Culture Appropriation and Embracing Culture - - This post haved 0 comments

The world is wide and diverse, full of beautiful people with extraordinary characteristics. Groups of people all throughout history have developed their own cultural traits to help define their society. Societies are defined by their different foods, dress, languages and everything in between.

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Often, many cultural trends are assimilated into other societies. America is generally thought to be a "melting-pot" where many cultures have settled and spread. Many sociologists believe that this will eventually happen internationally and is currently in the process. Over time, with the improving transportation system and international marketing, people are moving around the world in record numbers. We are no longer confined to small villages, the world is now at our finger tips. The internet allows us to access any information with the push of a button. With this power comes great responsibility.

Occasionally people will stereotype cultures based on the meager amount of information they think they know about them. They pick apart a specific culture and will focus on the "exotic" aspects of it. This idea is called "culture appropriation" and is a growing problem world wide. With so many different cultures, it is easy to understand the mystery tied to each history. We want to explore and be a part of something different from our norm. We must be cautious when incorporating foreign cultural traits into our own lives, careful not to offend the original culture.

This especially becomes a problem when the stolen culture come from oppressed or marginalized groups. Dominant cultures do not fully respect the cultural significance of the item they are appropriating. They turn it into something fashionable, in turn wiping out the historical meaning of the item. Laverne Cox recently discussed her view of cultural appropriation by saying "We live in a multi-cultural society where being influenced by cultures different from ours is inevitable. But when the traditions and practices of marginalized communities are used by those in power and the material conditions of those who are marginalized are not changed individually and systemically this is when cultural appropriation is deeply problematic and even potentially exploitative." 

The problem as I see it is that we are ignoring history and consuming everything in typical American tradition. We are a melting pot, so much so that we overlook and under value the original individual histories that are the reason we have these great relics. It's disrespectful and show's a lack of empathetic reverence for different cultures.

The best advice I can offer you is to enjoy different cultures at arms length. Do not adorn yourself in spiritual or ritual style clothing or accessories. Enjoy a Thai cooking class, go see a foreign film, explore Native American reservations and learn from them. They are not ours to do with as we please. We can enjoy culture without stripping it away from its origin and pretend we are appreciating it by exploiting it. 

Political Expression And Evolving As A Planet - - This post haved 0 comments

Our nation has evolved in so many ways over the course of the last few hundred years. In history class we learned vague, pre-approved, lessons about what made our country great. We were told that America was founded for everyone (a great melting pot) and then slavery was legalized and allowed to take place. We are told that we have strong military, capable of defending us from every "insurgent" in the Middle East, but we would only do that if we felt "threatened". Yet time and time again we've been the aggressors without cause. And of course, only biased news and information is reported. All insinuations that America is less than perfect are quickly swept under the rug and we are force fed and idealistic picture of how we are the great hero's of the world.

We all have our opinions. We are constantly gauging partial truths and trying to somehow tie them into our own experiences and morals. We want things to be clear cut (black and white) but experiences are different for everyone. We can't possibly judge truth on our own experiences and it still remain true for anyone other than ourselves. To me, that's why laws never seem quite right, there is no satisfying the masses because there is no correct way to satisfy everyone. Everyone wants something a little different. 

Now, there are some clear winners and clear losers when we acknowledge the handful of things that truly binds all human beings. Pain, Love, Respect, Hunger, and Humanity. If we are not striving to improve (or at least not to worsen) the current situation, then something is not right. We shouldn't make things worse for others. The current ideals of racism (or any -ism) come from the same fears and generalizations of racists centuries ago. For example, take "Mexican" out of any anti-Mexican rhetoric and insert it with "African" or "African-American" and our modern eyes and hearts would quickly identify racism.That, to me, is where I draw the line of political expression. Opposing views on the economy, abortion, the environment, etc are fair game. As long as we are pushing for the positive evolution of all people around the globe, and not devaluing human lives based off fear or misconceptions (aka racism), then by all means feel passionate about your opinion. 

For the past twenty years we have seen a push towards a more accepting country. We are working together, in unity, to fight back against oppressors (politicians and civilians alike). To finally be free to be who we are without persecution. I want the world to realize that every group has extremists who think violence and manipulation are effective tools to gain attention to their cause. But these extremists are the vocal minority.

The majority of people are realizing that we have a standard to uphold. If we want to be this unique melting pot of cultures we have to work together and embrace our differences. We should learn from one another. Not dismiss cultural or social differences because we do not think they apply to us. We are one race, the human race. Let's express ourselves in ways that promotes the good of all humanity and evolve as a planet. 

Being Different - - This post haved 0 comments

I'm Different

Being different means being yourself. Being yourself means rejecting negative input from outside
sources and embracing things you like because you like them. I never want to see anyone going with the norm, the flow of trends that dictate if you are competent enough to fit in. Every individual is like a bright shining star, their own entity that thinks and feels in their own way. Capable of wonderful things that contribute to society as a whole and the betterment of Mother Earth.

Being different is beautiful. You are able to open up your mind to new things that break normativity. I like to see people that can think outside of the hetero-normative box. Subdivision type communalism is diminishing our populations creativity and motivation. We are more likely to assimilate and become a bland copy of our clique. When we feel strong in a group we are likely to rely on that group for support and see outsiders as possible intruder that will shake our way of life. This leads to bullying and segregation.

Being different and pushing away from the mold allows us to truly be who we are meant to be. Many people with certain social economic standing (the wealthy for example) are bound to be a certain way, never truly experiencing life through their own eyes. They are often blinded by a desire to reach common goals as their peers and forget to please themselves on the way to that goal.

He's Different

It is encouraging to see people who slip out of the social norm and embrace unique talents, beliefs, and general lifestyles. In recent decades we have seen a rise in young adults (and older adults coming into the fray late in life) gritting their teeth and tearing down socially constructed boundaries. With movements supporting a lineup of causes and spreading information to the masses, we are seeing more tolerance grow for different groups.

Being weird isn't just about the way you dress or even act. It is the acceptance of each tiny part of your entity. Expressing your desires, likes, dreams and making them reality. If you like the beach, live at the beach. Don't live in the city because certain people tell you that is where to make a living. If you are LGBT, be proud of it, there are so many people who are willing to love you for who you are. There will always be others who try to influence you life. Make decisions on where you want your life to go and follow those people that want to see you happy for your sake.

Be wild, be creative, be unique. Be who you are, don't try to be someone else. And at the end of the day remember you are special and the possibilities are endless.

Peace and Love

They're Different

Flashback Friday: Vietnam War Protests - - This post haved 0 comments

The Vietnam war was the most deadly war in the history of the world. The hippie movement sprung from the womb of Peace Protesters in the late 1960's. These images of long haired rebels attempting to stop the bloodshed are some of the most powerful in circulation. I only want to show images of peace, I will not be using images of violence.

Overkill - - This post haved 0 comments

*I do not claim to be a lawyer!

We all mourn for the loss of Trayvon Martin and feel sympathy for his family. A young man was gunned down by the hands of George Zimmerman. Yesterday Zimmerman was acquitted of his 2nd Degree murder crime. Many people are questioning the decision made by the jury (made up of 6 females, 5 white and 1 hispanic) and many are appalled by the conclusion of such a public trial. I feel like I did in the wake of the Caylee Anthony case. For a moment you could hear a pin drop, then all hell broke loose.

"Race" has been flaunted in this cases from the beginning. A stray black boy wanders into a gated community and is shot by the racially motivated neighborhood watch. The prosecution sprang on the theory and ran with it through the whole case. Zimmerman's reputation as an outstanding member of society was drug through the mud as he was continuously labeled a racist.. I would hate to be in the shoes of these two families. Zimmerman is definitely a murderer, there was a 17yo killed by the gun fired by this man. I don't see any racial motive other than the general stereotype of the "black man". Intentional racism and subconscious racism are two different evils. I believe Zimmerman would have shot at anyone, despite race, under the same circumstances. We don't know anything this man was thinking at the time. However, I believe in the moment Zimmerman was overreacting to a stranger.

Despite the fact he was found innocent, I want to briefly discuss why I think the "black male" stereotype was so pronounced during this case. It is hard to deny that many equal rights and African American organizations joined together to declare their hatred for Zimmerman. Trayvon was black, out past curfew and bringing attention to himself. Racism and the fear of black men leads many people to be suspicious of all black men. As with any man, black men vary in cognitive ability, sexual prowess, size, physical ability, criminal tendency, and drive. No stereotype is based in scientific fact, they are socially constructed by ideas of what something could be not what something is.

Zimmerman was probably subconsciously afraid of Martin because of the color of his skin causing him to overreact to the situation. He wasn't being judged on his racial prejudices, racism is legal in America, he was accused of murder. Did Zimmerman murder Trayvon? Yes. Yet he was still found not guilty. This reinforces racism by saying that Zimmerman's claim of self defense (aka "he was being attacked by a black man") were substantial. Continue to be afraid of black man shooting you, while in fact they are not all carrying a weapon. While Trayvon was attacking Zimmerman, Zimmerman over reacted by pulling his gun and firing. George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman used excessive force while defending himself. This should still qualify him for murder.

Now he is free to be released back into society. What if he shoots another person while he is inserting himself into another dangerous situation? Being on neigborhood watch is not an easy position, there is an expectation of criminal activity. He already killed a young boy, and unless he is kept under close watch, it could probably happen again. The jury should have recognized the future outcome of their decision, instead of trying to deny their racial subconscious.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/george-zimmermans-attorney-wishes-jury-diverse/story?id=19555739#.UeRTlY3ryBU http://radio.foxnews.com/2013/07/15/trayvon-was-not-innocent/

Same Sex Marriage Accepted Under Federal Law - - This post haved 0 comments

Today the LGBTQ community hit a home run. The Supreme Court was set to rule over the cases of the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California initiate Proposition 8. DOMA is designed to restrict the federal government from accepting same sex marriages.

It's clear that this does not apply to states decisions on same sex marriage. Same sex marriage began in California in 2008. It has been one of the hottest topics in mainstream media and social media since then. DOMA was put in place as a religious tool of restricting civil rights of same sex couples.

There are a lot of further questions resonating around the decision. President Obama said the Department of Justice will be deciding on the future of this decision. Will there be executive actions signed by President Obama?

Proposition 8 stopped marriage in the state of California. This is not a national ban but was accepted into the Supreme Court for ruling. California claims Prop 8 is unconstitutional and takes away the rights of LGBTQ citizens for no reason other than moral differences.  Today's decision was critical in the acceptance of same sex marriage resuming in California.

In the end, the Supreme Court decided to remand the case and send it back to the state of California. Ruling on jurisdiction, a private group can not take such matters to a national level. Same sex marriage should resume in California while the time line is not clear. There will probably be a 30 day waiting period for marriages after the ban is lifted. Extra staff is needed, and has been brought in, to handle the influx of applications.

Hundreds of people gathered in San Francisco and thousands around the nation. Gay Pride begins this week in San Francisco. While the Proposition 8 ruling was a waste of time, it is nice to see that the nation now accepts same sex couples under the law.

Attitudes toward same sex marriage has shifted since 2008 when Proposition 8 was overturned the first time. With growing acceptance, and the DOMA overturn, we should expect to see same sex marriage legalized across the nation within a matter of years.

Bisexual Invisibility - - This post haved 0 comments

Whether you are a man or a woman, if you are bisexual odds are you feel pretty alone. Where are all of the great bisexuals, you wonder. Truth is, on average bisexuals are pretty invisible. Openly bi people are pretty rare. The drunk college girl and the closet bi-guy are skewing the statistics. The in's and out's of bisexuality are annoying to say the least. People always think you are either "in a phase" or "waiting to come out as homo". Men are naturally inclined to be confused by a woman's bisexuality. "Can I get her into a threesome." Other men feel like their bisexual girlfriend will leave him for another woman. Yikes!

Confusing, complicated, bisexuality is a bitch. We're invisible. The homos think we're too straight and the heteros think we're too gay! Although bisexuals have been the leading majority in the LGBT community, and have spent countless hours promoting activism for the community, we still fall through the cracks. The world forces everything into two exclusive and unequal halves, a dichotomy. In a world of heterosexuality and homosexuality, anything else just doesn't work.


Bi women are not "party girls". Although I am very disapointed in the images I turned up while searching Google. Tila Tequila sort of grosses me out and the kiss between Madonna and Britney Spears is so 1990! I'm sick and tired of the horrible stereotype thrust apon bisexuals like myself. We don't have a leg to stand on because all of the minority of skanky bi girls makeing us look like whores... like we would be willing to have sex with anyone.


There's more to bisexuals than meets the eye. We're open to love in many forms. Just because we like girls and guys doesn't mean we are confused or over sexed. We are free thinkers that love and lust despite a person's sexual orientation. I see bisexuals as seeing the world through unbiased eyes. Not just unbiased genitals.


Read this article based on a San Francisco study that discusses bisexuality and the affects of biphobia and homophobia on the LGBT population. Bisexual Invisiblity Report Makes History

Red Bull Gives You Wings - - This post haved 0 comments

I've loved Red Bull energy drinks since they hit the shelves in 2006. For me the drink is a perfect combination of energy and taste. Most people consider it an acquired taste, I fell in love from the first sip. The can design is modern and sleek. The resulting energy is equivalent to a strong cup of coffee. While some people may experience side effects, Red Bull gives me the pep I need to wake up and be productive with my day.

"Red Bull gives you wings." The slogan is stuck in our brains and so far the company has proven to live up to their motto. The Red Bull company sponsors some of the most adventurous and extreme sporting events on the planet.  They own athletic teams including the New York Red Bulls, a soccer team that competes in Major League Soccer. Some of their events are home to many super stars from extreme sports. Recognizable athletes to sign up for Red Bull events includes Travis Pastrana, Sean White and Mark Webber.

Not only does Red Bull invest in extreme sports, they also have some of the coolest celebrity endorsers. Eminem has signed on with Red Bull to produce commercials, make appearances and don the apparel. Travis Barker has been a sponsor of Red Bull for a few years, even making appearances on the cover of Red Bull magazine (The Red Bulletin).

The message Red Bull is sending to it's majority male audience is to get out and experience life. These athletic events are encouraging, exciting and inspires consumers to have their own adventure. Red Bull incorporates extreme sports into their business to demonstrate how well the product performs and how well consumers perform because of the product. Red Bull has been shown to improve driving skill by one college researcher. I'm sure others would support this theory.

I would like to see more focus on female consumers.There are many great female athletes that I would love to see partner with Red Bull. Strong, fierce women that could spark a message of female fierceness. Red Bull brand is powerful, the product is powerful, the endorsers should include powerful women. Including more women in their brand would be beneficial to everyone.

Sexy Fish Sandwich - - This post haved 0 comments

It's nothing new to see sexuality used to sell products. It's also no surprise that Hardees (AKA Carl Jrs) uses over sexualized commercials to sell their sandwiches. From the infamous commercial of Paris Hilton washing a car in a bikini and eating her hamburger to the newest sexy Hardess commercial featuring a bikini clad beach bunny simulating oral sex on a straw.

It's disappointing to say the least. Exposure to overly sexual material leaves little to the imagination. It also makes companies appear overly desperate to sell their worthless product. If the burger was really that good, I wouldn't need a body to tell me so. Seeing too much flesh, at inappropriate times, causes us to lose appreciation for the real deal.

Where do we draw the line? Our society attempts to push the boundaries of every aspect in life, it's important to change and evolve. It is clear that sex sells products, it's cliche. Using sexuality to churn marketing is an attempt to grab your attention at whatever cost. We've seen scantly clad women (and men) used in movies, clothing ads and even car ads. Sexuality touches many aspects of American culture. One place I thought it could be avoided was in the fast food chains.

It's not very surprising that a fast food chain would hop on the bandwagon. You expect to see kid friendly places like McDonald's avoid such antics. However, Hardees leans more toward the adult demographic. Their commercials have always been racy and it's hard to find one that doesn't make your stomach turn. (Check out this article.)

I would love to see sexuality banned from commercials. I love racy, dirty movies and support adult decisions to consume such media. However, I believe these commercials are desensitizing our children and a population as a whole. It is unnecessary to show a woman bent over in a bikini sucking on a straw and making moaning sounds. Especially during the middle of the day when most families are at home trying to enjoy a good sitcom. It also seems shallow and dumb to buy into such marketing strategies. If you like the burger (or product) then by all means enjoy. But don't be naive to think that just because a company is trying to get your attention with such disrespectful tactics that their product is going to be worth your money or attention. Vote with your wallet.

Don't want to give Hardees any attention but I'll let the evidence speak for itself.