Is Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad harboring a secret love affair with Andy Samberg?
Now there's an important distinction to make with this video. Andy Samberg is not making fun of Ahmadinejad for being a homosexual. The implication is not that Ahmadinejada is an inferior person because he's a homosexual. What this song is saying is that Ahmadinejad is horrible human being because of his hypocrisy, the deplorable way he treats his people and the lies that he continues to spread.
By making fun of his sexuality Samberg is saying that Ahmadinejad is hiding something from us and is a coward. He deserves our scorn because of his inability to acknowledge the most basic of human rights and sometimes the best way to deal with this anger is to laugh.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
What It Means To Talk About Politics-Part II
It is often said that you should not talk about politics and religion at social gatherings. Why is that?
I’ve made wrote this other political discourse and what it means. This last post talked about how talking politics is of such importance that it should not be discussed the way sports are discussed because we are talking about people’s lives, not some inconsequential dramatic event for us to live vicariously through.
That’s just the first step.
Most political issues are not questions of absolute right and wrong. Take the economy for example. You can find experts in economics, people who spend their entire lives in the field who both support Obama’s economic policies and others who are against them. These people who understand the intricacies of our economy in ways that most of us can barely comprehend cannot come to a consensus, so how can we talk about this issues like we have it all figured it out? Are you really smarter about this issue then all of these people who disagree with you?
If you are holding an opinion about something that is highly debatable, then you really are holding an “opinion” which when discussed is a very different thing then arguing a “fact.”
The President Of The United States’ job is to make difficult and unpopular decisions. If something was a no-brainers and easy issue to address it would never reach the president’s desk. The decisions Obama has to make include information and subtleties that most people never understand, so is it fair to form opinions without knowing all of the facts?
Have you ever read a bill that that a president has signed? I got about two hundred pages into the No Child Left Behind Act before giving up. Try this sometimes, read a bill that you are passionate about and then you will really know what you're talking about.
I’m not saying that in order to have an opinion about a political issue you have to know everything about it and read all of the policy. What I’m saying is that when you discuss a political issue more often than not people who are smarter than disagree with you, you do not have all the facts and you probably haven’t actually read first hand what you’re even talking about. That’s ok, but what that means is that you can’t discuss a political issue with a “I’m right, you’re wrong” mentality.
What about the other issues, the ones that are black and white? Let’s just say that you are actually have a Master’s in economics and have read the tax code. Or like me feel that the equal rights of homosexuals is about right and wrong. Well, just because someone is wrong doesn’t mean you get to be a jerk about it.
Are you discussing your opinion to help someone understand your side as being right or see their stance as being wrong? And yes, those are two different things. Sometimes the best of us fall in the latter category and ti's really not a great place to be.
The strength of a political argument is in showing respect and understanding of the opposing position and starting with their perspective to help them understand yours. Condescension does not change people's minds, but a willingness to listen and learn can change the world.
I’ve made wrote this other political discourse and what it means. This last post talked about how talking politics is of such importance that it should not be discussed the way sports are discussed because we are talking about people’s lives, not some inconsequential dramatic event for us to live vicariously through.
That’s just the first step.
Most political issues are not questions of absolute right and wrong. Take the economy for example. You can find experts in economics, people who spend their entire lives in the field who both support Obama’s economic policies and others who are against them. These people who understand the intricacies of our economy in ways that most of us can barely comprehend cannot come to a consensus, so how can we talk about this issues like we have it all figured it out? Are you really smarter about this issue then all of these people who disagree with you?
If you are holding an opinion about something that is highly debatable, then you really are holding an “opinion” which when discussed is a very different thing then arguing a “fact.”
The President Of The United States’ job is to make difficult and unpopular decisions. If something was a no-brainers and easy issue to address it would never reach the president’s desk. The decisions Obama has to make include information and subtleties that most people never understand, so is it fair to form opinions without knowing all of the facts?
Have you ever read a bill that that a president has signed? I got about two hundred pages into the No Child Left Behind Act before giving up. Try this sometimes, read a bill that you are passionate about and then you will really know what you're talking about.
I’m not saying that in order to have an opinion about a political issue you have to know everything about it and read all of the policy. What I’m saying is that when you discuss a political issue more often than not people who are smarter than disagree with you, you do not have all the facts and you probably haven’t actually read first hand what you’re even talking about. That’s ok, but what that means is that you can’t discuss a political issue with a “I’m right, you’re wrong” mentality.
What about the other issues, the ones that are black and white? Let’s just say that you are actually have a Master’s in economics and have read the tax code. Or like me feel that the equal rights of homosexuals is about right and wrong. Well, just because someone is wrong doesn’t mean you get to be a jerk about it.
Are you discussing your opinion to help someone understand your side as being right or see their stance as being wrong? And yes, those are two different things. Sometimes the best of us fall in the latter category and ti's really not a great place to be.
The strength of a political argument is in showing respect and understanding of the opposing position and starting with their perspective to help them understand yours. Condescension does not change people's minds, but a willingness to listen and learn can change the world.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Year 2: Week 13 – To Be Liked
I’m not going to deny that I enjoy the fact that many of my students like me, but that’s really not the point of what I do.
It’s interesting. When I think back on the teachers who had the most impact on me some of them I liked a lot but some of them I didn’t. What was consistent was the fact that I respected their knowledge, their skill as a teacher and the fact that they respected me.
What teachers provide for students is not some kind of celebrity or idol, but rather a person who helps guide them and we often do not guide them in ways that they would like. No teenager is ever going to thank a teacher for providing them with structure and guidance but students often get frustrated with teachers who do not do this.
We work so hard for students and it gets frustrating sometimes when students express dislike about us. While these words can be pointed its important to keep in mind that they aren’t talking about us as people but as teachers.
Have you ever noticed when a student sees you outside of the school building they get kind of freaked out like they don’t expect that you could possibly exist outside of the school building? Even though you spend all this time getting to know your students, caring about them, working so that they can learn and be successful they do none of these things for you and in this way, this relationship when at its best really is not about being a friend or being liked.
I remember when I first started teaching I worried that I would teach students that I didn’t like. If I were to say that I liked all of my students equally that would be a lie. Remember, even though I’m a teacher, I’m human. But I’m very cautious about these feelings and for the kids I don’t connect immediately with I make a conscious effort to work with so that my feelings about certain kids don’t get in the way of me serving other students. That being said, I have grown to care about all of my students no matter how they have treated me, because I simply choose to.
This is a hard thing to do especially when there are students who express disdain for you as a teachers but what’s important to keep in mind is that the fact that you have students who don’t like you mean that you are doing your job. Also, kids who seem to like you, don’t actually like you as a person so much the image of you as a teacher.
I can honestly say that I love it when my students are excited to see me in the hallways and want to tell me about their day. These kinds of interactions do help motivate me as a teacher but I can’t rely on them, because I know that they may dislike me in a minute when I give them a bad grade. You have to be willing to give up any positive feelings they have for you to provide them with what they need.
Knowing that you did what was right for your students even if it means that they dislike you as a teacher may not make you smile but its the proof you need at the end of the day to know that you truly are a teacher.
It’s interesting. When I think back on the teachers who had the most impact on me some of them I liked a lot but some of them I didn’t. What was consistent was the fact that I respected their knowledge, their skill as a teacher and the fact that they respected me.
What teachers provide for students is not some kind of celebrity or idol, but rather a person who helps guide them and we often do not guide them in ways that they would like. No teenager is ever going to thank a teacher for providing them with structure and guidance but students often get frustrated with teachers who do not do this.
We work so hard for students and it gets frustrating sometimes when students express dislike about us. While these words can be pointed its important to keep in mind that they aren’t talking about us as people but as teachers.
Have you ever noticed when a student sees you outside of the school building they get kind of freaked out like they don’t expect that you could possibly exist outside of the school building? Even though you spend all this time getting to know your students, caring about them, working so that they can learn and be successful they do none of these things for you and in this way, this relationship when at its best really is not about being a friend or being liked.
I remember when I first started teaching I worried that I would teach students that I didn’t like. If I were to say that I liked all of my students equally that would be a lie. Remember, even though I’m a teacher, I’m human. But I’m very cautious about these feelings and for the kids I don’t connect immediately with I make a conscious effort to work with so that my feelings about certain kids don’t get in the way of me serving other students. That being said, I have grown to care about all of my students no matter how they have treated me, because I simply choose to.
This is a hard thing to do especially when there are students who express disdain for you as a teachers but what’s important to keep in mind is that the fact that you have students who don’t like you mean that you are doing your job. Also, kids who seem to like you, don’t actually like you as a person so much the image of you as a teacher.
I can honestly say that I love it when my students are excited to see me in the hallways and want to tell me about their day. These kinds of interactions do help motivate me as a teacher but I can’t rely on them, because I know that they may dislike me in a minute when I give them a bad grade. You have to be willing to give up any positive feelings they have for you to provide them with what they need.
Knowing that you did what was right for your students even if it means that they dislike you as a teacher may not make you smile but its the proof you need at the end of the day to know that you truly are a teacher.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The Lumberjack Song
Everyone has a dream.
I'm not even that big a fan of Monty Python, but this thing is one of the best examples of musical humor. He's just so earnest and his back-up singers are in such disbelief. One of my goals in life are to perform this song with a group of guys. I'm not sure if I'd rather be the lead singer who is proud of who he is or one of the back-up singers. . . hmm
. . . still dreaming . . .
I'm not even that big a fan of Monty Python, but this thing is one of the best examples of musical humor. He's just so earnest and his back-up singers are in such disbelief. One of my goals in life are to perform this song with a group of guys. I'm not sure if I'd rather be the lead singer who is proud of who he is or one of the back-up singers. . . hmm
. . . still dreaming . . .
Monday, November 28, 2011
Bella Swan: Feminist Role Model?: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1
After six years, the penultimate Twilight film has hit the theaters and I’m more into this series then ever. (My views on Twilight are based 100% on the films, as I haven’t read a word of the books).
In this earlier blog post I defended Twilight. I discussed how people being critical of Twilight without experiencing the art are silly, the double standard of female-centric art being viewed as inferior, and why we should all be sensitive to art that we don’t like that others love.
While I thought that this was enough after searching “why Twilight sucks,” and reading through about twenty websites with articles and list of complaints about Twilight I feel it necessary to once again defend Twilight. (btw Twilight Haters, you have to really step up your game, complaining about Twilight fans themselves has nothing to do with the book or the film).
The two most coherent complaints have to do with the character of Bella being a bad role model and being anti-feminist.
No, Bella is not a great role model, but is she suppose to be? No one complains the Hamlet, Juliet or Othello are bad role models. They are tragic heroes with a flaw and so is Bella, her flaw being her obsession with Edward. One of the more interesting and maybe more apt comparisons is the idea that Bella is not as good a role model as Buffy Summer, the vampire slayer.
While I agree whole-heartedly that Buffy is a far better character, she shares the same flaw as Bella with her quasi-abusive relationship with Spike. If you don’t believe ne all you have to do is watch episode 19, season 6, “Seeing Red.” Yes, Spike is totally at fault but, Buffy saw the signs and didn’t exactly distance herself from him the way she should have. . . not the greatest role model to girls in this situations, but that’s okay. That’s not what this is about.
Tragic heroes don’t serve us as role models but as reflections not of who we want to be but who we are. And if you don’t think that there are some teenage girls out there resembles Bella Swan at all, then you need to go hang out at a high school.
Stephanie Meyers defended Bella as feminist because she chooses her circumstances in life. Yes, Meyers is right. Feminism by its strictest definition is not the idea that all women should be working moms and go against traditional gender roles. It’s about equality of opportunity. If a woman chooses to be a businesswoman they should be able to do that without limitations put on by society and with social pressures to the contrary. Also if a woman chooses to be a housewife they should enjoy that same freedom to do that without discrimination. Equality isn’t about everyone doing the same thing but equal opportunities of choice.
Bella’s choice to be with Edward is her choice. Many of the things that Bella decides for herself go against Edward’s wishes and you may not like her choices like many people in the films do but she makes them anyways fighting for her right to self-determine her life. Isn’t that really what feminism is all about? I'm not arguing that Bella is the paragon of feminism but to say she is anti-feministic because she makes choices you don't agree with well is kind of . . . anti-feminist.
By the way, I totally think Bella should have chosen Jacob, but the fact she chose Edward is far a more dramatic meditation on Bella’s heroic flaw.
I really enjoyed watching Breaking Dawn-Part 1. When you walk into a Twilight film you know you’re going to get some stiff lines, some fun actions, some more badly acted lines and some ridiculousness. Within all of this there is something highly entertaining and thoroughly engrossing.
One of my friends commented on facebook that I must be “one of the most open-minded male I know” for enjoying Breaking Dawn. While I do like to think I’m open-minded and I appreciate the compliment I don’t think understanding and enjoying Twilight is about being open-minded. It’s about enjoying art for what it is, not complaining about it for what it’s not, putting aside expectations and to the guys out there it's about being a true feminist and not only watching but enjoying something that she wants to watch.
In this earlier blog post I defended Twilight. I discussed how people being critical of Twilight without experiencing the art are silly, the double standard of female-centric art being viewed as inferior, and why we should all be sensitive to art that we don’t like that others love.While I thought that this was enough after searching “why Twilight sucks,” and reading through about twenty websites with articles and list of complaints about Twilight I feel it necessary to once again defend Twilight. (btw Twilight Haters, you have to really step up your game, complaining about Twilight fans themselves has nothing to do with the book or the film).
The two most coherent complaints have to do with the character of Bella being a bad role model and being anti-feminist.
No, Bella is not a great role model, but is she suppose to be? No one complains the Hamlet, Juliet or Othello are bad role models. They are tragic heroes with a flaw and so is Bella, her flaw being her obsession with Edward. One of the more interesting and maybe more apt comparisons is the idea that Bella is not as good a role model as Buffy Summer, the vampire slayer.
While I agree whole-heartedly that Buffy is a far better character, she shares the same flaw as Bella with her quasi-abusive relationship with Spike. If you don’t believe ne all you have to do is watch episode 19, season 6, “Seeing Red.” Yes, Spike is totally at fault but, Buffy saw the signs and didn’t exactly distance herself from him the way she should have. . . not the greatest role model to girls in this situations, but that’s okay. That’s not what this is about.
Tragic heroes don’t serve us as role models but as reflections not of who we want to be but who we are. And if you don’t think that there are some teenage girls out there resembles Bella Swan at all, then you need to go hang out at a high school.
Stephanie Meyers defended Bella as feminist because she chooses her circumstances in life. Yes, Meyers is right. Feminism by its strictest definition is not the idea that all women should be working moms and go against traditional gender roles. It’s about equality of opportunity. If a woman chooses to be a businesswoman they should be able to do that without limitations put on by society and with social pressures to the contrary. Also if a woman chooses to be a housewife they should enjoy that same freedom to do that without discrimination. Equality isn’t about everyone doing the same thing but equal opportunities of choice. Bella’s choice to be with Edward is her choice. Many of the things that Bella decides for herself go against Edward’s wishes and you may not like her choices like many people in the films do but she makes them anyways fighting for her right to self-determine her life. Isn’t that really what feminism is all about? I'm not arguing that Bella is the paragon of feminism but to say she is anti-feministic because she makes choices you don't agree with well is kind of . . . anti-feminist.
By the way, I totally think Bella should have chosen Jacob, but the fact she chose Edward is far a more dramatic meditation on Bella’s heroic flaw.
I really enjoyed watching Breaking Dawn-Part 1. When you walk into a Twilight film you know you’re going to get some stiff lines, some fun actions, some more badly acted lines and some ridiculousness. Within all of this there is something highly entertaining and thoroughly engrossing.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Year 2: Week 12 – Performance Nerves
Last week, a fellow teacher asked after an orchestra performance if I get nervous. I confidently told him no, which was totally a lie.
Before my students perform I have normal symptoms of nervousness but I work very hard to channel that into calm and positive energy. If you talked to me right before a performance you might think that I don’t care but it’s more that I don’t want my kids to freak out and well, I don’t want to freak out either.
I can’t remember the first time I went up on stage to perform. For as long as I can remember I’ve been on stage first playing violin, then piano, then in school ensembles, marching band and well now I spend a good part of my life up in front of people as a teacher.
Yes, there are things that make me nervous. Anyone who doesn’t feel a twinge of apprehension getting up in front of a full auditorium of about nine hundred people to lead the singing of “America The Beautiful” doesn’t understand the importance of what they are doing.
Part of being chill before a performance is perspective. If one of my students makes a mistake on stage, or sings a wrong lyric, it’s not a big deal. No one died, it’s just music. Yes, we should try to do the best we can and concentrate but we shouldn’t fear mistakes so much that if they accidently happen we can’t roll with it.
The other part of performing is remembering that the performance isn’t only part of what we do. I’m not in the business of producing polished musical performances, I’m in the business of helping students have meaningful experiences with music and while performance is a big part of it, the process of learning the song and exploring the music beforehand is also important.
I often tell my students before performances that I’m already proud of them and that the performance will not change the pride that I have in all the hard work they put in. You may disagree with this lack of pressured focus on a specific event but I don’t like living that way and making my students freak out never brings the best in them, probably because it never brings out the best in me.
I made a decision a couple years ago that my students would never seem me loose my temper of stress out especially in relation to performance. Expression of these feelings leads to kids being screamed at, feelings being hurt and missing the point of being a music teacher.
If you prepare a group of students for a performance and they are making significant mistakes the day before the performance that’s your fault as a teacher for not picking appropriate music and/or not teaching in a way that they can be successful. So the only person you can really get mad at is, well yourself.
So prepare your students and yourself, keep some perspective and embrace that nervous energy. All being nervous means is that there is something exciting about to happen and at least with a well-prepared school music performances, the potential for a great experience far outweighs the potential for a bad performance.
Before my students perform I have normal symptoms of nervousness but I work very hard to channel that into calm and positive energy. If you talked to me right before a performance you might think that I don’t care but it’s more that I don’t want my kids to freak out and well, I don’t want to freak out either.
I can’t remember the first time I went up on stage to perform. For as long as I can remember I’ve been on stage first playing violin, then piano, then in school ensembles, marching band and well now I spend a good part of my life up in front of people as a teacher.
Yes, there are things that make me nervous. Anyone who doesn’t feel a twinge of apprehension getting up in front of a full auditorium of about nine hundred people to lead the singing of “America The Beautiful” doesn’t understand the importance of what they are doing.
Part of being chill before a performance is perspective. If one of my students makes a mistake on stage, or sings a wrong lyric, it’s not a big deal. No one died, it’s just music. Yes, we should try to do the best we can and concentrate but we shouldn’t fear mistakes so much that if they accidently happen we can’t roll with it.
The other part of performing is remembering that the performance isn’t only part of what we do. I’m not in the business of producing polished musical performances, I’m in the business of helping students have meaningful experiences with music and while performance is a big part of it, the process of learning the song and exploring the music beforehand is also important.
I often tell my students before performances that I’m already proud of them and that the performance will not change the pride that I have in all the hard work they put in. You may disagree with this lack of pressured focus on a specific event but I don’t like living that way and making my students freak out never brings the best in them, probably because it never brings out the best in me.
I made a decision a couple years ago that my students would never seem me loose my temper of stress out especially in relation to performance. Expression of these feelings leads to kids being screamed at, feelings being hurt and missing the point of being a music teacher.
If you prepare a group of students for a performance and they are making significant mistakes the day before the performance that’s your fault as a teacher for not picking appropriate music and/or not teaching in a way that they can be successful. So the only person you can really get mad at is, well yourself.
So prepare your students and yourself, keep some perspective and embrace that nervous energy. All being nervous means is that there is something exciting about to happen and at least with a well-prepared school music performances, the potential for a great experience far outweighs the potential for a bad performance.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Turkey Tango
Anyone know any Thanksgiving songs? This song is really underrepresented in popular music, but luckily the general music teachers have this covered: THE TURKEY TANGO!!!
Those kids were good but these ones are REALLY moving:
OMG, girls doing this in pairs!!
I'm not sure if they know who is leading.
The best part of this one is the fact that there is a dad who sings along with the song. I hope those kids are dressed up as turkeys, but I'm not sure, those skirts are kind of weird.
And yes, I have done this with my student and they love it.
Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!!
Those kids were good but these ones are REALLY moving:
OMG, girls doing this in pairs!!
I'm not sure if they know who is leading.
The best part of this one is the fact that there is a dad who sings along with the song. I hope those kids are dressed up as turkeys, but I'm not sure, those skirts are kind of weird.
And yes, I have done this with my student and they love it.
Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!!
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