Defining the Media

Brendan says that the mass media is "information marketed to large numbers of people." Justin talks about how the mass media is conveyed via a technology, and, thus, new or evolving technologies change the way we receive mass media. Kristen has expressed confusion about what the media is today, about how changes in technology change not only the way media is delivered, but in fact what the media itself is.

True Americans

Thinking about the war in Iraq I went back and read an 1849 essay by Henry David Thoreau known as, "Civil Disobedience." Thoreau was writing during the time of slavery and of the Mexican War -- a war that he, and many others, considered to be completely immoral. They believed that America had declared war and invaded Mexico without sufficient cause, or more precisely, that President Polk had created a false justification for the war. Abraham Lincoln was, at the time, a member of the house of representatives and actually called for the impeachment of President Polk over the Mexican War -- it was the first action that Lincoln had taken that made him known across the country.

Thoreau talks about people who simply went along with the government,

The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, etc. In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgement or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs. Yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizens.

Thoreau also talks about what it means to be an American and a follower of the founding fathers. He says,

There are thousands who are in opinion opposed to slavery and to the war, who yet in effect do nothing to put an end to them; who, esteeming themselves children of Washington and Franklin, sit down with their hands in their pockets, and say that they know not what to do, and do nothing; who even postpone the question of freedom to the question of free-trade, and quietly read the prices-current along with the latest advices from Mexico, after dinner, and, it may be, fall asleep over them both. What is the price-current of an honest man and patriot to-day? They hesitate, and they regret, and sometimes they petition; but they do nothing in earnest and with effect. They will wait, well disposed, for others to remedy the evil, that they may no longer have it to regret. At most, they give only a cheap vote, and a feeble countenance and Godspeed, to the right, as it goes by them.

As I was thinking about parallels between the Mexican War and the War in Iraq, I discovered I was not the first to make that connection; it was made at least as early as 2003 by Ruben Arvizu.

Support the Troops

I just read a very interesting article in the New York Times about "A Soldier Who Hoped to Do Good." It talks about a young man who seems like a very upright person, but who decided, after his first tour in Iraq that it would be against his morality to return. I also just came across a site Veterans for America which looks at the effect of the war on American troops. I have also been reading Military Blogs, such as Milblogging.com -- today's post had YouTube footage from an ambush, this morning I guess. Brings the war right to your screen. I think the best military blogs I have seen were linked to aapavatar.net. I hope all of you find good sites to understand the war, part of that, of course, is understanding what the war is like from an American soldier's point of view.

How better to "support the troops" than to find out what the war is like from their perspective. "Supporting the troops" also means understanding the war more generally, finding out its causes, its effects on the people in Iraq and in the world and determining best how to END it.

War - Iraq

The Iraq War has certainly been on my mind -- I guess it has been on everyone's mind, but do we talk about it? What is really going on there?

It was sobering in class on Tuesday to learn about so many students in our class that knew someone, had friends or relatives that were stationed in Iraq. We discussed how the events of the war were scaring our soldiers, and why some of them choose or are even eager to return to Iraq.

I had the wrong day for the film that was shown "Iraq for Sale" but I try the link to see a trailer on the web and that it is being shown in many places nearby.

Where will this discussion take us?

Odysseus -- among the maidens!

After reading some of the wonderful contemporary translations
of the Odyssey you all have made -- including one where
Telemachus brushes his teeth --  I have decided to get my
hands dirty, too, with a translation. That was "hands" I said.
Anyway, I remember a scene where Odysseus has been washed
ashore naked after a shipwreck and is found by a beautiful
princess and her ladies-in-waiting while they are bathing.
Quite the moment!

Pope and Butler record one moment as follows:

Alexander Pope:

To them the king: "No longer I detain
Your friendly care: retire, ye virgin train!
Retire, while from my wearied limbs I lave
The foul pollution of the briny wave.
Ye gods! since this worn frame refection know,
What scenes have I surveyed of dreadful view!
But, nymphs, recede! sage chastity denies
To raise the blush, or pain the modest eyes."

Samuel Butler

But Ulysses said,
"Young women, please to stand a little on one side that
I may wash the brine from my shoulders and anoint myself
with oil, for it is long enough since my skin has had a
drop of oil upon it. I cannot wash as long as you
all keep standing there. I am ashamed to strip before a
number of good-looking young women."

Allen:

Excuse me, ladies.  I hope you don't mind looking
The other way while I stand up out of the water,
To wash off the, uhm, salt.
Come on now, don't just stand there staring,
A little privacy, please.
After all my battles and surviving the shipwreck
I'd like a hot shower and shave.
Some Calvin Kline "Eternity" cologne and lotion...
Say, didn't I mention looking away?