Ethnic Studies

Is Arizona’s banning of ethnic studies in universities, merely another budget cut, or can this be interpreted as a prejudice against having ethnic diversity in our education system? I find it ironic that the same state that led the campaign against illegal immigration, is now implementing this new ban of ethnic studies. This is being done with the excuse that it teaches a history filled with resentment toward Caucasian Americans. But hasn’t our traditional teaching of history been manipulated to idolize American pilgrims who in reality betrayed the Native Americans. I could not help but question the integrity of this state after visiting the Grand Canyon last year for spring break. It amazed me how the national park was filled with lush pine trees throughout the park leading up to residential neighborhoods around the area. Ironically, upon exiting the national park onto a Native American reservation, it occurred to me that the boarded met at the end of the lush forest and the beginning of a desolate dry desert. While this land dispute might be out of the states control, it almost feels as if this state continue to be indoctrinated with the social acceptance of keeping ethnic diversity out of sight and out of mind, in an effort to create their ideal society that exists without color. Unfortunately, just as society appeared to have escaped their constraints of segregation and racial discrimination, they find new ways of pretending that every ethnic race do not exist. It intrigues me to see how ethnic studies groups are now being shipped in to Arizona to support the cause of education in Arizona. Which in many ways resembles the forced assimilation of Native Americans in the late nineteenth century.  It was a result of the assimilation’s ethnic discrimination, that many Native American’s lost their cultural identity, and as a result of current action in Arizona that I believe many American’s will begin to lose a connection with their cultures, rather than have a respect for both of their identities.

Eating Blind

The disconnection many American’s have from the source of their food has escalated into a blind trust for the current food companies, which supply our societies demand. Without hesitation people throughout America mindlessly consume prepackaged food without the slightest idea of what chemicals were used to grow and produce the food. It might come as a shock to know, that one company manufactures the soybean seed used throughout the United States. This company’s monopoly over the American agriculture raises concern when considering the influence they have in regulating prices, and modifying their product in ways that could harm our population. As companies continue to corner the food production market throughout the country, most citizens are unaware of the deception being fed to them. When I learned of this, I was immediately reminded me of  “Soylent Green”, a 1970’s film that depicts America in the future where our food system has become corrupt. In this film’s depiction of the future, people are rationed greed chips in the same manner cattle would receive their food in captivity. As the daunting images of this film replay in my head, I couldn't help but laugh at the similarity of soybeans and the food in the film, soylent. I believe this film’s science fiction theme can serve as a comical warning and a metaphor for the future that could await America if we continue to allow corporations to regulate how and where our food is produced.  I believe this scene from the film illustrates how important it is for people to know where their food comes from, as the main character learns that the green chips they are fed comes from recycled human bodies. While our system might not be this corrupt, it never hurts to question our food source.

Plastic Waste

One of the most pressing issues that I believe needs to be tackled in the consumerist society of America is the issue of plastic. In a culture that has been coined the throw away age, we as a community are now feeling the repercussions of this behavior.  By focusing on the consumption of plastic water bottles, one small remedy can be resolved to the increasing amount of plastic waste that is occupying our land and now a major portion of the Pacific Ocean. It is argued that trash has now accumulated in the center of the Pacific Ocean, which is now occupied by plastic trash estimated to be the size of Texas. While the solution of recycling is very appealing to most people, it is not enough to eliminate the excessive waste of plastic that travels through our gutters into the ocean. Instead I believe the correct remedy would be to eliminate plastic at its source, and shut down the production factories. The most common plastic used for water bottles is polycarbonate, which has a tendency to leak a chemical called, bisphenol-A (BPA) into the water and create health risks for you, the consumer. It has been reported that the people who live and work in the vicinity of these factories suffer from health issues that are directly linked to the pollution created through this production process. For this reason I believe the only solution to this escalating issue, is for people as a community to no longer support the plastic bottle industry and make a change. In order for there to be change, the individual consumer must recognize that they vote with every dollar they spend. Therefore it is possible to end this epidemic, which will one day directly affect your life. This change will come only if you vote as a consumer by not purchasing plastic bottles, and begin to reuse alternative bottle sources.

The Castle in the Lake