Amanda Hitchins
April 17, 2007
Prof. Browne
Media Analysis


Response to: “Strange Behavior:
Don Imus and the Case of the “Nappy Headed Hos”
by Jasmyne A. Cannick
via www.blackcommentator.com


As a white girl, I have to admit it’s been difficult for me to feel comfortable expressing exactly how I feel about the Don Imus incident. I’m grateful to this author, because she is around my age, African American, and said pretty much word for word, how I feel. What Imus said was disgusting, inexcusable, flagrantly racist, and sexist. However, it struck me as being more ignorant than hateful – and though I know many disagree, I do see a distinction. Bringing up all of the charity work he’s done does not make him less responsible for the words that came out of his mouth, and I resent that he (and others defending him) felt that saying he had done nice things for poor people made what he said okay. Would I ever listen to the guy? No. But was he within the legal bounds of free speech? Yes. Does thinking that make me unconsciously racist? I don’t think so. I work at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn. I cannot walk from my office to another office without hearing “nigga” and “ho” a dozen or more times. It comes from Hispanics, whites, Asians, Russians, etc – not just black people or racist people. It angers me, it disgusts me, but I also feel like I have no right to say anything about it unless its being said TO me. I can dislike it all I want, but I love living in a free country, and I don’t want to be a hypocrite. What I can do, however, is not ever say words like that myself.
Ms. Cannick would like to hold musicians who use the same words Imus used just as responsible, and I agree. I remember back in middle school when the Eazy E song “Boys-N-The-Hood” was a hit, and I would hear kids singing and laughing at the lyrics, which included // “Young niggaz on the pad throwin' up gang signs - I went in the house to get the clip - With my Mac10 on the side of my hip I bailed outside and I pointed my weapon”, Cruisin' down the street in my 6-fo' - Jockin' the bitches, slappin' the ho's” and “So I grabbed the stupid bitch by her nappy ass weave- She Started talkin' shit, would'nt you know? I reached back like a pimp and I slapped the ho'”.// I felt uncomfortable just TYPING those words. When I looked up the song online, I saw that there was indeed a great deal of controversy over it, from people of multiple races and ethnicities, but when it was covered by a geeky white punk band a few years ago, everyone seemed to think it was hysterically funny. I’ll admit its certainly a lot more disconcerting hearing those lyrics coming from the mouth of a 12 year old suburban white kid than from Eazy E, but I don’t think it makes it any more or less acceptable. I think its more a matter of paradigms I have had pounded in to my head over the years.
Also like Ms. Cannick, I don’t think you can just start eliminating free speech and censoring music and DJs. Instead, we have to look at the culture we’re in where using words like that makes hit songs – and that transcends race. Chances are, if we stopped buying it, they’d stop writing it, and we’d stop being so used to hearing it that we find ourselves repeating it or not finding it offensive anymore.

Our mini vacation was awesome.

It felt AMAZING to be on a horse after so long. I missed it so much. I tried out for the Advanced ride and made it, so I went on a nice long ride - just me and one guide... galloping through the woods. SO awesome.

Scott didn't go on that ride with me obviously, so he was there to take a picture as I came back. But I'm very proud of him! He hadn't been on a horse since going on a pony ride when he was a little kid - but he wasn't nervous at all, and did the trot ride instead of just the walk for his second trip out.

Now if only I had money... and land... to have my own horse... life would be great. This well NEVER happen, but hey, a girl can dream right?

So I haven't posted in a month.

yikes.

I really don't know why - because I have a lot going on - in life and in my head, haha...

School started last week, so Im in my LAST TWO CLASSES as an undergrad. It only took an extra year, plus the year I took off, but hey, I finally did it.

It will be very, very strange for me not to be in school, in fact I think Im going to take Spanish classes next year and really make an effort to learn the language.

I am still working on my slide show of Africa pictures

work has been NUTS

Scott and I are good - we are going on vacation this weekend to a little winter park upstate where I can go horseback riding (OMGZZOJEINWWUHRKEEHEEEEEEE!!!!! SOEXCITED!!!!!!!!!)

And speaking of class, I have to run..

Ive been thinking about many of you, and I keep meaning to post just to say HI! to some of you.

Christina, I still have your Christmas present, I keep thinking Im going to be done with my slide show and that Id send you both at once, but I keep not finishing it, because usually I get in bed with my laptop to do it... and fall asleep.

lawngnome I read your posts about Miah's deployment being extended and I almost cried too. Im so sorry you're going through this but I know you and the boys will get through it and it will make it all that much better when he does come home. You are a strong lady - I can't even pretend to think I could handle it the way you have.

Everyone else - HI and hugs!!!


Stay Warm!! holy crap its SEVEN DEGREES OUT!!! (to anyone that lives in warm weather: middle finger)

so....the Africa pictures.

I haven't been able to find a photo-hosting site that protects my photos from being purchased or copied, and after the whole catastrophe with you-know-who, I am VERY cautious about where these photos are posted.

So I've put them all on my facebook.

You need to have an account to see them, but its pretty easy to sign up, and you can always just cancel it after you see the pictures.

For anyone who cant see the facebook albums. I am working on a power point slide show that can be emailed out individually, so just ask if you'd like me to send it to you when I'm done.

Here are the links to the albums (they have a 60 pic limit, so there are 3 albums)

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30098913&id=195101317&ref=mf
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30098985&id=195101317&ref=mf
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2004814&id=195101317&ref=mf

Regarding the odor that filled Manhattan today, the official press release basically said this:

We have absolutely NO idea what it is...

but its not dangerous.




Oh, and duct tape and plastic sheeting prevent terrorism.


Why does our government think we're stupid?

Date:	2007-01-03 18:09
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	cynical

According to a recent Gallup poll the most admired man in America is George Bush.

Billy Graham was number 5.

Nelson Mandela was number 9.

UMMM....WHAT????

Lets see - a black man born in to a racist white apartheid government that forbid him from going to school who educates himself, becomes an organizer and leader of his people who has never wavered from a message of peaceful resistance, spends years in prison for refusing to accept the violence and discrimination against his race, and eventually becomes their first democratically elected president

is LESS admirable than...

a guy born in to a family of oil-made millionaires who's Daddy put him though an Ivy league education and got him out of the Vietnam war, who becomes president with more of daddy's money and connections, and through the mysterious coincidence of poll problems in the state where his brother just happens to be governor, who has taken more vacation in 6 years than the last two presidents (12 years total) COMBINED despite involving his nation in an unjust and unprovoked war that the entire planet disapproved of, who violates the constitutional separation of church and state on a daily basis and promotes the discrimination of homosexuals and ignorance of sexual health

AND

a man who has made a FORTUNE (literally - he is one of the richest men in America) hatefully condeming others hiding behind the belief in God and exploiting money from the poor through fear of God, even though his actions directly violate the true message of Christ - which is selflessness, compassion, and forgiveness






awesome. I'm so glad to know what traits Americans find admirable in people. Apparently being rich, white, born-again Christian, and hating gays and birth control is more admirable than coming from nothing, remaining humble, and peacefully fighting for justice.

Have they upped the dose of Stupid Powder in the water supply, or am I dreaming this?

Date:	2007-01-03 12:19
Subject:	......WTF.....
Security:	Public
Mood:	crazy

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Jan. 3) - In what has become an annual tradition of prognostications, religious broadcaster Pat Robertson said Tuesday God has told him that a terrorist attack on the United States would result in "mass killing" late in 2007.

"I'm not necessarily saying it's going to be nuclear," he said during his news-and-talk television show "The 700 Club" on the Christian Broadcasting Network. "The Lord didn't say nuclear. But I do believe it will be something like that."

Robertson said God told him during a recent prayer retreat that major cities and possibly millions of people will be affected by the attack, which should take place sometime after September.

Robertson said God also told him that the U.S. only feigns friendship with Israel and that U.S. policies are pushing Israel toward "national suicide."

Robertson suggested in January 2006 that God punished then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon with a stroke for ceding Israeli-controlled land to the Palestinians.

The broadcaster predicted in January 2004 that President Bush would easily win re-election. Bush won 51 percent of the vote that fall, beating Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.

In 2005, Robertson predicted that Bush would have victory after victory in his second term. He said Social Security reform proposals would be approved and Bush would nominate conservative judges to federal courts.

Lawmakers confirmed Bush's 2005 nominations of John Roberts and Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court . But the president's Social Security initiative was stalled.

"I have a relatively good track record," he said. "Sometimes I miss."

In May, Robertson said God told him that storms and possibly a tsunami were to crash into America's coastline in 2006. Even though the U.S. was not hit with a tsunami, Robertson on Tuesday cited last spring's heavy rains and flooding in New England as partly fulfilling the prediction.





And we think Scientologists are crazy???

At least they're wealthy.

This basketcase gets all of his money from people who cant afford to give it away - because he scares them in to thinking if they don't, they'll die some horrible death and burn in hell.

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE that no one has stoppped this bastard?

Date:	2007-01-02 15:41
Subject:	Amanda's Year In Review
Security:	Public
Mood:	contemplative

The Highlights:

so many weddings and engagements! First was James and Michelle in April, at a beautiful vineyard out in the Hamptons. Then Michele and Justin in September, during a horrible rainstorm, flooding and all. Matt and Sandra's in October, the closest of my friends to get married so far - and quite a reality check as to how old I'm getting, considering I remember Matt and Nick bemoaning turning 20. In between all of those weddings, Keith and Jill got engaged, Nick and Jen got engaged, my childhood friend Ali got engaged, and Kaitlin and Ethan got their wedding all planned (ITS THIS FRIDAY!!!). I was asked to be a bridesmaid for both Kaitlin and Jen. And they both have great taste in dresses.

Seeing Dave Matthews at Fenway Park

The annual (for 6 years now) Dave Matthews Band concert in Hartford

Seeing Coldplay

Scott and I took my parents to the historic Red Sox vs Mets game at Fenway (and the sox won)

After 8 years, I FINALLY got to visit my brother in Key West, and had an absolute blast

Heard and met Paul Farmer....TWICE.

I had my last semester as a full time undergrad (only 2 classes this semester!)

Started playing the snare drum - got to walk down Hunter Mountain playing Amazing Grace with some of the country's best pipers and drummers, including my boyfriend

Got an amazing internship with UFAR and Dr. Shungu

Drove up to Oneonta with Scott, Mike, and Lisa - stayed at Justin's mom's cabin on the top of a mountain - hiked through the wilderness, visited the Baseball Hall of Fame, and went on my first Haunted Hayride

Was amazed at the generousity of both friends and strangers who helped make a dream I'd had since I was 10 possible, which was....

GOING TO AFRICA!!! (and not as a tourist). This was not only the hightlight of the year, but also the decade, but hopefully not my life, as I plan to go back there as often as possible. It was incredible, not in a way that I could really describe in type.


The Lowlights:

Pretty much anything else I put here seems indulgent, selfish, and insignificant compared to Mike's murder...

I got robbed in March, on St Patrick's Day, which at the time, I thought was this horrible and traumatic event

My aunts and uncles kept fighting over stupid, petty bullshit like coin collections - which also seemed like a big deal, but now I realize - hell, they're still alive atleast.

Lets just call it The Deb LiveJournal Disaster. Enough said.

My Jetta was retired

I lost contact with a lot of my first New York friends - my Ikea co-workers

but yeah... Mike's murder. That will be burned in my head forever, because I had never let myself think I'd ever know someone, be friends with someone, who was murdered - especially in the absolutely sickening way that Mike was murdered. I think about him a lot. I cry about it still, every so often. When I drive by the spot where it happened and the traffic is going slow enough that I have a chance to glance over at that spot - I still get that sick feeling in my chest. His death will always keep me skeptical of the good in mankind, even though he was the epitomy of a good man. Thinking of him will always remind me of the injustices and hatred that exist in my world.

I guess its only fair that I experienced a dream and a nightmare come true in the same year.
Its the balance of things... its nature.

Best Album of the year : Keane, Under the Iron Sea
Best Book of the year: Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
Best Movie of the year: Little Miss Sunshine
Best TV Show of the year: tied between Grey's Anatomy and The Office
Best News Story of the year: anti-choice, pro-war, anti-gay, right wing republican nutjobs getting their asses handed to them in the elections

Some jackass on my street set off firecrackers 2 seconds after they announced Saddam Hussien was executed.

Call me a crazy raving liberal, but I dont think ANYONE's death is EVER a reason to celebrate.

Have we really gotten to a point where we CELEBRATE the fact that, no matter how you feel about Iraq, we have just become a tyranny? Dont like a government? No Problem!!! Just ignore the UN, bust in to their country, guns 'a blazin, and kill the leader and his entire family (Oh... and about 10,000 civilians.. but who's counting? They're just Muslims anyway!!!)

No one is winning this, no matter what angle you look at it from.

Keane's "Under the Iron Sea" is by far the best CD of the year. I can't even remember the last time I got a CD where I liked ALL of the songs on it.

And yes, I'm working on the Africa journals/pictures, Im enjoying shopping my brains out and being on vacation. I'm heading back to NYC tomorrow.

I'm going to sleep in my Ugg's tonight.

Date:	2006-12-12 16:40
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	accomplished

I'm back
I'm sunburned
I'm tired
I'm in awe

I'm about to take my first hot shower in 2 weeks...


and Im craving a cheeseburger so badly Im about to tear my hair out

Here's a sample of pictures because its going to take me HOURS to actually resize them all

Date:	2006-11-30 05:05
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	anxious

so its 4 am on the day Im supposed to be leaving for Africa

and after months of knowing this was coming

I am absolutely FREAKING right now

suddenly I have this intense fear that between now and 6 20 tonight when my flight is supposed to take off, something is going to go wrong

I have never been like this before - I dont even know if this is an anxiety attack or not

Im hoping its just side effects of the anti-malarial drugs and not my own nerves

I am wired - hyper - shaky - and feel like my stomach is doing jumping jacks on crack.

Well - I guess this way itll be easier for me to fall asleep on the plane, right?


oh my god...

is this really happening?

why cant i let myself enjoy the fact that i actual made a decade-old dream come true instead of literally FREAKING?

I dont know if any of you have heard this story before - I dont think I've ever written about it on LJ before...

My senior year in High School, my usual group of friends, 6 or 8 of us, in two cars, went to the Worcester Palladium for a punk show. I practically lived at that place Junior and Senior year. We had never run in to an ounce of trouble until this particular night. The parking lot was directly across the street from the venue but there was no crosswalk. My friend Steve dropped his wallet as we were crossing the street, and as he went back to pick it up, the traffic light on the street turned green. The driver in the car directly in front of him - who OBVIOUSLY SAW him picking up his WALLET starts laying on the horn. Steve said "what the fuck man! give me a second!", got his wallet, and ran to the sidewalk. The driver SCREAMS at him as he's getting out of the road "Watch yourself you fucking punk!" Steve flipped him off, and we started walking toward the door.

Next thing I know, the guy is out of his car, grabs Steve by his throat and his jeans, and throws him on to a car parked parallel to the club entrance. I'm thinking my friend is about to get the shit beaten out of him by some dumb thug, so I take out my cell phone and call 911. I start screaming in to the phone "Help me please, my friend is getting beat up! Im out side the Worcester Palladium" At this point, the guy who has Steve says "hang up that phone girl". I just ignored him.

Then I realize he has handcuffed Steve. "Hang up that phone" he says again, and this time he takes a badge out of his back pocket. I hung up the phone.

I took a step towards him and said, in the sweetest voice I could possibly muster "sir, we had no idea... we didnt know..." He literally SCREAMS in my face "shut the FUCK up or you'll be in cuffs too!"

At this moment, (yes, you can laugh at me) I burst in to tears and took out my phone again. I was frantically telling my friends who had gone inside what was going on when he screamed at me again to get off the phone and sit on the curb.

The evening ended with me sitting alone in the police station in Worcester until 2 in the morning when they let me bail him out. The cops in the station were absolutely AWFUL to me - teased me, laughed at me, and gave me a boatload of attitude when I asked for their names and the name of the plainclothes officer who arrested Steve.

When I filed a complaint against the officer who arrested Steve, I got a phone call saying it would be "in my best interest to stop pursuing the matter".

Basically, the whole thing was an absolute disaster, and when looking at this story of these guys walking out of a strip club and being shot at FIFTY FUCKING TIMES (excessive much?) the only thing that comes to mind, regardless of the victims guilt or innocence, is that plain clothes cops are dangerous - to every day citizens AND themselves. They act like we're supposed to know they're cops - and when we don't, somehow we've broken the law by acting on our natural (and taught) defense mechanisms. I am not in any way defending the guys who were shot, because who really knows if they actually WERE doing something wrong - instead Im saying that there is something fundamentally wrong with plainclothes cops having guns. Based on my personal experience, its just all around a disaster waiting to happen. Besides the fact that even IF these guys did something wrong, at no point did they pull a gun on these officers, meaning shooting them was COMPLETELY uncalled for and inexcusable. No one deserves to die like that.

Anyways - my last week has been completely insane, and I actually shouldnt be updating my LJ, I should be working on my paper that I have to hand in before I go.

I'll try to make a real update before Thursday when I....

LEAVE FOR AFRICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(faints)

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/koinange.jeff.html

This guy graduated from Kingsborough. The president of the college told him about my trip, and I got this email from him today:

Hi Amanda,

I just got an email from Dr. Paruggi and I must say reading about your trip, I’m very impressed and ‘deeply’ grateful for the work your doing. As you now know, I am based in Africa (Johannesburg) and cover the entire continent as far as BREAKING NEWS, features, etc….what you guys are doing sounds wonderful but I must tell you, because we’re literally ONE crew that covers the continent, it’s often difficult to get to many stories that probably deserve the AIRTIME…..

I’m currently in Kinshasa in the CONGO covering the final results of the countries first democratic election in more than FOUR decades….after this I take my first vacation in 12-months…..going away for ten days…then back in the office Dec 1 st and will be on duty for Christmas/New Year…..That’s just the way LIFE is……work, work, work….

Hope you have a GREAT trip….Tanzania is a wonderful country and the people are amazing….I’m from neighbouring Kenya so I’ve been to Tanzania many times….it’s HOT and humid this time of year and LOTS of mosquitoes so BE prepared…..and don’t forget to DRINK lots of water….

You can email me anytime.

Take care and best of luck out there.

Jeff



How freaking cool is that? I've made so many insane connections thanks to this one little trip. It makes my life feel a little bit less insignificant :)

Scott, Kaitlin, and I went to see "Stranger Than Fiction" last night.

It was VERY good. Though it was a little odd seeing Will Ferell having a serious makout session with Maggie Gyllenhall.

Davids Bridal completely FUCKED Kaitlin's dress, and she called me crying when she got home and put it back on. Fortunately our token gay guy, Robert, was a fashion designer before he decided to change directions to public health, and was actually quite famous in Germany due to a line of corsets he created. So he's basically taking the whole top off the her dress and designing a corset top with spaghetti straps for her. I'm sure it will be beautiful, but Kaitlin is a bit nervous, and I don't blame her. She bought the dress for 200, spent another 180 on alterations (they wouldnt give her her money back), and then watched Robert draw all over it and start cutting it.

I got a haircut and I'm not sure I like it yet. Maybe I'll post pictures tomorrow.

Oh, and I also discovered that I LOVE ice skating!! Scott took me skating at Bryant Park on Friday before we met Michelle and James for dinner and I had an absolute blast. Its a great workout, so I'm actually going to start going to the public rink down the street once a week for some exercise on ice. I've been pretty inactive lately when it comes to working out...this will be good for me if I actually stick to it.

Dear Rest of the Planet,

I was wondering if you could stop hating us now that you know that douchebag in office does not represent the majority of us anymore.

Thanks,
Amanda

I'm posting just because I want to show off my new icon that icequeen3101 made for me.


:)

Have a good night everybody.

DONALD RUMSFELD HAS JUST RESIGNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHA



but the war was going so well! it was stopping THE TERRORRIZZMMSS!!!



hahahahhahahahaha oh man.

With every action, there is a reaction. We were a little slow reacting on this one, America, but we finally did it.

THANK YOU.

Date:	2006-11-08 12:05
Subject:	HEY GEORGE - Try overturning Roe V Wade now!!
Security:	Public
Mood:	cheerful

I may not always be proud of the actions of Americans, but MAN do I love American elections (especially when Bush gets egg in his face)

* In Ohio, pro-choice Rep. Sherrod Brown defeated anti-choice Sen. Mike DeWine, who was one of the Senate's most anti-choice members.

* In Missouri, pro-choice Claire McCaskill beat incumbent Sen. Jim Talent, who supports overturning Roe v. Wade.

* In AZ-08, pro-choice Gabrielle Giffords defeated virulently anti-choice Randy Graf.

* In PA-07, pro-choice retired Admiral Joe Sestak defeated adamantly anti-choice Rep. Curt Weldon.


*******South Dakotans struck down the draconian abortion ban imposed by anti-choice politicians by a 10-point margin.!!!!********

YAY SOUTH DAKOTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

* Californians struck down Proposition 85, which would have changed the state constitution to impose government-mandated parental notification for young women seeking abortion care, even if it jeopardized their safety.

* Oregonians struck down Measure 43, which would have established mandatory parental notification with no exceptions for victims of rape or incest.


and Massachusetts elected Duval Patrick as governor by a landslide. The first black governor in the state, who is also Pro Choice, and adamantly supports gay marriage!!!! I LOVE MASSACHUSETTS!!!!

iconage.... in case any one is bored and feels like making an icon for me...because i suck