American Politics or American Idols?

Rick Derringer sings: “I’m a real American. Fight for the rights of every man. I am a real American. Fight for your life, fight for what’s right.” The bronzed Viking in yellow underwear and remnants of freshly torn t-shirt dangling off his oiled person busts onto the stage.

And…

Celine Dion sings: “High above the mountains or across the sea, I can hear your voice calling out to me…” The mid-western suburban girl turned Manhattanite in yellow Donna Karan suit and a string of white pearls busts onto the stage.

I see some similarities here- do you?

The theme song is essential in the world of wrestling. There is no room for subtleties. An excessively buff man in tights is walking down the isle and will shortly be tussling to and fro, in and around, a ring with another excessively buff man in underwear. There is little to no time to get to know the individuals or explain why they’re fighting, so the theme song tells the world who we’re dealing with.

But in the realm of politics, I’m not sure if this is necessary. Obviously candidates would like to reach as many voters as possible, including the younger generation, so they need to reach us on our level. But to put it frankly, this is not how we get down Hillary. It seems like whenever the youth are involved, there is a tendency to dumb things down, or to put it politely, over simplify. But my opinion is that young people can understand a lot more than we sometimes get credit for.

But then again I could be wrong about this whole thing. I mean theme songs can be a source of great motivation. Just take the theme song from the movie “Rocky” for example. I mean who doesn’t get a burst of inspiration immediately upon hearing “The Eye of the Tiger”? That song hits you like a jolt of caffeine, right?

Historically, political movements have been able to find meaning amongst the youth of the day without over simplifying the issues. Student activism has been gained effectively not with the employment of trends and gimmicks, but by explaining to young people why the political implications of a certain issue are important to them and how their inactivity could result in their demise. For example the anti-Vietnam War movement included many young people who knew that they could play a role in the contribution or elimination of the war. During the civil rights movement, leaders depended on young people to help guide their efforts and spread their message.

It’s important that young people are involved in the political processes of the country they will one day soon, inherit. Our political involvement should not be limited to the picking of theme songs for the campaigns of candidates.

Senator Clinton’s strategic move to ask young voters to help her choose the right theme song to embody the inspirations of her campaign has caused much whispering and whoa-ing within the political arena. Will it bring her enough votes to allow her to leave the political ring with the presidential belt fastened snuggly around her waist?

Ultimately, it will just be chalked up to the newest fad in advertising to young voters, but certainly not the last one.

-Jordan Monroe

50 Cent vs. George Bush

In the midst of his lowest approval ratings ever and attempting to be the first president ever to serve an entire term as a “lame duck”, George Bush doesn’t even get any let up from a fellow Cancer. Recently, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson took a shot at good ‘ole George, saying, “Bush has a talent: He has less compassion than the average human.”

This is just what we need: Bush vs. 50. Just in time to take our minds off of Paris Hilton and pay attention to something else that does not matter. Bush is currently sitting at his lowest approval rating ever, and 50…well, nobody likes 50. He holds the Guinness World Record for most beefs started - and he’s serving up his latest dish of beef with President Bush with a side dish of top rapper Lil Wayne.

Lil Wayne, whom you might know from anyone’s latest single and/or remix, is also unanimously known as the current most influential rapper in the game. He’s also been called a “musical ho” by 50. Curtis claimed Wayne jumps on anyone’s song as long as that person pays him, just as a ho sleeps with anyone who pays them.

Although the 50-Lil Wayne war of words is another story altogether, there is a lesson in it: don’t start wars that you cannot finish. 50 has nowhere near the rapport with hip-hop fans that Wayne has, and he has nowhere near the power that G-Dub has either. Or does he?

I think 50 has a lot more in common with George than just a July 6^th birthday. They were both named after a person they’re attempting to follow in the footsteps of, they’re both disliked and feared, and to top the list, 50 Cent’s newest album - which he is promising will be a “bomb” - drops on September 11^th.

Damn, that’s eerie.

 

Dru Harshaw, Oakland, California

Cartoons & Politics

How do you make politics interesting? The same way you make anything interesting…in cartoon format! A cartoon in the form of Mr. Clean sold cleaning products to millions of housewives. Cartoons allegedly also made cigarettes more appealing to young people thanks to Joe Camel (R.I.P. Joe). And cartoons introduced me to the three branches of government…thank you, Schoolhouse Rock!

Now it’s 2007, and the game has not changed one bit. Nobody gets the message - unless it’s entertaining, that is - and what’s more entertaining than cartoons?

This past week I had the honor of watching The Simpson’s Movie as well as youtube after youtube video of political jokes followed by serious points. I even relived my childhood by sitting through that captivating Schoolhouse Rock video again. But to the lonely bill on Capitol Hill’s dismay, I think I’ve found a new favorite political cartoon. Only this one doesn’t just take <em>me</em> back to my younger days, it takes my mom back too.

The website challengeofthesuperduperfriends.com combines the Super Friends cartoon that my mother used to watch in the 70s with the politicians of today. George Bush is the evil Petroman, who is supported by his gang of goons. Senator Barack Obama is Captain United, leader of the good guys, who works for the betterment of mankind along with his own colleagues. Each character has his or her own identity, complete with story lines that match real life issues and weaknesses. For example, Hillary “Reform Girl” Clinton’s weaknesses are tobacco and cigars - oh, and she also avoids interns at all cost. As 9 Lives, Condoleezza Rice must live with the fact that she inspires nothing but mistrust between her and her comrades.

The comic is very well thought through and is supported by a very entertaining trailer - it keeps you waiting for the next clip in the series. The cartoon is one of many advertisements made by Viral Medium, a company that has done work for Excedrin and Goodyear, producing digitally animated combinations of 2D and 3D work that catches a viewer’s eye.

To think, all we have to do is animate real life things and then maybe people will pay attention. Not just kids, but ALL people. After all, I saw both The Simpsons Movie and Ratatouille in a theater full of adults. I am a grown person, fully aware of the problems of today’s world, and I admit: I watched Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth, and the only part of the movie I remember is the animation of the stranded polar bear desperately floating on a depleting iceberg as the camera zoomed out.

And yeah, it touched me.

 

Dru Harshaw, Oakland, California

July 6 Birthdays

Today Young Voters, Filibustas, and Collar Poppin’ Politicos coverage is focusing on the burning issue of candles in the White House. We come together to acknowledge today, the Sixth Day of the Seventh Month in the Year Two-Thousand and Seven as the birth date of the forty-third President of The United States of America.

That’s right…Happy Birthday, George W. Bush. 61 years young and enjoying every piece of Life’s fruits.

While I could sit and wonder what the President is wishing for as he blows out his candles, I’m choosing to spend my time on a greater pursuit of knowledge - astrology. The position of the stars says a lot about what you bring to the world. As a man in power, I think it would be interesting to see some of Bush’s connections to others born on the sixth of July.

Powerful individuals being the topic, then the Dali Lama Tenzin Gyatso is your man! The 14^th Lama was brought to full power as chief of government in India at the age of fifteen. He was said to be the reincarnation of a past Lama. Others who have found power from a July 6 birth are American icons Sylvester Stallone, known for his role in Rocky I-VII, and 50 Cent, known for his survival of multiple gunshot wounds and “Get Rich or Die Trying” album and movie.

The President’s storyline really doesn’t mirror those of the aforementioned icons. But there is an undeniable Bush birthday connection to Tia and Tamera Mowry, famous twin actresses who are known for their exploits in tabloids. Hmm…sound much like the Presidents’ daughters?

Caroline Trentini, who I would rather take on a date faster than both the Mowry or Bush twins combined, was also born on this day in 1987. Another woman of power, Della Reese, the famous African American actress, was born on this day. And not to be outshined is the famous Mexican painter Frieda Kahlo, who was most known for her masterpiece “The Two Fridas” painted in 1939.

With all of the power that has been brought to the earth on this day, July 6, I am convinced that this is a day for individuals destined to be powerful and famous. So I will celebrate my birthday like my fellow Cancers would do: act in a couple of movies, write a rap, jog some stairs, and govern a country.

Happy Birthday to me.

 

Dru Harshaw, Oakland, California