My Definition of "Privilege"

Growing up on the North Shore, the word "Privilege" is certainly not new to me. Throughout my life I have been told I am "privileged" on somewhat of a daily basis so it is natural that I have always connected the word with wealth. I never stopped to think what it really meant to be privileged becuase it has just always been one of those words that I assumed fit its definition quite clearly, although I had never even seen the definition. I find it interesting that i never questioned the use of this word even after growing up around it. I think that the proper way for people to have used this word would have been to say that here on the North Shore, we are privileged with affluence. Privilige in-and-of-itself has a meaning beyond the context in which I have so lightly used it for the past seventeen years (I guess that assumes I was talking and advanced enough to use the word at birth, which is not true, so the last seven years would suffice, I think). I looked it up in the dictonary and compared it with the definintion for affluence.

Privilege: a right, immunity, or benefit enjoyed only by a person beyond the advantages of most
Affluence: abundance of money, property, and other material goods; riches; wealth

Both words are defined in very different ways and from my interpretation of these definitions, I do not think that privilege can be measured in the amount of money that a person own or how financially advantageous they are. I would define privilege as the quality of one's life, but I cannot look at someone else's life and define them as privileged. It can only be decided by the beholder. I believe I am privileged because I am a happy person, with a loving family, and the future that I am working hard to create for myself through the decisions that I make everyday. Money does not equal happiness so therefore, privilege can only be defined by a person's outlook on their own life.

Triangle Factory Fire and the Shirtwaist

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire took place on March 25th, 1911. Approximately 148 workers ended up dead; some burned in the fire, and others jumped to their own deaths. The building was preserved and remains standing as a National Historical Landmark. The remains of the structure stands as a reminder of what happended and what had to take place in order for women to gain the attention that they needed to obtain better working conditions. Before the fire of 1911 took place, women had fought for and failed to gain better working conditions. Poor ventiliation, dampness, long hours resulting in fatigue, close couters with other workers, and dangerous machinery all contributed to the many deaths that took place in various factories, regularly. Becuase of limited job opportunities for women, and the poor conditions in the limited opportunites that were available, women wanted to be married so that they would not have to work and this thinking only delayed the obtainment of women's rights, and strengthened male dominance. After the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in 1911, Factory Safety requirements improved and the American Society of Safety Engineers was founded.

The "mysterious" shirtwaist...

The shirt waist was originally created to be a shirt but in the 1900s, the shirwaist referred to the combination of a shirt that tucked into a long skirt and was tied tightly to the body in the middle like so...

Here is an article from the New York Times in 1894 that discusses the shirt waist. I found this comical, so maybe you will too!

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9F0DEFD61630E033A25757C2A9609C94659ED7CF

A Word With A Misunderstood Depth

http://www.blackvoices.com/blogs/2009/02/13/sanford-and-son-n-word/?icid=200100397x1219190068x1201199224
I found this article on the use of the "N" word. The author, Paul Shepard is arguing that the word should NOT be sensored from the t.v. show because it adds much-needed humor. Shepard agrees that in certain situations, the use of the word can be inappropriate and can cause controversy but, that the way it is used in the t.v. series, "Sanford And Son" is okay. The characters in the t.v. show are black and, to be honest, I find it almost annoying that its okay for them to use it but if a white person were to use it, it would be completely wrong.

I have a very close friend who is African American and we were listening to a song by an African American rapper who used the "N" word. When I asked my friend to tell me why its okay for the singer to use it and not white people, he said that he could not really explain it to someone like me. I cannot remember exactly what he said word for word so, therefore, I cannot quote him but in short, this is essentially his point: Its about respect. It could be really offensive if a white person were to say it even in a black person's presence, but if someone of color/someone who has been through enough in their life to understand the depth of the word, then it is okay if it is used because it is a sign of respect and understanding but other than that, it is a word that is inappropriate and very hurtful.

I find it crazy that a single word in our vocabulary has so much history behind it and so much pain and hurt that goes along with it. But on one hand, I think that the fact that it is being sensored from television is a good thing. It shows that there is recognition that the word has a lot of bad potential. The t.v. station who chose to sensor it made a good decision and their sensitivity to the use of the "N" word is hopefully going to help our society to stop racism. On the other hand, I believe that we cannot just forget that the word even exists because it represents a major part of this country's history that should never be forgotten so that it is never repeated.

Prom-tastic? (...bad title, i know)

What would "The High School Experience" be without the romantic, wonderful, exciting, Prom Night? Supposedly the best night of the four years that high school involves, with that special someone, beautiful dresses and fancy tuxedos, expensive dinners, limozines, before and after parties, etc. Day-long preparation including, manicures, pedicures, hair and tanning salons. It is those few hours that every student waits for, right? Wrong. This might be what people think but, in most cases, it could not be more false. Prom is an extremely over-romanticized event of our time. In fact, a lot of people do not even attend the prom dance. It only lasts a few hours and from what I have, personally, heard from people who went to the dance at the end of their Junior or Senior year of highschool, it is "way overrated". It is by no means the highlight of the four years, 208 weeks, 1460 days in "The High School Experience". So if you are going into the ninth grade thinking ahead to prom, then think again because not everything is what it is made out to be, or at least that is the case in our society.

"One of the Greatest Works of American Literature"?

I am, personally, intrigued by the controversy that arises when Mark Twain or Huckleberry Finn's name arises. Twain's writting can be read to be very racist and it can also be read to be supportive of anti-racism. To me, what I find most interesting is the fact that no where in his book does he directly say, show or prove which side he is on. One could easily think that he is racist after reading this book. I think that this is exactly his intent. He seems to like being vague and leaving his reader on a cliff-hanger, to finish and sum up main ideas for themselves. I was searching for articles in the Chicago Tribune (a reliable source, or course) when I came accross this one (link below) which states that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is "One of the Greatest Works of American Literature" (Chicago Tribune, 2002). This article really highlights praises the book for its anti-slavery and anti-racist message. I do not think that the book necessarily does have a message against discrimination in slavery. I believe that it could go either way but I do believe that it is one of the greatest works of American literature. I have never read a book before like this one where interpretations can vary so widely. I think that the fact that Twain does not specify his opinions on the subject of his narrative is a message in and of itself. Maybe he is trying to show us that even when we think we are being anti-descriminatory, it can still be seen as to be quite the opposite.

*I found this article through New Trier's databases so you might have to log into your NT account to access this article if you do not already have a subscription to Chicago Tribune online. http://ntesx01-lic.nths.net:2056/pqdwebindex=7&did=100161769&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1233532046&clientId=160

So-Called "Governer"

Just this past week, Illinois' so-called "Governer", Rod Blagojevich, was arrested for attempting to sell Barack Obama's senate seat postition to the highest bidder. Illinois continues to prove its corruptness. The person who was supposedly working to make our state a better and more succesful place, cares more about the money that it can offer him than the people that live in it. This disgusts me! But what I am wondering the most is what this will mean for our newly elected President, Barack Obama and our country's future with him. What if this scandal was uncovered before Obama was eleceted? This is a major question and I think that Obama would not have won Presidency becuase the Republicans would have used this against him and gotten more votes for McCain.

What is truelly crazy is that Blagojevich, despite his crimes, is still allowed to choose the next senate representative. Fox News writer writes in an article, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/12/13/illinois-democrats-reeling-blagojevich-scandal/, that "sixty-six percent of Illinois voters" think that there should be an election held that allows the people of illinois to vote for the next senator for the state.

I think that Obama is going to be faced with major difficulties in the future. People are already questioning his possible involvment in this scandal which means that he is already posing trust issues and he has not even technically "entered" office yet. Yikes!! I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens...

Pressures Pushing Us To Our Absolute Limits

Henry David Thoreau addresses his writings to those who are "dissatisfied" with their lives. Even after the evaluation of the typical day in the life of a New Trier student, I believe I would categorize myself as "satisfied" with the life that I live. After the class discussion of New Trier's pressures to live a life full of academic, athletic, artistic extra curriculars, etc., I decieded to make a list of my own schedual, which is something that surprisingly enough, I have never done. I found that the "typical" student's day very closesly resembled that of my own: the early mornings, academically filled school day, physically and mentally tiring extra curriculars, large amounts of homework and miniscule amounts of sleep. How I am able to accomplish school, sports practice, voice lesson, ACT preparation tutoring, homework, and a sufficient amount of sleep in one day, is beyond me, but I have been doing it for so long that I do not even think twice about it. It is engrained into our minds at a very young age that the only way to be successful later in life, is to work ourselves to our absolute limits throughout highschool and college. But is this so wrong? I cannot decide whether the evaluation of my daily schedual has been beneficial or just disadvantageous for myself. Although I am aware that my highschool days are supposed to be the best part of my life, what is the hurt in working harder now so that I can live a more comfortable future. The pressures that students are dealing with at New Trier are, in my opinion, only going to help us succeed in the real world (if you consider being well-educated, and financially well-off to be success).