This summer there was a TV show called "The Secret life of the American Teenager" in which a girl who is 15 gets pregnant. She was at band camp, ironic, and she had a one night stand with the "cool" guy from school. When everyone finds out everything gets turned upside down. Her parents divorce, her friends cant see her because thier parents believe shes a bad influence. Her sister becomes her confidant and closest alli, and then theres Ben. Ben is a guy who has fallen for her and doesnt seem to mind that she is pregnant, he offers to marry her and help her raise the baby.
Now the first thing i would like to say about this show, is i applaud the topic of this show. Touching on such a real issue is important, and giving adults a look at what can happen when sex isnt talked about and that things arnt always as they seem.
The second thing that i think is interesting is that the boys are made to seem more needy. In the episode i watched tonight there were two boys. The one who got her pregnant, Ricky, and then Ben who is her boyfriend. They both were calling there respective girls and saying they need to see them. They were begging and they were calling incessently.
The third thing i applaud about this show is the relationship between Adrian and Ricky. They are not a couple, they just have casual sex. And while this is a taboo subject because they are only 15 it shows real things that are happening. Kids have casual sexual relationships everyday, and bringing this to light is an important subject. We need to talk to our kids about sex, and relationships.
I guess i would just like to say that i truly enjoy this show. I think it is innovative and very well done. Not everything on the show is what it seems and they deal with real issues teens have on a daily basis. It also gives an open forum to the parents and kids to talk about the show together, and discuss these situations.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Response to Akwardmorning
Akwardmorning,
I am sorry for the things you went through. While the law isnt always just i feel that you would have more sympathy for this woman. I think we are going to have to respectfully disagree with each other and move on from this. I promise to look into the case every now and then checking to see the progress. I will post any up to date information.
I am sorry for the things you went through. While the law isnt always just i feel that you would have more sympathy for this woman. I think we are going to have to respectfully disagree with each other and move on from this. I promise to look into the case every now and then checking to see the progress. I will post any up to date information.
Changes in TV
Tv has changed alot in the past 60 years. Im sure we all have seen "Leave it to Beaver" and see Mr. Cleaver as a stern "hard ass". and June as a passive woman, an ideal at the time. Now im also sure we have all seen "Good Times" and how the woman is the leader of the family, and the father sometimes get backseated in an argument. They also make JJ look like a fool all the time. In "Cosby Show" the parents are both well educated and share the parental responsiblities fairly. As you get to the 90's TV changes. "The Simpsons" and "Everybody Loves Raymond" are examples of doof fathers, "super" moms and invisible children. While TV has changed i do believe it has changed with the culture. Adults dont want to soend time watching adult shows based on children, i mean look at "Friends" they had kids that were mentioned but until the final season they were not the basis of the show. I just think adults shows should be geared more towards adults, that is why we have less children shown, but are talked about enough to give the perception that they are apart of the family.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Halloween
As everyone is aware, this past friday was halloween. Now whether your plans were go to go a bar, party or trick-or-treating you had to dress up. Now this doesnt sound like an issue, unless you are a girl. I had noticed in the parties i went to this weekend, the outfits were shorter, tighter and littler. The boys at the party however were in jerseys, cartoon costumes, pimps...essentially comfortable and warm clothing. The girls, shivering and uncomfortable didnt seem to mind. However when a girl passed with a regular costume, like say a girl in the Average Joes costume, they said snide remarks about her.
I guess the point im trying to get at is this, why are girls comstumes so much more sexualized then men, and how is this any different then a regular day here on campus? Since when did being a "sexy school girl" or "slutty cop" become our goal on halloween. I thought it was to be a different person. So i sugest next halloween we have the men where the "sexy school girl" and "Slutty cop" uniforms and we will where the jerseys and cartoon costumes. However i will give one of my friends credit, he dressed up as a "sexy nurse". And dont get me wrong, i fell into the same trap as the rest of the girls, however i wasnt left with many other choices.
I guess the point im trying to get at is this, why are girls comstumes so much more sexualized then men, and how is this any different then a regular day here on campus? Since when did being a "sexy school girl" or "slutty cop" become our goal on halloween. I thought it was to be a different person. So i sugest next halloween we have the men where the "sexy school girl" and "Slutty cop" uniforms and we will where the jerseys and cartoon costumes. However i will give one of my friends credit, he dressed up as a "sexy nurse". And dont get me wrong, i fell into the same trap as the rest of the girls, however i wasnt left with many other choices.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Response to a Comment on the "Rape Article" post
I was looking over my comments that i have recieved in the past week and came across this one. It was in reference to the article about the judge in Nebraska banning words like "rape","assualt" and "asslient" in a rape case. Here is the comment :
" AwkwardMorning said...
Do you know what the facts from the case even were? Or did you just hear that the words were banned. Your comments infuriate me. So just because she woke up next to the man means that she was raped. When she said stop did he not stop. It was here fault for making such bad decisions. She should have known her limits. Or not have left with the man. The witnesses did not say she left unwillingly. She should not have left with the man in the first place. He might have been dunk out of his mind as well. She could have suggested the sex and not him. But she cannot remember.
What is his story? Here is a reasonable story.Well this girl really came on to me. She suggested we go back to her house and get it on. She was crazy for me. Then she rolled over and saw her boyfriend’s picture who is away in Iraq fighting for the US. She then became sick and asked me to stop and to leave so I left. I guess that hoe feels bad for herself and just wants to file rape charges to get me in trouble so she has something to tell her boy when he gets home. I didn’t know she even had a boyfriend until she showed me the picture. I felt ashamed for her and myself. I hope that hoe gets dumped for cheating.There you see how the story changes from rape to a lonely women looking to have sex. She could have easily raped him. It was her word against his. When she said stop he stopped and that’s that.Thus should not be rape. Unless there was more to the story like if he slipped her a pill which he did not. She went willingly and just stated she couldn’t remember to save her the embarrassment. She should have not put herself in the situation in the first place and that’s the truth.
October 23, 2008 11:34 PM"
Now i would just like to say a few things in response:
1) Did you read the article? Because I did and not all details were enclosed since the case is still ongoing. While you state that if he stopped when she said stop it isnt rape, well she didnt have a chance to say stop from the begining. Also you do not know for a fact that he didnt slip her a pill, or something else in her drink. It is a real danger for woman whether they are out alone or in groups.
2) I feel that your comments about knowing her limits and not leaving with the man are insensitive and unnecissary. While i agree she should watch her intake of Alcohol that doesnt give a man the right to do what she claims he did. Just because she is vunerable doesnt mean he should pray on her. I aslo would like to comment on you calling her a "hoe". That is degrading to any woman and inappropriate for this kind of converstation. Think if this woman was your sister, mother or friend. How would you feel then? Would she still be a "hoe"?
3) While i agree with you that the story could have happend differently then she is saying, however we dont have all the facts, just the ones released. And while i can see you want to maintain his innocence, 2 other women, in no relation to this woman, have come foward to say that the same things happend to them. So i would say the common denomenator is...him.
And 4) while using this article and expressing my opinions i did not say that he was guitly, that she wasnt involved. I simply stated that i disagree with words being banned because the judge thinks they will bias the jury. It doesnt give her an accurate way to portray how she felt in the situation.
While i dont mean this to be angry i was really upset and hurt by this comment. while women are already considered a lower class then men, now we can openly call women we dont know, in a situation we dont know about, a hoe? And on top of that, in a women studies class? Isnt that what we are working against? I feel really strongly about this issue, having known people who have been raped and had to go through an experiance like this. It is a he said/ she said type of deal. And the evidence will bring a conclusion. I would just ask that we be a little more sensitive and understanding then jumping the gun and making statements like these.
" AwkwardMorning said...
Do you know what the facts from the case even were? Or did you just hear that the words were banned. Your comments infuriate me. So just because she woke up next to the man means that she was raped. When she said stop did he not stop. It was here fault for making such bad decisions. She should have known her limits. Or not have left with the man. The witnesses did not say she left unwillingly. She should not have left with the man in the first place. He might have been dunk out of his mind as well. She could have suggested the sex and not him. But she cannot remember.
What is his story? Here is a reasonable story.Well this girl really came on to me. She suggested we go back to her house and get it on. She was crazy for me. Then she rolled over and saw her boyfriend’s picture who is away in Iraq fighting for the US. She then became sick and asked me to stop and to leave so I left. I guess that hoe feels bad for herself and just wants to file rape charges to get me in trouble so she has something to tell her boy when he gets home. I didn’t know she even had a boyfriend until she showed me the picture. I felt ashamed for her and myself. I hope that hoe gets dumped for cheating.There you see how the story changes from rape to a lonely women looking to have sex. She could have easily raped him. It was her word against his. When she said stop he stopped and that’s that.Thus should not be rape. Unless there was more to the story like if he slipped her a pill which he did not. She went willingly and just stated she couldn’t remember to save her the embarrassment. She should have not put herself in the situation in the first place and that’s the truth.
October 23, 2008 11:34 PM"
Now i would just like to say a few things in response:
1) Did you read the article? Because I did and not all details were enclosed since the case is still ongoing. While you state that if he stopped when she said stop it isnt rape, well she didnt have a chance to say stop from the begining. Also you do not know for a fact that he didnt slip her a pill, or something else in her drink. It is a real danger for woman whether they are out alone or in groups.
2) I feel that your comments about knowing her limits and not leaving with the man are insensitive and unnecissary. While i agree she should watch her intake of Alcohol that doesnt give a man the right to do what she claims he did. Just because she is vunerable doesnt mean he should pray on her. I aslo would like to comment on you calling her a "hoe". That is degrading to any woman and inappropriate for this kind of converstation. Think if this woman was your sister, mother or friend. How would you feel then? Would she still be a "hoe"?
3) While i agree with you that the story could have happend differently then she is saying, however we dont have all the facts, just the ones released. And while i can see you want to maintain his innocence, 2 other women, in no relation to this woman, have come foward to say that the same things happend to them. So i would say the common denomenator is...him.
And 4) while using this article and expressing my opinions i did not say that he was guitly, that she wasnt involved. I simply stated that i disagree with words being banned because the judge thinks they will bias the jury. It doesnt give her an accurate way to portray how she felt in the situation.
While i dont mean this to be angry i was really upset and hurt by this comment. while women are already considered a lower class then men, now we can openly call women we dont know, in a situation we dont know about, a hoe? And on top of that, in a women studies class? Isnt that what we are working against? I feel really strongly about this issue, having known people who have been raped and had to go through an experiance like this. It is a he said/ she said type of deal. And the evidence will bring a conclusion. I would just ask that we be a little more sensitive and understanding then jumping the gun and making statements like these.
Is TV a good Babysitter?
Violence in children shows is increasing greatly. Many people voice a negative opinion on this saying that the violence portrayed in these shows is making its way to the play ground. Shows like "Power Rangers" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" show fighting styles that include karate and other martial arts. The boys and girls sometimes are acting out these episodes on the playground. I know that when i was younger i watched these shows and even had life size Ninja turtles on my wall. While i understand that teachers blame these shows i truley believe that a large part of this problem is due to parents. Parents prefer to have the television babysit kids when they get home then to sit down and play a game, or read a book. Now while im not blaming the parents entirely i know that they work long hours, but there still needs to be interactive time away from the tv. My niece is 3 and she only gets to watch certain shows and certain amounts of time with the tv. She watches mostly disney and nickelodeon but even these stations are getting to be not suitable for children of her age. Then you have the cartoon network which plays all these shows and a show called "Biker Mice From Mars". Which isnt an all bad show. While there is fighting they are not human characters, which helps seperate reality from fantasy. As well as little fighting the mice are shown using computers and doing other intellectual things.
In the world we live in today, TVs are babysitters, Television for adults and kids is getting more violent, and even look at the news. You cant turn it on without seeing something about the war, a killing or kidnapping. Parents have been slacking with keeping tabs on thier children and i feel that we need to get back to an america where we care what kids see and dont just see them as consumers.
In the world we live in today, TVs are babysitters, Television for adults and kids is getting more violent, and even look at the news. You cant turn it on without seeing something about the war, a killing or kidnapping. Parents have been slacking with keeping tabs on thier children and i feel that we need to get back to an america where we care what kids see and dont just see them as consumers.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Judge says no to words "rape", "victim" or "assault"
I read an article in "People" and on the internet this past week about a Nebraska Judge, Jeffre Cheuvront, banned the words "rape", "victim" "assalient" or "assualt" from being used in this case. The case is about a woman who states that she woke up to a man she didnt know on top of her. The prosecution has been banned from using these words in the case because the judge says that it will bias the jury. When the prosecution asked to ban words like "sex" and "intercourse" the judge declined saying that there would be no more words to describe what happend that night. In his first trial, Pamir Safi, had a hung jury, 7-5. There are 2 other women who say that the same thing happend to them.
Now for a second lets just imagine that the Judge wasnt a bias jerk, what message is he sending to the victim? That even though there has been a rape kit, a charge and a previous trial this man is potentially going to get off. Why cant these words be used? How else would you describe a sexual act that was unwanted? Does he not see that by having to refer to this act as sex and not rape you are only taking away from the seriousness of this accusation. He says it was consensual, as it was the night before. However i dont believe that when she woke up, she had consented before going to bed. The message that this sends to women who have been raped in Nebraska, dont even bother going to trial because you cant give an actual account of the event. You are denying th emotions and feelings that the victim had during the time of the assault.
I hope that this doesnt become a trend, barring words from trials to describe an inncident. I hope that this women asks for a different judge or even a different district so that she can get a fair child. I think it is just appalling that the Judge is banning these words, almost taking out all the emotion of the case, all the volguar language to describe this volguar attack.
Now for a second lets just imagine that the Judge wasnt a bias jerk, what message is he sending to the victim? That even though there has been a rape kit, a charge and a previous trial this man is potentially going to get off. Why cant these words be used? How else would you describe a sexual act that was unwanted? Does he not see that by having to refer to this act as sex and not rape you are only taking away from the seriousness of this accusation. He says it was consensual, as it was the night before. However i dont believe that when she woke up, she had consented before going to bed. The message that this sends to women who have been raped in Nebraska, dont even bother going to trial because you cant give an actual account of the event. You are denying th emotions and feelings that the victim had during the time of the assault.
I hope that this doesnt become a trend, barring words from trials to describe an inncident. I hope that this women asks for a different judge or even a different district so that she can get a fair child. I think it is just appalling that the Judge is banning these words, almost taking out all the emotion of the case, all the volguar language to describe this volguar attack.
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