First, let me, the instructor, preface this post with the standard disclaimer...the following isn't a representation of me, the school board, the school district or anyone affiliated with the district. It is merely the thoughts/opinions of my student of the week. The goal of having a student rant of the week is to have students express themselves about any media issue that they feel passionately about, take a stance, and defend that position through solid reasoning.
Enjoy and feel free to comment. This first student rant comes from Elexa from Orange and it deals with Presidential campaigns and what messages are promoted by the candidates.
My rant of the week... the first week, would have to be about John McCain. Yesterday, I for some reason had on CNN while cleaning the landfill that is my room. Since this was such a long and draining process, I had heard John McCain babling on for a good hour or so. As the GOP front-runner, McCain was trying so hard to convince Conservatives alike, that he is a "true conservative," whatever that means. With a crowd hanging off of every word he said, John McCain re-assured them that he still believes strongly in making America pro-life (which he so prides himself on), as well as being against a government-mandated healthcare program, and rejecting agriculture subsidies. The fact that I don't agree with him on ANY of these issues is beside the point. I feel that John McCain spends more time defending how much of a "true conservative" he is, instead of speaking about his campaign. Since when did labels start to overwrite actual political stance? Lastly, especially on the pro-life issue... when did John McCain become the arbitor of good decisions? Using the religious card against abortion is old and done. What about separation between church and state? All throughout his speech, he kept saying the word "God." Where is the representation of Agnostics and Atheists? Not all of America believes in "God," and especially not John McCain's version of "him." Sit down, John McCain.
Me outside my office
About Me
- docstruke
- I use this space to share thoughts about education, media, politics, and life in general. I am an Assistant Professor in Communication at Hiram College in Ohio. I teach journalism, sports journalism, media law and other classes. Comments on this blog are subject to moderator approval before publishing.
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5 comments:
Elexa...I would like to think and hope that we as good American citizens are smarter than to vote on candidates based on one or two issues.
It bothers me as well that many of the candidates are "pre-packaged" to say their religion and whatever. I can't stand hearing the question, "Who will get the Evanglical vote?" By picking one religion over any other, someone gets left out.
Good post.
I like where Elexa is coming from. At least he/she is thinking outside of the box, and thinking for themselves. This is what America is supposed to be about -- freedom of thought and freedom to express those thoughts.
I believe in the separation of Religion and State, because there are so many different belief systems --- and everyone has the rights to believe what they so chose. What is my truth may not necessarily be your truth, and that's all good.
However, the part I didn't see in this post is an alternative, or what Elexa sees as a good alternative to John McCain. If you are willing to state your “open” opinion against one candidate, you should also be willing to balance it off with an alternative; sort of like negative and positive, as you see it --- in your opinion.
Struke, you are to be commended for the job you are doing with these students. And remember, there are folks out here like me who is also your students. We are learning, and that’s all good too!
Hi Dave/Elexa
Well spoken.I dont like people selecting candidates on the basis of religion.I am a Baptist Republican but I did not vote for Huckabee.People dont think of what they want from a candidate
Frasypoo...I think selecting candidates based on religion and especially issues like abortion just isn't smart because issues like abortion are left up to the states to decide.
Very true...
I also think that choosing someone on a whim or a like is wrong as citizens of this country we have a duty in electing who we think is best to lead it
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