OU becomes 'home of the brave' again as Sooners welcome Air Force (Berry Tramel - NewsOK.com)
The recent controversy over the fans at the University of Oklahoma football games changing the last word of the national anthem from brave to Sooners is a perfect example of the media choosing to take the wrong perspective on an event. Because of this people nationally are beginning to think of Sooner fans in a very negative light. Now that we have the Internet this story is able to spread like crazy.
The biggest thing that the media has forgotten is that Oklahoma is not the only program with fans that have made this change to the national anthem. I have been to sporting events at other schools and almost all of them have done this. The biggest reason why this story has gotten so big is because Bob Stoops and the University has made an effort to make sure that it didn’t happen before the game against Air Force. That should be a good thing.
Instead, the media has made it look like this is a tradition unique to the University of Oklahoma. The timing was also horrible. All of this came out after the word ‘brave’ was left out again during a game that just happened to be played on the anniversary of the 9-11 tragedy. Oklahoma fans should have been more aware of the anniversary and I do believe that saying ‘Sooners’ instead of ‘brave’ is disrespectful regardless of the date. However, I do not think that it is a product unique to our fan base. I think it is a product of a society that is not as patriotic as we used to be.
The online media helps to feed this unfairly negative image of the Sooner Nation. Because most online media, such as blogs, are written by people that do not write with the same integrity of print media and other traditional media sources, a writers personal feelings are more evident in their writing.
The level of competition for online media is also much stronger. Writers don’t have to wait until print time to get their story out. They can post it immediately. Knowing that other writers could beat them to the story and have their story posted at any moment leads to some stories being posted with less thought and deliberation than those in the print or even television media.
This particular story is actually a great story for online media because it causes so much debate. Most online media allows for comments from its readers. This could be a positive thing. The readers are able to give their opinions which can be read by other readers. This allows for more aspects of the story to be told. In this manner online media is very similar to radio media which also allows the listener to contribute to the story.
It is just my wish that in this case the media, online or not, would have discussed this issue as being shared by most fan bases. Not just in Oklahoma.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Response to Jacob Robertson's Post - Trapped
Source: Trapped: A Fictive Memoir (by Jacob Robertson)
Would it be too strange to say that I would almost enjoy being trapped in that mine if I knew for certain that we would be saved? I am sure I could think of better ways to get away from everything, but there is just something about being isolated from the rest of the world that I think I would like.
Now, I know that they are facing some health hazards, and the living conditions can’t possibly be that great. It’s just that I would do pretty much anything to not have to worry about my day to day responsibilities for just a few months. Of course, being trapped in a cave with a bunch of dirty men for several months would get old pretty fast.
Can you imagine how tired you would get of certain people in that environment? There’s always that one guy that won’t stop talking. And then there’s that guy that thinks he is a stud and has to take over as the leader. Or, on the opposite end of that is the guy that won’t do anything to earn his keep.
Actually, the more I think about it, the more I start to think that I would definitely not enjoy being trapped in a mine. Unless, that is, I’m trapped in there with the right company!
Would it be too strange to say that I would almost enjoy being trapped in that mine if I knew for certain that we would be saved? I am sure I could think of better ways to get away from everything, but there is just something about being isolated from the rest of the world that I think I would like.
Now, I know that they are facing some health hazards, and the living conditions can’t possibly be that great. It’s just that I would do pretty much anything to not have to worry about my day to day responsibilities for just a few months. Of course, being trapped in a cave with a bunch of dirty men for several months would get old pretty fast.
Can you imagine how tired you would get of certain people in that environment? There’s always that one guy that won’t stop talking. And then there’s that guy that thinks he is a stud and has to take over as the leader. Or, on the opposite end of that is the guy that won’t do anything to earn his keep.
Actually, the more I think about it, the more I start to think that I would definitely not enjoy being trapped in a mine. Unless, that is, I’m trapped in there with the right company!
International Cry for Help
Iran Woman Who Faced Stoning to Be Lashed, Son Says (FOXNews.com article - A.P. Sept. 6, 2010)
I am currently waiting to see if Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, who is in an Iranian prison, will be sentenced to death by stoning. It is my hope that the Iranian government will eventually see that this type of punishment is not acceptable. If they do not come to this realization, she will be forced to depend on the rest of the world to come to her rescue.
She has been sentenced to death by stoning for the crime of adultery. The purpose of writing this is not to argue her innocence of this crime. The bigger point here is that even if she is guilty of adultery, death by stoning is far too extreme of a punishment. The Iranian government should be held accountable by the rest of the world for their lack of respect for human life and their consistently inhumane methods of discipline.
If she does eventually fall victim to this horrible form of punishment it will not be the first time her own human rights will have been violated. She has also recently been given 99 lashes because a photo released in a news article allegedly showed her unveiled, which is illegal for women in her country. Again, I am not attempting to argue her innocence. This too was a punishment that would appear to the rest of the world as extreme.
I understand that every country has the ability to make its own laws and should be free to do so. However, they should not be allowed to ignore the human rights that are meant to be commonly afforded to all people of all countries.
My biggest fear at this time is that because of the attention this story has received all around the world, the Iranian government may attempt to rush its decision to execute her so as to put an end to this whole situation. It appears that the stoning could take place any time now. At this time I don’t know that anything can be done to save her. It appears to me that the more attention that is paid to this story, the higher risk of mistreatment she faces.
Ashtiani has received some support from Brazil and Italy as well as the Catholic Church. However, the more powerful voices around the world like the United States and Great Britain have not been as vocal with their support for her. The United States has long been a champion for human rights worldwide and I am hoping that they will stand up against this extreme violation of those rights.
What will the world say if Ashtiani is to die in this barbaric fashion? Will there be an outcry to save her before it is too late? Will the super powers of the world make any attempt to save her life? And, what about all of those in her country and other countries in that region that are facing these same human rights violations without the media spotlight that Ashtiani has received? Regardless of her guilt or innocence, the punishment she has already been given and is about to be given is nothing more than a despicable display of a lack of regard for human life.
So, please think of Ashtiani tonight when you are reflecting upon the troubles you face in your own life. Think of how you would feel if you or a loved one were facing the type of fate that she may soon be forced to face. Most of all pray for her and all of the people around the world that are falling and have already fallen victim to these types of outlandish punishments.
I am currently waiting to see if Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, who is in an Iranian prison, will be sentenced to death by stoning. It is my hope that the Iranian government will eventually see that this type of punishment is not acceptable. If they do not come to this realization, she will be forced to depend on the rest of the world to come to her rescue.
She has been sentenced to death by stoning for the crime of adultery. The purpose of writing this is not to argue her innocence of this crime. The bigger point here is that even if she is guilty of adultery, death by stoning is far too extreme of a punishment. The Iranian government should be held accountable by the rest of the world for their lack of respect for human life and their consistently inhumane methods of discipline.
If she does eventually fall victim to this horrible form of punishment it will not be the first time her own human rights will have been violated. She has also recently been given 99 lashes because a photo released in a news article allegedly showed her unveiled, which is illegal for women in her country. Again, I am not attempting to argue her innocence. This too was a punishment that would appear to the rest of the world as extreme.
I understand that every country has the ability to make its own laws and should be free to do so. However, they should not be allowed to ignore the human rights that are meant to be commonly afforded to all people of all countries.
My biggest fear at this time is that because of the attention this story has received all around the world, the Iranian government may attempt to rush its decision to execute her so as to put an end to this whole situation. It appears that the stoning could take place any time now. At this time I don’t know that anything can be done to save her. It appears to me that the more attention that is paid to this story, the higher risk of mistreatment she faces.
Ashtiani has received some support from Brazil and Italy as well as the Catholic Church. However, the more powerful voices around the world like the United States and Great Britain have not been as vocal with their support for her. The United States has long been a champion for human rights worldwide and I am hoping that they will stand up against this extreme violation of those rights.
What will the world say if Ashtiani is to die in this barbaric fashion? Will there be an outcry to save her before it is too late? Will the super powers of the world make any attempt to save her life? And, what about all of those in her country and other countries in that region that are facing these same human rights violations without the media spotlight that Ashtiani has received? Regardless of her guilt or innocence, the punishment she has already been given and is about to be given is nothing more than a despicable display of a lack of regard for human life.
So, please think of Ashtiani tonight when you are reflecting upon the troubles you face in your own life. Think of how you would feel if you or a loved one were facing the type of fate that she may soon be forced to face. Most of all pray for her and all of the people around the world that are falling and have already fallen victim to these types of outlandish punishments.
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