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Affirmative Action? // Posted By: angelos Affirmative Action has decreased in popularity and implementation for years now, getting a worse and worse reputation as years go by. Along with Social Security, Welfare, and other once-popular and extremely effective forms of poverty reduction and equality promotion it’s fallen victim to a malicious and persistent campaign to wipe it off every law-book, both Federal, State, local, and even private policy (companies choosing to voluntarily implement Affirmative Action) in the United States. It’s unfortunate that the average white American doesn’t really understand what Affirmative Action is, and tends to view it unfavorably as a result.
A number of myths are spread, heavily, and adopted by the greater culture as fact. The same myths that are “common knowledge” but are never supported by fact. We’ve all got the welfare queens pictured in our heads, people living indefinitely on government handouts, the poor being lazy and shiftless, African Americans are prone to criminal behavior..etc..etc…we all “know” these things are true, though we can never remember where we even got the idea in the first place. Affirmative Action suffers due to the following successful myth: “Affirmative Action takes jobs away from qualified white men and gives it to minorities and women, discriminating against the white men in the process”. Of course, this has never been the case. If a company did this it would actually be illegal, and Affirmative Action protects white men just as much as anyone else. If the United States becomes a nation of Hispanics and African Americans white men would be just as entitled to Affirmative Action if they are being kept out of jobs in disproportionate numbers. Affirmative Action serves to counter apparent racism through the promotion of qualified individuals. If a white man and a black man both applied for the same job and were equally qualified for the job, the black man would be hired. This is especially true if the local labor force is comprised of 80% black men but only 10% of the employees of the company are black. The thing is, and here comes the kicker, Affirmative Action policies are rather difficult to implement. Our law is specifically designed to give the benefit of the doubt to the accused, innocent until proven guilty. The law errs on the side of caution in any lawsuits against companies and institutions. It is rather difficult to prove a company is discriminating against a certain race, color, creed, sexual orientation, or gender. This keeps frivolous lawsuits that many conservatives are terrified of from occurring or being even remotely successful. The rational for Affirmative Action, the moral argument, is well known and well-despised. Countering the pervasive racism today and trying to rectify the extreme racism from the last few centuries. Most whites complain (and I am white, by the way) that “I wasn’t here so it’s not my fault and not my responsibility”. Now, my family got here in the 1930s-1950s, from Italy. So, while at least my father’s side of the family isn’t responsible for slavery there was still pervasive racism and segregation all the way up until the early 1980s. Also, you must understand that white Americans have been given every privilege and opportunity, surely more than minorities (including African Americans) for a couple hundred years. Every white man (and to a certain extent, white women) has benefited from past and current racism. Our nation was built on the backs of slaves and, after the civil war, on cheap black labor. Of course, we did and still benefit from cheap Hispanic labor; having them do the jobs (for poverty wages) that most white Americans don’t want to do. White men and women are better off, statistically, than black and Hispanic men and women. This stems from a history of using them to advance our prosperity, from generations of services and privileges that has helped raise most white Americans out of poverty. African Americans and Hispanics, however, continue to lag behind. Many white Americans who are poor, or lower middle class like to say that they don’t benefit from these privileges. Of course, that simply isn’t true. An African American in their situation would be worse off, due largely to racism and segregation. Poor white men and women have many more opportunities to raise themselves out of poverty than do the average poor black man or woman. (Which is why social mobility for whites is much higher and more positive than for blacks.) Interestingly enough, poor whites that live in predominately poor black areas would receive benefits from affirmative action as well. As money pours into these communities to help out the disadvantaged minorities that money will spill over, in the form of jobs and customers, to the white men in the area. Besides, enfranchising a group of people increases the resources of those in that community with ideas that will help every single American. Within the black community, the latino community, and women we may find someone with the potential to cure cancer, create a product or service that will make our lives easier or safer, become a politician that will lead their city, county, state, or our nation to a better future. We have little to lose from this program, and so much to gain. Perhaps those of you who think otherwise ought to do abit more research from unbiased sources (Such as the American Psychological Association) before you spout your rhetoric any longer. Angelo?s Video Roundup! // Posted By: angelos Eeerie, isn’t it? I’m a sucker for the insane, the creepy, and the weird. This guy’s about 50% style and 50% voice. When I first heard the chorus I was rocked by chills; I’ve never heard anything quite like it before or since. What I love about that video was how utterly certain the announcer was that we’d have air-conditioned high-ways with magic fog-blocking force fields. What I wanna know is: Why would we need the highway air-conditioned when we are already inside a climate controlled vehicle? Also, why does everyone live in Arizona? Apparently, in the future, mankind will live only in desolate wastelands so cartoonists don’t have to spend the time to paint trees and more than five gigantic (and simple) buildings. Props to mah plus sized womenz! And by plus sized I mean “Normal”. Is anyone else tired of the cookie-cutter women who look like they were pressed out of a giant Barbie-doll mold? This is what turned me into a Communist, no joke. It?s Almost Summer! // Posted By: angelos You know what that means, only about six months until Halloween! Every year, at about this time, I figure out that I’m closer to Halloween than I am far. It’s such a lovely feeling, knowing that All Hallows Eve is slowly drifting in my direction. It always gets me thinking about what I want to be this year; or, should I say, what I want to be but will never actually dress up as for I never seem to have the money to spend on a costume. There were years, however, where my costume was the grandest of all! Okay, one year, the others were slapped together with tape and an imagination in direct proportion to my lack of dignity and social consciousness. To wit, I went as a “I taped a bunch of stuffed animals to my head and pretended I was a goth Doctor Doolittle” in my Freshman year of College. My best costume was dawned on my senior year of High School while working the evening shift at the Po-dunk Taco Bell down the road. I was the Angel of Fate, hooded, faceless, black winged and black robed. I dealt out Tarot cards to hapless customers; customers who came in for a burrito but left knowing the imminent doom that awaited them. I just want you guys to picture this: You walk into your local Taco Bell on Halloween night, expecting a cashier wearing a dorky purple outfit and a permanent scowl you instead find a faceless black angel who quietly takes your order, draws a Tarot card, shows it to you, and explains in a short sentence what will happen to you tonight. Needless to say I was banned from wearing costumes to work ever again (as if I’d be working there for longer than three months). This year, though, I think I will plan something special. Perhaps some of you can help me out; I would like to hear some ideas from the Crankies as to what costume an “adult” should wear for a children’s spooky candy holiday. Let me show you a few things that have caught my eye:
Zombie Karl Marx? Now why didn’t I think of that! It combines my two favorite things: Zombies and Communism! If I can find a way to make the Communist Manifesto out of Marshmallows it’d be a perfect representation of the only things I care about.
I’m seriously considering going as Klaus Nomi. If only I can find ten gallons of pure white foundation, ten pieces of black lipstick, and a triangular plastic suit with an over sized bow-tie. It’s gonna be a tough decision this year, especially if you guys suggest some even better ideas! Oh well, I do have quite abit of time to think about it. Besides, if I have trouble deciding between a few costumes I can always force my friends to dress up as the ones I don’t pick. Send me your ideas Crankies, you have your marching orders. Sometimes // Posted By: David W We get really great packages in… I photograph them… and then proceed to forget about posting it. So here, without further forgetfulness, I present you with the most amazing bomb-tastic package EVER! The KETTLE WORM! Damn it’s sexy. WOW!
You can’t blame me for being far behind on posting stuff. I’m only torn in one million directions! Damn work. NEW INTERVIEW! (Who knew we still did them?) // Posted By: angelos Awhile back we got international soccer starlett Sina Becker to talk about her life and her plans for the future. You all may recall when she helped win the world cup for the Icelandic Soccer (futbol) team in 1987; she subsequently became a legend and Wheaties cereal spokeswoman. I know, I know, you are all wondering what happened to her after that triple-car pileup last year. I did ask her, and you’ll be absolutely amazed what I found out! (Here’s a hint: it involves trading an impoverished 23 year old Philipino boy seventeen cups of rice for a body part that’s very important in the sports world).
I also asked her about her newly christened foundation: “The Sina Becker Center for Geometric Studies and Children.” For that she won the queen’s medal of caring; which only fifteen other people have been awarded (in the last five years). Is knighthood, or dutchesshood right around the corner? Find out in her interview! Things That Have Been Annoying Me Lately (Updated): // Posted By: angelos Yeah yeah, I know, I know…it’s been awhile hasn’t it? Well get used to it, until this semester from hell is over my bloggins are going to be as frequent as helpful information appearing on cable news. You should all be thankful I post at all, it’s not like I’m getting paid for this rant-fest. No, I am doing this only as a public service to you, the Cranky, so you have more than endless blogs about how cool a piece of thread is from David. You should count yourselves lucky that David’s rearranging the store for the seventeenth time in a row, he’s been itching to blog about some sort of piece of trash he found by the river that sort of looks like Jimmy Carter (old Jimmy Carter). Anyways, enough about people I know personally that get on my nerves; let’s discuss some things that have been jamming themselves into the very anger center of my brain. The recent bio-fuels hysteria: Bio-fuels are not making that big of an impact on food prices, yet. I am sure some of you news-geeks have already heard about food riots occurring all over the world. The left and right wings have both been jumping on this startling “new” development and placing a portion of the blame on the recent trend towards bio-fuel production (ethanol from corn, soybeans, and other naturally grown products).
First off, I already stated before that using bio-fuels as our main source of fuel without significant reductions in car-use would cause food-prices to rise. However, to jump on bio-fuels as one of the causes (significant) of the current level of global hunger (as if we didn’t already have it) is a bout of uninformed hysteria. In no cases do the people pushing this “bio-fuels are helping to cause the current hunger crisis” B.S. present any sort of facts or data to back them up. They are going with the following logic: Bio-fuels can force food-prices to rise because they use food stuffs for fuel, thus increasing the demand. Bio-fuels are starting to be turned to as an alternative. Therefor, people are starving because we are starting to produce bio-fuels. Apparently, having no data to back you up (only vague inference) allows you to label the practice a “crime against humanity”. Of course, the real reasons, the substantial reasons behind the rise in food stocks probably have something to do with the dramatic rise in oil prices and the fact that our global population has been increasing at the rate of a billion every half century. Secondly, the west wastes and eats up a substantial amount of food; buffets are probably killing more people than bio-fuels at this point.
Most of the articles do state that the reasons behind the rising food prices are due to the things I mentioned above, but mentioning bio-fuels alongside the major causes of the problem has allowed many propagandists to seize this news and run with it screaming down the streets (of the internet). Here’s another interesting tid-bit: Most bio-diesal is produced from corn, which is mostly used in animal feed, not direct human consumption. So, not only is the trend towards biodiesal occurring in areas where the fuel is usually not used for human consumption or for main sources of food (corn, soybeans, sugar cane) but we aren’t using enough to make an impact even if we did use staples such as rice, wheat, or potatos. The 2008 elections: I was so hopeful this year, I thought the Democrats had this thing in the bag. Little did I know the dumbest people on earth had secretly taken control of the Democratic party and the media. Seriously, what on earth is with you guys? John McCain is polling ahead of both Obama and Hillary according to some organizations, how is that possibly possible? John McCain’s economic policy is “tax cuts”, his foreign policy is “blow them up”, and his healthcare policy is “I am too busy cutting taxes and blowing people up”. Let me send a few messages to the groups and individuals that are making this disaster of a government continue in perpetuity: To the supporters of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama: Your candidates are not that different from one another, quit pretending that one is god and one is satan. If any of you dare vote for McCain because you’re candidate didn’t win you are whiny babies who apparently didn’t get the memo that in reality you don’t always win. That’s right everyone, about 30% of Hillary’s backers say they’ll vote for McCain if Obama wins the nomination and 20% of Obama’s supporters will do the same if the opposite is true. That means about 50% of partisan Democrats are complete idiots. That means 50% of partisan Democrats are such sore losers that they will vote for a pro-war, anti-poor, anti-everything they value candidate because the one they supported lost to someone a little different than them. To Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama: There are two things I wanna see happen here: A) One wins and makes the other their Vice President. B) One wins and the other kisses their ass for like seven months. I want to see you two making out as if you’ve been in love for your entire lives. You and your supporters have bigger fish to fry. Like, you know, those people who want to take over the world and kill everyone that stands in their way? You’re fired, pack up your things and go. We all make mistakes, and we are glad you admitted how stupid you were during the Iraq War; but you had your chance to show some competency in this election and you blew it, big time. You decided to focus on some of the dumbest aspects of all the candidates and puffed up McCain as if he’s some sort decent human being. You asked ridiculously and biased questions towards the Democratic candidates and openly kissed up to the Republican. You presented information that was horribly out of context and made a terrible candidate look better, on purpose.
We Have New Packages! // Posted By: angelos Hurray! Look at these new envelopes filled with zines, well-wishes, and prints!
With all of this support and activity there is no possible way I could be in an angry, grumpy, or vengeful mood….I am bursting with sunshine, happiness, and…..and…. Grr..gr…ga…….RAAAAAAAARGH! ANGELO SMASH! ANGELO DESTROY! Free Tibet? // Posted By: angelos
I know this is going to ruffle some feathers, I do. Just like that whole taser incident, I am sure my little rant on Tibet is going to piss off some of my liberal-minded friends. I just can’t help it, though, with the recent issues regarding the Olympics in China and riots in Lhasa (Capital of Tibet) I feel compelled to explain why I couldn’t care less if Tibet is ever “free”. I mean, could someone please explain to me why I should support a theocracy? Does anyone else notice that Tibet was a poor, theocratic dictatorship before the Chinese came in? Not only was the political system just as constricted (if not more) than the Chinese system, the complaints of torture under the Chinese (which I am sure occurs, and the Chinese are horrible for doing so) are a little strange (coming from the monks, not the people) when we found out that they did the exact same thing to their serfs and slaves (that’s right people, Tibet was a serfdom/slave holding society up until the Chinese came in….in 1951): “In feudal Tibet, torture and mutilation–including eye gouging, the pulling out of tongues, hamstringing, and amputation–were favored punishments inflicted upon thieves, and runaway or resistant serfs.”
“Since it was against Buddhist teachings to take human life, some offenders were severely lashed and then ?left to God? in the freezing night to die. ?The parallels between Tibet and medieval Europe are striking,? concludes Tom Grunfeld in his book on Tibet.” There’s more, much more. Unfortunately it is difficult to find alot of information on the reality of the Buddhist era of Tibet due to the obsession over Tibetan “freedom”. A good overview, however, can be found here.
I don’t like the Chinese government, and I don’t like theocracies; the position I take in these matters is the same as in the Palestinian-Isreali conflict, both sides are wrong and I refuse to actively support either. I don’t want Italy to be run by the pope, and I don’t want it to be run by a violent, but secular dictator either. So if the fight is between the two I find that my position must be neutral, for neither seems much better. At least under the Chinese Tibet entered into the 21st century instead of lagging back in the middle-ages. I don’t believe in countries, I don’t believe in national rights or regional rights, I believe in human rights, liberty, and prosperity. If a nation’s liberation will enslave (or enslave further) a group of people and dramatically reduce their standards of living I can’t support it; though I do support nationalist struggles that would, in fact, liberate the people. As far as I can tell; the people of Tibet are no less oppressed than the average Chinese and wouldn’t be any better off than under his charismatic-ness, the Dalai “Pope” Lama. Now, I know the people of Tibet have the right to choose who they want to live under; but it isn’t my job to help them install theocratic dictators (if that is what they want, which I am not entirely sure is the case). Before I end this little blog rant I want to remind everyone that I think the Chinese treatment of Tibetan resistors is terrible, violent, and wrong. But they treat the Tibetans like they treat their own citizens, violently and tyrannically (which is exactly how the Tibetan’s were treated by their Buddhist overlords and slaveowners). I would certainly support Tibet if the struggle was by political entities that I think would actually make things better for those people (political entities with ideologies I agree with, quite frankly). There are a number of separatist movements I do care about and would like to see succeed, such as various Native American separatist tendencies and movements (should they ever gain traction within their respective communities) and the newly created Kosovo nation (though I fear the country will be short-lived for reasons I may elaborate on in a later blog). However you feel about the Tibetan situation, I am willing to bet you are not willing to hand your home, town, city, county, or state over to Native American tribes, are you? It’s silly to protest and boycott the Olympics over just the Tibetan issue (though there are plenty of other reasons to do so). Until I see Richard Gere hand over his mansion to the Sioux (or whatever Native American people lived, and were forcibly evicted from, the land his house now sits on) I won’t be jumping on this bandwagon any time soon. Oh lord, I didn’t even need to mention Iraq, did I? How many Iraqi’s have been killed so far? Is it near the 100,000 mark? Maybe we should clean up that mess first, at least? Seeing we, as Americans, are directly responsible for what’s going on? Spring Re-Arranging // Posted By: David W Spring just puts everyone in the mood for change.. no not a viral plug for Obama’s campaign! We just re-arranged the store to make more room for people to stand around and chat during shows! We moved out one big shelf and compacted everything into a small space… which means there is enough room to flail around and jump if you were into that sort of thing. Side One Before:
Side One After:
Side Two Before:
Side Two After:
So basically we have more stuff crammed into less space. We’re also working on FINALLY getting the back two rooms ready to open! The second room is open from time to time when we have a show hanging… but we’re really going to spice it up! More blogs soon. So much has happened! Doodle Everyday! // Posted By: David W
Camilla from Doodle Everyday came into the shop a few weeks ago and gave us this amazing piece! It’s now proudly hanging behind our desk for the whole world to see…or at least the 2 people who ever stop in to see! Check out her site and keep up with her wonderfully amusing doodles as they pop out Thanks Camilla! You’re groovy… Amazing… and your friend needs to pick up that piece of art he bought! |
