Blog #3

Blog Post #3.

“You Are Now on Indian Land” – Native American Occupy Alcatraz

I decided to write my third blog about the Native Americans take over of Alcatraz because a little less than a year ago I was actually able to visit Alcatraz. On arrival the first thing you notice is a giant building on a giant hill, then underneath that is the landing port where the boat docked. In red writing above and below a nicely posted United States penitentiary sign, were Indians Welcome and You Are Now On Indian Land. This red writing was some of the first things seen by the tourist. Although it was one of the first things I saw it was also one of the least memorable. We took an entire tour of Alcatraz Island, learned all about the inmates where they slept, ate, historical fights and runaways that happened but we were only very briefly informed about the Native Americans taking over. Until reading about the Native American occupying Alcatraz I never really thought back as to why they were there, I knew they have landed and stayed for several months, even years but was unaware of the complete dramatic impact of why they took over.

After reading what is discussed by Salomon I realized the impact the take over had and why it was so important to the Native Americans.  The main tactics the Native Americans used were to “sit in” / “stay on” Alcatraz until they received the rights to it under the Sioux Treaty of 1868, which entitled Indians to claim surplus land.

They challenged authority and engaged in disruption by their demands to the federal government. Some of which reasonable like granting them the title to Alcatraz under provision of an 1882 act – states: “abandoned federal facilities be utilized for Indian schools.” Some of their ruthless but true statements in their proclamation – “3. The sanitation facilities are inadequate… 5. There is no industry and so unemployment is very great.” 

The issues of racism, sexism, homophobia, and class discrimination are somewhat prevalent but not all of those stand out. Racism and class are the top concern for the takeover of Alcatraz . Racism – how the Native Americans were mistreated, living on their reservations and leaving the home they have always had for a promise of something better. The Native Americans took a chance but the promises made on the other hand were not held up. Class – as you can see above in the terms of their proclamation, they lived in truly uninhabitable areas.

As stated above I did know about this movement beforehand which is why I figure I would further my education on it but I think I was so overwhelmed with all the information I received that day on Alcatraz that the real reason the Native Americans took over I placed in the back of my mind, or felt the other information I learned was more important and exciting.

The significance of this moment had to do with the merging of all Native Americans from different tribes, they stood together to find a voice and fight for what they felt was right. Alcatraz was especially important for the Native Americans and the renewal of their history.

One reason I started this blog with talking about my trip was because thinking back to it which was less than a year ago, I really felt like the tour we took on Alcatraz didn’t really stress the importance of the Indian landing, the main “entertainment” piece was the penitentiary and what happened there. Maybe since I knew less about Social Justice Movements I didn’t put thought into the importance of it other than it was just a huge party for Native American college students for the first several months then they liked it and tried to live there. Whereas now I know the true importance of the movement and that they did it to rebuild and regain some of what was once theirs. It’s unfortunately, how their land was taken and promises were made that weren’t kept.

Blog #2

8 Reasons Young Americans Don't Fight Back: How the US Crushed Youth Resistance

After reading the first paragraph about how young Americans have stopped fighting for our own rights, feeling helpless and screwed by the system I would have to say that maybe it’s more so that we have just accepted certain things. Such as when were older there won’t be any social security around for us, instead of trying to fight against that, we’ve accepted it and decided to focus our energy on figuring out another solution for us as we get older. Also when it says “most appear resigned to having more money deducted from their paychecks for Social Security, even though they don’t believe it will be around to benefit them,” maybe we are resigned from having money pulled from our own paychecks because we feel like that money we could have and save on our own, if we let it get pulled out of our paychecks then we would never see it.

Overall I can’t say I agree or disagree with the author’s assessment of our young society. There are certain points he made like student-loan debt, schools that educate for compliance and not for democracy, and “No Child Left Behind” and “Race to the Top”, that I would have to agree with him about. Yet, others like Psychopathologizing and medicating noncompliance and shaming young people who take education – but not their schooling – seriously, I would have to disagree with his points.

Grade school to a certain degree is how to learn how exactly one should act in society by following rules and order, however I do believe teachers really do teach students actual facts and knowledge that is helpful in life. Learning about our history and how people changed the world is an important life in anyone’s life without schooling who would be teaching these students these things. Most of our society can’t afford letting their children do home school because it’s expensive and in most families both parents work to provide for their children. I also believe that child with ODD, ADD, even ADHD should be placed on medicine. Most individuals that I know who have a disorder like that prefer taking their medication because they feel it makes them the best person that they can be. People should have a choice whether or not they act out. ODD, “often actively defies or refuses to comply with adult requests or rules,” “often argues with adults,” and “often deliberately does things to annoy other people.” I don’t think any human would really want to deliberately annoy people and isolate themselves from society. I’m not saying people need to be popular and liked by everyone but people do want friends or even just someone to associate with.

The four additional issues that I feel reflect on today’s society would be:

1. Mass Media – censorship and the way the messages unconsciously control and slip into our minds

http://people.artcenter.edu/~chuh/SP03web/WRITING/effects%20of%20mass%20media.html

2. Contemporary Digital Media – mostly social media sites and how it allows individuals to connect and share ideas.

http://cye.colorado.edu/cye_journal/review.pl?n=270

3. Growing up too fast – this goes along with issue one and two but younger people are much more influenced by the older crowd because it’s so easy to “check up” on what everyone’s doing

http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/444824/Children-growing-up-too-fast-experts

4. Obesity/Image – this is apparent in today’s society because there have been multiple studies that have shown better looking individuals (or people with high self esteem) tend to go further in life and make more money. This is because they have the confidence to stand out and people apparently are more trusting to individuals they find attractive.

December 6, 2007

A new study published in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences finds that the attractiveness of interviewees can significantly bias outcome in hiring practices, showing a clear distinction between the attractive and average looking interviewees in terms of high and low status job packages offered.

“When someone is viewed as attractive, they are often assumed to have a number of positive social traits and greater intelligence,” say Carl Senior and Michael J.R. Butler, authors of the study. “This is known as the ‘halo effect’ and it has previously been shown to affect the outcome of job interviews.”

http://scienceblog.com/14974/who-knew-good-looking-people-get-better-jobs/

Blog #1

Blog #1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI0itS3gQFU

This is an interesting youtube video on Brands and Globalization

Branding is everywhere. There is no way one single person can go the entire day without seeing a least one brand name on clothing, food, furniture, electronics, almost everything these days has a brand. I think brand names can tie into the ideas related to social justice because it’s a way to establish “popularity” and class. Back in junior high and high school brand names used to be much more appreciated. You were considered “cool” or “part of the in crowd” if you had the hottest new outfit or the best new phone. People wanted to see and explore your cool new “toy” it was a way for individuals to bond with one another. Sometimes brands can be a way for individuals to reach out and bond with strangers. If you’re standing next to someone in line with the same shoes on or the same coat on, you might feel more comfortable starting a conversation with them saying oh I have those same shoes, etc.

For my own personal identity and relationship with both justice and injustices it may not affect me the same as another individual. Growing up my parents, especially my dad saw no point in spending twice as much just to buy the name on a product. Although now I don’t really care who has what brand and who doesn’t back in grade school I remember always wanting to “fit in” and have the hot brand names like everyone else.

The impact brand names have on globalization is expanding it. Globalization through brands is almost a way to bring everyone together. Each item is now produced in a lot of different countries, typically not just one. When people become aware of the working environments in third world countries, I’d hope they’d care enough to say I don’t need a certain brand if they aren’t treating their workers in a way I’d be treated. Unfortunately most Americans don’t realize or just turn a blind eye to the situation and would rather have the brand than sacrifice not having it.  

“What, specifically, did you notice and experience over the course of your one-day study? What kind of ads? What kinds of placement?

Over my one-day study I’ve noticed that you can’t look anywhere without seeing a brand name or logo, not one single place. If you think about it even our school’s WSU’s logo is one of the most well known college logos worldwide. That in itself is a branding of our college. Advertisements are everywhere, on the buses, the ground, buildings, and people’s clothing.

How did your experience fit with Klein’s argument in this section? (Be specific – about both your experience, and Klein’s argument.)

I agree completely with Klein’s argument, we can’t go anywhere in this world without seeing brands, therefore we can’t simply ignore them.

How does your relationship to brand and advertisements impact social change and social justice?”

If someone is willing to look past the brand name and actually look at the product and where it’s from they might be surprised how they actually feel about the brand. We have become so obsessed and aware of the brands that surround us every day that now when we see them we don’t even really think twice about it. Social change and social justice can be impacted if people as a whole put a boycott or a stop to purchasing a certain brand name. Personally I see brands as a way of life and as a way of people grouping together.