Must Be Dreaming

As written in James Truslow Adams' 1931 book, The Epic of America, reprinted in the Library of Congress, the "American Dream" is "a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain the to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable... with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement (Adams). Looking exclusively at the bolded words, "social order, shall be able to attain the fullest stature according to ability or achievement." More simple put, if one has ability or achievements, they should have no problems in achieving the social order in which they so desire. Is it that simple though?


I'm writing this post on a MacBook Pro Laptop. Any endeavors I've ever wanted to pursue have been accommodated by my parents. My parents. The emphasis on parents is crucial in these circumstances. A New York Times article reported that "children generally follow their parents' educational trajectory, that premium increases the importance of family background and stymies people with less schooling." The conclusion that can be drawn from this article is that since children follow their parents' educational trajectory, a child's parents depict a large portion of which social class they fall under as adults.

My parents provided me with the opportunity of attending New Trier High School, one of the most renowned schools in the entire country. This opportunity they provided me with has given me a world class education, which greatly increases my odds of staying in the upper class as an adult. As I am writing this, our family's landscapers are working outside. One worker jumped out at me in particular. A boy. Appearing well younger than I am, he is mowing my lawn. Something I have never done in my life and frankly, don't know how to do. Tonight is a school night, as I am working on my school work, he is doing manual labor, working presumably for his father. His father, another landscaper, probably didn't receive a high-class education, which created this cycle for his son to most likely follow.

Without a question of a doubt, this boy has ability and the work-ethic apparently required to achieve the social order in which James Truslow Adams so clearly laid out. However, it's just not that simple. America is largely on a vicious cycle where upper class families remain in the upper class and lower class families keep steadfast in the lower. The American Dream has revealed itself to be a myth: something that looks good on paper, but isn't legitimate.

The opportunities presented to me in my life have basically made certain my continuity on the upper class path. The most brutal part about the American "caste" is even if the working boy has more talent, desire and ability than I do, it's incredibly unlikely that he will surpass me in social order. This ever apparent cycle is a brutal realization made clear to me by the work of this one boy.

What do you think about social order in America? Do you feel it is predetermined based on the opportunities presented to you in your life? Share your thoughts!

The (Ridiculous) Last Meal

In continuation of my last post about the treatment of inmates on death row being too soft to be a deterrent, I feel that the "Last Meal" is a reasonable idea in concept, but with individual states and our country as a whole in so much debt, ridiculous. 

Given, the cost of a meal may not seem to be really anything at all in the scope on the incarceration of an individual preparing for death, but some meals requested are absurd and again, not a deterrent for prospective murderers. If criminals understood their fate before committing crimes, like consuming life-sustainable food, but nothing enjoyable, crime rates would decrease. The last meal of their lives, which, in my opinion, shouldn't exist, consists of prison-approved foods, though the list must be very extensive. Although restrictions are placed in some states in regards to cost limitation and allowance of said meal, there have been historically outrageous fulfilled requests that do not serve as a deterrent in the slightest degree. 

Ronnie Lee Gardner was convicted of burglary, robbery and two counts of murder. The murdered people obviously aren't capable of getting any requests fulfilled now that they are dead. In my book, Gardner should not have any requests fulfilled as well. However, he was allowed a meal of lobster tail, steak, apple pie and vanilla ice cream. All while watching the Lord of the Rings Trilogy!

One of the most outrageous requests that was fulfilled has to be the request of John Wayne Gacy. Gacy, dubbed the "Killer Clown", sexually assaulted and murderer at least 33 young men and teenage boys in the Chicagoland area in the 1970's. This psychopathic and ruthless murderer, who shoved raped, dead bodies in his crawlspace in his basement, was allowed a literal feast. A feast to the tune of 12 fried shrimp, a bucket of KFC original recipe, french fries and pound of strawberries. 

These last meals and many more, found on this webpage, show the freedom of choice that I don't believe prisoners on death row should have. For the pain and suffering they have inflicted on the victims, their families, loved ones and friends, such privileges should not be permitted. Not only for the sake of equality, but also for the sake of deterrence. 

What do you think about last meals? Should prisoners have this freedom of choice? Leave a comment with an opinion!

Capital Punishment: Level of Deterrence

An Arizona jury is currently deliberating on giving convicted first-degree murderer Jodi Arias the death penalty or life in prison. Arias was convicted of killing her then-boyfriend in a gruesome matter. Stabbing him more than twenty times and shooting him in the face. She pled self-defense in the matter, but the jury didn't agree  For more on her prosecution and implications, check out this article.

Looking further into the issue though of life in prison versus the death penalty though has me thinking. I truly don't think that the death penalty or life in prison is a deterrent for criminals. If one is to be sentenced to the death penalty, the execution doesn't occur quickly to say the least. Prisoners on death row are held for longer and longer periods of time, as shown by the picture below. 

Although it is hard to see, the average time spent on death row was about 15 years in 2010. This figure is up from about 6 years in 1984. The time these prisoners spend on death row is something "laughable" according to New York Poster writer Andrea Peyser. In her article, she noted that a professor went to the Connecticut Death Row and was "appaled" by the treatment the inmates receive. A man convicted of raping and burning a family to death, now on death row, has the leisure to take afternoon naps at his leisure, watch color television and eat junk food like Hershey's chocolate bars. 

I may seem somewhat brutal when I say this, but I want to see convicted murders suffer. I want to grow up in a world where I need not worry about violent crime. If prisoners started to be treated like prisoners and not like privileged children, I know that crime rates would decrease. I am certain that criminals would avoid committing crimes, conscious of the punishments that lay ahead. For now though, life in prison and even on death row may be a better alternative to the lives some criminals live. Until a change is made, I don't think the United States will see a significant drop in violent crime. 

What are your opinions? Do you think treatment to inmates on death row and prison is too soft? Share with a comment below!

So Easy, A Woman Can Do It!

During a commercial break of Sportscenter, an ESPN show, one commercial in particular really stood out to me. The lengthy version of it is below, though the only part shown was really the beginning.

That's right. A woman was using the lawnmower. Although this may come across as a little ridiculous, I inferred some deeper marketing meanings. I have never seen a commercial featuring a woman using a lawnmower; men were always the feature. Mowing the lawn is normally a job done by a man, which is why the commercial means a whole lot.

I am often intimidated by the commercials advertising lawnmowers. They seem somewhat confusing to operate, especially with the ease the men featured mow lawns with. In this commercial though, a woman was mowing the lawn with ease.

This casting choice by Cub Cadet definitely taps into men across the country. I believe Cub Cadet made a conscious decision to slip in the message: "Shouldn't everything a woman be able to do, a man do too? If you think so, then this lawnmower, which is easy to use because even a woman can do it, is perfect for you." Now although it may not be as explicit and harsh as what I stated, I know this was a subliminal message.

In American society, men are so often the breadwinners and the macho type. Showing off something a man normally does with a woman doing it should subconsciously prod at men, which is exactly what I thought Cub Cadet was trying to do within this seemingly innocent commercial.

The Ugliness of Fans

In tandem with my most recent post about the fans of sports dictating the magnitude of future athletes coming out as gay, I anticipate some questions arising. In my last post, I stated how I believe fans can sway an athletes decision to declare sexual orientation if negative. Where I believe some might disagree with me, is the common "they would never do that." In fact, some fans do. Which is why there is reason to worry.

On the account of race, some fans around the world have been outspokenly racist. The worst part, is that it is during the games in which they are racist. During the game is when a player should be worrying about the game itself and not feel threatened due to the color of his skin, or in this more recent case, his sexual orientation. Nevertheless, fans continue to defy acceptance, instead comparing black players to monkeys.

This was a banner displayed at a Russian soccer game in response to the acquisition of a black player. Clearly displayed in the middle of the banner is a banana, relating the newly acquired black player to a monkey. 

Even in this image, a fan is striking a monkey pose, directed at the black player in the image. These hate crimes cannot keep occurring. Not only does it make black players feel, without a question of a doubt, unsafe, but it deters players from playing in those leagues all together due to fear. 

This is the fear that may decide whether or not many athletes declare as gay in major professional American sports. Given, these images were from overseas. Hopefully Americans are more tolerant when an active major professional athlete comes into their stadium. If they are treated like any other athlete should be while playing the game, the successes could be outstanding. If not though, it would be a true shame and a significant blemish on the tolerance and acceptance of America. 

Are American fans different from those overseas? What do you think will happen when a rostered player comes out as gay and plays in front of opposing fans?

Lying in the Hands of the Fans

An NBA player announced he was gay today. In fact, this marks the first time that an active American major professional sports figure has announced his affinity for the same sex. Jason Collins, an NBA veteran Center declared it today. For more on his decision click here. 

Jason Collins

His decision is truly monumental. Not only will it provide comfort for other athletes to come out, but also many other people around the country. Because professional athletes have such a widespread influence on fans, seeing that an idolized figure, especially in something so masculine as sports, can come out and still lead a successful, professional career, will undoubtedly provide comfort. 

In fact, there is a current NFL player considering coming out, but, according to CBS reporter Mike Freeman, is "holding back out of fear of homophobic fan reaction." This fear is a very valid concern. Jason Collins is a free agent right now, meaning he isn't on an NBA roster at the moment, but is still considered an active player. Because he doesn't play for a team, he won't need to endure possible denigratory insults hurled his way. This is a whole different story for the NFL player. The NFL is currently rostered and would need to play amongst fans (especially when playing at another teams stadium with their fans) who may not be in approval of such a decision. Fan reaction may in fact decide the breadth of athletes coming out. If the unknown NFL player were to come out and receive intense hostility over his sexual orientation, then other players would, with reason, hesitate to come out. If greeted with acceptance, the perennial flood gates would certainly open. 

I hope for the sake of hesitant athletes and fans around the country, questioning whether to come out as gay, that fans accept outspoken athletes identified as gay. For that reception may have more significance than imaginable. 

What do you think the fans reaction to an active, gay athlete would be? What would subsequently occur in either case? Let me know with your comments!

The College Student: A Lopsided Treatment

In continuation of my last post over the Auburn football team getting illegal grade changes to comply with NCAA regulations of maintaining a 2.3 Grade Point Average to be eligible to compete in college football games, I couldn't help but think about the students of universities. I'm talking about the students, not the student-athletes. In my opinion, one of the most glaring reasons to not pay student-athletes for playing, are the students of various universities.

Most athletes of universities receive some form of scholarship to play sports at the university they attend. Even if they don't, they still have incredible benefits normal students could only dream about. As Paul Daugherty, a former professor at the University of Cincinnati noted in one of his courses he taught, "[his students] were not people who asked to be paid to attend college. These were folks who paid for the privilege" (Daugherty). 

Cheesman-Day & Newberger Study

Daugherty mentions some really important points in this passage. The most glaring in my opinion though, is stating how college is a "privilege". College is a privilege. I'm sure tons of people across the country would love to attend college, but simply cannot afford it. I will be able to go to college, which I feel is a huge privilege. In fact,  I could never imagine demanding money to receive a college education in the process. Receiving a free or discounted education is more than enough reciprocity for playing a sport. A sport in which the athlete most likely loves to do. 

To further bolster the point about a college education being a fine mode of reciprocity, a Cheesman-Day & Newberger study showed that individuals who received a degree from a university averaged over $1 million more over their lifetimes versus those who didn't. That's more than enough in my opinion. And to receive such an opportunity at a discounted price (what most athletes get) is incredible. Daugherty also stated that a lot of students leave school with a "five-figure yoke around [their] necks" (Daugherty). 

The students of universities are paying top-dollar for the privilege of attending a university. In hopes, they can receive a degree and better themselves for their lives ahead. College athletes are getting the same education, the majority of which are receiving it at a discounted price, and are now asking to be paid on top of such a privilege. Through the research I have conducted, I render it ridiculous. 

What do you think about this? Do you think a college education is an effective enough mode of reciprocity for student-athletes? Please let me know your thoughts!

Do Academics Matter?

Almost directly on cue with my research over collegiate athletes getting paid, the Auburn football program has recently come under fire about violating NCAA policies. The most glaring violation was changing grades of players to maintain their eligibility. For a more detailed report on the allegations, follow this link. Once hearing this, I immediately related it to the research I have been conducting for my junior theme.

The term "student-athlete" is heard everywhere, but it's starting to seem to me that coaches, fans and universities alike care more about the "athlete" part of that term a whole lot more. Bruce K. Johnson, an economics of sports professor wisely stated, "If a player reads like a fifth-grader but leads his team to the Rose Bowl, neither coaches nor fans will object. But at most athletic-powerhouses, if a coach bragged that his losing squad enjoyed a 100% graduation rate, fans would call for -- and likely get -- his head" (Johnson). 

NCAA Ad-Campaign for a 2.3 GPA

I found this to be right on par with Auburn's ideals. Fans truly would care if Auburn "enjoyed a 100% graduation rate". They only care about winning championships. In order to win championships, the Auburn players needed to be eligible to compete, and NCAA rules call for a 2.3 Grade Point Average to be eligible to participate in athletics. Based on the Auburn allegations, grades were altered to comply with such NCAA requirements. 

Such actions really made me think about the ideals of large American universities such as Auburn. Does academic integrity really matter to them? Or is it all about pleasing their fans, illegally putting an ineligible team on the football field?

Do you think athletic-powerhouse universities really care about academic integrity if it's at the cost of the team they put on the field? Please share your thoughts!

A Popular Distraction

Over the next two days, the NCAA March Madness College Basketball tournament will begin with it's opening round games. Historically, these games are the most riveting, as the most games are played in the shortest amount of time. In addition, the sheer number of upsets (lower seed beating a higher seed) increases as well, keeping viewers on the edge of their seat.

Even if someone isn't particularly a fan of the 68 teams in the tournament, there is a whole other side to the March Madness season-ending tournament that guarantees excitement: betting. And betting lots for that matter. RJ Bell of Pregame.com, March Madness betting in 2012 totaled 12 billion dollars, versus 10 billion dollars for the next biggest event, say, the Super Bowl! For more on the topic, check out this Forbes article.

"Boss Button" Option

What shocked me the most, is that sports have enveloped the workplace. It was estimated by a Challenger, Gray & Christmas of Chicago survey that decreased productivity in the workplace during these next two days will result in at least $134 million dollars lost of work not performed. In tandem, an estimated 3 million workers average 1-3 hours of watching the games instead of working. CBS Sports offers free viewing of the games on their website, which includes a "boss button" to cover up the games  with a fake email account if one's boss walks by while they are watching the games on the job.

These numbers and are staggering. It's ridiculous to know that Americans value sports enough to let it disrupt their professions. It truly shows how deeply rooted sports are in the American culture. Costing various companies a total of over a hundred million dollars just to watch college basketball games. I'm not saying I don't enjoy watching them, but know the time and place to do so.

A Politically Perfect Bracket

As is now tradition with President Obama, he fills out a bracket before each March Madness tournament begins. When watching this years selection of his, I couldn't help but wonder if there were underlying politics within his picks.

64 teams make the tournament and are placed in 4 different regions, where they are given seedings of 1-16. So, there are 4 one seeds (best overall) through 4 sixteen seeds.

When filling out a bracket, one has to determine who they think will win each matchup of the NCAA March Madness tournament, striving for perfection. Within every bracket, there are certain "upsets" which may take place, which the creator has to consider picking. "Upsets" are when a lower seeded team beats a higher seeded team in which they are playing against. Upsets are risky, but can yield high rewards if correct, as not many people choose them.

For the President of the United States, choosing an upset may be considered radical (due to the scarcity of being chosen), though free-thinking, which is why he must find a balance between the two when making his bracket.

In other words, I feel that President Obama may be voicing his ideals through his bracket. He chooses a few "upsets" to show his free-thinking and innovativeness, while sticking with the best overall teams in tandem. This balance, in my opinion, actually makes a lot of sense for his political sake. Showing both sides of his mindset, all within a seemingly harmless bracket.