America's top export: Its culture

Last summer I spent almost three weeks in Russia. I was on the Moscow Metro, travelling 60 miles an hour, heading towards downtown Moscow. A Russian teenager approached me and asked me (in broken english) do I know Missy Elliot? Then he asked me do I know 50 Cent? I was completely blown away. Looking back on that moment, I was originally suprised that he recognized that I was American. However, after our recent lessons, I'm suprised now that he knew about American culture. As I look back now, in all the cafe's they played new American songs, like Fergie and Green Day. There were McDonald's and other fast food chains. While America tries to export its ideas, it end up exporting its culture. People around the world wear American companies and drink American products. I believe this is due to the fact that America's perceived prestige makes the rest of the world "jealous". They view the American products as better, or atleast it makes them seem "cooler" (This is true around the world except in NK, Iran, and Canada, ok not really Canada). Finally, these products are prestigious to their economies, much like a Fararri and Lambo are very prestigious and expensive to our culture/economy. Although, I laughed at this goofy white kid singing Miss Elliot in that Moscow train, today I really think that represents the globalized world in which we live in!

You Remember who did this to you...

The movie, A Bronx Tale, was intriguing, intellectual, and entertaining. From a sociological point of view it was interesting to see how "C" (cause I can't spell his full name) was influenced by groups around him. He was mostly influenced by his father and Sunny. Although these two men were opposite, they both preached a similiar fatherly message of "be better than me". Sunny said don't live my life, while his father wanted him to focus on his "wasted talent". C would often fight these men because he knew that he was an image of both men's best side. He reflected Sunny's educational side, and reflected his father's good values. Additionally, the audience took a very steriotypical view towards Sunny, they thought he was just a "thug", like me. However, Sunny was actually very educated, even speaking of reading Machiavelli. The final sociological comment, was that C catogorized the African American's, but he didn't judge or steriotype them. This can be clearly seen in him dating Jane (that's her whole name). This movie was a great film, and really emphasized these categories and being socially mindful.

Where in the World is the Supreme Leader.....

Hm.... Kim Jong Il has gone missing (Just like the Swedish journalist he took captive, and the Movie Makers he kidnapped). Anyways, this is a major event, especially for the people of NK. These people have lived with out electricity and food and security and a life for nearly 60 years!!! Americans freak out if we don't have comcast for a day (Like the Brian Urlacher commersial). The downside to this is the Dear Leaders' cabinet is just as closed minded and cold war minded as he was. Therefore the appointment for the (probably) vacant spot of commander will be replaced by an neo-conservative (hm... Dick Cheney will be out of a job soon.... maybe him..?) These people deserve a modern leader, with globalization on his mind, not how to sell nuclear material. Also, in order to fix the sociological problems of this torn country, they must build a grass root economy, focusing on shutting down the black market (illegal weapons/drugs). Finally, this can hopefully only be a positive for the international community, whose holding their breath, hoping that the NK official stop their nuclear program (and be taken off the U.S's list of Terrorist organizations). What ever happens to this 3 ft 2 leader, I hope that the world takes note of their failed policies and starts fresh and interacts with this hermit nation, not sanction and run in fear............

I guess if they did it....

Today I was thinking about what Sal said about how we live in a society full of rules. I agree with him, but the better question is why? With the plane story, why did we find the canabalism repulsive? They needed to survive, and I guess the church summed it up best, "God gave them to you". It brings up this whole idea of perdicting what we would do in certain life changing decisions. The phrase, "if your friend did ________, would you?" And our response would be "No" in most scenerios, but this is because we are taught this. We are taught... not to eat people, but if we were dying we would. We are taught to not murder, "thou shalt not kill", but what if they are threatening your spouse, we would kill. Rules are intended to delegate and dictate right and wrong in mundane everyday life, but rules should and are to some extent invalid during these what if moments. While all should keep in mind local and federal laws, they must be thrown out in order for survival and other cases of primitive nature... .thats atleast what I think.... what about you?