English Paper about Comic Books

Please be critical of this essay. I have not turned it in. I am submitting this for publication so ANY and ALL criticisms would be greatly appreciated.

Casey Deans

LARGEY

ENG 311, SEC 002

Subscriber

            Child-like, naive, melodramatic, and juvenile are words that litter the critiques of the comic book genre. As a child, I was enthralled by the melodrama that unfolded from the pages of my comic books. My naivety was all encompassing as I truly believed that one day I would be a superhero. My juvenile sense of right and wrong had yet to be twisted and turned by the adult onset inflictions of utilitarianism, self-critical examination, and fear-induced submission. Comic books were my springboard into imagination. They were adult, violent, scary, and raw, yet you could read them in the living room. This subtle secret increased the excitement as you read them in plain view of everyone.

            I don't remember the first comic book I read just like I don't remember the first pizza slice I ate, first sports game I participated in, first Christmas, first birthday celebration, first time I saw the sky, or first breath I took. Comics were always there, and they will always be there. They don't require the mental work of novels. "What was the first book I remember reading?" is a question I can answer: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. I have a clear recollection of finishing the book and feeling as though I had also just survived alone in the wilderness with only a hatchet by my side.

            Books are great. They are "Tony the Tiger Grrreat!" and they are "Alexander the Great". They have a looming sense of snobbery, a daunting history, and an ocean like immensity that is intimidating and scary. Books change lives, leave scars, induce life-long inflictions like enlightenment, religion, and dissatisfaction with the mundane. Books are like mothers and fathers; comic books are like best friends from gym class. You don't go to their weddings or bail them out of jail, but you always laugh at the same things. When you see them in the hallway you casually nod hello, but you don't stop and chat. Books are judgmental. Comic books understand they won't be taught at the prestigious Harvard or even the lowly Greendale Community College. Comic books don't want that. They want you to buy them, experience them, enjoy them, collect them, but most importantly subscribe to them. Comic books are like a secret club, a fringe element, a peccadillo, and a secret society. They do not form their club through selection, elimination, and evolution. Comic book society is formed by selecting the "Average Joe" and indoctrinating him with their beliefs then sending him forth recreated in their image, addicted to their drug, and forever hooked on their entertainment.

            Curator, stockbroker, cataloguer, archivist, historian, fact-checker, reader, writer, artist, and fan are all titles that can be hybridized into describing a comic book nerd. A spider web of ever increasing split-offs and divisions sprawls out when you dissect the comic book nerd. First is the analysis of the label "nerd". Thick rimmed glasses, flood pants, books about wizards, video games, old cartoons, and comic books are all gaining hipness, mainstream acceptance, and popularity that is changing the definition of "nerd". Since the 2000's, skateboarding and surfing are examples of lifestyles that emerged from the nerd or fringe class, and become common, uniform, and fashionable. Rap, video games, and comic books also are previous "nerd" or fringe cultures which are diluting throughout the "too cool for school" pool. This "cool to be a nerd" attitude is prevalent throughout many facets of society, but the most obvious one is clothing. Suddenly, "Tommy-quarterback ESPN-addict" is sporting a shirt with Super Mario Bros. on it, and a pair of Vans skateboarding shoes. His hat, New York Yankees of course, is twisted to the side in an attempt to fool us into believing that he knows who Big L is and doesn't know who Garth Brooks is. These chameleons will take their self-labeled "ironic" pictures that they will look back on in a few years and laugh and think how much better their new society-prescribed outfit is. Luckily, the comic book world is not one that can be joined by buying a T-shirt or seeing Thor in theatres. Admittance into comic book fandom requires subscription.

             One question can quickly separate the true comic book nerds from the posers. No, the question is not something technical like, "What is Wolverine's real name? or How many different colors of Kryptonite are there?" The question is surprisingly obvious and seldom replied to with lies. That question is: "Do you read comic books?" People respond very quickly with a slight disdain and say, "Oh no, I just like this T-Shirt" or "I just saw the movie and think [Insert Chris Hemsworth, Ryan Reynolds, or Robert Downey Jr.] is hot." If by some random chance you find a person who reads comic books a sudden change of mood quickly descends. Similar to when two cats see each other, the defenses come out and their tails puff up and sometimes even the fangs are bared. Comic book readers are also fiercely territorial and often highly cliquish. A self-declaration is made when two comic book readers meet, a declaration that I will now make to you about myself.

            I am a Marvel Fan Boy. I read Ultimate X-men, X-Men, Wolverine, Avengers, and Captain America. I enjoy reading and am also a collector. My collection is almost entirely Modern Age, 1980's-Present, and consists of over 3,000 books. The pièce de résistance of my collection is a signed CGC Origins #1. Most of the prized books are Wolverine related and I have some significant runs, or series of issues. I have never met anyone personally who owns more comics than me but there are many, many people out there who do. If I didn't want to explain all that to someone, I could simply say, "I like Marvel's superhero comics".

            The main divisions of comic book readers are Marvel, DC, and Independent. Independent readers are somewhat cheating in my opinion because they are often given the literary clout and intellectual status that superhero comic book readers are not. This elevation of the Independent reader is not undeserved or incorrect but really should be given the label, "graphic novel reader" not comic book reader/fan.

            The word subscription has an interesting etymology: From early 15 century Latin subscribere it originally meant "to sign at the bottom of a document". Subscribere combined sub "underneath" and scribere "write". The meaning of "giving one's consent" was first recorded in 1540's and the meaning of "become a regular buyer of a publication" in 1711. I subscribe, literally, to about 24 different titles. In other words, I pay for a year's worth of comics, twelve titles, and receive them monthly through the United States Postal Service. I also subscribe to comics in the sense that I am fiercely loyal to their form and content. I recently ordered my first subscriptions to DC Comics because of their historic re-launch. DC comics have been publishing comics since 1937's Detective Comics #1. "DC" stands for "Detective Comics Inc", the original name of the company. Detective Comics #27 contained the first appearance of Batman. DC Comics published Action Comics #1 that contained the first appearance of Superman, in 1938. For about 74 years DC comics has continuously published those two books: Detective Comics and Action Comics. The comics were each numbered, Detective Comics zenithed at #881 and Action Comics at #904.

            The month of September 2011 saw a historic re-launch or DC Comics. All of DC Comics titles would start over with #1 issues. This meant that 52 books would all have a new story line devoid of previous plot points and story arcs. The re-launch was an invitation to all to come and read without the fear of having missed out on 74 years worth of character development, inside jokes, references to past events, and other knowledge that had plagued the DC Universe. This was an invitation that had me questioning my devotion, or subscription, to Marvel Comics. As I investigated the roots of my self-labeled "Marvel Fanboy" status, I realized that Marvel Comics weren't the only thing I was subscribing to.

            Have you ever told people you don't like to eat something? They offer soft cheese, tomatoes, fancy mustard, caviar, pistachio ice cream, Nutella, swiss cheeseburgers, or some type of food and you reply, "No thanks, I don't like that, I never have." Then one day you are going out with a girl, guy, in-law, boss, co-worker, or colleague that you want to impress. You decide to show off your adventurousness and open-mindedness, or you respect and trust this person enough to follow them, so you shrug off your initial reaction and say, "Sure, I'll give it a try." You bite or lick with apprehension and aren't revolted so you decide to try more. As you ingest this old enemy you think to yourself or say out loud, "This is great!" Slowly the joy of newfound treats turns into a mix of self-doubt and guilt as you wonder, "What else have I been denying myself because I have convinced myself that I don't like it?" This is what I went through when I began to taste what DC Comics had to offer.

            My views on entertainment and art always followed a strict set of personal policies. Marvel NOT DC; Star Wars NOT Star Trek; The Lord of the Rings NOT anything else about swords, dragons, trolls, or fantasy-related themes; Warner Bros./Bugs Bunny NOT Disney/Mickey Mouse; Anne Rice's Vampires NOT Twilight; Harry Potter NOT anything else wizardly or magical; Albert Brooks NOT Hot Rod/Napolean Dynamite; Saturday Night Live NOT MadTV; X-Men Animated/Batman Animated NOT Mighty Morphin Power Rangers; Blue NOT Red; Real Bacon NOT Turkey Bacon; and more broadly Art NOT Entertainment. What had I "NOT" been enjoying as a result of my stubbornness? Why was I so quick to prescribe my subscription to others I had diagnosed as "artistically challenged"? Why couldn't we all just get along?

            My father and I recently began debating the movies we would see together. We agree more than we disagree. My father frequently makes the statement, "My dollar counts as much as anyone else's." His argument is that by purchasing a ticket he has voted and the film's worth can be determined by its box office gross. My view, before my life-event on the road to Metropolis, was always that my opinion was the only one that mattered and all appraisals of worth should be based on the criteria I have created. After a thorough self-evaluation I had come to the conclusion that what I had previously considered to be a confident, loyal, resoluteness was actually a prideful, intolerant, stubbornness. I had been creating so many walls between me and my New York Yankee hat wearing, hipster-posing, faux-nerd brothers and sisters that I had ensconced myself into a box. The concrete armor I wore by having unwavering tastes and opinions wasn't protecting me but dragging me down into a dark abyss, devoid of new experiences and most importantly, new people. The warmth of my beliefs was becoming suffocating and I had distanced myself from others who might provide a needed breath of fresh air.  "I Am a Rock" by Paul Simon echoed in my head, especially the verse:

"I have my books

And my poetry to protect me;

I am shielded in my armor,

Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.

I touch no one and no one touches me.

I am a rock,

I am an island.”

            No longer would I be so quick to judge, so quick to draw imaginary battle lines in the entertainment world. I would embrace Star Trek, chomp down on a Swiss-cheeseburger, bite my tongue and un-roll my eyes when I encountered someone born in 1991 who wears a Thundercats T-shirt.         

Every Way But Back

My parents have left for a two week trip to Europe. The last day was the first day I have spent by myself in a little over a year. I have been reflecting on the past, the present, and the future. My reflective state is probably also caused by the period of theater history I am studying in my Dramatic Performances: Renaissance to Present class. In class we are studying "Existentialism" and we recently read "Waiting for Godot". I have come to the mini-conclusion after thinking about "deep stuff" that the best outlook on life is up and forward. Optimism and hopefulness or looking toward the future and expecting good things to come from it is the best way for me to live my life. I am determined to spend my time enjoying the present, forgetting the past, and anticipating the future.

Me fail English? That's unpossible - Ralph Wiggum

Casey Deans

ENGL 215R Dyer

Interview

Stinky

            The introduction concludes and the speaker steps forward onto the stage. He is dressed in a suit and has a translucent headset microphone. He walks forward and shakes the hand of the man who has just introduced him. His name is Kurt Mortensen and he is a professional public speaker. He is speaking today to a group of corporate salesmen about persuasion and the art of the sale. He owns the stage, has a great voice, good eye contact, and great smile. His audience consists of fifty or so middle-aged, middle-class people. They are dressed casually and have a full day of listening to him and others ahead of them. Kurt is an engaging speaker and the crowd listens and is pleased. He is also pleased because the audience is polite, attentive, and he is performing successfully. He has had other speeches that have not gone so well. Fire alarms have gone off in the middle of a speech. When the alarm is blaring he calmly instructs people to stay in their seats, reassuring them that, "This is probably a false alarm." Because of the numerous times he has done this he is certain that one day Karma will catch up to him and as a result he and his audience will be consumed in flames. When it's not the fire alarms going off, it is often other distractions and annoyances that plague his speeches. Hecklers come in many shapes and sizes and Kurt knows how to handle them all. When a person attempts to take over the conversation, interrupt with criticisms, have loud annoying children, or ask too many questions, they fail at flustering him. He is cool when this happens and diffuses these potentially hazardous people. He is an avid proponent of rehearsal. Even though he had given hundreds of speeches he makes sure to always practice. His experience has taught him that no matter how much one is prepared things will still go wrong. The power point won't load properly, the microphone or speaker system won't work, temperature of the room will be wrong, and a myriad of other technical hurdles will pop up while he is speaking. Fire alarms, hecklers, and technical issues are absent from the speech he is giving today and he is very pleased. A person walks on stage during a pause in his talking and hands Kurt a note which reads, "There is a man wearing a green shirt and brown tie who smells so bad that others are beginning to be sick. Please ask him to leave." Kurt reads the note, places it in his pocket and thanks the deliverer. He then continues with his speech and thinks to himself, "How am I going to solve this problem?" Kurt guesses that if he stops the speech and says, "Will the man with the green shirt and brown tie please leave, he smells awful, thank you," people will lose focus and the man will be severely embarrassed. He considers telling the man to leave without giving him a reason but deduces that this will cause the audience to become perplexed and think about the possible reasons instead of listening to him speak. The solution occurs to him and he decides to call for a five minute break. While the audience is talking amongst themselves Kurt walks towards the stinky man and asks him to follow him outside of the meeting hall to the lobby of the hotel. In the lobby, away from the ears of the audience, Kurt explains that the man's smell is atrocious and causing others to be sick. The man thanks him for addressing the issue in such a polite way and leaves. Now Kurt has another problem he knows how to solve when he gives speeches in the future.

Casey Deans

ENGL 215R Dyer

Exercise #5 - Haiku

                                                            Five Haikus

May is for the bees,

making honey in the trees.

Please don't sting me bees

The birds and the bees,

doing whatever they please.

We; not I and Me.

Red, watery eyes,

dripping nose, snotty sleeve, yuck!

The not-Great Outdoors.

Not a chance Noah,

none-by-none for the insects,

hope they like the rain.

Ants marching along,

freed by a conformity.

Onward and upward.

Casey Deans

ENGL 215R Dyer

Exercise # 6 Ekphrastic Poem

This poem is a reaction to the following painting:

http://moa.byu.edu/fileadmin/moa/war/kiosk/rockwell.html

http://www.legendaryauctions.com/LotImages/67/108421b_lg.jpeg

American Being

Thinking creates being.

Being human

Being free

Being American creates speaking.

Speaking up, speaking out.

Raising your hand, raising your voice, raising your fist.

Looking upward, looking outward. Standing tall. Standing for what's right.

Being creates thinking.

Thinking creates speaking.

Being American creates listening. Looking, listening, learning, loving.

Any thoughts?

One human. Being.

Casey Deans

ENGL 215R Dyer

Exercise #7 Animal Poem

Wet Goat - By Calvin Klein

Can we still call animals retarded?

            Bah-bah- Bah-oring. Boring.

Itchy wool, smelly goat, tough meat

Not surprising that you are the star of the kabob

Black, white, who gives a goat!

Wolves have figured it out: Eat the sheep.

Maybe wolves don't kill to eat

Maybe I am a wolf, when it comes to sheep.

Eat a can or something.

Billy Goat Gruff, I've had enuff.

Gingerbread Man By Casey Deans

 Sucker punched US and ran

stirring up a hornet's nest.

Worldwide terror was your plan.

One of our worst days, your best

Run run, fast as you can!

Until we find you, we will not rest.

You can't catch me, I'm Osama bin Laden!

Cower in your rat-nest.

Smoke 'em out, was the plan

ride the war wave to the crest

all the time we search, scour, and scan

you make a film and thump your chest

Are you in Afghanistan?

A war is fought, our longest.

Are you with the Taliban?

Or in the mountains to the west?

There you are, in Pakistan!

This location had been guessed

In a compound with your clan

Action: exterminate the pest

USA! USA! Yes We Can!

One of your worst days, our best

Creative Writing, well Writing at least

I know it is Blog cheating to just post assignments from my classes but I wanted to share my recent writings I did for my Creative Writing class. They are works in progress so please be critical.

Casey Deans

ENGL 218R Section 1

Emily Dyer

Why You Write

            Writing is remembrance. When I write I take a piece of what I am now and freeze it. I am able to look back on this section of myself and remember what I was like. Writing also gives me the option of sharing myself with other people. This sharing might occur in the present or the future. Even when I am no longer alive I will still be remembered when people read my writing.

Best of all I am not forced to always be me. Writing is the best transformer. When I write I don't even have to be human, I can be a cat lying in the sun or the sun shining on the cat, or both. Risking exposure of my giant egotistical self delusions I would suggest that to write is to create and to create is divine. Of course the opposite could be argued that to write is to lie, because I am not a cat or a Solar entity.

            Even in a digital age, writing is tangible. Writing does not filter itself through the strainer of ego. When I use my brain to remember the past I inevitably change things. I change what occurred to make myself better and the world worse and sometimes I do the opposite. This makes these memories solely my own and not judiciously credible. Writing does not completely solve this problem. Writing is also my own but it is less malleable. What I remember today about my childhood will be very different than what I remember about my childhood on my deathbed. When I write a story about my childhood then it is altered by my ego but only altered once. As soon as the ink dries it is done. This fortitude is the reason that the catch-phrase for the film The Ten Commandments is "So let it be written so let it be done." Saying to people, "So let it be remembered, so let it be done as though remembered it" would have had varied and tragic outcomes.

            "I guess you had to be there," is a phrase often uttered to explain laughing at something that is presently not funny. The humor of the moment has long since passed and the event was not the type that could be retold. Humor is not the sole emotion that relies upon an eyewitness account. Listening to people as they explain the "cutest thing you've ever seen" or "I thought I was going to die" stories can often be difficult if you were not a participant or observer of the event they are describing. When I write a story I can quickly ascertain whether or not it is worth retelling. I can also change what occurred and tailor it so it is the most appealing to me and my audience.

            In my opinion, the following statement is false: Non-fiction is truth. Truly, fiction is the only truth that exists in writing. Even manuals for blenders are wrought with inconsistencies and lies. By stepping into the imagination zone we can unburden ourselves from the rigidness of truth as we know it and truly be honest with ourselves and our readers. In my opinion this is the most fun thing about writing. Because writing is only bound by words and as humans we make up the words it is really limitless. The power of the pen is more powerful than the sword in this sense because the pen (or keyboard) is everything and anything I want it to be while the sword is a weapon or a plowshare.

            Writing for me is a great tool to share myself with others and share myself with my future self. Writing is also a great way to draw closer to the creator, Heavenly Father, and glimpse at the awesome responsibility of creation. Writing is the purest form of truth because it does not disguise itself as anything but fiction. I write because it is fun.

Casey Deans

ENGL 215R Dyer

Object Essay

World on a String

            One holds a yo-yo as one holds the top of a cane or a pre-dipped Oreo. Not like a baseball, or a flashlight, or a pocket watch but like something hot or sticky, something you want to drop. The yo-yo is not for grasping. It is for slinging, spinning, tugging, walking, and flying. Like a trapeze artist, it defies gravity, stuns audiences, and then, returns to its perch! The yo-yo is shaped like a scared turtle that has two shells and no underbelly. This overprotective shell houses a delicate string. This fragile spinal cord, this string, is offered to the owner with apprehension. Without the string a yo-yo is a decorative lump, and when it breaks it is dead and removed and discarded like its package tying brethren. The string is both invaluable and replaceable.

            This yo-yo sits on the shelf next to mugs, pennants, buttons, t-shirts, and tote bags. It has been branded with a "Y" like everything else in this store. The yo-yo sits in line like an actor waiting to audition and like an actor the yo-yo knows that it will only have at most ten minutes to impress. More than likely the owner will become frustrated with this "toy" and put it next to his slinky, silly putty, Tamagotchi digital pet, Rubik's cube, and possibly another yo-yo. The owner will return to his Sony Playstation Portable and the yo-yo will wait with his "I told you so's" at the ready. It is waiting for the day when the battery dies, the screen cracks, or the Sony Playstation Portable becomes outdated or uncool. The yo-yo will gloat while it is in the company of the other toys and share with them its prestigious pedigree. The other toys will listen with admiration and some disbelief as it tells them that yo-yos are three thousand years old. The yo-yo will quietly object to being called a toy and insist on being called a marvel of physics. When asked why it will feign that the secrets of the universe are in its possession and that even Albert Einstein could not divulge the yo-yo's mysteries. Like a wealthy philanthropist the yo-yo will make some snide comment like, "At the end of the day though, I do it for the kids."

            Deep down inside the yo-yo doesn't like children. Children's fickle attentions and the sticky candy shovels they call hands are despicable to the yo-yo.  The yo-yo was played by knights and kings, physicists and astronauts. The yo-yo has been to space. This great mechanism falls to the ground only to spit in gravity's face and flee back to the hand without gas, motor, or exhaust fumes. The yo-yo doesn't contain lithium batteries or toxic chemicals. This yo-yo is an eco-warrior, a genius, an entertainer, and loyal friend. The yo-yo never runs away to your neighbor's back yard like its cousin, the novelty flying disc. The yo-yo never pops like the moronic sports balls who steal all the limelight. Yet, despite all these wonderful things the yo-yo is paradoxically nerdy and stupid, simple and confusing, snobbish and gauche. This yo-yo will do what its kind does best, wait and bide its time. It waits for its moment of glory when someone cares for it and learns it and uses it to entertain or explain science or both. Its kind has been waiting for thousands of years, storing up their potential energy anxious to release it onto the world.

Casey Deans

ENGL 215R Dyer

New Experience Essay

The Best Buy of My Life

            Sky diving was a great experience and I will never forget what it feels like to jump out of an airplane. Of course, getting to the airport where this sky diving adventure began was also an experience I will never forget. I had never heard of "car-surfing" and was confused when I was offered the chance to try it. After the first 2 hours standing atop the cargo section of a semi-truck I realized that "car surfing" was exactly what you think it is and not as easy as it looks. Both "car-surfing" and sky-diving cost a lot of money and getting that money is not simple or easy. People may judge me harshly for robbing a bank but those people don't know the thrill of pointing a gun at someone, stuffing a burlap sack full of money, using cool terms like "dye-pack" and "stick up", and driving away so fast that the tires give off a plume of black smoke and a loud screeching sound. These new experiences taught me a lot about my limits, my capabilities, and my pain threshold. Most importantly however, I learned that I should never smoke crystal methamphetamine, not even once.

            I didn't experience any of those crazy things. I lied because my experience was really dull. My real experience was buying a bluetooth keyboard. I have never used a laptop in class before and felt that bringing one would be more of a distraction than a useful tool. My delicate wrists tend to get sore if I use my hands for writing after about twenty minutes so I brought one to my English class with the hopes of using it to write during a writing exercise. This laptop was heavy, loud, large, and dirty. I did enjoy typing in class and decided that I needed a different way to type in class. My phone is capable of processing words but its virtual keyboard is not capable of handling my sausage digits when they flail about in a writing fury. I am often confused as to why my hands are fat and clumsy but my wrists delicate and frail. This odd combination requires that I type on a full size "qwerty" keyboard. "Qwerty" keyboards are keyboards that have the letters Q-W-E-R-T-Y located on the top left of the keyboard. I knew what I wanted and quested to get it.

            All modern day quests began similarly to quests of the past, by seeking guidance. I visited the "internet" and researched my options. If you don't know what the "internet" is then I can tell you if you mail me your Social Security number and your banking information. My nerd pride was bruised when I realized that there are actually multiple nuances and factors to consider when buying a bluetooth device. Bluetooth comes in many types ranging from 1.0 to 3.0 and they all have different profiles attached to them such as AVRCP: Audio/Video Remote Control Profile, CTP: Cordless Telephony Profile, and OPP: Object Push Profile. I knew I was down with OPP but I did not know if my phone was. After hours of research I came to the conclusion that trial and error would be the most effective way of determining the best keyboard for me. To avoid the frustration machine that is returning products over the internet and the cost associated with it I came to the conclusion that I would have to go to Best Buy. I do not think that Best Buy is the best and I do not like to buy things there. I went to the store, which was a new experience for me, and recruited a clerk to assist me. The clerk allowed me to test out the connection of one of the store's demonstration keyboards to my phone. It worked and I bought it. The keyboard itself is fully functional, light weight, and clean.  The only problem I have with it is that the experience of buying it and subsequently writing about it made me realize that I need to get out and experience things that are more exciting.

Casey Deans

ENGL 215R Dyer

Segmented Essay Exercise # 3

In My Sights

I. "Quality instruction is the foundation for practical application of the marksmanship fundamentals during range and field firing." - Rifle Marksmanship Marine Corps Manual 3-01A

You showed up to General Priesthood meeting thirty minutes early and you still couldn't get a seat in the comfy pews. The hard chair will keep you awake as you receive instruction and enlightenment. President Monson says, "Now, I have thought a lot lately about you young men who are of an age to marry but who have not yet felt to do so." You almost make the Scooby-Doo sound as your head perks up and you utter, "Ruh-roh." Your Dad gives you a nudge to confirm that you are paying attention. The President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stares right at you and you almost hear your name as he eloquently instructs you to get off your butt and start dating more.

II. "In a combat environment, the Marine must be constantly prepared for possible target engagement" - Rifle Marksmanship Marine Corps Manual 3-01A

Sweatpants. Comfortable non-judgmental sweatpants are what you wear when no one is looking and you are looking for no one. Taking them off, showering, shaving, brushing, and combing are all necessary physical preparations one must make in the few moments before entering a social setting. The one day you choose to prepare might be the one day you miss out on your engagement.

III. "The Marine must be constantly aware of the surroundings to include the terrain, available cover, possible areas of enemy contact, backdrop of the target, etc. This awareness will enable the Marine to select and assume a firing position and to quickly and accurately engage targets." - Rifle Marksmanship Marine Corps Manual 3-01A

Church: a great place to meet women. People tell you how they met their wife or husband at FHE, YSA, hiking the Y, dancing at UVU, and studying at the JFSB. The rest of the world is getting down with OPP and avoiding HIV and STD's. Is this blending the weirdest or the coolest?

IV. "The unique demands of combat (i.e., stress, uncertainty) dictate that the Marine be both physically and mentally prepared to engage enemy targets. It will not be enough to simply know marksmanship techniques and procedures." Rifle Marksmanship Marine Corps Manual 3-01A

Meet a stranger, ask them for an open audition, perform honestly and excellently, and evaluate them to co-star with you on the stage of life for eternity. Be serious but have fun. Relax and enjoy yourself while pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. You know the steps, you've seen the movies, and you know it is happening every day to millions of other people. You are so close that you can almost taste the chicken salad filled croissant that will be served at your wedding reception. You swallow your stress and imagine you are a much braver person and you walk towards your target. 

Historical Slavery Paper

Here is a paper I turned in today:

Casey Deans 10592737

Carayon H2700

Slavery Assignment

The Devil You Know

            Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave & Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl are two autobiographies which reveal the many dehumanizing methods used to strip slaves of self-identity. The efficacy of the slave-holder's methods is both challenged and supported by the lives of these two people. The procedure of brutalization and animalization of human beings which the American slave-holders used can be segmented into two main areas, the physical and emotional. The investigation of these autobiographies has a beneficial effect of enlightening the reader to the absolute disgustingness of slavery and the righteous goodness of freedom.

            Both the competency and the inefficiency of the institution of slavery are presented by these two accounts of slaves. The effectiveness of slavery's dehumanizing methods is admitted when Frederick Douglass states, "Mr. Covey succeeded in breaking me. I was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died; the dark night of slavery closed in upon me; and behold a man transformed into a brute!" (Douglass, 71) Harriet Jacobs also testifies to the power of these methods when she denies herself the sweet release of death many times throughout her life. Release from the shackles of slavery would not come from death and the "cheerful spark" would be resurrected into a mighty daybreak whose light would expel the dark night of slavery. The inadequacy of slavery's "breaking me [slaves]" is displayed by the transformation that occurs after slavery. Frederick Douglass illustrates that he is not only a human but a wonderful human with the following statement, "Sincerely and earnestly hoping that this little book may do something toward throwing light on the American slave system and hastening the glad day of deliverance to the millions of my brethren in bonds--faithfully relying upon the power of truth, love, and justice, for success in my humble efforts --and solemnly pledging my self anew to the sacred cause,-I subscribe myself," (Douglass 119). Harriet Jacobs also shows us that slavery is powerful enough to make her wish for death as a substitute but not powerful enough to break her human spirit forever. She displays her personhood when she reacts to prejudice aboard a train, "My answer was that the colored servants ought to be dissatisfied with themselves, for not having too much self-respect to submit to such treatment; that there was no difference in the price of board for colored and white servants, and there was no justification for the difference of treatment. I staid a month after this, and finding I was resolved to stand up for my rights, they concluded to treat me well. Let every colored man and woman do this, and eventually we shall cease to be trampled under foot by our oppressors." (Jacobs 340) The dehumanization methods of slavery are effective but temporary as they only last until release is granted through manumission, escape, or freedom through death.

            The first and most obvious main area in which owners robbed their slaves of humanity was the physical cruelty of slavery. Wm. Lloyd Garrison lists the many forms of physical abuse, "As if whips, chains, thumb-screw, paddles, blood-hounds, overseers, drivers, patrols, were not all indispensable to keep the slaves down, and to give protection to their ruthless oppressors!" (Preface 10) Slaves were informed that they were chattel and when they behaved in any way which was not as livestock should behave they were whipped, kicked, beaten with sticks, or abused until they began to behave as a thing not a person. Starvation created a sense of animalistic feeling that they were sub-human brutes. Their beastly status was further enhanced by their appearance. The ability to cover one's body with clothes is a universal trait and although other cultures have a small amount of clothing, it is their choice to wear very little. They are often influenced by the climate rather than a lack of desire for individuality. The slave, however, is given no choice in his clothes and subsequently his appearance. This has the effect of making them appear beastly and indistinct from one another. The only factor in their life in which they could judge their standing among one another was not how much food they have, work they did, or clothes and objects they possessed but rather the status of their owner. This created a mental state which Frederick Douglass describes, "They [slaves] seemed to think that the greatness of their masters was transferable to themselves. It was considered as being bad enough to be a slave, but to be a poor man's slave was deemed a disgrace indeed! (Douglass 33). They are physically treated as animals to the point they believe in their animal state and deny their natural rights.

            The second main area of the process of subjection to slavery is the mental or emotional tactics the slave owners employ. The strongest emotions a person has are those related to family. The degree of intensity is great with familial emotion making it the hardest feeling to remove. Harriet Jacobs describes this emotion with great detail and imagery when she responds to the possibility of her daughter being forced back into slavery, "This it was, more than any thing else, that roused such a tempest in my soul...I thought of what I had suffered in slavery at her age, and my heart was like a tiger's when a hunter tries to seize her young." (Jacobs 366) This love and sense of family and the effects of the owners destruction of those feelings is shown when Harriet Jacobs father responds to the question asked by his son, "You both [mistress and father] called me, and I didn't know which I ought to go to first." "You are my child," replied our father, "and when I call you, you should come immediately,..." (Jacobs 136) The slave's family was attacked first by frequently having many families separated by the selling off of children while at a young age. The slave's uniqueness was attacked secondly by depriving him of the knowledge of his birthday and true name. The slave was also objectified by being given the label of "nigger" in substitute of a name. An entire paper could be written on that labeling and the disastrous effects it had and has on the human population. The mental effects of sexual abuse and sexual harassment are far more devastating than the physical effects and for that reason I place them in the area of emotional and mental abuse. These abuses were in my opinion the vilest and most revealing of the sociopathic hideousness of slavery and are best summarized by Harriet Jacobs, "The slave girl is reared in an atmosphere of licentiousness and fear. The lash and the foul talk of her master and his sons are her teachers. When she is fourteen or fifteen, her owner, or his sons, or the overseer, or perhaps all of them, begin to bribe her with presents. If these fail to accomplish their purpose, she is whipped or starved into submission to their will. She may have had religious principles inculcated by some pious mother or grandmother, or some good mistress; she may have a love, whose good opinion and peace of mind are dear to her hear; or the profligate men who have power over her may be exceedingly odious to her. But resistance is hopeless." (Jacobs187) By destroying the sense of family, self, and ownership of sexuality this "peculiar institution" (Jacobs 179) confiscated the feeling of being a human being.

            The slave owner aspired to transform a man into a beast. This unnatural sacrilegious act was only temporarily successful. By sharing their stories of escape from a life of physical and emotional abuse Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs expose the contradictory nature of the self titled "masters/mistresses" who were slaves to their own wickedness. Witnessing this abominable institution through the authors' eyes is truly educating and allows us to learn more about our past as we prepare for the future.

More Schoolings

Here are the writings from US History to 1877 with Casey Deans  Dr. Céline Carayon. This class was very interesting and very well taught. The teacher was French and spoke with a French accent. The way she said, "Woman" was amusing because she did not say "Wheehmen" like it is often pronounced but she would say "Woah-man".

10592737

Carayon

Black Robe

            Black Robe is a movie that teaches about the culture of the Huron and Iroquois people and how they interacted with the French Jesuit missionaries. Unlike other film about Native Americans, Black Robe does not aggrandize nor deprecate the native people. The main character goes through an evolution of his belief in Jesus Christ, which is relevant today for those who are of the Christian faith or are being preached to by Christians. The story in the film is enhanced by the rich costumes, rugged setting, and compelling dialogue, all of which are historically accurate. The experience of watching the film is similar to the experience of the main character, Father Laforgue, in that we are shocked, humbled, and educated by the interaction with the unknown.

            Jesuit missionaries travelled the world with the goal of spreading the message of Jesus Christ and baptizing those who would believe in His message. As part of the Catholic church, they took on many vows such as the vow of celibacy and the vow of poverty.  They dedicated their life to study and church work. Father Lafogue is a prime example of a Jesuit. He is humble yet eager to proclaim the superiority of the Catholic church above all other religions. He is a celibate man yet lusts after woman, bringing him shame and causing him to engage in flagellation. His initial view of the Huron is the view many earlier Americans had of Native Americans. He and others after him view them as savage barbarians with sinful lives and weak minds. This is a view which many films bolster. The younger French carpenter, Daniel, has the view located on the other end of the spectrum, that of the noble savage. This view was popular during the 60's and 70's and inaccurately displayed the Native Americans as quiet, righteous, ecologically perfect, animal worshippers. These two men, and their views, undergo many changes. Depending on your understanding or lack of understanding Native Americans, you as the viewer are also transformed and enlightened through their adventure. At the end you are left with a more historically accurate picture of the Native Americans as people, not icons. They have a diversity and complexity that is similar to all mankind. They are both truthful and mischievous. They are noble and savage. They are wise and stupid just like any other people.

            As a Christian I found the film to be a great way of understanding my faith's ability to appeal to all kinds of people. I also felt the film taught me the benefit of proper missionary work and the damage of improper missionary work. Father Laforgue begins his journey with a narrow minded view and purpose. He knows the truth and there is no room for anything else to be learned. The beginning of his journey is a one way path of knowledge from him to the ignorant Huron. He evolves into a person who understands that before you can teach someone about Jesus Christ you must love them as Christ loves them. In order for your love and subsequent preaching to be effective you must open your mind and seek to understand those who you teach. This transformation is capsulated and made readily apparent when the leader of the tribe asks Father Laforgue, "Do you love us?".

            Throughout the film we are transported to a wild, harsh, beautiful land filled with a fascinating people who are engaged in a relationship with visitors from France. Both the French and the Native Americans are depicted with great detail. Their clothing, speech, and actions allow us to travel back in time. The filmmakers use of flashbacks of life in France before the journey and dream sequences of the Natives gives us insight into how the people of this time period thought and felt. Watching the film gave me a deeper understanding and ability to relate to the people of this time period.

Casey Deans 10592737

Carayon

Jesuit Relations

7. How does Indian government and diplomacy work, and how can it affect Indian-European relations in the future?

            I am writing this letter in the hopes that it will educate my fellow missionaries and prevent them from making the same mistakes I have. I have been sharing the knowledge of the true God with the Indians for many years and have learned a great deal. My first station was that of apprentice to the personal assistant of Monsieur de Champlain. My teacher was a dedicated and faithful servant of God and of Monsieur de Champlain. When I arrived at the colony, Canada, I waited outside Monsieur de Champlain's home which was a crude wooden lodge. My escort, a Huron who spoke French, stopped me from going inside and informed me that Monsieur de Champlain did not like his conversations to be interrupted. I was shocked at  his politeness until I realized that he was eager to hear the conversation without being noticed. Inside, Monsieur de Champlain was conversing about his disdain for the military of the Huron. As I listened, I learned that Monsieur de Champlain had recently returned from an excursion into Iroquois territory. During the expedition many of the Huron under his command had initially impressed him by mounting a successful sneak attack on a slumbering village. After the village was taken Monsieur de Champlain was befuddled by the actions of the Hurons under his command. They were not interested in taking the next village and the next, further expanding the captured territory, but were rather content to return to camp with the prisoners from the village. Further increasing his perplexion was the lack of obedience to his orders to regroup and continue the conquest. Instead of following his commands, like a good soldier, they were instead rushing to make sure they laid claim to the most prisoners they could. A few Hurons even marched off completely ignoring his orders as soon as they had the prisoners they wanted.  It was at this point that I sensed the motives of my escort were that of spying rather than not wishing to interrupt. Later in my career I learned that often times the savages will supplant their own amongst their enemies in order to extract information. Rather than build a castle and engage in games of treachery and supplantation as we Europeans do they seem to pretend that everyone is to be treated neighborly, even the enemy. These outsiders are however restricted to their movements suggesting that they are not as naive as one might initially assume. Upon knocking on the door and entering I was greeted by Monsieur de Champlain and introduced to my superior. I was full of questions that night as I ate supper with my teacher. I confessed that I had heard the conversation and was perplexed at why the Monsieur had not informed the Indian's king of their lack of discipline and ordered punishment to be inflicted. My teacher informed me that there was not an "Indian King" but rather a council of elders. I asked him if there was then perhaps a head of this council and he informed me that there was not. I had assumed that he meant temporarily there was no leader of the people. I suggested that Monsieur should ascend to the empty Indian throne while it remained vacant. My teacher informed me that the savages did not have a leader but rather captains who were selected for their intelligence, courage, wisdom, and eloquence. These captains gathered and discussed the affairs of state, including warfare. At this point I suggested that we gain influence with the strongest of the captains and cause him to galvanize the people and act as our puppet king. I had heard of this occurring many times in many European countries. He laughed but in a way which was not offensive but rather complimentary, the way a father laughs at his child as if saying, "I once thought as you did, before my mind was opened to the ways of the world". He suggested at this point that we venture to the Indian village. There I was first struck by the fact that everyone was polite to one another. Although they did not kiss each other's hands or bow and curtsy, they greeted one another with friendly greetings like, "my friend", "my comrade", and "my uncle". My enjoyment of their civility quickly vanished and was replaced by disgust when we came to the place of the prisoners. The horrors being committed by the captors were heinous. I turned away and to my shame ran into the forest. There amongst the suffocating denseness of this wild seemingly endless ocean of trees I was comforted by my teacher. He informed me that we were not here to build up the kingdom of France, or of Monsieur de Champlain, but rather the Kingdom of God. Before these barbarians could even grasp the concept of monarchy and government they must first learn and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. We would not have the luxury of converting a leader and thus converting all of his followers like our predecessors had with barbarians tribesmen such as Clovis. We would have to conquer the hearts and minds of each individual. I asked him how Monsieur de Champlain was going to establish a government amongst the Indians. He answered that he did not know if that was possible as the concept of laws, order, and government were so foreign to the Huron. I hope in reading this that you can learn about how the Indians are truly a different type of man altogether and that with this viewpoint relate to them in the best manner possible.

Casey Deans

UV ID: 10592737

H2700 - 001

Carayon

PRIMARY DOCUMENT ANALYSIS: "Bacon's Rebellion" (Johnson,27)

1. Nature of the Document: This document is a published declaration written by Nathaniel Bacon in 1676. Nathaniel Bacon was a farmer who belonged to well-known English family.

2. What was the author's intended audience? Nathaniel Bacon intended his declaration to be read by those supporting his cause, opposing his cause, and remarking on his cause in the future. The Declaration drips with a self righteousness that was supposed to bolster his cause immediately and for future generations. Although primarily purposed for those who felt they were being treated unfairly and those acting unjustly toward the lower classes, the author also intended this declaration to explain and aggrandize his rebellion for future generations. The truthfulness of the document is affected by this because it was solely written to propagate the author's viewpoints which were very biased and self flattering.

3. Subject: The response and argument against the accusations put forth by Sir William Berkley that Nathaniel Bacon and his followers are traitorous rebels.

4. Central Question: What were the reasons behind the rebellion and were those reasons justified?

5. Argument: The rebellion was virtuous and the participants were not traitorous or unreasonable in their actions.

6. Supporting Arguments:

            -           The rebellion was not treason but one brother defended another.

            -           A crime was not acted out by the members of the rebellion but rather a crime was                                    committed against the members of the rebellion and the rebellion was an                                           appropriate response.

            -           The dishonest and dishonorable acts were those actions of the governor.

            -           The rebellion never intended to mock, degrade,  or replace the power of his                                  Majesty.

7. Unspoken Assumptions: The author assumes that his rebellion will be squashed. He also assumes that the from the stamped out fire the sparks of freedom, justice, and righteous sovereignty will not die out but smolder until nurtured into the mighty blaze of the American revolution.

8.  Historical Value: Nathaniel Bacon was the first of many to follow who did not bend their back to the underserved tyranny of the status quo. He was one of the first to realize that dying in the light of freedom is better than living in the shadow of oppression. His defiance was one of the first to carry with it the self realization that disobedience is not seditious but rather an expression of loyalty to ideals more important than the status quo. His army was not one of professional soldiers with mutinous hearts but planters, tenants, and servants willing to die for what they believed in. The sentiments of someone fighting back against a bully can be felt on a personal level and a historical level. This theme of righteous rebellion continued to grow and affect the Revolution and many other revolutions including those we see occurring today in Egypt and other parts of the world.

Schoolings

Here is my last semester writings from Intro to Sociology taught by Dr. Lisa Ralph Leake. I answered all of the questions but incorrectly saved them:

Question #1 for Wednesday, 1/12

What is sociology? How does the metaphor, “the architecture of society” help us begin to understand sociology?

"Sociology is the systematic study of human societies." (Newman 2011:05.) Sociologists seek to understand, explain, and predict social phenomena. (Leake) Architecture is not interior designing in the way that sociology is not psychology. Many different items such as plumbing, electrical wiring, walls, doors, roofs, and balconies are put together to form architecture. Many different people are put together to form societies. A door is not a door unless it has a room to open up to and a person is not a person unless he has a society to open up to. While psychology asks, "Who are you?" sociology asks "Who are we?".

Question #2 for Friday, 1/14

Using your sociological imagination, identify two large-scale historical events that have shaped your biography and explain what effect these societal events had on your life.

The attack on the U.S.A. of September, 11th 2001 was a large-scale historical event which shaped my biography. The effect of this event on my life is still in progress. Immediately, and ashamedly my first thought was, "My birthday and possibly birthdays will always be overshadowed by this event (my birthday is September 12)." Shortly after the attack a connectedness was felt to the global community. I no longer felt that war was foreign or historical but a current factor of my life.

The Great Recession which began in December 2007 was a large-scale historical event which shaped my biography. While I do not blame or condemn this social phenomenon, I understand how this external factor had an influence on my day to day life. I went from three jobs, to two jobs, to one job, and finally to no job. This change snowballed into other detrimental changes in my life. As a result of not having as much money, I gleaned happiness from the many other aspects of life that had been neglected during my economic high. Education, religion, family, and pursuit of serving my country took the place of consumerism, career focus, and self indulgence.

Question #3 for Wednesday, 1/19

Define and give examples of the terms an “ascribed status” and an “achieved status.” How are statuses and roles different from each other?

The term "ascribed status" in sociology is a status which is obtained unintentionally and involuntarily. My ascribed status is that of a white, male, son of John and Susan Deans, whose status is that of old people. The term "achieved status" in sociology is a status which is obtained intentionally and voluntarily. My achieved status is that of a college student, AFROTC cadet, member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and video game player. The military has clearly defined achieved statuses or ranks. Depending on your rank or "achieved status" you are assigned a classification or job. An officer who wishes to be a pilot is expected to perform as a pilot. While his "achieved status" is a 2nd Lieutenant his "role" is that of pilot. Roles are the expectations of a status.

Question #4 for Friday, 1/21

Define one of the three theoretical perspectives outlined in the text, (e.g. structural functionalism, social-conflict perspective, symbolic interactionism, etc.). Which one do you think provides the best explanation of social inequality? Why do you think that?

The conflict perspective provides the best explanation of social inequality. Karl Marx believed that conflict arises because of the scarcity of resources. This conflict between the "haves" and the "have nots" create a need for powerful leaders to equalize an inherently unequal society. This theory emphasizes the commonness of greed and the uniqueness of charity.

Question #5 for Wednesday, 1/26

What is meant by the phrase the “social construction of reality”? From personal observations in your own surroundings, identify one phenomenon that has been socially created. How did this “fact” or practice arise? How might you (or a group of individuals) change or challenge this practice and belief in society?

The phrase "social construction of reality" means that reality is built by the mutual agreement that things exist and that we are all sharing the same existence. The phenomenon of child protection was socially created. This practice arose when people established that it is socially acceptable to nurture and protect the younger members of the human race. Groups of individuals challenge this practice every time they abuse and/or neglect a child.

Question 6# for Friday, 1/28

Describe the subculture of Utah Valley University. What are some ways in

which this subculture differs from that at other colleges/universities

in the state? How does UVU differ from the larger community in which it

is located?

The subculture of Utah Valley University is one of utilitarian scholastic pursuits. The goals of the students are not spiritual as much as they are career oriented. Obtaining a degree is a stepping stone to a career. UVU's subculture is also that of a fringe or alternative subculture to that of BYU.

Question #8 for Monday, 2/7/11

Explain the difference between George Herbert Mead’s the play stage and the game stage in the development of the sense of self. Be sure to use an example(s) to support your explanation.

"Me as in we, I eat the pie." This is a memory device I wrote to help me understand and remember George Herbert Mead's the play stage and the game stage in the development of the sense of self. My life has been an example of the development of the sense of self because for years I was in a "play stage". Even though I was working and living on my own I reverted to a child-like state of instant gratification and intentional ignorance of the rules of life. As a cadet in the AFROTC my "generalized order" is very laid out and structured, we call it the "chain of command". I am constantly urging my previous self to rise to the challenges which are set before me. Feedback and constructive criticism allow me to gauge my worth and improve. My sense of self is developed into a self that is both independently confident and at the same time reliant of my "society" or flight, group, squadron, and military.

Question #10 – Due Monday, 2/14/11

In your own words, what is meant by the terms “front stage”, “back stage”, and "impression management"? What happens when it succeeds? What happens when it fails? At the microlevel, why is the failure of one’s impression management sociologically important to other people during social interaction? Give an example to illustrate.

The terms "front stage", "back stage", and "impression management" in my life can best be explained with clothing choices. "Me" seeks total comfort when selecting my wardrobe and feels that there is an unjust stigma attached to wrinkled and stained clothing. A prop "I" use when going from my back stage, coach in front of TV, to the front stage, church, school, and ROTC, is my uniform.  This uniform is a white shirt and tie for church and a uniform for ROTC and school (Wednesdays and Thursdays). This act of putting on a uniform is my "impression management" and I do it because I wish to present a favorable image with the goal of receiving a positive judgment. When I am successful I represent my social organizations (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and The United States Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps) well and those who interact with me are more likely to view the organizations favorably. When I fail the people I interact with are less likely to view myself and the organizations I represent favorably. If the embarrassment is on a large enough scale I will have to account for my actions and may receive sanctions from the organizations I represent. My impression management is important to other people during interaction because my actions not only embarrass myself but the organizations in which I belong too, even without my uniforms I still represent my race and ethnicity. With a long term historical outlook, I also like to think about the overall effect my impression management will have on the critique of my generation.

Question #13 –Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Using the information provided in the text, discuss one form of violence that may occur in family settings. What statistics are used to illustrate its occurrence? What norms, values, theories, or other sociological explanations could one use to explain why such a practice persists?

The United States had close to 900,000 substantiated cases of child abuse in 2006. This number is believed to be lower than the actual number because children do not report the crime or it remains hidden from those who would report the crime. The theory of "righteous violence" is a reason while this practice persists. Society has deemed that violence is an acceptable way to solve problems. The reasoning behind hitting your child or "spanking" them is because you were spanked. I would be interested to see the statistic of how many child abusers were spanked as a child. The "righteous violence" theory is also seen when children engage in a school yard fist fight. Society views this contest as acceptable as long as no weapons are used. In my opinion, it is just as bad to solve your problems with your fist as it is to solve your problems with a gun or bomb. Society enjoys watching the bad guy get punched in the face by the good guy. They do not see the third "guy" is actually violence itself growing stronger and gaining more acceptance as an acceptable action. I would venture to guess that if statistics were gathered about the relationship between child abusers and whether or not they were beaten up on the school yard the majority would be the victims of school yard fights, not the instigators or bullies.

Question #14 – Friday, February 25, 2011

If you hold the absolutist perspective, and all you know about a person is that he has served time in prison for theft, how will you most likely interpret his behavior and actions?

An absolutist would view a convict as an inherently bad person. There are no Jean Valjeans (main character from Les Miserables), or people who were justified in the stealing of bread to feed their family.

Question #15 – Monday, February 28, 2011

What is the difference between white-collar and street crime? Compare and contrast conflict and functional perspectives on this issue. Why is white-collar crime essentially ignored, while there is such a focus on street crime?

White collar crime is crime which the perpetrator engages in fraudulent business or theft without violence. A conflict perspective would view white collar crime as expected and detestable. White collar crime is expected by the conflict theorist because those in power are prone to abuse the power. The fact that the attributes they possessed which escalated them to their level of power are often the same that allowed them to commit the crime inflict a sense of betrayal on the conflict theorist. A functional perspective would view white collar crime as an unexpected but slightly accepted deviance. The powers that are capable of committing the crime are acting out their role when they pursue all means to earn money and as a result should not suffer severe punishment. White collar crime is essentially ignored because of the lack of entertainment associated with it. Society views street crime (or non-white collar crime) as a distant spectacle which provides entertainment. OJ Simpson, Jon Bennet, Elizabeth Smart, and other violent crime is far more interesting than Enron, WorldCom, and Lehman Brothers. Fear of immediate danger is what gains focus.

Question #16 -- Monday, March 7, 2011

Define and given an example of one type of a social dilemma that balance individual and society’s needs as explained in the text (e.g., Tragedy of the Commons, Free Rider Problem). What makes this a social phenomenon?

Many people do not donate to PBS yet they watch the channel frequently. The individual acquiring the service PBS provides without having to pay for it is a "free rider". This social phenomenon occurs on a large scale with regards to child care. The public resource of care and education of children benefits society by providing healthy smarty kids. This creates a dilemma with people's desire to not pay taxes. This social dilemma is a factor in the recent protests against union breaking laws. People want their children to have good educations but they don't want to pay for it.

Define and given an example of one type of a social dilemma as explained
in the text. What makes this a social phenomenon?

A social dilemma I have become more aware of recently in life is that of American pacifism. Some people want security and peace. Their definition of peace being a country not engaged in warfare and to some extreme people a country without a military. They want a country that is safe. This safety is achieved, in my opinion, through active pursuit and elimination of the enemy. While the theory of peace through warfare is debatable the dilemma I see affecting many people is not a moral issue of righteous warfare but rather of not getting their hands dirty. They want a safe country but they do not want to fight to get it. Their opposition of warfare and desire for security create a dilemma because they are not willing to sacrifice one for the other. While you could argue that they don't have to give up one for the other the dilemma remains for those who are not willing to change the status quo but want to abolish warfare. 

Question #17—Monday, March 7, 2011

Think of a bureaucratic organization you are personally familiar with.  How might it fit Weber's model of bureaucracy and its three characteristics?

The United States Military is a bureaucratic organization I recently have become familiar with. Max Weber's model and its three characteristics are clearly represented within the ROTC. As an officer we are told to maintain a fine balance between the mission and the people we command. Leading the individual and caring for their needs can be difficult in such a large hierarchical organization. "Division of labor" is called "Classification" in the military and every person has a "Job Code". This code is a number letter combination, for example the job code I desire is 11UX. These codes specify what specialized tasks you and only those with that code accomplish. The military calls these accomplishments, "Bringing something to the fight." This division allows us to accomplish large tasks that would be impossible if everyone acted independently. There is a definite pyramid or chain of command that is obeyed. The hierarchy of authority or "rank" is always respected. Balancing your impersonal or "professional" interaction with compassion and guidance towards those below you is a career long struggle for officers. Max Weber's model of bureaucracy fits very well into the military. 

Question #18 – Describe the disconnect between formal rules of corporations and the realities for the women in the film, Maquilopolis. What is the everyday reality for most maquiladora workers? What does this suggest about the negative side of globalization?

Corporations have formal rules which when practiced protect and enhance the lives of their workers. The reality for the maquiladora workers is that the informal rules when practiced enhance and protect the corporation's profits. The corporation's first priority is its board of executives and the stockholders they represent. The customer is second, the worker third, and everyone else last on the list of concerns for a corporation. The negative side of globalization is the "tragedy of the commons". This "tragedy of commons" in my opinion should be called "someone else's problem". "Someone else's problem" is created when corporations vampirically hopscotch around the world like locusts feeding of the most fertile fruit until only a dried out husk remains. Mexico, India, China, Sub-Asia, then Mexico again seems to be the cycle of abuse they follow as they search for the next "someone" to dump their "problems" onto. Watching the film and having hindsight on this cycle created a mixed feelings for the women maquiladora workers who fought the system and "won". Although their victory was commendable it contributed to their society's defeat because it was a reason the corporations withdrew. This was a case when "someone else's problem" was not something to fight because other countries were eager and waiting to take on the problem.

Question #21
What is meant by the term “working poor”? Using Tammy’s story (or another appropriate example), what are some of the obstacles to movement between classes for people like Tammy and her family?

Tammy was a "working poor" person because even though she was employed she was below the poverty line and unable to meet the demands of life. She faced the obstacle of emotional and academic knowledge of a better life. She did not know that she was feeling poorer than she had to or should want to and she lacked the education to change her job. Tammy also faced the obstacle of not having the resources, like a working car, to improve her current situation.

Question #22

What indicators or social markers are often used to separate ourselves from others? Does social class involve more than just money? Why or why not?

Race and ethnicity, possessions, gender, physical appearance, language, and religion are social markers we use to separate ourselves from others. Social class as defined by an economist does not involve more than just money. A philosopher would say that social class is determined by the morality of a person. In my opinion social class does not involve money at all. When a person is placed in a setting that is totally devoid of commercial interactions like a church class can only be determined by the way that person treats other people.