Tipping Point: The law of the few

Tipping Point

The message that I took away from the “Law of the Few” is that a few people can have a huge influence over the masses, but that is only if the few are already influential people. The reason that they have this type of influences is also because there are so few of them. In social psychology there is a theory that states that for a group to be exclusive the number of members within that group must stay small, about five members or less. The reason for this is that if a group is that small it means that not everyone can get into that group which is what gives that group its appeal. Another factor that plays a part in the groups influences is how hard you have to work to be apart of that group. An example of this would be a sorority where potential rushes are put through a grilling initiation processes. Once it is over the new members fell a since of belonging and are more connected to the other members because of the experience. The few existing members pick and choice from the masses and make judgments on who is let into their exclusive club. A broader example is the influence that celebrities have on society. They are used to endorse products, give public service announcements, and promote events. Celebrities only make up less than two percent of the population which is one of the reasons why they have influence. The other reasons are their wealth, and the way that we perceive their lifestyle as being better than our own. It is also the fact that becoming famous is not that easy of a thing to do. A reality T.V. participant is more likely to become infamous than famous. However an actor like Brad Pitt or an actress like Julia Roberts have been in several movies and have been rewarded for their talent. The odd trend however is that the newer celebrities the younger ones are the ones which the most influence. They are the ones endorsing newer products. Katy Perry has replaced Jessica Simpson as the female on the Proactive acne commercials. The reason is obvious Katy Perry is in the media more because of her recent albums and television appearances. The more a celebrity is seen the more famous they are which means they have more influence at that moment.

            The law of the few is also seen when it comes to government. There are only a handful of government officials that make the decision for the masses. Although they are put into power by the larger majority voting for them, but once they are in that position there are no gaurontess as to what they will do with that power. These officials can say one thing during their campaign and once elected go in a totally different direction. The masses would have to assemble and work together to hopefully get that person out of office, but even with that they really have to work hard to have any influence over that because they voted that person into office. Another issue with the few having as much control as our state and national government is that a lot of what they do goes on behind closed doors which the public has little to no access to. Also the citizens that are active in finding this information out the “mavens” often have no one to aid them in making the corruption public so that it can be exposed and changed. But that would take the time of the masses to investigate these issues and to work together to change the problems. It would also require extra work to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Work and Time are two things that Americans are not will to put forth or to give, which is why our system remains the way that it is. There are a few people who vote and a few that follow what goes on after wards but it tends to stop there. It is time for the few in power to be held accountable by the masses and maybe when that happens there will be change until then nothing will ever change.   

MY Spoken Words

    I have to fight for what I want, I have to argue for the things I need
It's never easy, nothing comes easy, not for me and not for any one else
Easy, Easy what in life is easy? Its not easy to wake up and know you have to face another day where your life isn't what you want it to be.
 So you fight, you fight and you don't give up. When you get told No, you fight for a Yes.
Life isn't worth living if you don't fight, you must fight.
Wrong fight it, inequality fight it, bad policies fight it.
 Fighting is not Easy, Life isn't easy, so why not fight and make things right.
 Fight so maybe things will be easier for someone else.
                                      FIGHT! 

Chicken Fried!!

Disneys gone Wild!

This is Hanna Montana she was the fictional child rock star that was played by Mylie Cyrus. Disney was the network responsible for pushing her onto its young viewers.

But Disney knew what they were doing kids loved her they bought all of the Hanna Montana merchandise and Disney racked in the money. However Disney doesn't learn from past mistakes (Brittney Spears,Christina Agularia, and most destructive Lindsey Lohan)all were Disney's little princess until they got too old or the fame got to them. Or maybe they were destructive and horrible decision makers to begin with but what ever the case may be, we HAD to watch another young Disney princess fall far far far from grace.

This isn't Hanna Montana its Mylie Cyrus, who plays Hanna Montana. That ridiculous distinctions was supposed to defend the "child" star from ridicule for her performance at the Teen Choice Awards. Children who watched the show on Disney weren't supposed to watch Mylie (dance like an adult female performer). Hanna Montana is the role model I assume. It was also supposed to be ok because it was the Teen Choice Awards and not the Kids Choice Awards although I think they play on the same channel. 

    My issue with Mylie and those "child" stars before her is that young girls want to imitate  what they see on t.v. Which it isn't television fault per-say but someone should take some form of responsibility for what is shown on the kid "friendly" channels. Stars like Mylie shouldn't have the responsibility of being perfect but they should have the decency to not dance on a stripper pole which is attached to a box that says ice cream. That's just shameful to all involved.    Kids are being exposed to way too much way to early this is worse for little girls in my opinion.

      Girls are more likely to want copy someone like Mylie not Hanna because Mylie is the one who gets all the real attention.Young girls shouldn't be exposed to these kinds of conflicting messages.   

  Every little girl who liked that show has of corse moved on to Selena Gomaz I think thats the new one but it will be a miricale if she doesn't self distruct as well. And although the list of these "child" stars that become famous them infamous will continue to grow so will the number of 8year old little girls who want to look the way their favorite teen celebrity looks. Which normally is the complete opposite of what we would picture an 8 year old child to look like.

Jenae's Perfect World, where everyone knew how to Act.

1. Finding out about a problem
2. Wanting to do something to help
3. Not seeing how you can help
4. Not doing anything about it
5. Feeling sad, powerless, angry
6. Deciding that nothing can be done
7. Begin shutting down
8. Wanting to know less about problems
  I will admit that I fall into the cycle of cynicism although I would rather be in the cycle of hope. I hate watching the news whether it's local or world it upsets me to a point where i just want to throw something at the television. To ease myself back into the world of conflicting views and interpretations of events I have gone back to watching The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report. They are late night saterical journalism shows but I notice that they don't take sides like Fox News or that other big news station which is why I watch them. They provide me with information and some humor to help me not be as irritated and tune out again.
The readings for this week are in line with my view points when it comes to the way that the world works. People complain but do nothing to solve the issue that they are complaining about. Instead they either continue to complain and do nothing.  or apathy does set in and they begin to accept the fact that the situation will never change.
 I wonder what came first the cycle of socialization or the cycle of cynism. Is it that people saw issues that they couldn't change so they became apathitic and passed it on. Or have people been socialized this way for so long that cynism is the way to cope with the bad socialization. No matter which way it goes it is going to take a major overhaul to change they way people as a whole think.
 I am going to support that fact that people as a whole are somewhat selfish and will reject a great idea or solution because they didn't come up with it. Or if it doesn't bother them right now its not important. But once it bothers us to the point of it being an emergency then we want quick answers and solutions. The greatest example would be politics. We expect one person to do so much in a few years and when they don't deliver the package we want then its time to go back to something that's different yet the same. Americans have no patiences for change we want everything fast and right now but we don't want to work for anything its just suppose to happen.
 Its the fact that I see that behavior in people that I turn to the cycle of cynicism because it helps me deal with the way that people are socialized. So I guess for me socialization caused cynicism.  

Critical Essay: The Education Of Little Tree

Jenae Guy NCLC: 375 Cultural Leadership

Critical Essay: The Education of Little Tree

The Education of Little tree is the story about the unbreakable spirit of a half Cherokee six year old boy who has become an orphan. However he isn’t completely alone he has his grandparents who take him to the mountains of Tennessee. Little Tree embodies the strength of an oppressed people, who have been robbed of their way of life, but not their dignity. Little Tree looks to and learns from his Grandma and Grandpa they tell him about the power of nature as well as how to appreciate all that it does for you. Little Tree’s Grandparents teach him life lessons in addition to telling him the history of his people and where he came from. Little Tree’s view of the world is shaped by his Grandparents love for him along with the experiences he has while living with them.  

Little Tree’s Grandma and Grandpa live up in the mountains of Tennessee in a small log cabin which little tree quickly identifies as his home. Grandma and Grandpa are of Cherokee decent as is Little tree except he was only half Cherokee like his Grandpa. When Little Tree and his Grandparents board the bus after his parents’ funeral, Little Tree is introduced to the insensitive views toward Indians. The passages on the bus laughed and made fun of them. Little Tree didn’t understand then why the people acted that way but he would learn later the harsh truth that meant he would encounter that type of treatment his whole life. Part of Grandpa and Grandma’s role in Little Tree’s life was to help him understand the world he was born into along with how to handle the situations that were inevitable.

Little Tree’s huge heart and spirit were a large part of his ability to lead as well as influence the lives of those around him. Although little tree was six years old he was able to comprehend the lessons his grandparents were teaching him. His Grandpa would take Little Tree on hikes along the mountain trails; he spent most of his time with his Grandpa. Little tree’s ability to apply the knowledge he learned along those trails stand out because he was six years old but he learned quickly about “the way” and all of the knowledge that his Grandpa gave him about life in the mountain. The most amazing moment was when Little Tree scaled the mountain to get away from the officers who were headed for the still. As Little Tree is running for his life he was also protecting the whisky jars. He knew that without that whisky they wouldn’t make any money, which would affect the whole family.

Another outstanding quality that he had was he internalized the values and lessons that his Grandparents taught him. More amazing is how he applied it when they were not around. When Little Tree was taken to the orphanage far from his home he didn’t forget about the strength of the Cherokee. At the orphanage Little Tree was beaten by the priest because his teacher was offended by his interpretation of a deer painting that was presented in class. Little Tree remembered the story his Grandma told him about the way that Indians bear pain. Little Tree applied this knowledge while the Reverend beat him across his back with a stick. The Reverend broke one stick across his back he replaced it and beat him until he was tired but Little Tree never cried nor showed any sign of being hurt. He had beard the beating by letting his body mind go to sleep and escaping into his spirit mind which allowed him to see his pain but not feel it.    

Little Trees’ Grandparents taught him about what was “right”. The Grandparents grew up in the mountains around the few Indians who managed to stay hidden from the officials who forced the Indians to go out west. The ones who managed to stay hidden got to keep their families alive and together. Grandma and Grandpa learned from their parents the way the Indians viewed life and what things were truly important. They instilled the same values into Little Tree.

Grandpa taught Little Tree about the importance of hard work. Grandpa and Little Tree worked together to complete almost every task that had to be done around the cabin. Little Tree helped Grandpa plow even though he wasn’t tall enough to really see over the plow he found a way to work it anyway. Through plowing Little Tree learned about patience. The mule that pulled the plow was old and couldn’t hear well so you had to yell real loud, he also couldn’t see out of his left eye so making turns on the field were difficult because he would only turn one way. Little Tree and Grandpa worked together to get the old mule to pull the plow to get the crops planted. The other lesson that Grandpa taught Little Tree was about “the way”. While they sat underneath a tree a hawk swooped down and grabbed a quail it upset Little Tree. Grandpa explained that that’s how nature works that it is all a cycle and that it’s natural. Another lesson that was taught to Little Tree had to do with the way you love people. His Grandparents taught him that to love something you have to understand it, love without understanding isn’t really love at all. Which is also manifested through the word kin it meant I understand you which to them means I love you and we are one.

Although Little Trees Grandparents taught him about the way to love and how to think about life. It was the others around him who often taught him the hard lessons. While Grandpa and Little Tree were at the settlement selling their wares a man pulls up and starts preaching about the evils of Catholics. Little Tree and Grandpa got stuck in the crowed who gather around the man. Little Tree spotted a baby calf and went up to pet him. A good Christian man was the owner of the calf and sold it to Little Tree for fifty cents, the man told him that it was worth a hundred times that but he saw the calf liked him. On their walk back home the calf died. The good Christian farmer should him a sick cow which couldn’t be used for anything besides its hide. Little Tree learned not to trust everyone who said that they were honest. The people in the settlement were decent for the most part. However there was prejudice towards the Indians which Little Tree encountered often. He meets a little girl whose family worked as sharecroppers, she was dirty and they were poor. Little Tree’s Grandmother made the little girl some moccasins which she loved until her father spotted them. He whipped his daughter and returned the shoes to Little Tree saying that he didn’t accept charity especially from Indians. Little Tree and Grandpa talked about it on the way home. Grandpa told Little Tree about the plight of the sharecropper that they were looked down upon, at the end of the conversation Little Tree understood the father’s actions and felt for the family.

Little Tree was a strong character who grew up a lot within a short amount of time he learned fast and knew how to apply those core values that were instilled in him. Little Tree never forgot that the little things were the most important that having respect and understanding meant love. He also remembered the Indian way of gift giving that it doesn’t require a thank you nor a public show because that person deserved whatever gift you gave to them.

      

Great Leaders, Decsion Makers, and Listeners: The real images of Patriotism

 I really liked our last class meeting the scenarios were thought provoking because they were debatable. I have been told that I am perusing the wrong major because I do like to debate, but I never thought about issues like the ones brought up in the scenarios as having to do with patriotism. I had this narrow American Revolution idea of patriotism, mainly because that's the example school gives you. Patriots are people who would live and die for their country no matter what we are asking you to die for.
  The picture that I brought in last class to demonstrate patriotism was of my sister in her army uniform. Which is the normal view of what is patriotic which would be true I support the troops because that is a huge sacrifice that I know I am too selfish to make. (just being honest) Although I view anyone who is serving this country by putting their lives at risk with the up most respect I do disagree with why they are having to do so.
  After 9/11 every one had their flags out because united we stand. Also after 9/11 the decision to go to war was made with scare tactics that  "terrorist" were gonna kill us all and we had to fight a war against them. We also need to find Osmana Bin Laudin who was hiding out in a cave making threatening video tapes. Our President used rhetoric to gain support for an unnecessary war. He played on the emotions of the people to rally them into an angry state to where if you were against the war you were not a patriot. It was bad for a while like people threatened the Dixie Chicks because they spoke out and wouldn't go along with the blow up ask questions latter mentality.
  The post post 9/11 problem is that we are still in a country that we didn't need to invade. It is upsetting that people who were in power at that time are now pointing the finger at one another saying that they really didn't want to go to war but there wasn't any other way. Or there is the opps! our bad information story being told that they knew it was somewhat irrational but it seemed rational at the time. That is unacceptable behavior by a leader but in America we don't have leaders we have polaticians.
   Its funny that the more I pay attention to the news the term leader isn't used that much we use goverment titles which at least to me gives it a businness feel. It comes off just the opposite of what Ella Baker said a leader should lead. Without some form of personal title it all just seems like official bussiness which in some regards people avoid. I have heard numoruos times that you Never disscuss polictis at the table or ever. That goes against patriotism it would be benificial for us to conversat about the issues that affect us all. The problem is that people have attachments to parties and they won't let go. I am guilty of that I am a libral all day everyday I really don't like rebupblican policies or ideals. However I am going to challenge myself to take away the label which I causes me to automactilly redicule the other side and see what I learn it will be hard but I am going to try that. Having a narrow mind means that there is no space for broader thoughts to evolve.
   In response Patriotism the points brought up are ones that I would like to further explore because there are a lot of things that I feel could be done differently or not at all however there is no real avenue for your voice to be heard without dismissal. People would rather have the ease of misery instead of the discomfort of working to change the cause of their misery. It is hard to be heard and taken seriously as a student or in a work place in fact if your heard too much you risk loosing your job.
      I also would like to comment on the issue of the black male deviante. I have something they should add to that like an interesting thing for them to observe when it comes to behavoir and consequences. Every school I attended throughout my precollege years was prodomatly white, but my mother taught in an almost all black school on the "other" side of town. I noticed the differances between the schools and their perspective locations more and more as I got older. But all though the mannerisms were different when it came to the nature of disruptive behavior I noticed that the "white" children who were trouble makers at my school were a constant problem all year and were never expelled where as the boys at my mothers school would have three issues and would be sent to alternative school or expelled. Yeah that should be investigated further like within a few schools place two boys one black one white and have them behave the same way with the same teacher and see what would happen to each boy.