racial tensions
Never again will I complain about the slow growth of race relations in the United States. CNN reported today that a video of white South African college students exposed intense racial division. The video shows the students intentionally degrading black South African workers, and refusing to go along with integration policies.
Read more and see the report about it here.
my life
My thoughts exactly…
the oscars
I always catch the Academy Awards each year. It's amazing. It's a petri dish, really. Sometimes, it's excruciating to watch the interaction of such high-tier society in pricey couture that is wasteful. However, when you have a host like Jon Stewart to make fun of it all, then all is well with the world.
I enjoyed the unexpected wins tonight. And, I mean, I really enjoyed them. Vocal expressions similar to my cheering in a football game came out when Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová won the Oscar for Original Song. I loved the movie "Once," because it's an indie, and an original take. I mean, it was videoed with minicams and was incredibly low-budget. And, it was such a surprise! I hated that the mic cut off when she went to speak, but I LOVED that Jon Stewart brought her back out. And what she said was incredibly inspiring… even to me, a lowly history nerd. And, how cute was her Czech accent with an Irish twist!
The other surprise that I enjoyed was when Diablo Cody won best original screenplay for "Juno." She's a symbol of all the writers out there. I love her. I love her life story. She deserved it, and I was so glad to see her win!
It was a night spent in front of the television, avoiding homework. It's a wonderful life, right?
eminent domain v. history
I say with pride that I am an alumni of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. And to continue my education, I will soon graduate with my master's degree from UAB. I am so proud of the progress that has been made at the University. It is transforming into a traditional campus in an urban setting – a drastic change from what it was even five years ago.
Much of UAB's growth has been on account of eminent domain. And, for many years (and even still), much of the community that once resided in the Southside neighborhood of Birmingham has hated UAB because it took over housing and retail areas in order to expand the campus. Of course, this expansion has ALWAYS been on account of the medical side of campus, not liberal arts. I'm not complaining, because I work in an historical sector of the medical arena. However, at some point, this eminent domain crap gets out of control.
Today, the Parliament House Hotel was imploded in order to provide more office space and parking areas for the University hospital. The Parliament House Hotel was developed with the help of Doris Day, and in the 1960s and 1970s, it was THE place to be! I can't for the life of me imagine why they would demolish a piece of history like that.
Of course, then again… it's Birmingham! Birmingham NEVER keeps anything historical. They tore down the Terminal Station in 1969. They tore down the historical Birmingham News station last year. The city, and its citizens, refuse to stand up to big business and demand that eminent domain not take away each and every piece of the city. But, in the minds of the city's leaders, expansion of UAB brings in more money to the city.
So, the moral of the story? Either way, someone ends up with the short end of the stick. And, more often than not, money wins out, and history loses… as it did at 7:15 this morning.
droughts in the south
Today, a story on NPR bothered me quite a bit. NPR enlightened its audience on the droughts in Georgia, and the likely possibility that all outdoor pools will not be allowed to be filled this upcoming summer if the drought continues.
I'm upset with this story for a number of reasons. Most of the Deep South states suffered from drought conditions for the past two summers. Furthermore, most of these states took precautions to conserve water. Plants died. Lakes were incredibly low. Residents were only allowed certain days of the week to water their lawn or wash their car, ONLY before 8 a.m., or after 7 p.m. Fines were imposed on those households who went beyond their water allowances. In the state of Alabama, citizens did everything possible to conserve water.
In the story on NPR, it said that many Georgia residents, specifically north of Atlanta, disregarded the suggestions to conserve water. First of all, they DISREGARDED it. And, why wasn't it MANDATED to conserve water, as it was in other states?
Then, after the major water conservation areas in Georgia were almost dry, Georgia asked other states for water! These states, Alabama included, didn't have it to share.
Should Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, and others be punished for the flamboyant ignorance and disregard of Georgians? NO. I hate it for the state, but this entire drought issue's severity should be blamed on the administration of Georgia, and their Governor should have paid attention to the state's need. Furthermore, he should have been a better leader by implicating those who were in violation of conservation guidelines.
It may sound harsh and apathetic, but I spent an entire summer and beyond trying to conserve as much water as possible, as did many others in this and other states. Other states in the region should not have to suffer on behalf of such disregard. And, if Georgia didn't conserve in the first place, maybe a pool-less summer will teach them a lesson from their own poor behavior.
