Thursday, June 28, 2012

Petition!

I recently wrote the Sec. of  Education about getting a system of free colleges.  That was my Mother's dream for her students.  Her college (Glassboro State Normal School) was free then (1928 - 1930); otherwise her family probably couldn't have afforded tuition.

Today, I finally got to my mailbox after a few days absence and found there was a reply.  Not from the Sec. (oh, well), but from a director in their Federal Student Aid "division".  Although I will give props that this director at least had read my letter and knew the gist of it, I was still dismayed by the answer.  The director basically said this would take an act of Congress.

Well, d'oh?  Call me a bit naive, but shouldn't the Department of Ed be advocating for STUDENTS?  Has there been any thought to proposing or even advocating for such legislation?

So I thought one option for me to do would be to start a petition at change.org.

Someone started one already!  So far only two signers.  I KNOW we can get more!

For what it may be worth, please visit and sign the petition:

http://www.change.org/petitions/u-s-congress-pass-a-law-requiring-all-public-colleges-to-be-tuition-free#


Of course thank you in advdance!

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Whoops, NBC (Updated by a Memory)

What were you thinking, NBC?

What indeed were you thinking when you made that promo for your upcoming show, "Animal Practice?" 

When I noticed the image at the end - I couldn't believe my eyes.  The next time I saw it I still could barely believe what I was seeing. After seeing again, though, I was just dumbfounded and dismayed at that final image.  WHY would you have that dark face with the conspicuous white teeth - whether it's chimp or human (it seems to be a graphic image, not live) - above the sign with the show's title.

It immediately called to mind racist mages of African-Americans from years past.  It did not give me a good feeling.

Folks, it's 2012.  We need to respect each other, not be insensitive.  Which is what that final image is, intentional of not.  NBC, I hope you change the promo for this show; it definitely needs a remake.

UPDATE:

Years later now, when I wanted to highlight this as a related post in a newer post, I remembered what happened about the use of the said monkey (chimp, whatever...) which promoted an NBC show... During that Olympics, right after a gold medal performance by Gabrielle Douglas and a commentary by Bob Costas saluting her, the chimp, monkey  ---- whatever-- appeared next in a promo.  Well, there was an outcry about that as I remember.  And rightly so.  I think NBC tried to be a bit more careful after that, at least in some things.