Turkey Day

My grandpa is a man of 80 some years who grew up in a very rural area in Montana with 13 brothers and sisters. Times were often very difficult. Despite the difficult times, my grandfather had the time to make friends, with turkeys.

Living on a farm in rural Montana, meant that you were fairly self-sufficient. My great-grandparents raised turkeys for special occasions like thanksgiving and Christmas, meaning the birds were around the property the rest of the year. My grandpa has always been one to like animals, but in a way that is different from most. He tends to show that he likes animals by teasing them, something my own father has inherited. When my grandpa would come home from school, he would tease a particular turkey. He would run after it, and grab it to make it stretch out it's long neck. When the turkey would see my grandpa, it would do its best to fly forcefully toward him with its claws ("turkeys have large talons") ready to grip its prey. This became tradition whenever the turkey saw him.

The turkey and my grandfather continued to build their relationship in this fashion, but time came when the turkey became ill with a turkey disease called blackhead. Apparently, turkeys did not typically live through this. My grandpa realized that the turkey was sick, put him in a box with straw and put him behind the old cooking stove inside the house. He gave the turkey some food, but it still wouldn't eat. Eventually, grandpa carried on the relationship with the turkey in spite of sickness. He began teasing the turkey stretching out its neck and pretending to eat is food. Low and behold, the turkey ruffled his feathers, started to flight back, and ate the food that was placed in front of him. The turkey lived! My grandfathers quirky relationship with a turkey saved its life and it lived happily ever after.

Thoughts on Social Psychology

I have heard in the past that "violent scenes in movies" have been linked to "violent behavior" and in particular violence toward women. In my social psych class an model was made that allowed me to see that this could partially be true.

One of the ways that people use to argue this, is the argument that "Classical Conditioning" takes place in a person. The experiment used to explain classical conditioning most often is Pavlov's Dogs. In short, he trained dogs to salivate by ringing a bell. First he began by ringing a bell, holding the food in front of the dogs, and waiting for them to salivate, then gave them the food. Eventually, food was not needed for the dogs to salivate, instead they would salivate just to the ringing of the bell, and even eventually to the experimenters walking down the hallway prior to ringing the bell.

In the same way, people have used classical conditioning as a way to show the relationship between violent movies and violent behavior toward women. Often times in movies, there is a sensual scene involving a women that precedes a violent scene. Sensual scenes in movies, even mild ones, bring arousal to people that are watching them (especially in men). Proceeding this, in many movies, a violent scene occurs, sometimes even violence toward the woman. In the same way that Pavlov's dogs connected salivating to the sound of a bell, people watching movies may connect sexual feelings to aggression.

Last night I began watching the movie V for Vendetta (a movie to see if you haven't). Sure enough, within the first half an hour of the movie their was a subtle example of what is explained above. Natalie Portman is getting ready in her little black dress to meet her date for the night. The scene centers around her getting dressed for the night, zipping up her dress and looking herself in the mirror. The very next scene is her getting mugged on the street.

Though, watching movies with sexual/violent scenes won't make a person act aggressively alone, it is interesting to think that media can have an impact on our minds that we might not even notice. I guess it's just good to be aware of what a person puts into his or her mind.

...and let there be a flood of justice...

"I hate all your show and pretense-the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won't even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, and endless river of righteous living" (Amos 5)

This word "justice" has been heavily on my mind lately. Maybe because it is heavily on the mind of our school, and is thrown around in my everyday life, but even so it has been on this mind of mine. A few weeks ago, I decided to read through the minor prophets. At first, i was just doing it for the sake of reading an entire book in one sitting...they are the smallest. But after reading only one book, Amos, I realized for the first time on my own how much the idea of "justice" is emphasized.

The definitions of Justice that come up on my computer are as follows (Encarta):
JUSTICE: 1.) Fairness or reasonableness, especially in the way people are treated or decisions are made. 2.) The legal system, or the act of applying or upholding the law.

Today I realized that the word "justice" can have more than one connotation with it. From what I realized today, the word "justice" can have an angry connotation to it. I think this comes from the second definition inferring a "justice will be served" idea. I think this definition/connotation of justice comes from focusing on the person/idea that will be punished when justice is served. It is evident in the Bible, that yes, we have a God that will bring justice and it will not be a joyous time for some. BUT, I think there is another way of viewing the word justice. A way that brings a connotation of hope. When justice is felt this way, it stems from looking at who is finally being treated right due to justice.

When I tested these thoughts (the sociologist within me) the results confirmed my hypothesis about this word. My tested subject said, "I think of a courtroom. But I also think of helping Africa."

I think that when thinking about the word justice, we should think of it from both angles, with both pairs of glasses on (ok..maybe one pair but with one rosy lens and one grey one). I think that it is important to see that yes, God will bring justice, and we are his hands and feet to try to do so. But also, that God's intention for Justice is not just to just bring wrath, but to bring hope to people...the oppressed, the trampled poor, the helpless, the crushed needy, the widow, the orphan, the hungry....it is important to see and feel the word jusice in both contexts.

Thoughts on Blogging

After much contemplation about why I personally would want a blog, I have decided to give it a try. The fears outweighed the advantages of a blog for a time, but I have now decided to jump into the blogosphere...but not yet with both feet. One of the fears of blogging for me, is that it is just one more thing to do. I already write papers, e-mails, facebook messages...why would i want to spend 3 more seconds at my computer?! Another fear is the fear that i will like it too much, spending time that should have been spent on my 10 page research methods paper. This fear is being confirmed as I write. A conflict I had within myself when i have blogged in the past is this idea that my writing needs to be "up to par" with what I thought to be the culture at the time. I needed to use "big words", have interesting ideas, and write as if i was writing poetry. The latest indie band needed to be mentioned and my words needed to be like sulky poetry. Basically, I put these boundaries on myself to try to "fit in", but my writing came to a point where style and reputation took precedence over truth, intellect, and creativity. This is wrapped up in the fear of blogging for me. The last fear for me is the idea of "mystery". I don't want to spill my life, my feelings, my thoughts, my emotions, and opinions out for the public to see. I fear then, no one will want to know me as a person, face to face, because they already know me through my blog.

I have began to notice how blogging has become a craze in our culture right now. It is a way to communicate ideas and allow others to respond to them. It is a way to get to know a little bit of what someone is thinking. I think also, it is a good way to learn....as iron sharpens iron. We can challenge each other in thought and action through the use of written language...(typed language?...doesn't have the same ring). I also want it to be a tool used to keep up with friends and family who don't get to hear my everyday thoughts, my ramblings, and what I have learned at this overpriced, yet incredibly inspiring University i attend. The housemate I share a wall with has encouraged me to enter into the blogging world so that she may come to know my thought process better as well.

My hope is that those closest to me and those not so close, both in distance as well as in relation, can come to know me a little better through this. Also, that they wouldn't stop at my blog, but that this may spark conversation to further and deepen relationships. I hope also that those who read my thoughts will be willing to respond, that i may be sharpened, challenged spiritually and intellectually, and come to know those who respond better. I think this will be good thing for myself as well, in that I can write to allow myself to process through ideas, what I'm learning, and to have a written history of these thought processes.

So, to the population of about 10 that will dare to read my ramblings, I look forward to sharing this experience with you...here's to a new chapter in life...blogging.