It Is Finally Over

The adventure has finally come to a close, or should I say it is just beginning?   After traveling down to Charleston, South Carolina last week, I knew my mind had been made up.  My mom and I attended the two-day “Accepted Student Weekend” at the College of Charleston.  I knew I was going to love the school but the question was, “will the communications program be what I am looking for?”  After day one, I was not feeling so great about the information I was receiving and my carefree mood instantly went down in the dumps.  However, I was not going to give up.  I kept an open mind hoping day two would show me something I was missing.  It started out that morning when I had a revelation about the academic s I was interested in.  I had planted in my head that I was majoring in Communications and minoring in a form of journalism, preferably broadcast.  There was no question, it was what I wanted and I was going to get it.  But then it came to me.  After meeting with a professor the day before and hearing wise words from my mother, I saw a different light.  It is not always smart to study two topics that are fairly close in relation with one another.  I will have my core focus be on communications but why not change up the sub-focus?  And that is when it came to me: I will minor in Hospitality.  There is absolutely no better place than Charleston South Carolina to study such a topic.  I was so excited about my decision and could not wait to see what the rest of the day held.  Before our weekend came to a close, the last event on the agenda was to talk to students.  I happened to find someone who was majoring in communications AND minoring in hospitality! (How did I get so lucky?)  This girl was so passionate about her studies, Charleston, and her life!  Seeing how happy she was at the College and how just two simple topics could make her eyes widen, I knew it was time.  I turned to my mom and said I was ready to go make that deposit.  About an hour later, I was officially a Charleston Cougar. 

Reality TV

"I think [reality TV] is affecting teens in the way they don't understand the difference between the good things it takes to be a celebrity and the bad," Wells said. "The danger in that is they don't have an issue compromising their morals for the purpose of celebrity and everything that celebrity brings. In their minds, the end justifies the means."

Reality TV was made for entertainment.  The desired age group aims for teenagers who will be drawn into the mundane tasks performed by celebrities, which to them will mean all the world.  This is will create a buzz among the teens, attracting more viewers to the show.  Here comes the downfall.  While the booming ratings are great for the show, the lifestyle of the teenager will come crashing down.  Automatically, teens will begin to think that what they see is how they should act.  It becomes their “birthright” to swim in luxuries and unnecessary expenses.  But when they see the celebrities doing it, they believe that must be the only way.  Teenagers will lose sight of what they should hold high in their lives at sixteen years old.  Instead, they will be raising Starbucks coffee cups and neglecting normal conversations with their parents.  The morals of these teens will be based off of the “cattiness” that they see on the screen, rather than how their parents raised them all the years before.  The teenagers will stride to emulate the lifestyle of the teens on the screen, partying when they want, spending what they don’t have, and simply just being non-realistic on a day-to-day basis.  There needs to be a point in which teenagers can stop and think,"’I saw how cool those parties were…and yes, I get a little jealous of the people on the show, but I know it's not me,’” just as Fitzgerald said in the article.  Like I said, reality TV was made for entertainment, and I truly believe that.  However, the shows need to be watched with a filter and reminders that even though those celebrities look like they are living a normal life, being a celebrity is their job.  Reality TV is hardly realistic. 

Rush

Terminology plays a large factor in everyday speech.   A word or statement can be taken in one way and then everything becomes blown out of proportion.  The true meaning of what was trying to be said is then rushed to be put together in the way it was suppose to come out sounding.  However, the case with Limbaugh, there was no mistake.  He out front called Sandra Fluke a “slut” and “prostitute” after she stood up for what she believed was right.  If her college is going to make her obtain health insurance, she wants the coverage to be complete.  In her case, the completion includes the coverage of birth control.  The first thought after hearing those words is sex.  Therefore, she must be having sex to want/need to be on these pills.  That is not at all the case.  If Limbaugh was educated to not be so quick to jump to conclusions, he would take into consideration that birth control serves many alternative purposes.  Women go through many health issues and routines.  Birth control covers many of the problems and helps regulate such occurrences.  But no, that is not good enough for Limbaugh.  Take a look at former G.O.P. leader/Viagra spokesperson.  You are mixing government with a “sex issue” right there.  But this situation is far worse!  It now becomes a battle of the sexes.  Men can get away with “needing” a pill that stands for only one sole purpose: to be able to have sex.  But then you throw women into the mix who want to be on a pill to regulate health issues and it causes all sorts of uproar. 

It is easy to jump to conclusions.  However, it is at no time professional or morally correct.  If you are going to make a comment on something or especially someone, make sure all your research is completed first.  Make sure you know what you are talking about and not just focusing on the surface “truth”.   There is a lot more than what meets the eye.  Look before you speak.

South Park

'It goes without saying - but let's say it anyway - that nobody is required to watch the show"

When a show is created, there is bound to be some controversy; especially when the main issue is pointed at religion.  However, shows are created for enjoyment, and in this case, humor and comedy.  But when the ideas of some do not match up to the ideas of others, disputes are on the rise.  So let the people “picket the studios,” it is there right—just like it was the creators right to produce the show.  This article is dead on when they made the point that no one is forced to sit down and watch the show.  It was created for viewing pleasure, not punishment.  Viewers have the choice to watch the show or walk away from it. If it’s offensive, then ignore it.  Keep the show for what it was created for, comedy.  Not controversy.