Can I Get a Role Model?

March 9, 2010 jkrintz Leave a comment

Last week, three teachers from Los Angeles County, in Los Angeles, California were publicly reprimanded by L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa for “celebrating” Black History Month by encouraging their students to commemorate the lives of RuPaul, O.J. Simpson and Dennis Rodman. Oh, and they were white…which means they are in even BIGGER trouble. While choosing O.J. Simpson and Dennis Rodman were pretty piss-poor choices… RuPaul? RuPaul in my opinion is breaking barriers. She is a black homosexual man who has made it big despite the evidence to show that Blacks and African Americans have statistically been very anti-homosexual as a population. RuPaul is awesome. There should be no shame in drag queens. (I celebrate you, RuPaul.) O.J. may have been a football hero in his day, but killing your wife and then acting like a jerk afterwards is a long climb up, son. And Dennis? I don’t know anything about him other than the fact that he’s a retired basketball player that likes to wear make-up, and he…wore a dress or something. Nonetheless, yes, these teachers could’ve chosen better role models for their students. Frankly, I’m surprised they didn’t throw in Michael Vick.

But more than anything this article made me wonder, what is a role model anymore? In a world where athletes are taking steroids and cheating on their wives; political leaders cheat and lie (shocking); little girls are exposed to the idiotic antics of Lindsay Lohan and those Olson twins that look hungry all the time- who is a role model? Is it because we are all WAY too connected via internet, blackberries, emails, blogs, Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, etc., etc., etc.? Who the hell doesn’t know your business? And are we putting a lot of emphasis on these people as demi-gods when in fact they are actual people? Everyone screws up.  Granted, some screw-ups are bigger than others. Martin Luther King, Jr. the Father of Civil Rights allegedly cheated on Coretta Scott King several times. But you know he wrote a speech. I guess if all you do is play golf incredibly well, you’re screwed. Sorry Tiger; should’ve written a speech, dude.

Who's your hero?

Everyone has role models; they inspire us and gauge our individual potential. Role models aren’t BAD, but they must be humanized again. Because that’s what they are: humans. It’s illogical to think there is someone out there who is perfect. Every “hero” will have a “fall.” Depending on the severity of that “fall” and how the “hero” chooses to respond to it defines what is a good role model. Maybe instead of looking at these fallible people who happen to be in limelight 24/7, we should all be individually striving to be role models to our children, our neighbors, our families and friends. Because someone is probably watching you; looking up to you. So don’t think your actions aren’t as consequential as someone who is on TV. I’m talking to you, three teachers from Southern California. Yous in BIG TROUBLE.

And finally, I suppose another solution is to find a role model that isn’t real; like Xena, He-Man or…Cher.

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Early Reports from the Front

March 8, 2010 Joseph "The Prophet" 1 comment

The Dutch are a strange people, strange in the sense that their actions seem to be performed in the name of logic, pragmatism, and the idea that their neighbor is worthy of respect. Just this fine day I learned a chunk of Dutch religious history that told me a lot about their overall culture. After the Protestants swept into royal power, the Catholics decided their heads were best served by going into hiding. Rather than try to exterminate the minority, the Protestants literally said “whatevs,” and just let them keep practicing their not-so-secret religion. This seem to result in considerably less stress, and the country appears none the worse for having both Catholics and Protestants.

Among the other curiosities I have noted:

The Catholic unmarried women have their own apartment complex, complete with church. Not a nunnery, as men can come and go as they please.

The types of people you see in coffee shops are the types of people who enjoy the herb in America – generally young, college-looking, artsy-looking, and the sort. Also, tourists. And Bill Clinton, but he doesn’t inhale.

Their version of the magical bean is not the drip coffee, but rather an americano. It is served in small cups, and I have spent many a euro on it.

Things are strangely cheap here, both in euro and dollar terms. Shirts at department stores are advertised for €10, roughly what you might pay in the U.S. China likes them more, I suppose.

More to come, but the Dutch seem worthy of assimilation when I return to conquer with my army of followers.

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Scenes From An Airport

March 6, 2010 Joseph "The Prophet" Leave a comment

The “E” section at the Atlanta must stand for Eeenternational, for flights from all manner of foreign cities arrive here.

I see a gentleman in front of me apparently of Middle Eastern descent carrying a USPS express mail package. This raises serious questions in my mind regarding the efficiency of the Postal Service, if they have resorted to hand carrying mail like a 2010 Pony Express, without the horses. (or maybe with the horses, who knows)

I also see a trendy cashmere-scarf-wearing European individual with a look of ennui on his face so potent even I feel bored. Be grateful you aren’t in Jersey, sir, and have instead landed in one of God’s territories in Georgia.

Also punctuating my amusement is the look on the face of all international travelers upon visiting the “Mickey D’s,” now a piece of world culture and far more familiar than what we call Chinese food. These travelers, expecting the puny portions of their home country’s Golden Arches, seem astonished when the triple layer burger and large fries come out to rock their faces. In that moment of cognizance, the first time traveler realizes why Americans have waistlines the size of Greece’s deficit (sans austerity).

Now, I must return to the digestion of my Qdoba Queso Burrito, which will require both my conscious and subconscious mind to be assimilated.

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Off to Go Conquer the Dutch

March 6, 2010 Joseph "The Prophet" Leave a comment

Tomorrow morning at some ungawdly hour, I will be leaving for the tropical clime of Amsterdam. I will be clad in cowboy boots and Springsteen shirts, mostly because I hear that Europeans are totally excited when an American comes around being super-American. I might even bring a Captain America shield. What of it?

All that being said, I have a bone to pick with the executives at Staples and Universal Pictures there, as well as the U.S./European trade economist based at the embassy. See, they roll out the red carpet for me when I am coming to town, like when Jay-Z goes to Washington. The casino is also prepared for me, as I intend to finance most of my trip and the rest of my college education by leveraging my existing student loans. Only good decisions and humility occur when I head to Europe, and you may see me on the news preaching my wisdom to throngs of citizens a la Reagan or The Obama Himself.

Among the things that interest me about the fair city of Amsterdam are the supremely efficient sea containment system, which apparently works so well that the Army Corps of Engineers decided to consult them when needing to rebuild the New Orleans levees. I am equally inquisitive about their health care system, which is privatized like the American system but (apparently) with much less complaining. I intend to investigate the complaining as well. I will also be intrigued by the beverage of choice (gin), which they apparently like to age and then drink neat. I intend to study this “jenever” while also studying the local “futbol” culture. I am an academic in all things, see.

I would like to say that I will be able to contribute to this fine website whilst abroad, but I have no intention of letting blogging interrupt my business or cultural studies. I hope to read much of the fine writings of Mr. Scoville and Ms. Krintz upon return, and I hope they keep you entertained while I am away. Until then, keep rocking in the free world.

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An Argument In Favor of Higher Education

March 5, 2010 Joseph "The Prophet" 1 comment

I note, with some interest, that today’s unemployment numbers revealed that it’s good to have a college degree. Only 5% of individuals with such a designation are unemployed, with the rest mulling about their jobs in the various service industries. The Mad Hedge Fund Trader (I can’t make these monikers up, people) brought to my attention the idea that the U.S. economy is changing, in a big way. He argues that America is establishing itself as the premier service economy, with finance, accounting, technology, health care, etc. becoming “where it’s at.” I would be the first to hear any claim that the unemployment numbers may be a bit more gloomy than expected, but I would hesitate to condemn the Trader’s analysis without some serious convincing.

If that’s true, then it’s foolish to not have a college degree and worse to not have a high school degree. We are outsourcing the jobs in manufacturing and other manual labor abroad, mainly because our minimum wage would be considered upper-middle class abroad. How could you convince Americans to be call center operators for $4 an hour? It’s almost impossible to overcome that magnitude of wage-job disparity with any sort of protectionism, even if the good people in Washington wished to try. I have no issue with the U.S. being a service economy, providing we keep providing quality services and continue exporting technological innovation.

How, then, does one play this roll-over in the job market? I believe for-profit education to be the wave of the future for those wishing to learn the trade skills to compete in a service industry. My alma mater (Belmont U) is a fantastic education for high-level thinking, but the price of education is simply not worth it unless you intend to bring home the bacon (or, for the vegetarian contingent reading this, tofu). The University of Phoenix offers a 15-hour semester for approximately $7000 a semester, Belmont the same courseload for $12,000 plus associated fees. Tennessee Tech offers the cheapest tuition of them all, but will it be able to continue if the state of Tennessee has a budget crunch like the one in California? And will the University of Phoenix outstrip them in terms of quality of education (have they already)?

At any rate, get a college degree now while the government is heavily subsidizing such activities. The ability of the government to bail out uneducated individuals is dwindling rapidly, but you see how the service industries (banks, healthcare) are getting the love. The ability to adapt to the changing job landscape could mean the ability to retire without welfare.