Reflection

Overall, I thought all of the topics we discussed in class were quite interesting. The one that I found to be my favorite was the article entitled News Flash by Bonnie Anderson. I thought this article really portrayed and backed up my previous opinions about the news, Confirmation Bias. It is sad that news companies rarely can report things that they want, or good news. Almost everything that is reported is based on the interests of the owners of the organization and what is going to put the most money in their pockets. I think that it is sad that this is what our news on television has come too, but I guess it is just a way of life now.
My least favorite topics that we discussed in class were those regarding all of the high profile cases, i.e. Scott Peterson, Elizabeth Smart, the Ramsey Case. All of these things were one's that I felt I had seen enough of over my career of television watching. It was okay to learn more of the background regarding the case, but to me I felt it was all something that I had heard enough of over the course of the cases history's.
After seeing Louis give us the presentation of the Nancy Grace website and how to decipher the sites properly and effectively, I thought that would be something that I would like to see expanded on a little more in class. I thought it was pretty cool to learn that people actually are deciphering the web sites that people use to promote different things.
If I could teach this class, I think i would do everything the exact same. We hit on each of the major aspects that are out there in regards to media. We looked at everything in a constructive manner that left the door open for many different opinions and views. Overall, I thought the structure and material was great, and I would not change a thing.

WALKING TALL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WwuRZWEMQ4

One of my favorite movies to watch is Watching Tall, that has The Rock, or Dwayne Johnson in it. The movie is basically about how a war veteran comes back to his hometown when his service is completed. Upon his arrival he stumbles across a crooked casino that is ran by a buddy of his from high school. He also learns that the casino, and the people involved with it, are the one's that are pushing a majority of the drugs through the community.
I think this film represents several justice issues. The first being that kids around town are have easy access to drugs. The second is that because the owner of the casino has so much money, he has the local police department all on his side. It is hard to hold anything against the casino because the Sheriff of the town will find any way possible to throw any charges out. It really goes to show how in many small towns, money has a huge impact on the result of many things. People who are entitled to lots of money pay their ways out of trouble and continue their illegal actions. This issue is the main one I found to be represented in the film, and is one that I feel is still highly present in towns around the country. It is hard to serve justice properly if the process is influenced by those with ample amounts of money.

SONG

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Needle and the Spoon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFPaxK-q5gI

Thirty days, Lord, and thirty nights
I'm coming home on an airplane flight
Mama waiting at the ticket line
Tell me son, why do you stand there cryin'?
It was the needle and the spoon
And a trip to the moon
Took me away
Took me away
I've been feeling so sick inside
Got to get better, Lord, before I die
Some doctors couldn't help my head, they said
You'd better quit, son, before you're dead
Quit the needle, quit the spoon
Quit the trip to the moon
They gonna take you away
Lord, they gonna take you away
It was the needle and the spoon
I've seen a lot of people who thought they were cool
But then again, Lord, I've seen a lot of fools
I hope you people, Lord, can hear what I say
You'll have your chance to hit it some day
Don't mess with a needle or a spoon
Or a trip to the moon
They'll take you away
Lord, their gonna bury you boy
Don't mess with the needle
Now I know, I know, I know, I know, I know

This song is one that was written by one of the most popular groups of their time, Lynyrd Skynyrd. They were a group that faced adversity on a regular basis, and went through some of the worst things in life. This song, "The Needle and the Spoon" is one that I feel reflects on the justice issue of drug use. It talks about how a young adult is coming home after becoming addicted to drugs. The drug use is something that has messed the person up bad, and it is affecting their family life as well. I think that by putting this into perspective by such a popular group, it helped to convey the major side effects that drugs can have on people. It not only can tear them apart physically and mentally, but can also destroy families as well.

GUEST SPEAKER

In regards to the presentation given in class Monday, I thought the presentor, Katie Baird, did a good job. She was extremely knowledgable about the topic at hand, and made it interesting as far as relating it to her audience. I thought she presented many valuable symptoms that are essential for people to pay attention to whenever a friend or room mate starts demonstrating different behavior. Similar to her, I think it is a difference in keeping things a secret and having to bring it out to others to keep the person at risk as safe as possible. It is something to me that if it was not told, and something were to happen, I would feel guilty for the rest of my life knowing that maybe that incident of suicide could have possibly been avoided.
Overall, I came out of the presentation with a lot of knowledge gained. Understanding the importance of keeping a watch over people's behavior, and changes that may occur in regards to it, was one of the things I took to mind. Also, whenever someone may be frustrated, recommending to them healthy ways of venting their stress and anger is of vital importance.These things are definately ones in which I will watch for throughout my time here in college, and after college as well.