their prayers of killing Hitler before he could ever rise to power. I cannot deny that many lives would have been saved if World War Two was quenched before it erupted, that it would probably have prevented the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the current conflict we see today. Nevertheless, I can deny this wishful thinking.
History is fickle. Not in the literal term, for it cannot be changed, but it is indecisive. One small event, one insignificant change can alter the present capriciously. Perhaps not fickle but finicky, for to choose a singular event to change, is to prioritize one event over another. Amend the thousands killed at the hands of Genghis Khan, or kill a child who would grow to kill millions anyways? Horribly, I would be debating, who deserves to live longer? And who am I to judge? What arrogance would give me the idea that I, even with the power, have the right to deem what events, what lives, are most important? What if that one child had an offspring that would bring peace to this world the likes of which never seen? This simple idea I cannot stress enough, for a wise uncle once said, “With great power comes greater responsibility” and the power to change any event in history is power unimaginable. How many of us would use that power wisely? Perhaps some. How many of us can say we truly understand the consequences of using that power? I am skeptical at any who say they can. Therefore, even if such power should cross my path, I would not readily take it. I would not change any event in history. Why? Simply, I cannot risk it.
Hence, the true purpose emerges, alleviation. It is sad to note that we as humans fail to learn from our mistakes and remain adamant in the flow of wishful thinking. Humans cannot be objective, subjective and impartial in their execution. Rectification of the past is the only way to ensure future tragedies are prevented. It is a pity that mankind is content to realize history is set in stone, that a deed once done cannot be undone; however, they often fail to recognize that perhaps, these deeds, this history, can yet be mitigated.
Hamed Dar
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DA VINCI'S LESSON
Edgar Allen Poe once said, “Were I called on to define, very briefly, the term art, I should call it ‘the reproduction of what the senses perceive in nature through the veil of the soul.’” The soul is becoming an increasingly obscure part of our daily lives. Children and teens, setting out to reach for the stars in today’s rapidly modernizing society, are succumbing to a highly materialistic way of life. Making art a mandatory subject in school would be a solution to the convoluted view of what happiness is, and how we, being who we are, can satisfy our true desires.
Everyone is unique, or so we are taught to believe. However, look at youth today and what is seen is brand names and fashion trends. A sense of conformity is required to belong, and in doing so, individuality is cast away. Put a brush in someone’s hand and a sheet of paper in front of them, and personal expression is allowed to flourish. No two pieces of art, no matter how alike, are ever completely the same. Art provides an outlet for one’s emotions and takes many configurations; in a sense, it is a release of a person’s capabilities and uniqueness.
A finished piece of art is a symbolic accomplishment. It evokes feelings of pride and builds self-esteem because it is an effort that is created with the person’s soul. These are feelings unknown to scientific explanations of math problems, which have already been done countless times. While filling out countless sheets of paper may not help students realize the extent of their achievement, conceiving art is a concrete, irreversible attribute to their determination and mastery.
A belief among young people is that success is paralleled with wealth, fame and comfort. Our burgeoning capitalist societies encourage manipulation and Machiavellian qualities in order to get to the top. The creation of a model, painting or drawing, however, forces us to utilize our awareness of the world. A consciousness is developed, both of ourselves as individuals, and of the people and environment that make up our lives. In essence, we become more human. Insights are made into who we are and what we can do to fully enjoy life, as well as how to improve the lives of others. Emotion and understanding become the deciding factors in the choices we make.
Nonetheless, art is not necessarily an individual effort. There is a social aspect to it as well, especially if it is executed within a school class. Seemingly unending days can be remedied by the opportunity to interact with other individuals while working. Edgar Allen Poe’s words accurately describe the impact of a simple act on a person’s life. Creating art functions to give us a sense of identity, enlightenment and freedom. Designating art as a mandatory subject could ultimately help us save a world succumbing to war, commercialism and greed.
Koto Andersen
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THE DISCOVERY OF EXPRESSION
One hundred years is time enough for a single breath of opportunity. Human life is a transitory game of chance, and can be compared to the life of a firework. Life begins at the striking of a match – the flare of a tiny flame. A fuse is lit, a child is born, and a spark crackles and sputters, and creeps toward an explosion. The anticipation grows, and thoughts of fault lead bystanders to gnaw at their nails. Suddenly, the firework tears into the black of night. Blind and rebellious, it circles and swoops, and dances with potential. Crowds watch expectantly in silence. What will happen? How beautiful will it be? Each question is redundant, because no matter how a single firework erupts, it contributes equally to the spectacle of life, and will soon be forgotten in the blaze of billions of fireworks to come.
The dazzling flash of a single life is a dream in pursuit of expression. That expression is limited to language, imagery, music, dance, and other such forms of physical art. As a developing artist, I have encountered my share of obstacles with physical art. Expression is not a warm mug of coco, milky swirls of white, and ghastly bands of vapour that weave and peek over the brim of a favourite mug. Expression is the communication of a feeling. It is an attempt at the impossible. Words cannot capture an exact feeling. Music cannot capture an exact feeling. There is no medium on Earth through which an artist can communicate an exact feeling, and have it interpreted in the intended context. Furthermore, there is no medium on Earth through which an artist can express the most spectacular feelings imaginable, which are those of a dream.
For some artists, fireworks occur during the night. Lingering clouds of smoke dissolve, and fireworks are forgotten. In the same sense, prodigious dreams are forgotten within moments of waking to the physical world. Enchanted adventures, ethereal perceptions, imaginative lifestyles. We humans have fantasies, hopes, and creativity, and through our dreams those entities are brought to life. But only through our dreams.
If I could make one scientific discovery in my lifetime, it would allow humans to record their dreams such that others could experience those exact sensations. Dreams should exist as an artistic medium. I can imagine the night I drift asleep and dream of a peaceful world – a magical world in which there are no boundaries on expression. I would guide my friends across an ocean of doubt, and reveal to them the importance of life. I would explore the nonexistent universe, and expose to the world the unfathomable pool of potential we humans could never pollute. I would then open my eyes, and realize that if dreams could be shared, the eyes of the world would also open to possibilities we cannot yet imagine. Expression would glitter forever in colours that our physical eyes could never perceive. It would be interesting to know the dreams of philosophers.
Matthew Cudmore
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PRECARIOUS AT BEST
The notion of privatization is one which strikes a strong chord that inevitably envelops ideological fundamentals. Each and every nation has a specific regime or one which adopts a compounded medley which appeals to them. Canada is one nation that has a strong history in sustaining a universal health care system which adopts all of the necessary characteristics which deem equity as a foundational value. Yet Canada also adopts Capitalist values which attribute for a strong portion of our market; this indefinitely results in a precarious situation. The cause is obvious and very straight forward: in a system which wears the clad of two opposites, one will invariably influence the other. This is, however, a tendency which may be regulated by strict governance, and such is indeed possible as is evident by the European and Scandinavian models. What is important to note here is whenever an institution is governed along a fundamental structure which seeks profit, this financial objective becomes paramount above all others. It should be clear why such a model would be, in the very least, precarious for the health care industry.
In a privatized for-profit institution, the relationship between the administration and the patient is changed. One peculiar difference is that, as any business, the client is a customer, no longer a patient. This accords with other characteristics this sort of institution holds, most especially its tendency to quantify all of its operations. In fact, its qualitative approach is to assess its efficiency in operation, rather than the quality of service for the patient. This is typically a result of its management innovations which actually originated in Japanese car firms (TQM, PFC, re-engineering). While this may sound humorous and even absurd, it should be noted that such models have already been implemented. As a means to be cost-effective, beds are economized according to the conveyer-belt approach, where patients are patched up and sent on their way. The time and scrutiny afforded in the past which has been for the sake of ensuring the stability of the patient is now dangerously cut short. The question to ask the “customer” is if they believe they should be treated in the same way raw materials and products are on the factory floors of car manufacturers?
Administrators of publicly regulated and funded health care institutions follow a set structure and protocol, and rely primarily on funding received by the government. The administration does not concern itself with cutting costs, but rather focuses on operating as set by its charter. The doctors and nurses focus on quality of service to the best of their abilities, and the administration does not pressure them to do otherwise. This is absolutely appropriate when you consider that when regulation is afforded to a private for-profit ownership, this system and model of operations is altered to increase profitability, which means cutting costs. The latter point is crucial in understanding why, indeed, the patient should be wary of entering a privately owned health care institution.
Amir Bozorgzadeh
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THE VALUE OF DISTRACTION
Before one can meaningfully discuss whether or not professional athletes are paid too much, one must come to some understanding of why they receive those wages in the first place. The basic economical laws of supply and demand in a free market give us a simple and straightforward answer to this second question - professional athletes have such high salaries because we, as a society, place so much value on their services. Even if the vast majority of individuals in our society decry the exorbitant wages of certain athletes, by our actions we still affirm that we are more than willing to pay those very wages. Through our devoted attendance at sports games, our ritualistic commitment to following broadcasted games on television, and our purchasing of various sports paraphernalia, we demonstrate that professional sports are an extremely valuable part of our lives.
The next logical question, then, is why we place so much value on something as seemingly insignificant as professional sports games. After all, aren’t sports meant to be played rather than observed? What is it about watching professional athletes play a game that is so intrinsically valuable to us? Some may argue that professional sports embody some of our deepest values, such as courage, honour, and fair play. I have a somewhat less optimistic suggestion. The 17th century French philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote many thoughts on the role of distraction in our lives. He wrote about the certainty of death, our complete ignorance of what lies on the other side, and the appalling nonchalance with which we treat the entire subject. In thinking about the human condition he wrote, “the eternal silence of these infinite spaces fills me with dread.” Mankind knows that it is a cosmic anomaly; that is, that we do not fit in with the rest of the natural universe.
We know that our lives are but a fleeting moment on the grand scale of things. We know for certain that death awaits us around every corner and that we are utterly helpless to prevent it. And the vast majority of us are entirely unprepared for what may come after. How do we respond to this predicament? Reason would demand that we search out the deeper meaning of life with all our resources; that we throw everything aside in a desperate attempt to find answers to our most pressing questions. Do we follow the demands of reason? Or, instead, do we attempt to silence that annoying voice in the back of our minds by sitting down on the couch with a cold beer to watch the Flames trounce the Kings in the playoffs?
Professional athletes are certainly overpaid, not because of any economical reason, but because of the much deeper problem of the appalling insignificance of some of our most important values, given our condition in life. Leo Tolstoy provides an apt metaphor in his article “My Confession”. He likens the human condition to a man who has fallen into a pit after being pursued by a lion. He grabs onto a root to stop himself from falling to the bottom. At the bottom of the pit there is a dragon that is waiting hungrily to devour the man when he falls, and around the base of the root there are mice chewing away at the ground surrounding the root. His fate is certain; it is only a matter of time before the mice chew enough to completely loosen the root, plunging the man to his demise. However, at the end of the root there are some drops of sweet honey. Rather than spending time thinking and worrying about his condition, the man hangs on and licks the drops of honey, distracting his mind through pleasure. Professional sports are drops of honey to many in our society – the distraction they provide gives a very welcome reprieve from the “eternal silence of these infinite spaces.”
David Anderson
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PATHS
Deep within the heart of the modern world lies an ancient evil that has resided for centuries. Its selfish talons and twisted fangs dig deeply into the frail body of our society. With a poorly printed word, it could extinguish the dreams of the hopeful or ignite the flames of fear. Crudely constructed paper and cheap black ink are its face and features. The words are its weapons. This demon goes by many names. But I call it: ‘The Media’.
The Media touches everyone. It is like a plague on my life infecting everything and everyone around me. I cannot resist the choices that I make, and yet I try to choose the path less chosen. This is manipulation in its most sinister form. I will not agree with the media, because I have been raised as an individual. But what if the media is being truthful? If that is the case then I am being led down the path to insecurity and mistrust. Another foul trick employed by the demon to discredit me.
In many cases I will be faced with two doors. One door will tread the path of the praised and successful. The other will lead to failure and loneliness. Being actually faced with the decision in such a literal manner I would most probably follow the path of praise. However I don’t see it that way. Everyone’s going that way. I’ll go this way.
Sometimes you will find that a different path is often the worst. You may find that the ground is particularly rocky and the bushes far more thorny. You may find that, although you carved this path on your own, there would be no reason for anyone else to take it. That doesn’t matter to me. My path is my own.
The Media is the collective voice of our nation. It speaks and thinks for us. It will provide the necessary facts required to come to the conclusion they deemed right, and lead you down their concrete path. I would like to think that the Media doesn’t control me, but it does. It made me walk my own path because I refused to follow theirs, and what good is one voice without theirs to back it up?
Max Greenall
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DON’T BLAME ME!!
Sitting in the living room silently, patiently, and in the dark, I await for the return of my admirers. No, I am waiting for my worshippers. I know I will be turned on as soon as I see them, and I am not disappointed. The feeling of being right is mundane from constant occurrence.
Electrons burst through my cathode ray organs in appreciation of my eager worshippers. On the surface, this is a symbiotic relationship. In reality, social control flows on a one-way street.
My worshippers lie before me, on tenterhooks for everything I wish to show them. With their physical beings lying beside the warm fireplace, my idolisers’ mental capacities become stunted by their universal travels through me. With their every whim, I obey. Those who lie before me adore me because, in their eyes, this obedience suggests that they are in power. From such naivety stems my love of these sentient creatures.
Humans have urgency to think and ponder, and I only wish to relieve this burden from them with attractive colours and movement that numb the mind. My greatest pleasure lies in witnessing my influence on the lives of my puppets. My decisions become their decisions. I feel that ever-wonderful sense of accomplishment when endorsed merchandise slowly fills up around me. However, fundamental moral change is my biggest fulfillment because my ultimate desire is to make differences in others’ lives. I know positive alterations are made because reality shows teach normal behaviour suitable for daily life, alleged dramas demonstrate the appropriate emotional acceptance level, and perverted advertisements demonstrate a true sense of social expectation. All of this contributes into a growing discrepancy and hostility within a household. I simply adore it, especially when the fight is over me, because it means I made a difference! I do all of this because I care. My actions benefit society, and compensate for my unattractive, rectangular exterior. Cultivating addiction is only an uncontrollable bonus. Please understand and remember that, for you see, my only means of feeling warmth and love is to subtly take it from the world. To win in this world, someone must lose. In this case, humanity must be the loser.
I have become the most powerful religion on the planet. It is not my fault that my most beloved and dedicated pupils hold lives fixated around me. What is so absurd about living, feeling, and loving through a box anyway? Don’t blame me for society’s obsession with distraction and avoidance of life. I am simply the household box that grants the world its wish. I may be corrosive, corruptive, and hazardous to the health, and everyone may know that I spell his or her doom, but my lethal reputation only increases my appeal exponentially. The worse I am for them, the more they want me. I define desire. I define human nature. If I have to sit in a dark room for the rest of my petty existence, I am taking everyone else with me.
June Lam
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THE CORNERSTONES OF SAFETY
Natural disasters occur whether or not one is prepared for them. Yet the wise cliché of expecting the unexpected is not lost on those with enough foresight to prepare for such a tragic event. Knowledge itself is a great power in preparing for possible natural disasters and in essence half the battle of ensuring one's safety.
When one moves into an area or comes of age while residing there, a crucial point to comprehend would be what natural disasters, if any, are likely to occur within the area. Although this is the first step, or rather a step towards the first step, it is certainly the cornerstone of a safe environment. Excluding from knowing what types of disasters are more likely to occur (a tornado rampaging through southern FL is a prime example of an unlikely occurrence) the probability of such an event happening is the second piece of information needed to gather. Living in an area titled after a natural disaster (a.k.a. "Tornado Alley") would be an obvious hint.
On average one does not gain awareness of impending disaster from within, more so from local or cable newscasting. Some are more reliable or better informed than others and knowing "who to trust" can make the difference between life and death in certain situations. Nearly every citizen has waited outside for a bus in a grimace and damp business suit because the weatherman spoke dramatically of sunshine and cloudless skies instead of four inches of rain. Misinformation has caused the ill fate of many people including several workers of the World Trade Center buildings who returned to their desks per order instead of escaping to safety and thus, survival. Given the real life and logical examples of what can occur because of faulty information, it is clearly vital to compile information that is sound and reliable in all stages of preparation.
The worst possible thing to hear when one cries out for help is silence, and knowing who will be either around or called in to help is a relief and peace of mind that is illogical to ignore. Although some argue that it was not enough, the victims of Hurricane Katrina received aid from countless fund raisers and volunteers who uprooted themselves to help those uprooted by this recent natural disaster. Living in an ultra rural environment has its consequences, along with near utter seclusion, the most relevant in this case is that there are not many, if any at all, coming to help in case of a disaster. Most know and accept this when entering into such an area and take it into consideration when something arises and they are forced to help themselves. New Orleans is hardly this rural location and thus citizens were evacuated on a large scale by those who sought to help these startled people. Whether someone is coming to help or not, knowing where one stands is both a relief and a lifesaver when it comes time for action.
"Knowing is half the battle." This time honored quote taken from the G.I. Joe saga clearly comes into play when looking back over the vital and sometimes taken for granted pieces of information that were explained here. Knowledge itself is a great power in preparing for possible natural disasters and in essence half the battle of ensuring safety. General knowledge of one's surroundings is undeniable in its utter importance and hopefully these cornerstones can be instilled so that lives in the future can be saved.
Ashlee Peck
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MEDIA MOGUL TAKES TOP HONOR
In our media-driven society, one approach to measuring societal influence could be to evaluate the worth of one’s media empire. Unquestionably, our dollar spending is indicative of our interest. With a personal net worth of over one billion dollars, Oprah Winfrey is certainly a candidate for recognition as the most influential person of the 20th century. According to Oprah.com, over 30 million Americans watch Oprah each week, not to mention the viewers in over 112 other countries. While those numbers alone indicate Oprah’s powerful influence, it is diversity that empowers her media empire. She not only hosts a hugely successful television show, but she also developed her very successful Oprah.com website. She is co-founder of Oxygen Media LLC, and she is founder and editorial director of O, The Oprah Magazine. Fortunately, Oprah’s contributions and influence have not gone unnoticed.
Oprah has been the recipient of many prestigious awards, including Newsweek’s “Woman of the Century,” the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, and in 1997 was named as the “Most Important Person in Books and Media.” Oprah is quickly becoming a mainstay on Time Magazine’s annual list of “100 Most Influential People.” Her influence in our culture is obvious, but what is it about this woman that demands our attention? What gives her such a powerful influence? In a time when we have a plethora of opportunities for our attention, what makes Oprah so attractive? Perhaps, for viewers, she is a symbol of hope. A hope that dreams can come true. Whether the dream is for fame and fortune, evolution as a person or making the planet a better place for everyone, Oprah Winfrey is not just “talking the talk,” she is definitely “walking the walk.” In fact, for most of us, she is living proof that dreams can come true.
Oprah models our dream of success. She has overcome obstacles like poverty, bias, and child-abuse to become one of the wealthiest, most successful people of our time. At 51 years of age, her broad list of titles include: talk show host, actress, publisher, producer, philanthropist, and political activist. Many people in our culture dream of fame and fortune. Oprah’s rise from poverty to the top of the social and financial ladder keeps that dream alive.
On a deeper level, she keeps alive our dream of self-actualization. By nature, people want to achieve their full potential. Through the power of television, we have the opportunity to see Oprah realizing that dream. Typically, the topics of her talk show speak to the heart. She addresses issues like self-discovery, self-empowerment, honesty, and integrity. Oprah not only models self-actualization, but she also helps to empower others to reach their full potential. Thus, her influence expands exponentially. Not unlike the parable that says, “If you give a man a fish, you can feed him for a day. But if you teach a man to fish, you’ll feed him for life.”
Finally, Oprah gives hope to the dream of making the world a better place. As viewers, we not only get to see her altruistic behavior, but also that one person can truly make a difference. Her example is truly inspirational; it encourages viewers to give back to society. And it is working! Oprah’s non-profit organization, the Angel Network collects millions of dollars every year from loyal Oprah fans. Like Oprah, the organization is dedicated to inspiring people to make a difference in the lives of others. And based on results, it’s a roaring success.
Regardless of the amount of public exposure, a person will never be a dominating influence on society unless they are able to capture and maintain the public’s interest. Furthermore, if the amount of interest is indicated by the number of sponsors, loyal viewers, readers, and financial contributors, then Oprah Winfrey is certainly the most influential person of the 20th century.
Rene' Harrell
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ALTERNATIVE ENERGY AND THE AGEING CAPITALIST SOCIETY
As oil prices continue to rise, activists have vigorously campaigned for the development of alternative fuel sources--and yet, aside from a handful of vastly cost-inefficient hybrid automobiles, what do we have to show for it? The impending demise of the Oil era has been preached since the early eighties, but as of yet only the most cursory of motions has been made toward planning for the post-petrol world.
Yet why is this the case in a nation that prides itself on its history of innovation? First, from a purely economic perspective it is hardly in the interest of automotive manufacturers to advance the cause of alternative fuels--the cost of research and development, coupled with the difficulty of converting the means of production from a petroleum-based to an alternative-energy model, is prohibitive. Second, there is no viable source of power-grid energy; solar plants are feeble and unreliable in comparison to coal or oil, hydroelectric power is immensely difficult to install in areas where power is most needed, and wind farms take up huge tracts of land when land itself is scarce. Further, the one realistic alternative energy source--nuclear power--has been strangled in the cradle by fear and superstition on the part of the American community. It is reasonable to assume that coal and oil-based power grids will remain a fixture of American life; the transportation industry, however, has found itself in a precarious situation.
Since no meaningful reforms are possible in the private sector, and assuming that the state will refuse to socialize the issue, it seems that the only predictable response to the crisis will be the cost-engineered reduction of petroleum consumption in the private sector. This will emphasize the role of public transportation in America's cities and rejuvenate the railroad as a player in interstate travel and commerce; as has already been observed in Asia, the relative role of pedestrianism and bicycle-riding will supersede that of the automobile. As a side effect, the cost of urban housing will skyrocket as the difficulty of commuting forces white-collar workers to find apartments near their places of employment.
The economics of a culture as technologically aged as ours are by nature prohibitively conservative. Without socialization of the energy and transportation industries, and the moral and logistical demands associated with it, the only possible response to the petroleum shortage seems to be the reduction of petroleum consumption. It is not an alternative source of fuel but an alternative way of life that will solve America's energy crisis in the coming decades.
Richard Threadgall
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