Extra! Extra! Read All About It!!

There is no question that the healthcare debate is in full swing.  There is also no question that as the debate rages on, Americans are left feeling more and more confused. From managed care to single payer options, average Americans are having a hard time even understanding what President Obama's groundbreaking healthcare plan is all about.  Add that to the countless conflicting media reports and one sees why more and more Americans are feeling that their government is not getting anything done.

Recently, we discussed the role the media plays in politics and why it is often called the fourth branch of the government.  For the blog this week, I would first like you to review several sources of coverage on President Obama's healthcare plan.  My question to you this week is, “What bias do you see in the media sources that you accessed? Were you able to find two different sources that contradicted one another?” You must access at least two sources and name them in your post to get full credit.  Answers are due no later than Thursday, March 4th, 2010.  Don't forget to sign you name and class session to receive credit!

Good old fashion values....Lucky there's a family guy!?

It used to be that if you were watching an animated series, you were probably a child. All that changed in 1989, when The Simpson’s began airing in prime-time. Since then, animated series such as South Park, Boondocks and Family Guy have all had success on major networks. The shows cater to adults by providing commentary on social issues, politics and religion through use of humor. These shows provide us a way to laugh at subjects that are usually serious, and although funny, the shows oftentimes provide a little truth too.


I still remember the South Park episode in which they depicted Osama Bin Laden making a “Message to the Americans”. The events of September 11th remain a terrible tragedy in the minds of most, but somehow South Park found a way to make it funny. Family Guy has an episode in which Peter makes his own country and throws a party for Slobodan Milosevic, Adolf Hitler and Saddam Hussein. I would never condone the atrocities committed by these men, but I found myself laughing all the same.

However, some critics say these shows take comedy too far. Recently, Sarah Palin lashed out at the writers of Family Guy for referring to her youngest son Trig, who has Down syndrome. Calling the episode, “another kick in the gut,” Palin wrote that this episode begs the question: “When is enough, enough?” My own household started boycotting Family Guy after feeling that although the show often kept us laughing, we could no longer support the mockery of our faith. That being said, if we tried to censor everything on television that offended someone, we wouldn’t have anything to watch.

So my question to you this week is “Do you think animated series take things too far in the name of comedy? Do you think they cross the line, or do you think the critics just don’t get the joke?” Answers are due no later than Thursday, February 25th, 2010.

A little bit of sunshine!

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like this has been a weird quarter?  Between holidays that aren't being celebrated on the correct day, snow days, and days that should've been snow days, I feel as though I have revised the syllabus more times than I can count.  So this week, I decided to take a little break from the regular blog post, and post something lighter, just for extra credit.

The Winter Olympics begin tonight!  For those who know me, you know that I am a HUGE fan of the Olympics.  I love the artistry of the opening ceremonies. I get all caught up in the emotional stories of the athletes who have struggled so hard and overcome so many obstacles just to make their Olympic dreams come true.  I watch sports I've never even heard of before (like curling) and I always, always cheer for the underdog.

So my question to you this week is, "What is your favorite Olympic sport and why?"  This question is voluntary and is for extra credit only.  If you don't have a favorite Olympic sport, you don't have to answer it.  Answers are due no later than Thursday, February 18th, 2010. For those of you in my Friday night class -  enjoy your night off.  For those of you who celebrate - Happy Valentine's Day!  For everyone else - have a great weekend!  The regular blog post will resume next week.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell - Part 2

This week I would like to re-visit a topic I have posted before, primarily because once again, it has made recent headlines. We have discussed same sex marriage in class and learned how homosexuals have almost no legal protections in the United States. To further expand our discussion I would like to devote this week's blog to examining the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy regarding homosexuals in the military.


The policy was enacted by President Clinton in 1994. President Clinton who initially said he wanted to overturn the ban on homosexuals in the military, ended up compromising for the controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. The policy makes it illegal for commanders to ask their subordinates about their sexual orientation, and it also bans homosexuals from openly discussing or engaging in openly homosexual behaviors. Over 13,000 troops have been discharged under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy since it was first introduced.

During President Obama's State of the Union Address on January 27, 2010, he stated that he will work with Congress and the military to "finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are." He had made similar statements during previous speeches; however, his State of the Union speech was the first in which he definitively committed to repealing the law on a set timetable. United States citizens can look for a congressional act to repeal the federal law during the 2010 year. Retired General Colin Powell also reversed his opposition to the policy stating “Times have changed since 1993”. Regardless of the outcome of this policy, it is certain to be controversial, with both supporters and opponents fueling the fire.

So, this week my question to you is "Do you think "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy should be overturned? Do you think there should be a new policy regarding homosexuals in the military in its place? Why do you think this is such a controversial issue?" Answers are due no later than Thursday, February 11th, 2009.