The Oblivious Empire and The War on Terrorism

I found the article “The Oblivious Empire” very interesting and true. The author Mark Hertsgaard says the problem with Americans, is that we are oblivious of what our government is doing and therefore we are oblivious overseas. I agree with him on this subject. According to the Federal Election Commission, in 2004, 55.3% of eligible Americans voted for our next president, and in 2002, on 37% voted. What does this say about our society when just over half of Americans care enough to take 10 minutes out of there day, to decide who is the face of our country? It ways we are oblivious, and very irresponsible.

I also liked the cartoon “The War on Terrorism,” because it should give know somewhat educated American any excuse not to know what is going on in the world, and it should help get children more interested foreign affairs. As a little girl, I always wanted my dad to read me the funnies, and if this cartoon was in there, I would have wanted to know what it said.

Under the Sign of Mickey Mouse and Co.

I had never really thought about all of the American food, clothes, and entertainment that was not just in America but all over the world. This article by Todd Gitlin, made me think about how things like Disney world are not just an American icon for fun but for the whole world. I found it very interesting when Gitlin talks about our movie industry and said that they are all the same story line. If that is so true than why does American Hollywood movies dominate all over the world. Also, since America was founded by immigrants and is known as a melting pot of cultures than why is it such a bad thing? At least, in the McDonald's in other countries they change the menu to have that countries native food, and Coke has that countries language on the can. Do not think I'm not saying it's messed up having most of the countries in the world Americanized, because I'm not I'm just being the devil's advocate here.

Religion for me growing up

My father’s family is very Catholic, and he always had to go to church every week growing up but wasn’t really religious. My mom, well I don’t know what she believes in, but when I was little she wanted me to at least be exposed to religion so she would take me to a Presbyterian church by our house of holidays. I wasn’t baptized until I was 6 years old. Talk about awkward feeling, standing in front of all those people and some of my family waiting with a few babies to have water but on my head. Religion has just never really made sense to me.