A Woman's Worth

Ted Williams: The Homeless Man with TALENT!

2011-01-09T08:49:00.000-08:00

Some would argue that I am much too critical and that I overanalyze everything. But, I really can't help it; this is how my brain works. So, here I go again!

A couple nights ago, my mother asked if I had heard about the homeless man with the baritone radio voice and I said "no" and then immediately googled homeless man with a golden voice and watched the youtube video of Ted Williams that went viral and made the panhandler from Columbus, Ohio an instant star.

I've read a few news articles (there are at least 2,500 online articles now) and watched a few interviews. For those of you who haven’t heard about Ted Williams, here's a quick summary:

Ted Williams is a 53-year-old instant star that was discovered as he panhandled at the side of the highway with a cardboard sign that read “I have a God-given gift of voice. I’m an ex-radio announcer who has fallen on hard times...” A 47-year-old web producer for the Columbus Dispatch needed material and decided to film the “golden-voiced” homeless man that he had given a dollar to a few weeks before. Chenoweth, the web producer, posted the video and within a few days, the video was viral. Since the posting of the video, Williams has been offered a position with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he’s signed a contract with Kraft, voiced an MSNBC promo and Oprah has expressed interest in having him on the new Oprah Winfrey Network.

Ok, so here’s where I get a bit critical. My question is what made this video go viral? I understand why it is a popular story now that he is being presented with all these employment opportunities, but the video began to go viral before the Cavaliers, KRAFT and Oprah offered him a job. I can’t help but question the initial factors that led to people being so astonished by Ted Williams and his voice.

Here are some things to consider: Why were we so surprised or intrigued when we watched the video? Was it because his voice was so amazing or was it because we couldn’t believe a “golden voice” could come from an unclean, haggardly, homeless man?

Underlying this viral video is the fact that one of two things happen when we think of homeless people, one, we assume that they have no talent, skills or real abilities or two, we assume that even if a second chance at success was presented to them they’re so lazy, addicted or lost that they wouldn’t know what to do with it. There is so much prejudice and so many stereotypes when it comes to the homeless and this is an exaggerated example of our misconceptions of “the other”.

People are either amazed because a homeless man has talent or because they can’t understand how someone with so much talent could end up homeless. Take a second and think about it this way, if Ted Williams was dressed in a suit and clean cut would the video have gone viral? I think people would’ve enjoyed hearing the voice but it would not have been newsworthy. Next, consider a video where Ted Williams told his story but did not have the “golden voice”. Again, not a newsworthy story, in this case, he would have simply been yet another homeless person who let addiction destroy his life. I hate to burst your bubble and rain on the parade, but it’s important to make mention of the fact that homeless people are worthy of our attention with or without some amazing, showstopping talent. I cannot speak for every single homeless person, but most homeless people are not homeless because they’re lazy or lack skill, ability or talent. Some of them suffer from addiction or mental illness and some of them are simply people who are down on their luck and lacking support and resources.

It should not take a “golden-voice” to make us care about a man and others like him. Without his golden voice, Ted Williams would have simply been one of the many homeless people that many of us walk right by without thinking twice. We lock our car doors as we drive past them, complain about them relying on our tax dollars and pretend that they’re invisible on a regular basis. Of course, I am happy for Ted Williams. In fact, he reminds me a lot of someone very close to me. But, I couldn’t just enjoy this “feel good” story without pointing out that there are many talented and skilled homeless people out there that we don’t think twice about because they’re on the street without an entertaining gimmick. They all have a story and many of them are very deserving of a second chance. So what can we do, myself included, to make a difference in the lives of those who find themselves homeless...

1. LEARN more

Here are a few links:
Women and Homelessness
http://intraspec.ca/WomenPovertyAndHomelessnessInCanada.pdf
Homeless Youth
http://www.covenanthouse.ca/Public/Facts-and-Stats
Aboriginal Homelessness
http://www.toronto.ca/housing/pdf/dealing_effectively_aboriginal_homelessness.pdf

2. SPEAK OUT more

- Talk about it with family, friends and colleagues
- Use social media as a forum for discussion about things that really matter. Blog about it, post about it on facebook, tweet about it, etc.

3. DO more

- Volunteer, host a fundraiser, make a donation to a local charity in the form of money, food, clothes and finally, the most important thing that we can do is TREAT HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH RESPECT!

A Woman’s Worth Network will be holding an event focused on supporting and sharing with homeless women. If you're interested in volunteering and helping in the planning of this event, please contact me at tiffanymshelton@gmail.com and if your interested in attending our upcoming event, please post a comment below and stay tuned for details.

Finding Yourself and the Love You Want

2011-01-03T19:43:00.000-08:00

Does this happen to you? Sometimes when I’m feeling down, I’ll just pick up a random book and start to read and for some reason regardless of where I start in the book, it seems as if the words were meant for me. Tonight, I was feeling a little down and decided to pick up a book that’s been sitting on my bookshelf for a long while. I started skimming and then just decided to read from a random page. I love the way the words spoke to me and provided me with some clarity and insight.

Here are a few excerpts of what I read today in Iyanla Vanzant's
In the Meantime - Finding Yourself and the Love You Want ...

“When you are not happy where you are and you are not quite sure if you want to leave or how to leave, you are in the meantime. It’s a state of limbo. You are hanging on, ready to let go, afraid to fall, not wanting to hurt yourself, afraid you will hurt someone else... I can tell you the meantime is fraught with don’t knows and cant dos. Don’t know why I can’t go. Don’t know why I should stay. Don’t know where I’m going. Don’t know how I am going to get there, wherever there is. Ambivalence, confusion, reluctance, and paralysis are all characteristics of the meantime” (24).

“We go into a relationship looking for love, not realizing that we must bring love with us. We must bring a strong sense of self and purpose into a relationship. We must bring a sense of value, of who we are. We must bring an excitement about ourselves, our lives and the vision we have for these two essential elements. We must bring a respect for wealth and abundance. Having achieved it to some satisfactory degree on our own, we must move into relationships willing to share what we have, rather than being afraid of someone taking it” (27).

“People cannot fulfill your needs. They may want to, they may try to. They convince you that they can, but they cannot. What people can do for one another is make the need seem less urgent. We distract one another so that we forget, temporarily, what we need. We help one another replace a pressing need with something else. In the meantime, the need does not disappear. It dissipates”(29).

I can't wait to continue reading ... I'll keep you posted!

My Perfect Life - The Facebook Fallacy

2011-01-02T13:02:00.000-08:00

Sometimes life can be so overwhelming and I long for simple solitude, relaxing reflection and mindful meditation. But solitude, reflection and meditation can be difficult to achieve when the beep, ring, vibration, hum or buzz of modern technology disturbs and comforts simultaneously. There is something strange about our addiction to social media. Social media has its benefits but am I the only one that finds bbm pings and messages, twitter tweets, facebook status updates and blog posts overwhelming at times? It’s overwhelming yet I can’t seem to get enough of it. Sometimes I just want to shut off my blackberry and lock away my laptop but I just can’t bring myself to do it. My gosh, I can’t imagine what I might miss!

I’m going to be super honest right now because I know there must be somebody who feels the same way that I do. Now as much as I love my life, sometimes I feel a little disheartened after spending time on facebook or blogs. It seems as if social media has become a platform for which people present their fantastic lives and experiences to the rest of their social network. After spending time browsing through pictures of wonderful nights out with beautiful people, trips to exotic places and luxurious purchases, I can’t help but think that my life might be a little boring, commonplace and drab. Although I should know better, I get caught up in the moment and buy into everybody’s hype. I know that most people are not going to air their dirty laundry through social media and as a result, we only get the good, the great and the fabulous updates about their lives. And I know a lot of what people put out there is bragging and oversharing? But, regardless of whether it is bragging or not, I must admit that I get pulled in and I start to wonder if I’m missing out on what it means to live life to the fullest. I know I am blessed and I love my life but it definitely makes me think about what I’m doing or not doing and what I have or don’t have.

So the question of the day is ... does social media teach us lessons in admiration or envy? Is it worthwhile in that it teaches us to enjoy and share in the success of others or is it problematic in that it can leave us feeling a bit unsatisfied with our own lives? What do you think?

“Blessed is he who has learned to admire but not envy, to follow but not imitate, to praise but not flatter, and to lead but not manipulate.” - William A. Ward

The Origin of New Years

2010-12-31T19:15:00.000-08:00

I am not at all trying to preach but I think sharing information is very important. I will provide you with a very brief summary and then you can continue to do research on your own, if you so choose.

New Years was celebrated in the spring for a very long time. It was celebrated according to the lunar calendar. In 46 B.C.E, Julius Caesar established January 1 as the beginning of the New Year because of his god Janus, who had two heads, one facing backwards and the other facing forward. Just like Christmas, Christians incorporated this pagan celebration into their calendar in order to appease the pagans. When New Years was celebrated in the spring, it was celebrated according to the cycles of the moon. It is in spring when things come back to life and spring is the season of rebirth and blossoming. In my opinion, spring seems like a far more logical time to celebrate a new beginning and New Year. And that is my humble opinion! Thanks for reading and please let me know what you think!

Christmas: Why Celebrate a Lie?

2010-12-24T19:12:00.000-08:00

I've been fielding questions about Christmas and why I've chosen not to celebrate it for the second year in a row. I cannot blame people for not understanding why, since I was at one point unaware of the origins and truth about Christmas also. By no means, am I passing judgement upon those of you who celebrate Christmas; I respect your personal choice and appreciate that you respect mine. But, here is some information that might help you examine Christmas through a different and more critical lens.

Many people simply celebrate Christmas because of the fun and merriment and feel that the actual origins and meaning of the day are irrelevant. In my opinion, if you believe in God and you believe that the Bible is the word of God, then you will struggle with Christmas once you know the truth.

The Top Three Reasons Why I Don’t Participate in Christmas Traditions and Festivities

Reason 1: December 25 is not Jesus’ Birthday.

The Bible does not give us an exact date on which Jesus was born but it most certainly allows us to determine at what time of year he was born. Certainly, Jesus was not born in the winter season. There is proof of this in the Bible.

Luke 2:8 -11 “⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

Ezra 10:9 - 13 “⁹ Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It [was] the ninth month, on the twentieth [day] of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of [this] matter, and for the great rain.¹⁰ And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.¹¹ Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.¹² Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.¹³ But the people [are] many, and [it is] a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither [is this] a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.”

It would have been too rainy for shepherds to keep watch of their flocks at night in December. The ninth month that is referred to in Ezra as the rainy season is not September. The calendar used during biblical times was a lunar calendar and not the Gregorian calendar. Therefore, the ninth month in Biblical times is sometime between November and December (rainy season). In December, shepherds would not have been watching over their flock outside in a field at night. Visit http://www.keyway.ca/htm2005/20050901.htm for more information on the biblical calendar.

Is the actual birth date of Jesus irrelevant to the celebration of Christmas? Of course not, the true purpose of Christmas according to Christian churches is to celebrate the birth of Christ. Christmas is founded on the premise that Jesus was born on December 25. How can we believe and teach our children this falsehood? If you still believe that it is possible that Jesus was born on December 25, consider this:

Luke 1: 13 “¹³ But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.”

Luke 1: 24-36“²⁴ And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,²⁵ Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on [me], to take away my reproach among men.²⁶ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,²⁷ To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name [was] Mary.²⁸ And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, [thou that art] highly favoured, the Lord [is] with thee: blessed [art] thou among women.²⁹ And when she saw [him], she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.³⁰ And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.³¹ And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.³² He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:³³ And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.³⁴ Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?³⁵ And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.³⁶ And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.”

Logic and reason allow us to determine that if Gabriel went to Mary and Mary conceived child when Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy then Jesus was born six months after John. Historians and scholars have determined through mention of The Course of Abijah in Luke 1:5 that John was born in the spring, probably between March 18 and 31. If Jesus was born six months after John, then he was born in what we refer to as September.

Finally, if you are celebrating the birth of Jesus because you think it is the right thing to do and you wholeheartedly believe that his birth MUST be remembered and celebrated, consider this:

I Corinthians 11: 23 – 26 “²³ For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the [same] night in which he was betrayed took bread:²⁴ And when he had given thanks, he brake [it], and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.²⁵ After the same manner also [he took] the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me.²⁶ For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.²⁷ Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink [this] cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.”

Essentially, many celebrate the Christmas holidays with the best of intentions thinking they are connecting to God and remembering the birth of their saviour. When Christians follow the teachings of the Christian Church they do so believing that what they are being taught is true. However, it is clear that if you read the Bible than you have no choice but to acknowledge that Christmas is not Jesus’ birthday and that Christmas as a celebration of the birth of Christ is a farce.

Reason 2: Christmas has clear Pagan origins.

When you look at the early history of Christmas, it dates back to traditional pagan celebrations. It was actually the early Roman Catholic Church that combined Christ’s supposed birth date to celebrations which were already established and widely practiced by pagans. Christmas corresponds with the Roman pagan holiday of Saturnalia, winter solstice and Roman worship of their sun god, sol invictus.

Saturnalia - Saturnalia was a Roman pagan celebration held in honour of the Roman god of agriculture, Saturn. It was celebrated from December 17 -25 and included general lawlessness, intoxication, nakedness, rape, sexual indulgence and human sacrifice. It was also marked by drunken orgies, debauchery and reversal of master and slave roles. Upon review of literature from this period, it becomes quite clear that Saturnalia was regarded as the best day of the Roman year. Consequently, when attempts were made to shorten it, there was quite the uproar amongst Roman citizens.

Winter Solstice - The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Julius Caesar in his Julian calendar established December 25 as the date of the winter solstice. However, Pope Gregory XIII corrected errors in the Julian calendar and introduced the Gregorian calendar, which brought the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere to around December 22. Winter solstice only changes about one day every 3000 years.

Many ancient winter festivals centred on the birth or rebirth of sun gods. In pre-Christian Rome, Brumalia was celebrated for a month and ended on December 25. Brumalia was celebrated in honor of Bacchus. Bacchus is the Roman name for the Greek god, Dionysus, who is considered the god of wine, theatre and ecstasy. The celebration of Brumalia included drinking and merriment. Sound familiar?

Sol Invictus – Yet another pagan celebration that is connected to Christmas is Natalis Solis Invincti, which roughly translates to "Birthday of the Invincible Sun God". When the Catholic church chose December 25 as the date to celebrate the SON of God, they were well aware that pagans called this day the 'birthday' of Sol Invictus, the SUN god. In the 4^th century, Christianity hoped that the pagan masses would convert to Christianity if they allowed them to continue celebrating their festivals and so, Christmas and all the pagan traditions were neatly wrapped into one.

The Roots of the Traditions

The practice of putting up special decorations at Christmas has a long history. From pre-Christian times, people in the Roman Empire had many customs and traditions that were adopted by the Roman Catholic church and eventually Christians and non-Christians worldwide.

The Origins of Carolling

Originally, pagans would sing naked in the streets as they celebrated Saturnalia.

The Origins of the Christmas Tree
Pagans worshipped trees in the forest and decorated trees with bits of metal and replicas of their god, Bacchus.

The Origins of Mistletoe
Pagan rituals included the use of mistletoe to poison their human sacrificial victims. The “kissing under the mistletoe” also comes from the sexual indulgence that occurred during Saturnalia. It can also be linked to the pagan belief that the white, sticky goo from the berries was the semen of the gods.

The Origin of Christmas Presents
It was an ancient pagan custom to sacrifice children as gifts to Saturn. They believed in human sacrifice including the sacrifice of small children and infants. The Encyclopaedia Britannica explains that at the feast of Saturnalia, “all classes exchanged gifts, the commonest being wax tapers and clay dolls. These dolls were especially given to children...Varro thought these dolls represented original sacrifices of human beings to the infernal god. There was, as we have seen, a tradition that human sacrifices were once offered to Saturn, and the Greeks and Romans gave the name of Cronus and Saturn to a cruel Phoenician Baal, to whom, e.g. children were sacrificed at Carthage” (article: “Saturnalia,” 11th edition). In recent times, instead of offering children as gifts to gods, we shower the children with gifts.

But, the wise men gave gifts when Christ was born! It is true that the wise men arrived with gifts for Jesus. However, this is not the same as them giving each other gifts. If you’re giving gifts in honour of someone, shouldn’t your gifts be presented to the person you are honouring? Think of it in this way, if you want to honour your father on his birthday, are you going to spend your money lavishly buying gifts for everyone except him and then after all the merriment of gift giving is complete, turn to him and tell him that the receiving and giving of gifts was done for him or in other words that he was “the reason for the season”. That doesn’t make any sense, does it?

The Origin of Santa Claus
I’m not even going to waste my time on this one. We know that Santa Claus has nothing to do with the birth of Christ and that he is simply a lie that we tell children. There are various explanations of how we arrived at the current version of Santa Claus but, the most important point to mention is that children are often cited as the reason for why we should continue to celebrate Christmas. What are we teaching our children, when we lie to them and tell them that some fat guy from the North Pole is all-seeing and all-knowing and will judge whether they deserve to be “blessed” with gifts?

Reason 3: Supporting Evidence from The Bible

Many Christians know that their festivities are of pagan origin but disregard this fact as a minor detail. However, you cannot choose to follow some of God’s instructions and disregard others. God instructs his people to follow his word and the Bible does in fact communicate that it is wrong to adopt and/or adapt the customs of those who worship false gods. In the Bible, there are many examples of God not wanting his people to adopt pagan practices.

Exodus 32: 1 -10^“1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for [as for] this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.² And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which [are] in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring [them] unto me.³ And all the people brake off the golden earrings which [were] in their ears, and brought [them] unto Aaron.⁴ And he received [them] at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These [be] thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.⁵ And when Aaron saw [it], he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow [is] a feast to the LORD.⁶ And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.⁷ And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted [themselves]:⁸ They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These [be] thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.⁹ And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it [is] a stiffnecked people:¹⁰ Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.”

Deuteronomy 12: 28-32 - “²⁸ Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest [that which is] good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.²⁹When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;³⁰ Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.³¹ Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. ³² What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”

1Corinthians 10:19-22 - ^“13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it]. ¹⁴ Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵ I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. ¹⁶ The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? ¹⁷ For we [being] many are one bread, [and] one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. ¹⁸ Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? ¹⁹ What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? ²⁰ But I [say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. ²¹ Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.²² Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?”

2 Corinthians 6:14-18^“13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto [my] children,) be ye also enlarged. ¹⁴ Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? ¹⁵ And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? ¹⁶ And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ¹⁷ Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,¹⁸ And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

Jeremiah 10: 1-8^“1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:² Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.³ For the customs of the people [are] vain: for [one] cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.⁴ They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.⁵ They [are] upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also [is it] in them to do good.⁶ Forasmuch as [there is] none like unto thee, O LORD; thou [art] great, and thy name [is] great in might.⁷ Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise [men] of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, [there is] none like unto thee.⁸ But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock [is] a doctrine of vanities.”

Finally, I know that after reading all of this many people will still argue, "I don’t care if Christmas is derived from pagan celebrations, I am not honouring pagan gods, I am honouring my God”. My response to this is, look in the Bible and use common sense and logic. What makes you think that you have the right to worship God, however, you see fit and who or what has led you to believe that God will accept worship in whatever way you choose to give it? In my opinion, it would be illogical to look through history and read the Bible and still believe that it is so. Here is Biblical support from the New Testament stating that worshipping and honouring according to the truth and in truth is of paramount importance:

John 4: 23-24 – “²³ But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.²⁴God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.”

John 17: 17 – “¹⁵ I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.¹⁷ Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

Matthew 15: 8-9 – “⁸ This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.⁹But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.”

Please take what you want from this and use it as a starting point for discussion and dialogue. This is simply an overview of the knowledge and understanding I have gained through online research and Bible study. I sincerely hope the time and energy I’ve put into this post, acts as an impetus for others to conduct their own research and arrive at their own conclusions. Peace.

Smoke and Mirrors: Uncovering What's Behind the Behinds

2010-12-24T16:46:00.000-08:00

So while some us are squatting and lunging away, others are paying their money and buying booty. I can't hate on them for purchasing a perkier posterior but I must admit that these fake fatties create some unreasonable expectations for us genuine girls.

Now, I love me some Pink Friday and Keeping up with the Kardashians, however, the booties of these bootylicious babes are most definitely questionable.

Check out some before and after pictures of these desirable derrières.

Kim Kardashian - Before and After

Nicki Minaj- Before and After

I'm sure you remember that at some point not too long ago, women were asking "Do these jeans make my butt look big?" They were asking with the hope that the response would be "No, your butt looks perfect!" For many women and for a very long time, having a big butt was synonymous with being overweight and unattractive. However, things have changed and it's wonderful that curves are being embraced and celebrated. Surely, it's great that more women can fit into mass media’s definition of beauty. But then again, no matter how much society’s standards of beauty widen, there will always be those who in spite of everything do not measure up. After all, perfection is unachievable. When one undergoes plastic surgery to be more “beautiful” is it problematic, acceptable or immaterial?

Should it be an issue, when women cannot find contentment with our bodies and ourselves in its natural form? Is there a problem when women of all ages are trying desperately to enhance, modify and transform themselves to be more attractive? When women (in large numbers) feel the need to risk their health by getting butt implants and butt injections, should we worry or question it? Butt implants and butt lifts are the relatively new mainstream beauty phenomenon, but really this trend is simply a new symptom of an ongoing terminal illness. The illness is unhealthy body images and low self-esteem amongst too many women in today’s society. At what point, do we stop following fads and accept our bodies as is? It's most definitely a difficult feat with the constant bombardment of media images communicating what we should aspire to look like.

Personally, I struggle daily with feelings of inadequacy. I’m constantly looking in the mirror and considering breast implants, wondering how many squats and lunges it will take to get my butt the way I want it, critiquing extra pounds, using creams to get rid of imperfections and scars, etc. The crazy thing is I consider myself beautiful (inside and out) but I'm never content with who I am, what I look like or what I’m doing. I’m always striving for perfection. Is dissatisfaction a part of the human condition? Is my lack of contentment exacerbated by media and societal pressures?

Feel free to comment.

Black Girls Rock!

2010-12-24T13:12:00.000-08:00

I must say that regardless of how superficial this post might seem, outer beauty and physical appearance are certainly weighted heavily in today's society. I firmly believe that beauty is more than skin deep and that it is inner beauty that truly makes an individual attractive. However, we cannot deny the effect that one's physical appearance has on their self-esteem, confidence and motivation as well as the attention and treatment they receive from others. As human beings, we respond to things that are aesthetically pleasing and many of us strive to live up to what we have been conditioned to believe is beautiful. But, what is beautiful? How is beauty defined? Who defines and standardizes notions of beauty and how does race and culture impact these notions?

Please be reminded that the following post is not academic or research based but instead is rooted in my own observations, personal experiences and opinions on beauty as a young Black woman living in a very multicultural environment.

Here is the context for this post. I found myself watching a show on the E! channel today. It’s called Bridalplasty. The show is about brides-to-be competing for plastic surgery in an attempt to win the perfect wedding and be the “perfect-looking” bride. I know, it’s disturbing on so many levels but I can’t even lie, after watching about three episodes I found myself online researching breast implants and other cosmetic surgery procedures. Now, if there is one thing that I give myself credit for, it is my ability to self-reflect and analyze my personal beliefs and actions. I fully understand that my preoccupation with beauty, clothes, hair, and weight come from my desire to be accepted, admired and acknowledged. Trust me, I’ve been my own psych for some time now and I get why I do the things I do and I understand why I feel the way that I feel. I also know that I am not alone in feeling this way as many young girls and women succumb to the pressure of trying to maintain an image and reach an unattainable standard of beauty.

Now if you know me, then you also know that I have a strong interest in anthropology, anti-racism and cultural studies. So as I watched Bridalplasty and researched plastic surgery, I reminisced about my last couple “Ladies Night Out” escapades. Each time I’ve gone out in the past couple months, I've been flabbergasted by the amount of girls that have big butts. Some are obviously butt implants, some could be padded panties and some could simply be freaks of nature. I’m talking Caucasian, Asian and Indian girls with abnormally huge “apple” bottoms. Generally speaking, I found and still find it crazy that all these women wanted what Black women have been self-conscious of and ridiculed about for centuries.

In my opinion, the Big Butt phenomenon began with the mainstream success of Beyonce and her single “Bootylicious”. Other celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian also made large bottoms acceptable and desirable. But, if you look through history Black women have been hyper-sexualized and denigrated because of their larger hips, thighs and bottoms. Now all of a sudden it is something that is coveted amongst non-white populations. It’s similar to the lip injection phenomenon. Again, if you do some research you’ll find that in the past Black men and women have been criticized and ostracized because of their full lips. Then all of a sudden, it became in vogue for women to inject their lips with various substances in order to obtain sexier, fuller lips. Finally, consider the desire for a darker complexion via tanning as another example of the coveted beauty of Black women. Isn’t ironic that Black women bleach and are often afraid of the sun since darkness is perceived as unattractive yet, individuals of other races go out of their way to add pigment to their skin tone.

So after being ostracized and made self-conscious of the physical characteristics that reveal our African heritage, we are now the prototypes for some of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures. Many of the individuals spending thousands of dollars on butt implants, lip injections and tanning will never look critically enough at what they are doing to acknowledge the connection between these procedures and Africentric standards of beauty. Regardless of whether they know it, we know it! So celebrate your full lips, broad hips and voluptuous derrières ladies. Clearly, Black IS beautiful and Black Girls Rock even though we are often led to believe otherwise.

A Love Letter to My Blog

2010-12-22T21:25:00.000-08:00

Dearest Blog a.k.a Marvin,

It's about time I let you know how much I miss you. Our relationship was in its infancy when I abandoned you but I would love the opportunity to make it up to you. Can we rekindle our flame? It would be remiss of me not to mention that I’ve been really tryin baby, trying to hold back these feelings for so long. So much time has passed since we last spent time together and oh how I miss u! I miss you with every inch of my mind, body and soul. I wish I could find a way to include you in my daily routine because you brought me so much joy.We’re all sensitive people with so much to give. You understand me sugar? There’s nothin’ wrong with me lovin’ you and givin’ yourself to me can never be wrong, if the love is true. You allowed me the opportunity to share and spill and vent and I want to commit to you. I know in the past, I've been unfaithful to you, never really giving you my full attention. But, I'm ready. I'm ready to be your full time lover. Don’t you know how sweet and wonderful life can be. When we're together, the possibilities are endless. I want you back in my life but I must admit there is still a bit of trepidation on my part. I don't want to disappoint. You require so much time and attention and I'm unsure of whether I can give you the love you deserve. But, I'm more than willing to try again. Let's try and make this work. Let's see if we're really meant to be. Oh blog, I'll have you if you'll have me! Your so patient and kind. Your love is what I've longed for. Your just what I needed in my life. I’m askin’ you baby to get it on with me. But, I ain’t goin’ to worry, I ain’t goin’ to push. I'm going to stop beatin’ round the bush, bloggy let's get it on.

Love,
Tiffany

* italics are lyrics from Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get it On"
**btw, I've named my blog - Marvin.

A Love Addiction

2010-08-14T16:35:00.000-07:00

So I don't post half as much as I would like but I'm in need of some therapy and I'm seeking refuge here. As you might have guessed from the title of this blog, I am experiencing some difficulties in the love department.

I just finished watching "Eat, Pray, Love" -- I will do a film review within the next day or two. It was fabulous and I went straight to Chapters to buy the book by Elizabeth Gilbert which I have already started reading. It is quite a timely read as I am desperately in need of some more food, prayer and love. I came across this one part on page 20 that spoke to me. I thought I would share it here as I know many women are probably currently experiencing this or have experienced this in past relationships.

"Addiction is the hallmark of every infatuation-based love story. It all begins when the object of your adoration bestows upon you a heady, hallucinogenic dose of something you never even dared to admit that you wanted -- an emotional speedball, perhaps, of thunderous love and rolling excitement. Soon you start craving that intense attention, with the hungry obsession of any junkie. When the drug is withheld, you promptly turn sick, crazy and depleted (not to mention resentful of the dealer who encouraged this addiction in the first place but who now refuses to pony up the good stuff anymore--despite the fact that you know he has it hidden somewhere, goddamn it, because he used to give it to you for free). Next stage finds you skinny and shaking in a corner, certain only that you would sell your soul or rob your neighbours just to have that thing even one more time. Meanwhile, the object of your adoration has become repulsed by you. He looks at you like you're someone he's never met before, much less someone he once loved with high passion. The irony is, you can hardly blame him. I mean, check yourself out. You're a pathetic mess, unrecognizable to your own eyes. So that's it. You have now reached infatuation's final destination--the complete and merciless devaluation of self." (Gilbert, 20-21)

Well, I know this feeling too well. My most recent relationship began with my partner spoiling me in every way possible. This lasted until I fell in love and began spoiling him with attention and then all of a sudden it felt as if he began to slowly withdraw all of the attention and adoration he had showered me with. Of course, I became quite unhappy with this turn of events and began to beg and plead for him to "make it like it was, the way it used to be" and the more I asked, the more he seemed to pull away.

But, I've learned a valuable lesson from this experience. I crave this attention and adoration because I haven't learned to be my own "fountain of love". I keep waiting for someone to come along and fill me up, someone to make me feel loved and valued and cherished but I need to make myself feel this way. I cannot expect a man to come along and rescue me from feelings of emptiness and loneliness. I need to feel full and complete on my own. And so the journey towards self-fulfillment begins ... Wish me luck!

Shhhh .... I Have a Secret

2010-07-30T08:42:00.000-07:00

I have a secret and I'm so ashamed to share it. It's been weighing so heavily on me...

You see there's this female music artist that I've bad mouthed for the past year. I've tried to brainwash my students into believing she is a terrible, untalented, poor excuse for a female rapper. But, the truth is she's grown on me and I LIKE NICKI MINAJ.

After the Hold Yuh remix and the Your Love single, I was hooked. She's quite an interesting character. She's entertaining on so many levels. I can now appreciate Nicki Minaj for who she is. She is much more of an actress than an MC, but it's cool I get her now and I think she has some serious swagg.

And for jokes ... check this out

Diva Downsize Update

2010-07-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

Ok, I finally have a second to update you on my progress. this post will be very informal so please ignore all run-on sentences, poor grammar, spelling, lack of capitilization, etc.

newayz, let the update begin ---so i been taking a women's fitness class and some muay thai classes at a martial arts studio. i love it there. i feel tres motivated when i'm there BUT this past weekend i slipped off my diet wagon and ate soooo much food. i felt like i gained the 5 lbs back and the scale told me i did but as of today's weigh in i am steady at 140 lbs which means one slip up caused me 2 lbs. DAMN good tasting, sweet, savoury, heavenly divine food, I HATE YOU.

since my slip up i feel heavier and lazier but i think its probably more a result of my drama queen tendencies then anything else. since my slip up i feel like i cant stop eating and it feels as if i'm starting all over again. IT SUCKS!!!!!! But i have ten days left. TODAY was my LAST cheat day for the next ten days so let the HARD WORK and DISCIPLINE begin.

last week, i also did a MINI-DETOX- colon hydrotherapy treatments. it began as a lovely experience but by the end i felt as if i had just taken $200 and flushed it down the toilet. for those of you who dont know what a colon cleanse is - it's when you basically flush or wash out your colon and intestines to get rid of toxins and built up waste. check out www.torontocolonics.com for more info.

the process was not as uncomfortable as i thought it would be. they simply put this metal device which resembled a vibrator in your anus and then connected it to a hose which pushed warm water into your colon and then you release the water and whatever waste is inside back out. after the first cleanse, i felt lighter and less bloated. the second cleanse felt pointless because there was no real waste that came out and the third cleanse was still not as good as the first but not as bad as the second. would i do it again, probably not? i think it would have been just as effective if i had done a real west indian WASH OUT- which is basically a super strong laxative.

i did try a wash out on sunday after i binged but it didnt work - i boiled senna leaves and epsom salts but it didnt work at alll!!!!!! my colon and intestines are invincible - i need something STRONGER!!!!

SO BACK TO THE NEXT TEN DAYS ...

Workout Schedule:
Sunday to Saturday - 10 am workout with my trainer friend
Monday to Saturday - 6 pm - women's fitness class

Diet Plan:
Breakfast - egg whites
Snack - cucumber/carrots
Lunch - chicken breast or tuna and broccoli or asparagus
Snack - almonds
Dinner - chicken breast or tuna and broccoli or asparagus

I'll update you on how this goes - pics are on their way!

COMMENT and let me know what you think!

Goals!

2010-07-19T21:25:00.000-07:00

Ok, so my fitness journey is progressing smoothly. I'll fill you in on the details.

Purpose:

Diva Downsize began as a short-term, quick fix diet to get me into a size 6 BCBG Maxazria bridesmaid dress by August 8, 2010.

My intial goal: Lose 10 lbs and/or get into the dress (whichever came first)

Last week (week 2), I accomplished my initial goal. I fit into the dress (with some serious back cleavage btw). It was at that moment that I realized that I was actually enjoying this new lifestyle.

Eating "clean" and working out is benefitting me in me so many areas of my life ... my skin is much better - no breakouts since I started eating healthy, my energy level is WAY up, my confidence and self-esteem is up, I can fit into my clothes again and I just feel so much more productive and less LAZY.

So .... I've created some NEW goals.

Goal 1: Lose @ least another 5 lbs by August 8, 2010
Goal 2: Reach my target weight of 125 lbs by September 2010.
Goal 3: Be in fitness model competition by September 2011.

Here's some details about MY PLAN and MY PROGRESS:

Starting Weight (July 5, 2010): 145 lbs.
Current Weight (July 19, 2010): 140 lbs.
Goal Weight (August 8, 2010): 135 lbs.

Week 1: I tried to eat healthier but I wasnt too strict with my food choices. I still had ice capps fruit and carbs but I completely cut out fast food. I didn't exercise at all.

Week 1 Results: None

Week 2: I only allowed myself lean protein (chicken breast, egg whites) and veggies (salad). No fruits or carbs. I cheated a couple times but no major binges. I did circuit training on Tuesday and Friday (details to follow).

Week 2 Results: 5 lb weight loss.

Week 3: I'm currently trying to stick to egg whites for breakfast, tuna and salad for lunch and chicken and veggies for dinner. I have a handful of almonds or protein shakes as my snacks. I've added more physical activity -- I am now doing circuit training three times a week and a women's fitness class (bootcamp style) and muay thai four times a week.

Week 3 Results: TBA

To be Continued....

Operation Diva Downsize

2010-07-17T12:31:00.001-07:00

So its been almost a month since my last post and a lot has happened since then. I've been doing some reflecting on my goals, dreams and heart's desires and I'm feeling good about the changes I'm making.

One of the biggest changes I've made is in the area of health and well-being. I'm really working towards becoming healthy both inside and out. I've quit smoking (almost 3 months), cut down on eating out, I'm about to do a mini-detox with colon hydrotherapy and I'm starting to work out. I'm pumped and I'm hoping that the act of sharing my goals, journey and accomplishments with my readers will help keep me motivated.

Please follow my blog as I move towards accomplishing my goals and feel free to start your own "health and well-being journey". I will be posting my short-term and long-term goals, workout schedule, diet plan, tips, before and after shots, product/service reviews, etc.

Remember this blog is all about critical consciousness and a healthy mind begins with a healthy body.

Stay tuned!

Racism in American Schools - Part 1

2010-06-20T06:10:00.000-07:00

And people say racism is a thing of the past...

Click on video to play
or
go to http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhS5nP14Eu4fm87cft

Interracial Dating

2010-06-19T15:21:00.000-07:00

On Monday, I was having a girls club meeting with my students and we started talking about young black fathers and how it seems as if every time we see a young black man pushing a stroller, the baby inside is biracial. We couldn't help but ask "are black men stepping up to the plate more with white women than with black women?"

Today, I was out with my mom and as we were walking into the mall, we spotted an interracial couple, a white man and a black woman. My mother turned to me and said "what's with these white men dating black women". My response was "it's about time black women realize that they just might have to look outside the race for a good man". Our conversation ended there.

About thirty minutes ago, I checked my facebook inbox and read a message from my cousin that read "I enjoyed this (video clip) and thought it would be a good topic for your blog, interracial couples black men and white women (successful black men and white women) and then the new epidemic of educated black women and white men."

As you can see interracial dating is a topic that is widely discussed amongst black women. I think most black women would agree with Jill Scott when she says she feels a sting or her soul burns when she sees a black man with a white woman.

To read Jill Scott's Essence article, go to
http://www.essence.com/relationships/commentary_3/commentary_jill_scott_talks_interracial.php

In my opinion, it has nothing to do with being racist and has a lot to do with feelings of fear, pain and inadequacy. What message does it send us black women when after years of waiting for a good black man and not being able to find one, we have to watch the seemingly good ones marry white women?

I could write an explanation here and I will in the near future, but first I really liked to hear some of you answer the two questions below:

Why does it seem like once black men achieve a certain amount of success they cross the colour line and marry white women?

AND

Are educated and successful black women beginning to do the same thing that we once complained about, have some of us given up on black-on-black love?

Black Success - Have you Heard?

2010-06-18T18:40:00.000-07:00

I had a friend call me and ask me why I posted the "War for your Soul" video instead of something more positive such as the one you will read below. I thought he made a very good point, it is easy to focus on the PROBLEMS in the Black community but perhaps we need to begin to put more energy into the stories of SUCCESS rather than always highlighting our FAILURES.

So here is something we can be proud of as a community ...

Gatwick Airport is now owned by a Black man. Nigerian born Adebayo Ogunlesi purchased the international airport in London, England for over 1.5 billion pounds.

The question that most people are asking is "why wasn't this covered by the media?" There was no media coverage, BBC nor CNN covered this story.

Watch the video below, it is one of TWO online news story I could find on this event:

That's so Gay?

2010-06-18T16:11:00.000-07:00

So its been a whole week since my last post. Sorry guys, I've been busy with marking and exams.

So today at school a teacher asked me "Why do Black men seem to be more homophobic than men from other cultural groups?" My reply was "although there is quite a bit of homophobia in the Black community, both here in Canada and abroad, there are also very strong homophobic sentiments in the Middle East, Southern Asia and Eastern Europe. It's not just Black men that are homophobic. Perhaps, the homophobia in other communities or other parts of the world are not highlighted or noticed to the same extent because individuals from these cultural backgrounds are not producing and influencing media in the same way that the Black community is.

Homophobia is quite rampant in both hip hop and reggae music. The music from both genres is widely consumed and as a result people are well aware of the homophobia that exists amongst African-American and Caribbean men. The music also acts as a reinforcement for preexisting cultural values and social norms in the Black community.

"It's bigger than hip hop"
With this said, the issue is obviously bigger than hip hop and dancehall music.

Watch this clip - Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding speaks on homosexuality in Jamaica:

Explanations of homophobia in the Black community often fall into one or more of these categories:

1. Religious traditions
- literal interpretation of scripture is often cited as a justification for homophobia

2. Historical Sexual Exploitation
- stems from white exploitation of Black sexuality
- slavery, stereotypes and the media have caused trepidation in the Black community when it comes to discussing sexuality and being sexually open. The Black community is not open when it comes to discussions about sexuality out of fear that this openness might be used to support existing stereotypes of Black men and women

3. Race Survival Consciousness
- in many ways, Black masculinity is a response to white domination
- whiteness and homosexuality are seen as weak and feminine and Black heterosexuality is seen in hyper-masculine terms

Masculinity and Homosociality
I feel as if there is more pressure on Black men to be hyper-masculine than there is for other groups. We could spend forever and a day discussing the roots of hyper-masculinity in the Black community, but let's focus on the topic at hand, homophobia. In my opinion, a great deal of the homophobia in the black community comes from homosociality, which is simply male-male relationships/friendships or male bonding. Basically, men are socialized to please other males. That is, they grow up learning that being a man means earning respect from their father, male friends and other men in their lives. Most men learn that you earn respect by being "manly" and as a result begin to dislike anything "non-manly" or "feminine". Both misogyny and homophobia come from men's desire to be masculine and go against all things feminine.

What do you think? Post your comments below.

A War for Your Soul - Personal Reflection

2010-06-12T14:21:00.000-07:00

In all honesty, the first time I watched this I was a little put off by the voices. However, the more I watch this video, the more poignant and meaningful it becomes. It is definitely a good conversation starter.

I have shown this video in both my English Media and African Studies classes, both times the video was well received and it was clear that it made the students think, however, I saw no positive change in any of them. It was a strong video with a strong message but not strong enough to compete with the much stronger messages that students are getting from media and their peers.

To see the full video, go to http://http//vimeo.com/3658572

What do you think about this video and the state of the Black community?

Who Me?

2010-06-12T12:45:00.000-07:00

If you want to know who I am, you will never fully know. I am a creature of mystery and a woman of few words. A person with passion, a delicious diva and a neurotic nerd. My life has seen hills and valleys, both high and low. My temper is fierce and my kindness is unmatched,

I will refrain from telling all until the lock has been unlatched. I speak from my heart and mean what I say. Complex and complicated, unclear and unsure, follow my blog if you want to learn more.

Peace and Love,

Tiff ♥♥♥

Music Review - Drake "Find Your Love"

2010-06-11T07:38:00.000-07:00

Drake - Find Your Love
"I'm more than just an option/Refuse to be forgotten"

I am not a huge Drake fan but I must say I can't help but like his latest single "Find Your Love". It is a catchy tune. Nice beat, nice hook, it's definitely a summer jam. Drake's latest video takes place in Jamaica with Drake lusting after the girlfriend of a notorious gang lord, the "gully god", played by Movado. The video begins with the following quote "The worst thing about crossing a line is when you don't know you already have ..." This line foreshadows what will happen to Drake after he refuses to take heed of an elderly Jamaican man's warning. As Drake tries to find his love, we see flashbacks of the time they spent together. Although, Drake's storyline is a little fresher than a lot of recent hip hop music videos, it unfortunately still follows many of the codes and conventions of socially unconscious hip hop music videos.

Gender Analysis: Objectification, Ownership and Domination

MESSAGE: Objectification - Women as Sexual Objects

1. half naked woman crawling around on the beach

2. close ups of breasts and booty

MESSAGE: Ownership - Women are the property of MEN

3. Drake says "“I don’t understand how you can OWN somebody,”

4. Mavado chastises Drake for coming to Jamaica and thinking he could take HIS woman

MESSAGE: Domination and Subjugation - Women are controllable

5. Final scene - she is willing to kill someone she loves because her man told her to

Codes and Conventions of a Socially Unconscious Hip Hop Music Video

Although Drake's music video has an entertaining storyline, it has not ventured too far from the norm. It follows all of the regular patterns and trends you see in socially unconscious hip hop music videos ... drugs (check), scantily clad women (check). I'm still waiting for an artist to create a music video that will defy all codes and conventions and remind us that positive images of women can be just as effective in marketing music as negative ones. Is it possible?Tell me what you think!

For more information on the dangers of the objectification of women in media, go to
http://current.com/shows/upstream/92372426_new-discoveries-suggest-that-sexual-objectification-is-more-damaging-to-women-than-you-might-think-alternet.htm

or

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Say+no+to+sexual+objectification+full+stop!+It+is+not+positive...-a0187012534

Film Review: Avatar

2010-06-09T18:55:00.000-07:00

The last film that I saw in a movie theatre was Avatar. Avatar is an epic science fiction film directed by James Cameron. The story takes place in 2154 and documents the relationship between employees of the RDA Corporation and the indigenous peoples of a moon-like planet called Pandora. The Na'vi are indigenous to Pandora and welcome one of RDA's employees Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) into their community, Hometree. Jake's primary purpose for getting close to the Na'vi is to gain intelligence so that RDA can wipe the Na'vi out and siphon their resources. However, Jake gets close to a young Na'vi women named Neytiri (Zoe Saldan) and can no longer betray the trust of the Na'vi in good conscience. A battle ensues between Jake and the Na'vai on one side and the humans from the RDA Corporation on the other.

One cannot deny the success of this film in terms of its visual and technical effects, however, one must also recognize the problematic messages embedded in the movie. Don't be blinded by the fancy graphics; Avatar repeats the "great white saviour" narrative. The final message of the movie is not about the victory of the traditional way of life and it is not a story of overcoming injustice and adversity, instead it is a story of the great white hope learning the "savages" culture and saving them. It mimics a common theme in post-colonial literature of colonized versus colonizer. A conflict exists between the colonizer (the humans - RDA Corporation) and the colonized (the Na'vi). The colonizer tries to destroy what he does not understand and the colonized resists domination but ends up requiring the help of the "great white saviour". One of the most offensive aspects of the movie is that the colonizer or "great white hope" infiltrates, mimcs the Na'vi culture and then ends up doing a better job at being a Na'vi than the Na'vi themselves. Avatar is simply a new version of an old story.

Visit http://www.avatarmovie.com/ or http://www.blackstarnews.com/news/135/ARTICLE/6197/2010-01-05.html for more information on James Cameron's most recent blockbuster Avatar.

Advertising

2010-06-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

“Advertising is the art of convincing people to spend money they don't have for something they don't need.” Ted Rogers

THESE are the messages that help form how we see ourselves and treat eachother.

There are many codes and conventions used in advertising. Codes and conventions are the familiar and predictable forms and techniques used by the media to communicate certain ideas or to convey a desired impression. That is, there are recurring patterns that we see in most ads. Clearly, this Tom Ford ad is using the irrelevant sexualization of women and the dismemberment of the female body to sell cologne. I understand that to a certain extent advertising has become purely about shock value. After all, creating shocking ads creates a buzz for your brand. But, where is the social responsibilty. When can a woman feel comfortable knowing that the media is not perpetuating these disgusting messages about a woman's value and worth. Our value does not simply come from the roundness and firmness of our breasts and our behinds. To see more offensive ads, take a look at Tom Ford's most recent ad campaign, visit http://www.tomford.com/#/en

This American Apparel ad shocked me to my core. The bright pink lipstick is reminiscient of blackface minstrel shows (see image below) and it almost seems to be saying " ... see what we did back in the day to make fun of you people, it wasn't wrong - there's actually people who look like this". Why would a company want to create an ad that reminds people of media's overtly racist past? Then again, perhaps the purpose was to remind us that "the more things change, the more they stay the same". For those of you, who do not know about blackface, blackface minstrel was a very popular form of entertainment in the 19th century. The blackface minstrel shows consisted of White men painting their face black, exaggerating their mouth and acting "Black". Blackface supported, encouraged and celebrated racist stereotypes of Black people.

To read more about "Blackface minstrel" go to http://www.authentichistory.com/diversity/african/

Here are 3 more terribly sexist magazine advertisements.

1. American Apparel
Dismemberment - ads often focus on the sexualized body parts of women to sell their products. The objectification of the female body commodifies women. Clearly, it makes a woman the sum of her physical parts and sends a message about the worth and value of women.

2. Skyy Vodka
Male Domination and Superiority - ads often feature women in positions of inferiority and the subordination is often tied to sexual acts. These types of ads undoubtedly send a message to both men and women. The message is unequivocly that men should have control over women. These types of messages also encourage male violence.

3. Dolce and Gabbana
Male Domination and Superiority - This ad seems astonishngly similar to what many would describe as a gang rape scene. Nearly ninety percent of violent crimes are perpetrated by males. Why isn't more violent crime committed by females? Well, I think it has much more to do with nurture than nature. Society does not condone or reinforce female violent behaviour in the same way that it does male violent behaviour. Take a look at all of these ads, what are young boys learning about how to treat women, about the position and role of women in society. What lesson is being taught about a woman's worth?

To view more disturbing ads, google "sexist ads"
or visit http://www.genderads.com/Gender_Ads.com.html