white Teeth and the election

There are a lot of ways that White Teeth is connected to the presidential election. The one I find most prevalent is how Clara is portrayed a lot like Cindy McCain is. Clara marrying Archie, a white man is shown by the author as being controversial. She is shunned from her family, which parallels to the marriage of Cindy to John McCain. So much is focused on Clara in a problematic way, which is unfair because Clara is genuinely a good person. Cindy McCain had a lot of press at the beginning of the election because she was shown in a poor light because of some things in her past, even though she is also a genuinely good person. I feel like both Clara and Cindy are viewed negatively and overlooked for their good deeds and the fact that they are normal people. I feel as if both women are judged by whom they are married to rather than their personalities and the fact that they are independent women. They are both much more than just a wife or a mother.

Other prevalent similarities between White Teeth and the election are moral and ethical debates. Scientific research and their moral and ethical debates force the candidates to take a stance whether they are for or against it, as in stem cell research. In White Teeth morality is a huge part in the Iqbal family, whether it is Samad and his "to the pure, all things are pure" saying or whether it is the moral debate that each Millat and Magid face separately. 

The last very obvious point I think is made both with the 2008 election and White Teeth is race and ethnicity. White Teeth has an array of multi-cultural characters and shows how they are caught between different cultures. The Iqbals are seen as being true to their Bengali culture but then becoming torn between the British culture they live in as well. It is also apparent that Clara is a black woman married to a white man, which is a lot like Obama's background.

The Business of Pulling Out

Many of the people who mingle in the affairs of other countries do so because they feel that they are responsible or are the most capable persons to make things better. The great irony of good intentions is that good intentions don’t necessarily result in good works or positive results. Even Zadie Smith writes with a pang of bitterness when Captain Charlie Durham “was not satisfied with simply taking [young Ambrosia Bowden’s] maidenhood. He had to TEACH her something as well” (p. 295). Even though Durham had made promises “that their secret child would be the cleverest Negro boy in Jamaica” (p. 296). Projects are begun and promises are made that are meant to educate and improve Ambrosia’s life, however Durham suddenly disappears. He has turned his attention abroad to attend other matters more than three months. He abandons Ambrosia.

Our involvement in the Middle East right now is a huge issue. When the U.S. had first jumped in, we felt like it was our responsibility to take charge and form an authority. Originally, we had concerns for our own security but once we were there, we started mingling with the affairs and involving ourselves deeper and deeper. Today, we’re at a stalemate. The next president will be key in deciding further involving ourselves or simply pulling out would be better.

~La Neu

racism a major plot line and a major issue

Maybe it was just me but just about every character in the book so far has expressed some racist slur or thought at one time or another.  Smith tells it like it is go back and count the number times this year someone said this and offended someone else racial.  Count the number of times someone dies because of their race, too gruesome instead count the number of times race has come up in the campaigns.  But we're not talking about how to address the issue we just here this guy used the race card, this dude hates these people, blah blah blah.  What about the example we are supposed to set for the rest of the world yet here we are in an election year and the racial tension so thick it could be cut with the proverbial knife.   Apparently race has been made an issue this election year so lets use that attention to work towards a solution instead of perpetuating the beast.  We owe it to the issue itself if nothing else, but i guess I'm just an idealist

Judging a book by its cover

The major similarity I have been seeing throughout the book and today’s politics are people’s connections with their roots. In the book the whole coming in terms with your original roots is a theme repeatedly used for the characters of the novel to not only distinguish who they are but also to convey who other people are, whether that is a truth or a deception. Obviously the book’s title can reveal a lot after only the beginning of the novel (the symbolism of teeth), but the truth behind the “root canal” I felt is the greatest reflection on the book so far. It is said in the book that “the first sign of tooth decay is something rotten, something degenerate, deep within the gums. Roots were what saved, the ropes one throws out to rescue drowning me, to Save their Souls”. No matter what happens in one’s life, teeth are always left behind. These teeth cannot be disguised as anything else than what they are. Sometimes people (especially in this book) want to try to mask their past or the character they are. Ethnic background is a major concern in this book as it is with the presidential election this year. Without having to state the obvious, Obama likes to play both sides of his ethnic background. He tends to use his white background when trying to collect the attention of white Americans and vice versa when trying to gain black American votes. I feel like coming from two different ethnic backgrounds, it could either hurt him or he could use it to his advantage. I believe he has been trying to be as general and normal as possible when trying to convey himself as a candidate. He has been smart to use his roots as a tool to help people view him as “one of their own”. I believe a major influence over people when choosing who to vote for, is the relativity of the two major candidates to one’s self. The more one can affiliate with a candidate and relate their own personal way of life with that candidate the better that candidate has to win their vote. Our history, background, and roots may provide possible insight on the people we are by simple prejudgments, but it might also just give more of a deception to the image of who people appear to be or how we want people to view ourselves.

FutureMouse to the Rescue...

CNN.com's Election Center says Stem Cell research is a "salient" issue in the 2008 Presidential Election. In connection with White Teeth, I can't help but think how relevant fictional Marcus's endeavors are in the reality of eugenics, which have an effect on politics today. As we delve deeper into science, more moral and ethical questions are raised. Like the girl at Heathrow in the novel, voicing her fears about the prospect of clones, we have to look out for what these things could potentially become. This in mind, I think of the quote (which I believe is from the Bible) which has become popularized by recent comic book films: "With great power comes great responsibility" or something to that effect. I think this is completely relevant to the field of science, and to politics in general. We need to elect someone who will take everything into consideration before making decisions. It is their responsibility.

In White Teeth, Smith repeatedly brings up the idea of prophecy. Well, what does a prophet do, what is their function? The way I see it, a prophet is someone who can look to the future and predict what will happen based on their knowledge of the past and its correlation with the current situation in the present. People are rightly concerned about the potential problems with eugenics because they have seen people misuse science and power in the past (didn't Smith also mention this in the section on World War 2 in regard to Dr. Sick and the Nazis?). We need to be careful how far we go "Playing God" and what effects it could have on society. So, do we need a "prophet" in the White House? Maybe not in name, but we need to elect someone who is willing to look at every issue from every possible perspective and make decisions that will be the best for the country and its citizens in the long-run in a moral and ethical way.

I think Stem Cell Research dovetails with the "bigger" issue of abortion and the sanctity of life. Where do we draw the line on what's a person? If we can't agree that a baby in the womb is a baby rather than a cluster of cells, when does the cluster of cells in a lab become a human? When do they start receiving rights to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness as well? Or do they? This reminds me of the movie "The Island" where the clones that are made for spare parts take on their own lives and feel things like any other human. As far out as these ideas seem, I think they are valid to wonder about and evaluate the likelihood of things like this happening in the future. Where is the responsibility to say enough's enough? Who is there to check the power that comes with these leaps and bounds in the name of "Science"?

What if Archie had the opportunity to choose Irie's eye-color -- to make them stay blue? Or if Clara could choose to make Irie slim like herself, instead of big like her Grandma? How would this help the problems they have in their lives --or would it inevitably bring new ones?

Mostly Magid and Obama

Even though we are half way through the book the connections we made earlier in the term are still pretty relevant to now. The first one is Clara being the odd one out. There is some focus on Clara, mostly a form of controversy. It is mentioned a few times on how she was rejected by her family for marrying a white man. People tend to focus on the negatives when it comes to her. I feel Clara is unfairly portrayed. She is much more than Archie’s wife and Irie’s mother. I am still trying to figure out who Clara really is. A lot of press has died down about Cindy McCain but she was portrayed in a similar way. More on some of actions and who she as married to then what she was really about. There is much more to Cindy like there is much more to Clara. Even though we have seen a little bit of who they are I am still waiting for the overall picture of who they are individually.
Another connection is Obama and Samad’s son Magid. Some people feel that Obama is not a true black person because his mother is white. People have trouble connecting with him because they do not relate to him. Barack Obama is a well educated multiracial man with controversy about his religion. People like to place people in certain categories. Whether it is right or not it helps people to connect on a bigger level. Unfortunately Obama leaves people a little confused. Magid is more or less going through a phase. His father is a Muslim who wants his son to be a great Muslim man. Magid ends up becoming very English. He is out of the norm and different. He is not exactly what you would expect him to be and there are less Muslim English men then there are just Muslim men. He is trying to discover who he is with obstacles. There is nothing wrong with either Obama or Magid it is just going to take time for certain people to understand where they are coming from. Especially if that place is so different from you.

Magid & Obama: Identities in Crisis

As I thought about the issues in the book and some of the issues of this year’s presidential election, none of them really jumped out at me as “resonating”. Then I saw the title of Chapter Sixteen – The Return of Magid Mahfooz Murshed Mubtasim Iqbal. In this chapter, Samad’s eldest son (by two minutes) returns from Bangladesh but is clearly not the “good” Muslim his father was hoping he would be. His own mother says, ‘“… this is not an Iqbal.”’ (p. 350). His twin brother will not see him ‘on political, religious, and personal grounds.’ (p. 351) Senator Obama is the center of similar confusion about his identity. Many African-Americans feel that he is not Black enough because his heritage is mixed (his mother was White, his father Kenyan). People say that although he was raised in Hawaii (which makes him American) and spent much of his life in the South Side of Chicago (which is kind of like North Philly), he really can/does NOT relate to the struggles of “real” African-Americans because he is not the descendants of slaves. Many Whites (and other African-Americans) feel he is an “uppity Negro” because he is Ivy-league educated and has the tendency to be condescending (check out the following link for Chris Rock’s take on the use of the word “articulate” when referring to intelligent people of color: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkqwspFr3D8).

Like Magid, Obama does not really fit in any one place. Is it because of their intelligence? Or is it because of the expectations people have of “their kind”? Magid’s family considers him to be more English than the English. Whereas his intelligence was lauded in the earlier chapters of the book, he is not smart the way his family want him to be (ie. quoting the Qu’ran). Obama, on the other hand, is considered more White than White; not Black enough. Both sides (Black and White) seem to want him to prove that he fits yet criticize him when he appears to be too much of one or the other.

Marcus Chalfen loves Magid but for what he can do for him. He does not seem to question how much power he is giving to this Bengali boy. But then again, that is most likely because Magid’s goal is to ‘bring Chalfenism to the people.’ (p. 352-353) He believes in “the Chalfen way” and thinks that all people should live this way. Marcus loves Magid, not because of his ethnicity but because Magid is willing to spread that which Marcus believes. Obama is winning more and more Whites to his side, but which side: his Black side or his White side? Are they looking past his skin color because he is hands-down so qualified for the position that they just do not see it or do they have some ulterior motive like Marcus Chalfen?

When I started thinking about this post I realized that I really wasn't sure about the issues at hand. I tried to dig around for something but I wasn't making any specific connections; so, I decided to think more generally. What I kept thinking about was the cultural issues and racial issues throughout the book. Alsana had racial issues with Clara. Clara's family also disowned her for abandoning her Jehovah witness ways and for marrying a white man. I don't know much about the role of a woman in Muslim society, but from what I do understand of it, it seems as though they are looked down upon and there to keep up the house and look after the family. It's seems like because they don't financially provide for the family they are not "providers."
Anyway, I think to some extent these issues are prevelant in the 2008 presidential election. I think there are a lot of racial prejudices against Obama because he is African American and there are racists out there that do not want to see an African American as president. That kind of goes hand in hand with the fact that I think some African Americans may be prejudice against McCain because he is white and they would rather finally have a fellow African American as president. Furthermore, even though Clinton is not in the running anymore, I do believe that she was put down because she is a woman. Some Americans put certain candidates down because they are not ready for change. I believe that in as long as there are candidates of different races and ethnicities there will be prejudices against them. I think that no matter what the candidate's views are, some people will just always hold on to their prejudices because they of their ignorance.

Another Country More Equipped

While telling the story of Captain Durham and Ambrosia Bowden, Smith makes an general statement about Great Britain as a world power. For several decades, Britain was the Europe's greatest power, with the most influence through its colonies all over the world and it's powerful naval fleet. But after the U.S. broke away from them and followed suit after their industrial revolution, America became the number one nation. It is through Captain' Durham's realization that "it is the Americans, not the British, who have the resources to pledge serious aide, three warships full of provisions presently snaking down the coast from Cuba" (p. 300). He says, "it is a strange feeling, this powerlessness; to discover there is another country more equipped to save this little island than the English" (p 300). Whether the world could see it or not, Britain's power was slowly fading.
I can't help but make the connection between America and China today. As the 2008 elections near, it is clear that another nation is making it's way to the forefront of world powers. China, currently going through it's own industrial revolution, is quickly becoming a strong force in the world. I am wondering how United States and China's relations will continue to play out through the next president because their environmental issues, politics and especially human rights issues are so controversial. Great Britain put up a big fight to keep the title of the number one nation.. will there soon be a "another country more equipped" than the U.S.?

Hush Hush

Click to see Last King of Scotland

Out of Mind Out of Sight

Singer makes very good points of how if every one donated to a certain cause than the life of many would be improved. He gives real life examples of how you can put yourself in the shoes of people who are given the choice to save a child’s life or save their financial future. He also makes a good point when he says that when people do not donate it is because they never know if the actual donation makes it to the person in need. I believe that is the main obstacle when it comes to donations. People are more willing to give money to causes who stand out front of Walmarts or Supermarkets because they can actually see the person who will benefit from their good doing. When you send money away to different children charities, you never know if your donation actually makes it to where it needs to go.

Another point is out of mind out of sight. It is hard for people to help when they don’t see the outcome of helping someone else. When you send money away in the typical “Save the Children” charity, you never fully understand if your donation really did help the person at need. Also it is hard to guarantee that child’s safety, when the cultural aspects also disturb the child’s well being. The money sent surely can help with the minor aspects of life, but what about after that, the child still will be living in a third world country where danger resides right at home. It is hard for people who come from a good background and have a stable job to justify the $200 dollars, because saving a child’s life from these third world countries has to be more than just food and health benefits. In order for the child to be saved completely the person would have to help them relocate or even adopt the child themselves, which makes the charity much more than a $200 donation.

just in time

How is White teeth connected to the election, we can see alot of racial card being played in this election, people not voting because of a candidtaes color, just like in the train station where Millat had an episode with the man selling the tickets, him calling them racial names, etc etc. some people already have some pre-existing notions about others based on their color and race. Clara, was disowned by her family for marrying a white man, another problem we have in out society, people refuse to love or try to refuse others to love due to their skin colors, etc. In the election, alot of people call obama an oreo (black on the outside, white on the inside), saying he hasnt gone through any of the problems the typical black man has gone through, living in the hood, not having a job, etc, I wonder if thats the new requirements!!

all through the election people have said 'america is not ready for a black president, now are we looking at just his color or we are going in deepre to the messge he sends. I believe the president should be elected based on what he can bring to the table not his color, black, white, brown, red, pink, disregarding all this, we should look into a candidate and not whats on the outside

White Teeth and the election

In all honesty I had a hard time relating the characters in White Teeth beyond the obvious with the electoral candidates. this very well could be that i know very little about the candidates themselves. The most I know about Cindy McCain is what I read in the article that we had to read in week one, and I know very little about McCain himself or Obama and his wife. I find white teeth to actually be very interesting, perhaps more interesting than the election itself. I'll try to make some connections...

Archie is in his second marriage and also is McCain, to Archie, Clara is a gorgeous trophy wife when he first sees her, and Cindy McCain is shown as a trophy wife herself, both women have had some troubles in their past. Cindy with her drug issue and Clara is a reformed Jehovah's Witness and her family is a little odd and didn't support her decision to not follow their religion anymore. Clara and Cindy McCain are both married to older men, and in both cases both women were pursued by the men. We shall see if there are more connections as we go, I think it's harder to connect a fictional character and presidential candidates lives, and more because they take place at two very different times.

Uuuhh

the most similarities i could think of in characters is that of clara, comparing her to mitchelle obama and cindy McCain. all are very strong women and support their husbands whenever they can. all of them are very independent and strongwilled. clara defied her parents to be with archie, this shows her strong willed nature, Cindy fought through cancer and without her husband she is able to take care of her children and stand on her own. Mitchelle is always at the war front fighting for her husbnd during the election.

Another i similarity is the future mouse project and the KEVIN group, the democrats being the KEVIN group and the republicans being Future mouse group, whil the future mouse is the Iraqi War ( this comparism is in terms of opposition, not the issue at hand), the republicans feel the need for a war, but almost all of amaerica is tired of the bllodshed amd the loss of loved ones, especially for a war that almost does not exist, I have asked alot of people, why the soldiers are in Iraq, but most dont know the answer, so ask, why are we in iraq, loosing lives thats very unnecasary, the future mouse project is even more acceptable because they are trying to find a cure for a medical condition. America needs to fight their own wars first (economic issues) before going into other countries.

Best A Wife Can Be

There’s a similarity between Clara and Cindy McCain. Both wives have an unspoken dedication to their husbands; a great need to play their matron and partner roles. Clara feels greatly indebted to Archie because she sees him as a saving grace, as more than he is. She’s aware of the oddities about Archie. He folds paper for a living, has an utterly uninteresting personality, and spends little time at home. Despite his downfalls however, she still tries to be a good wife and future matron. She tries to be as helpful as possible when the couple first moves into their Willesden home. Cindy McCain cares for her family by herself in Arizona while John McCain is off and away pursuing his career. Cindy tries to do the best to play the role of John’s wife and mother of his children despite his absence and dedication to something beside her and the family. Both women are trying to make the best of their lives with their less than perfect husbands.

~La Neu

get over it and go.

after doing some background research on obama i came to realize that not only were his parents divorced, they both managed to pass away. i think this information can be compared to the opening chapter where archie is discovered by mo's son during his suicide attempt. archie decides to try to end his life after his wife ophelia goes ape and decides she would like to divorce him. once archie is rescued he attends an "end of the world party" where he falls in love with this new chick, clara,  and ends up marrying her months later.

i feel that these two stories relate because both of these men lost loved ones and have still managed to pull out of the lows of there life. as an only child who has lost a parent as well as many "loves" since the middle school days, i would have to say i am quite the expert on what it is like to feel alone sometimes and miss someone dearly. however when you are feeling down you just need to stay preoccupied and find news sorts of loves whether is be human or skill. obama's life in politics is in my opinion directly affected by the loss of his parents as a way to stay busy and excel in life. for example, when my mother passed away i threw myself into school work and decided that was how i was going to deal with her loss. archie also finds his way out of his rut after he hits rock bottom. and everyone lets face it, there is no where further down to go other than death. thankfully mo's son saved him just like education and politics more than likely saved obama. archie fell in love again that night and bounced back from his funk.

Distant Couples

While reading/perusing/skimming through the first four chapters, I struggled to make a connection between any of the characters and one of the 2008 election candidates. The trouble may be a simple result of not knowing too much, on a personal level, about the candidates, and being presented with virtually nothing but personal information for the characters of "White Teeth." The only real indulgence of research I've done as to the personal lives of the candidates comes from the Cindy McCain article posted several weeks ago. It was then that I was able to formulate a connection.

While reading chapter two, the initial relationship of Clara and Ryan struck me as being similar to that of John and Ciny McCain. Ryan is described as an unattractive, unpopular individual. John McCain currently shares this unfortunate description. Although Ryan's appearance is essentially opposite to John McCain, they both are physically unremarkable. Ryan is also described as having a "tedious personality," and it's no exaggeration to say that McCain is also pretty long-winded, and like Ryan, not so popular. Put against Obama, McCain falls short in just about every popularity vote taken thus far.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20080706-9999-1n6electors.html
http://people-press.org/report/425/mccain-obama-negatives
http://abcnews.go.com/PollingUnit/Vote2008/story?id=5177916
http://www.surveyusa.com/index.php/2008/03/06/electoral-math-as-of-030608-obama-280-mccain-258/
Still, McCain's wife stands by him, despite having been virtually abandoned by him on more than one occasion. Left at home, she has been forced to fend and live for herself, as well as develop her own skills and public lifestyle. This was the bit that allowed me to make the final connection:
"Clara's inexplicable dedication to Ryan Topps knew no bounds."
Ryan is also described as caring more about his work than anything anything else, save perhaps himself. This description sounds awfully like John McCain, and yet Cindy McCain, like Clara, has stuck by her husband despite overwhelming circumstances.

White Teeth & Presidental Comparison

One of the first comparisons that came to mind when I read our discussion topics was that of Archie and Cindy McCain. Cindy McCain did not try to commit suicide like Archie, but I still feel as though their situations are similar. Both were trying to escape situations that they were dealing with…Archie by committing suicide and Cindy by take prescription pills. Archie felt as if he had nothing to live for anymore after his divorce from his wife. Cindy was distraught from rumors spread about her husband and suffering from serious back pain from surgery. Both needed an escape. After Archie was accidentally saved from his own suicide he felt a new enthusiasm for life, he was finally happy again. Like Archie, Cindy eventually found happiness in, for once, following her husband on his campaigning trail. However, both Archie and Cindy’s newfound happiness was short lived. Archie remarried shortly after his attempted suicide and returned to a monotonous lifestyle…working and hanging out with his friend, Samad. Likewise, Cindy retreated from the public eye after her husband dropped out of a running because of rumors being spread about her drug addiction and about their child.

A second comparison that struck me was between Archie and John McCain. Both had similar marital relationships. I not sure if it says specifically how many years Archie was married to his first wife, but I would assume it was quite a few years considering he was 47 years old when the two divorced. The same goes for John McCain. Although I do not know specifically how long he and his first wife were married I’d assume it was a decent amount of time considering he was 41 and a father of three when he and his wife divorced. After both were divorced they seemed to have hurried into a second marriage. Because I have not finished White Teeth, I have yet to say whether the marriage of Archie and Clara is going to end in happiness. And, even though it seems that the John and Cindy McCain are in love and have a good marriage, reading the article “In Search of Cindy McCain” has me wondering otherwise. After reading that article it seemed to me that marriage was more of an understanding than two people in love bonded by marriage. So after reading the first four chapters of White Teeth I feel that both John McCain and Archie’s marriages are very similar.

Clara and Mrs. McCain

After reading the first four chapters of "White Teeth", the similarity between Clara and Mrs. McCain became more obvious. Both married quickly after meeting their husbands; but aside from marrying older men, both their husbands didn't have much time to spend with them. After Archie and Clara got married, Archie spend a lot of time with his longtime friend, Samad, and so Clara started to wonder why he was never home and why did he spend so much time with Samad. Mrs. McCain also didn't have her husband with her much. John McCain was always working at Washington DC and serving his country, which seemed much like his old time friend.
Another similarity the two had was the presence of drugs in their lives. Clara started using drugs because of a guy that she was with, Ryan. She discovered a life better than giving out Jehovah's Witnesses' pamphlets and trying to save the sinful ones. For the first time, Clara felt free. Free from her mother, from her religion, and from herself. Mrs. McCain used drugs to relieve herself from a life without her husband. She might have felt free from using the drugs, which lead to her addiction. As we know of Mrs. McCain, she stood by her husband no matter what, even now, and Clara does the same for Archie.

It's MAN's work

I feel like this whole election process has revolved around the women on the scene. Michelle Obama profiled as a stylish woman in Vogue, finding out what size jeans Cindy McCain wears on CNN of all places. This is not to mention the very, very obvious difference of a female primary candidate, Hillary Clinton this time around. Superfluous as these instances may seem, I've seen in all this in passing as a woman in the United States. As well-spoken as Barack Obama is and regardless of John McCain's track record, people seem to be interested in the women behind them (or in Hillary's case, she seemed to have the most media attention of all).

I find in White Teeth that I am more interested in the women (because I'm a woman? Maybe). But, maybe because they are just far more interesting characters. Alsana has a distinct "survival" mode that makes me incredulous and Clara is more into experiencing new things in her life after being sheltered (although to me she still seemed out of place in the commune). The correlation I see between this book and the characters in this year's election-- as many surface ones come to light, which others have pointed out may only be shared because they are all human-- I see a correlation between Clara and Cindy McCain. Besides being their husbands' younger, more attractive second wives, one scene in the book sticks out in my mind to illustrate their similarity. On page 44, when Archie is straining himself moving things into the apartment, Clara easily picks up a "large armchair," even though Archie says, "It's man's work, love."

Well, is it really? She can do it, and easily, too. In my experience of people speaking about the McCains, they seem to be more excited at the prospect of Cindy being in the White House, period. I am not saying I agree with them, or with others that feel we need a woman President, either. I think we should elect the best person for the job, male or female. The similarity still stands, however. Clara didn't have to pick up the armchair. Cindy didn't have to work hard in college or start all those organizations overseas. She's a strong woman, capable of many things, who has experimented in life a bit.

Midlife Crisis

I can see a connection between the McCain family and the Jones. There are a few obvious connections to get out of the way. John and Archie both have had a failed marriage. Both men served their country. McCain was in the United States Naval Academy and Archie who served in WWII. And then they both took a turn………..

They both had controversial turning points in their lives. Archie and McCain reached a point where they needed a big change. You may even call it drastic. John McCain chose to marry Cindy who is a wealthy woman almost twenty years younger. Archie decided to marry Clara, an African American who is half his age. They really embraced this change because both married after such a short amount of time. Archie married Clara after 6 weeks and McCain waited only a year.

I am not entirely sure why either Archie or McCain were so eager to jump on the marriage wagon. You would think with both having a failed marriage under their belt that they would be a little more skeptical. Both men must have felt life slipping by. Maybe a midlife crisis took over or both were scared of dying old and alone. Taking on a younger partner would also create more life and excitement in what could be considered a dull unfulfilled life. That would apply more for Archie than McCain. I also feel a connection with the way they treat their new wives. McCain was working his way up Capitol Hill and leaving his beautiful wife way back in Arizona while Archie appears irritated and less loving to Clara once they move in together. They were looking for a change, found a change and then went right back to their old selves. It goes to show you how quickly you appreciate something and then take it for granted. They were on a new high but like most fixes it does not last forever. I am not one to judge McCains marriage but I am interested to see if Archie’s marriage will include as much separation. I am glad the McCain’s are still together but is Archie and Clara still riding on lust or is their any real love?

I used Wikipedia to catch up on McCain.

White Teeth Comparison

After beginning the reading of White Teeth, I made a couple assumptions to not just one candidate or prospective first lady, but saw many correlations to each. For example, on page eight Archie Jones states, “If it was broken, it was coming with him. All broken things were coming with him. He was going to fix every damn broken thing in the house, if only to show that he was good for something”. This can be related to how all presidential candidates try to propose to fix every thing wrong with our country. Every issue possible, they try to come up with a campaign to fix our nation’s problems; although in both Jones case and in all aspects in reality it is impossible to solve or fix every problem. I think the statement Jones was trying to make was ideal, because it seemed to be the more he could fix material things, the bigger possibility he would have on fixing his marriage. The whole fixing every broken thing was symbolic for his marriage, and is also symbolic to political issues and the candidate’s proposed solutions.

Another quote I felt was relative and obvious was on page 25 when Clara is trying to convert Ryan it is said, “Not even the Catholics would forgive them for it (and Catholics give out forgiveness at about the same rate politicians give out promises and whores give out)”. I know it already bluntly relates itself to politicians, but the point is made so well and funny.

A comedic portrayal of the election

http://sendables.jibjab.com/

???

Perhaps I am being ignorant or perhaps I don't see what is right in front of my face. After reading the chapters and a after a little bit of research on the candidates I have failed to see any type of connection of worthwhile comparison. It seems to me that trying to find some analytical, meaningful passageway between English characters based in the 70s to two U.S. presidential candidates in 2008 is a little farfetched. Yes, of course, some surface similarities do arise as the previous posts have mentioned, but do these similarities actually offer any type of insightful analysis or are they just strictly observation? I understand that being in an analytical English class it is our job to try and make comparisons among different ideas and relate them to bigger issues or grandeur ideas. Moreover, we practice making connections between abstract ideas and force analysis on their principles and underlying meanings. But possibly sometimes we lose clarity of our focus and all together compromise the integrity of our two ideas in question. If you look hard enough into anything a connection and comparison can be made, but that doesn't mean it makes it intellectually worthwhile to investigate, it may just mean it’s simply there, it just exists. If through this specific exercise we are trying to bring to light that people, in general, act in the same manner and share the same experiences, just in different ways, then yeah... we can do that. However, that is not the kind of profound argument that interests me very much. I don't think there is any connection between these characters that will somehow open up our analytical minds and bestow some sort of greater enlightenment. I’m not saying this type of work is useless, just from a 100% logically thinking perspective; I have a hard time grasping these concepts. Then again, I could just be ignorant and closed minded and be the one who is missing the point entirely.

Obama and Samad

Among the characters that we have thus been introduced to in White Teeth, I feel that the character Samad is very similar to the Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. So far, we have learned that Samad is the best friend of the protagonist, Archie. Samad is a waiter at a restaurant but knows that he is intelligent enough to have a more prominent job.  He is aware of his potential as well as the potential of his children. I feel that Obama is very similar to Samad. If he does win the election he will be placed in a very difficult position. He will become president of the United States during a time of economic turmoil. Just like Samad, I am sure that Obama has the ability to see past the poor economic state of the country and see the potential that it has. I don't feel that Obama is a man who will settle for mediocrity the way that Archie is so satisfied with being mediocre. 

"White Teeth" & the Presidential Candidates

For this post I decided it would be easiest to start my research on Wikipedia. I read the information posted about both John McCain and Barack Obama and was able to find some articles referenced. It was in these articles that I found some similarities to the characters in “White Teeth.”

McCain is referred to as a maverick, and is known for his tendency to disagree with his party affiliates. While McCain is considered a Republican, columnists refer to him as “conservative” but not “a conservative.” This means that McCain does not always have a conservative stance on issues. I found this similar to Clara’s believe in the Jehovah’s Witnesses in the novel “White Teeth.” In the book, Clara removes herself from her mother’s strict religious household and stops practicing her religion. The novel states, “Clara had deserted the church and all its biblical literalism for Archibald Jones, but she was not yet the kind of carefree atheist who could laugh near altars or entirely dismiss the teachings of St. Paul (Smith 39.) While some of Clara’s actions seem that she has completely denounced religion, she still holds her beliefs. Similar to John McCain, Clara considers herself religious but she just does not agree with everything her faith teaches.

Another comparison I noticed was when I was reading an article written by Barack Obama entitled “My Spiritual Journey.” In this article Obama discusses how he was raised without a religion and how it was not until his twenties when he began working with churches that he found his Christian faith. I found this to be similar to Ryan Topps in “White Teeth.” Ryan, also a young adult, becomes a Jehovah’s Witness when Clara’s mother begins to preach the teachings to him. Similar to Obama, it is not until he has grown that Ryan finds a faith in which he truly believes.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1546579-1,00.html Obama “My Spiritual Journey”

http://www.azcentral.com/news/specials/mccain/articles/0301mccainbio-chapter9.html McCain “McCain becomes the ‘maverick’”

Life imitating art... John McCain as Archie Jones

I cannot imagine what John McCain must have felt like in that POW camp in Vietnam, but one can imagine that he must have felt helpless and that his situation was hopeless. Once he was rescued, he had a new lease on life. Archie experienced the same feelings when he was "rescued", not from a POW camp, but from trying to take his own life. White Teeth describes Archie as feeling that '... Fate was pulling him toward another life' (p. 15). McCain must have felt the same way. Archie was being pulled toward Clara (his second wife), and pulled McCain toward Cindy (HIS second wife).

In order to be pulled toward a second spouse, one must first leave (or be left by) a first spouse. Archie was left by his first wife, Ophelia. McCain left his first wife. White Teeth puts it well when it says, '... men retain the ancient ability to leave a family and a past. They just unhook themselves, like removing a fake beard, and skulk discreetly back into society, changed men.' (p. 15) Seeing how his first wife, Carol, had been disfigured in a car accident, McCain leaves her, his family and his past and re-enters society with Cindy. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html - website originally referenced in a post by Change is Necessary for Growth, 6-29-08)

History shows that neither man is well-suited for relationships. Archie is attracted to women 'only if they [wear] haloes' (p. 7). Clara is younger and prettier than Ophelia. Clara quickly discovers that Archie is 'no romantic hero' (p. 40) and feels that as 'average' as he is (p. 41), he should 'at least be utterly devoted to... [her] beauty, ... [her] youth' (p. 41). Instead he spends his time with Samad Iqbal, reminiscing about the way it was. The same can be said for McCain - Cindy is younger and supposedly even prettier than Carol. He is average and has not been described (to my knowledge) as passionate about anything other than his career. McCain's Samad Iqbal, in that respect, would be his country and now his desire to be the next president of the United States.

Mrs. McCain and little miss clara

Although these two women, on the outside, couldn't be more different there is more in common then you would think. Both these women were swept up at a young age by men of "status." We can say Mr. McCain had a little more the poor old Mr. Archibald Jones. These women were liked at as trophy wives as we have seen in the article we just read about Cindy McCain that she is still today viewed as one. The way Archie looked at Clara that was exactly what he thought, his trophy wife, and apparently he was not alone in his thinking, with the other men in his office, which took to her long skinny legs as well. Another similarity was they were often overlooked by their spouses, maybe by accident, but it became clear that McCain and Jones were a little too preoccupied with work and their fellow army friends. Being women who have been, in a way, suppressed by their husbands they both have a confidence to become better. Mrs. McCain with her adoption and relief organizations to Clara and her religious side, whether they continue or not, they both have been strong willled.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=P_L33q73UDs&feature=related
here is cindy talking about her accomplishments like a strong willed person, she also talks about her support of her husband, which clara often does as well.

Invasion of the Deranged Hanger Babies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpGUiEWZDUI

What the Republican Party thought was a major victory for the preservation of human life has gone horribly wrong. McCain vowed to overturn Roe v. Wade and he was willing to do whatever it took to deliver his promise to the American people. Shortly after McCain is inaugurated into office in 2009, two of the liberal Supreme Court Justices, Ginsberg and Stevens, are killed on their way to work in unexplainable accidents. They are swiftly replaced by conservative ones and Roe v. Wade is shortly overturned. Since the Patriot Act created a Big Brotheresque society, underground abortion clinics are not able to form. Women are left no choice but to try to give themselves abortions using the hanger method. Unfortunately, not only do women begin to die from infections and loss of blood, but a new race of babies, referred to as hanger-babies, is born. The newborns are sent off to a remote island in the Pacific Ocean, where they begin to breed a new generation of hanger-babies.

A century passes, and America’s values are yet to change, with Republicans controlling all branches of the government (executive, judicial, legislative). The hanger people are fed up with their seclusion, and decide that it is time to return to America and have a coup d’etat. In an epic suicide bomber battle, the deranged hanger people are able to kill off all the Republicans, creating an all-democrat republic. In their attempt to revenge their exile and establish a one-party state dominated by the Democrats, they only contributed to the further demise of the United States. With no opposition, people were unfortunately no longer willing to take a stance for change, knowing that change would actually occur. It became clear that the people were more comfortable living in a bipartisan state with no change than under an authoritarian system, and now all chaos was about to break lose...

Record breaking.....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c\

Do we really wnt a president that lies so much, having to think deeply about everything hat comes out of his mouth?? dont get me wrong, I am not posing Obama to be some "never-told-a-lie" in my life kinda saint, But just like a friend, I wouldnt want one that lies about everything or goes back on his/her words! and I am sure that would be the stance of most people, in the short video we see the many lies of Mr McCain.

This is not seen in only him, but I guess it looms in his whole family, from himself to pillypopper Cindy. How do we want the affairs of a whole country thrust into the hands of such a lying sucker like McCain.

I wouldnt vote for such a person!!

More coming :)

The Living Dead

Pete had toiled all of his life to make a living. He had been working
since the age of ten just to put food on the table. Things had always
been hard for Pete, but things had never been this hard. He remembered
the early days of the depression, when new president Barack Obama had
promised change and better days ahead. All of the new president’s new
ideas were not enough, however, and the economy had just continued to
get worse and worse. The modern global economy made this the worst
depression the world had ever seen, as America went down the drain it
took the entire world with it. By 2015, poverty was the norm and Pete
was sick of it. Pete decided that he had worked enough, and now there
was no work anyway. He wanted it to end. He wanted it all to end.
Pete lived near one of the biggest reservoirs in the United States.
Water from this reservoir fed 50% of the remaining population of the
nation. Pete decided to use this reservoir to end all of the world’s
suffering. In a flash he had his plan, he put together a number of what
he thought were different animal poisons. He had decided to take his
own life, and take as many people as possible with him. Pete dumped his
poison into the reservoir, left weakly guarded in these hard times.
Then Pete drank the poison himself.
Pete had expected immediate death. Pete had expected that all the pain
would immediately disappear, instead something unthinkable happened.
Without realizing it Pete had used poisons infected by nuclear waste,
the combination created a disastrous effect. Pete’s skin started to
fall off of his body. He was decaying, but he was still alive! Pete
desperately ran towards the nearby lake and jumped in, trying
desperately to drown himself but he just wouldn’t die. Soon, millions
of people would know the full pain of Pete. The reservoir had already
been infected, and the water was speeding out across the nation
bringing living death to all of America…

dont waste your dolla dolla bills y'all

i have never witnessed the scream movies considering if i would have seen them in the 90's i would have cried like a little baby. and now after reading the article i never have to go see them. i will say i was a bit confused as to all of the characters but after reading the article twice i got the picture. i think it is awesome that the author of the article points out that the female scallywag in every horror film dies and that it is usually based back to the mothers death. recently i wasted ten bucks the horrific remake of the movie prom night. the movie starts off with the female main character's parents being killed by her obsessed man lover thennnnnn one of the first people to get killed is a friend who is about to do it with her boyfriend in the hotel room. HOW CLEVER. in the end of the movie the main character is one of the only ones to escape her stalker and she ends up killing him in the end, if i remember correctly, reflecting back to getting revenge on him for her mother/father's death.

i feel as though this formula for horror movie making currently is being over done and like the other article points out-- there are 3 -4 scary movies coming out a month now. i mean come on, how many freaking scenarios can you come up with? i would prefer if hollywood could stop making shitty movies and instead just take their time and make a couple REALLY GOOD ones. i mean lets face it, advertising for these bad boys is so good that you never know what you are going to get when you go into the theater. and quite frankly at this point every horror movie i have seen recently has pretty much sucked so the rest that will come out this year probably will too.

so in conclusion, at this point in time horror movie making should come to an abrupt halt since directors can't step it up a notch and this goes for my home boy m. night as well since his new dig, the happening, was not up to par with his advertising.


and i will publish my movie title later since i am on "borrowed" internet right now at my new house and youtube will not load. :)

She Don't Lie; Cocaine

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=2jl3BiBP0Dk
It is the year 2020, and the United States is no longer one the world's leading power. The US has quickly been defeated by the growing revolutionary forces of Colombia, South America. Ironically, the United States has been defeated by this organization that has been strongly supported by the American people by means of drug trafficing. Illegal substances like cocaine are more prevalent than ever in the United States and 1 in 3 Americans is battling an addiction to the drug. With gas prices sky rocketing and the economy becoming more corrupt day by day the people have nothing to turn to but the temporary high of these expensive and addictive substances. The high demand of these drugs has driven the American people to madness and barbaric behavior that has resulted in countless murders, all for the sake of a temporary high. Can the American people come together to take down the revolutionary groups that have taken control of the country, or will the hold of the cocaine addictions prove to be too strong?

Gas Kills- Movie Pitch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8fkbEuCQss&feature=related

In the year 2010, the price for gas has reached 10 dollars a gallon; Americans are not able to remain sane. As everyone is forced to spend all their money on fuel, the average American lifestyle has become harder. Everyone has turned against each other, as millions go insane. Most are not even able to fill their tank with enough gas to make it to work, resulting in an increase in job loss and unemployment. As America becomes desperate, there is a severe increase in the car theft and murder rates are through the roof. People will do anything to get money to purchase gas, including steal another person's car to sell, in order to fuel their own. As walking becomes the only sensible way to get around, there are riots in the streets. Soon, the mission for fuel is no longer important -- instead, everyone is just trying to survive.

The Mistake

Young and naïve the sixteen year old soon to be mother starts to cry. Sitting in a mildew-smelling doctors office, the one her parents don’t know about, she tries to convince herself she is doing the right thing. She tells herself, that her parents would just not understand the predicament she got herself in, they would be unforgiving. Tears flowing down her cheeks her blue eyes look up at Dr. Ewing, an out-spoken white haired old man that only cares about the six hundred corrupt dollars. He tries to make her trust her that this is something that must be done. It is illegal for a girl of her age who just made a bad decision to do what she was about to do. She could have lied, she thought, and made up a story of how a stranger attacked her, the government would never refute that. But if she came clean and tried to go to her parents that she had unprotected sex that was it, there was no turning back. She knew if she told her parents what happened she would have to have the baby, no matter her age and circumstance. She just could not bare the thought of her life ending to become a stay at home mom just trying to make the rent month to month. She thought her dreams of Cornell were gone. All her hard work and all the good decisions she made in her life, just down the drain, for one mistake. It was all or nothing she thought, a baby I don’t know and can’t take care of or my future. She pressed her lips together and closed her eyes and finally agreed she is ready.

Twenty minutes later the doctor ripped off his sticky white gloves and told the nurse it happens all the time. The nurse who just started the week before can not believe her eyes. A young woman with her future right ahead of her lying on the steel table with no life left. Malpractice, maybe, but no matter what happened the doctor can not be held accountable, she signed the waiver. She knew that there was a possibility of something fatal occurring. Dr. Ewing told the nurse to call the emergency contact and try to retrieve the number of her parents, since the girls always put a friend on the waiver.

Natalie’s parents walk in without knowing what to expect. After the details are presented the mother and father start to cry. They try to understand how she could have made this decision without them even knowing. They start yelling at the doctor trying to figure out how he can live with himself after killing an innocent girl who didn’t know any better. He knew for certain girls Natalie’s age are at a high risk for something going wrong during surgery, yet he collects the dirty money with no research of family history or patient’s history. He certainly just collects his lousy six hundred dollars with absolutely no remorse. Straight faced he hands the parents his legal contacts just as if he was handing them a restaurant menu. The parents enraged finally leave and directly contact his attorney.

Months down the road, the case is thrown out due to the fact it clearly shows Natalie’s signature. With nothing more they can do, the parents try to cope the best they can with their loss and take each day as it comes. Lydia, Natalie’s emergency contact, on the other hand still can not overcome her best friend’s death and starts planning her revenge.

A Wednesday night in October, Lydia steals her father’s gun from his night stand. It was typical for families to own a firearm. No laws were ever passed concerning ownership or secure storage of firearms. None the less, dressed in all black she drives down to Dr. Ewing’s office. She knows he usually stays up late to follow up with paper work to ensure the protection of his practice. Her hand that clutches the gun is hidden down in her black coat. She walks in with tears in her eyes. She tells Dr. Ewing a story that she is pregnant and needs not to be. She also reminds him that he helped her friend with this kind of situation. With no care in the world Dr. Ewing hands her the waiver and he begins to take out his date book. As she reaches for the paper, Dr. Ewing notices the silver metal from her jacket and realizes that Lydia was connected to the girl who died on his table about four months ago. He tells the girl he will be right back that he just needs to lock up one door. Lydia nervously fills out the form. Dr. Ewing walks back in the room. She hands the form back to Dr. Ewing as sweat drips down her forehead. As she sighs she says that she would pay half of the cost now. She reaches in her pocket, but before she had time to pull out the gun, he stabs Lydia in the lower abdomen with the same scalpel that killed her best friend. Lydia falls to the floor gasping for air. Dr. Ewing flips her over with his brown suede shoes and stabs her once again to make sure she’s dead. He laughs and says out loud, thank you Lydia for your business.

“But in the end it’s all about Eve – we’re apparently still to blame for our own demise”

After reading both articles and trying to understand the connection between all horror movies and women seemed quite ridiculous. When they were trying to prove the theory for the root of all evil correlates back to the women is just absurd. It is funny how when a topic comes about, people try to relate the specific topic ironically back into the story, as if symbolism is the only dominant aspect in any movie. I am not trying to dismiss all occurrences of symbolism in movies, but I thought the reviews were being too extreme and reaching a bit too far. For instance when 9-11 happened, everyone someone miraculously believed the direct correlation came from the date and our 9-1-1 our emergency phone number…ironic. Or most people know the one if you fold a dollar bill in an exact way, it looks as if two towers are on fire. Or with Nostradamus when he predicted somehow events that would ultimately lead to Armageddon. Again, twisting words or ideas can promote any such idea into a semi-factual instance, as if all the above instances were deliberately developed on future events. What I am getting at is sure women play a large role as characters in thriller movies who “both literally and figuratively gave birth to all the horror”; however all the women roles in the article were chosen too perfect to help display and manipulate their thesis. They could have also tried to prove how young, sex-driven, easily-influenced white men are always the actual murderer (every Scream movie, Freddie, etc).

On another note, I do not want this statement to convey my stance on horror movies. I myself am a huge fan and have loved every movie that was discussed in the articles. I just believe people are looking too hard to see connections, just let the movies be what they are, sick entertainment.

New Beast: hospitals are overrun HORROR MOVIE PITCH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om5gGBVy_4k

It's the year 2011 and President Obama has improved health care benefits for Americans. Health care has been at an all time high in the united states and Americans are pleased with the system then something bad happens... 

5 young people in California are hospitalized with severe headaches and a fever, next muscles and joints start to throb. Vomiting and hemorrhaging occur and within a week all 5 are dead. This mystery virus turns out to be Chapare, which was first found in a remote village in South America back in 2008. Doctors in South America have studied this virus and have yet to find a cure. Meanwhile, news gets out that this virus has been targeting people in their early twenties and the virus starts to spread with climate change. Soon, the virus pops up all over the country in different states and causes panic. The infected are being treated for their symptoms, but since their is no cure for the virus they keep dying in the hospitals and the infected numbers are rising.

Our protagonist learns through trials and tribulations that the government has a cure. He also learns that the outbreak has occurred with the help of political forces, and that they will only release the cure when they want to gain more control and to inevitably seem superior and powerful to the American people. When they virus gets out of hand and starts to infect more and more, it also starts to mutate rapidly and causes the infected to die but then reincarnate and become some type of sick vampire/zombie mixture. Of course, our protagonist, lets call him "Brent", goes to the local authorities and the media and nobody believes him. 

When all of Brent's friends start mutating one by one and start a revolt Brent is forced to try to convince our nations leaders to intervene and help. The strain of the virus becomes so mutated that the cure doesn't work and more than half of the united states has to be quarantined. With the help of Brent of course, he tries to find a way to kill and/or find the virus's host so that he and virginal girlfriend can be spared. 

The end has no clear cut answer and is left with a burning question, will they survive?! There is a sequel in the works.

8 Crazy Truck Drivers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n49qkoXoY0

John McCain is elected president in 2008. Despite saying that he would fund research in finding alternatives to using oil he starts giving money to companies to drill on U.S. land. McCain becomes greedy and decides to quietly become the president of 3 of the oil companies. 2013 rolls around and Americans become tired of not seeing any relief from the high oil prices. Unemployment has doubled and hunger becomes an even bigger issue. McCain refuses to fund any nuclear, wind or solar power projects presented to him. Down in Georgia a group of 8 trucks drivers come together once a week to play poker and drink. They all have recently lost their jobs due to companies going bankrupt. After much deliberation they decide to go on a killing spree. They first target their families and friends believing that they are putting them out of their misery. They then spread out to various states and massacre anyone on the newly developed oil drilling sites. They are using machine guns, machetes, and any weapon available. Soon after they start targeting poor people that they felt was suffering. The killings go on for weeks and make major headlines across the world. This completely destroys any morale left in the country and leaves everyone fearful. No one walks outside at night and the board up their homes. After killing hundreds of men, woman and children, the men felt they had accomplished their goals and they slowly kill themselves one by one.

Completely astonished about what was happening 3 engineers from Philadelphia quickly create a new nuclear energy source. Fearful of what people may do next they rush the production process. They create a machine that will power people’s homes, buildings and vehicles. The new machines become popular and start to be seen in people’s homes. The 3 men decide to make the new source affordable so that most people can get one. With American’s so happy to be able to eat and sleep more comfortably nobody notices the affects the source starts having on people. The movie end with signs showing that the new source has taken a toll on peoples bodies. It enables for a sequel.

Severing the Norm

http://youtube.com/watch?v=02CPmCSCSO8

The camera glides over the grass of a small town neighborhood, down a freshly built lane. Inside a small town house, Amy Lyon is washing off in the shower while long time lover Del Newton sits on the seat of the toilet arguing, “Then why shouldn’t we get married?” “Because it wouldn’t be right for us.” responds Amy. Amy is resistant to the idea of marriage because she fears the media may put their faces on the news and use their union as fodder for the public eye.

Mid-conversation, Del fails to respond to a hurtful accusation from Amy. Peaking around the curtain, Amy looks at an empty room with the door left ajar. Concerned that her comments have went too far, she shuts off the water and wraps a towel around her soaking body. A small cloud of steam lofts out of the door as Amy opens it to enter the hallway. Del isn’t there. A familiar creak of the wood floor in the bedroom prompts Amy to walk further, apologies softly pouring from her lips. With no response, Amy pushes open the bedroom door to find Del bound and gagged to the mahogany bed post, tears edged in black eyeliner streaming from her wide eyes.

Amy runs to save her lover when her body convulses below her. The door slams shut behind her as her body falls to the floor at the touch of a taser. Fists follow, coming at her until she is limp on the floor, watching the blood from her nose and mouth form a puddle in front of her face. Flashes of movement and screams go in and out of Amy’s consciousness until there is a pounding blank.

The next morning, Amy is found on the bed room floor unconscious and bound. She’s been harshly beaten and is rushed to the hospital. Del is found on the bed dead. Parts of her body have been lopped off either entirely or partially. The nails of her fingers have been removed with the exception of the left ring finger, which was the finger found by the landscaper. Her hair has been chopped off. Clumps of hair remain between the pockets of hair that had been burned off.

Left alone in the world, Amy must deal with the blame and accusations of Del’s family at the funeral. She now sleeps on the couch whenever she can force herself to sleep. The bed upstairs has been stripped by the officials but the blood stained mattress remains. Distracted at her work as a doctor in another hospital, Amy is asked to take a “vacation” until further notice out of concern for her well being. She’ll be notified when they’re ready to take her back.

Amy develops depression driving her to thoughts of suicide as she stands at the ledge of a hospital rooftop. As she is in turmoil at the edge, long time friend and fellow doctor Ryan Pierce finds her and is her saving grace. Embracing her resolution to live, she wraps her arms around her last friend. Suddenly, Ryan turns her away and covers her face with a chloroform soaked cloth.

Amy awakes, arms bound behind her, on the cold tile floor of a small rundown surgical room. Ryan is seated patiently on a swiveling stool. He goes on to explain how he designed this small room after a facility he’d been in as at child where he had received shock therapy. His parents had found him too effeminate as a child and feared that he may be abnormal. He was sent to the facility where Amy assisted the doctor leading the program. Even though the procedures were beyond painful, Amy cared for him and genuinely wanted to help. Years later Ryan had become obsessed with her kindness in this sterile dungeon. When he sought Amy later in life, he found her in a lesbian relationship. Out of disgust, jealousy, and hate, Ryan mutilated and killed Del. Now, he wanted to help Amy make the same realizations about sexuality that she had shown him years ago. He wanted to make her “normal.”

Fighting him as he lifts her to the chair, Amy grabs hold of a miniature pair of scissors. She furiously starts to snip at the rag binding her wrists. “Oh I’m afraid you’re up too early.” Ryan coos, “I’ll have to put you under.” He throws her back to the floor and reaches for the chloroform. Before he pulls a cloth from his pocket Amy charges at Ryan and knocks him down. She kicks him repeatedly until she’s sure he’s disabled. Hands still bound Amy makes a break out the door. Bright lights shine out of white rooms as Amy runs down the hall. Curious faces pop out of the doors. Two men begin to chase her as other ahead of her catch on and pursue her as well. Unable to escape Amy begins to scream under their suppression but they continue to restrain her. Ryan appears from the corner of Amy’s vision with a syringe in hand. “Don’t be scared, you’re sick and we’re going to cure you.” He says as Amy is drugged and drifts until she is utterly still.

~La Neu

Until Death Do Us Part

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gckHb2zbp1M

January 2009, Inauguration Day, John G. Roberts, current Chief Justice of the U.S., announces Mr. Barack Obama as the new President of the United States of America. President Obama approaches the podium and makes his first Presidential speech. He promises the people of the United States that there will be change.

Two months later, Barack Obama signs the bill which made same sex marriage legal all over the country. The far right republicans were inflamed as they watch gay couples getting married on the Today Show. The capitol was a riot for the next couple of months, but the republicans failed to pass a bill that will overturn gay marriage.

June is here. Wedding season is in bloom. Like normal couples, gay couples are in line to say their vows to their life partners. One hot Saturday night, Jared, soon-to-be legally married to Jason Pfeiffer, enjoys his last night as a single gay man with his closest friends at Gotham Bar. The place was packed with other gay men and women who are on their way to the altar during the month of June.

Jared goes to relief himself in the bathroom. As soon as he gets in, a plastic bag was put over his head. He passes out right away after trying to fight the stranger. Jared wakes up from a loud scream that came from a man next to him, "Holy mother of Christ!" The man sees another man's body on his lap, blood still running down from his neck. Jared looks around the room, still a bit intoxicated, but he slowly realizes that the men and women in the room were people in the gay bar he was at, all soon-to-be married gay men and women.

A masked man comes inside the room. He shoots another person and closes the door. Everyone freaks out and start to look for a way out. It was impossible. All the windows were boarded up and bolted shut. Their cellphones were taken away during their capture. They're out of luck.

Jared starts to wonder, "Why me? Why are all these people with new opportunities being taken away from their right? Who is behind this madness?" Then, he starts to think about his wedding and his life with Jason and their three adopted kids. His dream of a family is slowly disappearing as the masked man comes in the room again. It has only been ten minutes since he came in. "BANG!" Another shot fired, another casualty.

On the other side of the room, the seemed to be boarded up windows turned out to be a mirror that oversees the room. There, we find Jason and the other men and women engaged to those who are in the other room. They too also have three casualties in their hands. The masked man shoots a person from their group first then goes into the room where Jared is in to kill the person's partner.

Who is this serial killer? Is he/she working for the far right republicans? Will this madness stop before the Congress and even President Obama unlegalize same sex marriage in order to cease the killing spree in the gay community?

Genocide

The year is 2040. The Peak Oil predictions are starting to become a reality where the rate of oil extraction and production enters a terminal decline. The United States is in the forefront of alternative energy research, but still lacks economically viable implementation means. Preparing for this situation has been the sole goal of American politicians since the days following World War II. It has been understood that who-ever controls the depleting energy reserves, meaning oil and natural gas, will reign supreme among all foreign powers. Additionally, in order for the United States and its close allies to prolong and maintain their luxurious lifestyles, which are based on these fossil fuels, the world’s population must be decreased by 4 billion people (that is an actual statistic). This decrease will ensure their survival and dominance while simultaneously buying more time for alternative energy research.
The president and his political militia engage their war machine. US military bases around the world (which have been strategically placed for the last 75 years) begin to mobilize their troops and deploy specialized units all across the globe. The former subtle imperialistic approach is gone, this is an invasion. The Geneva Convention goes out the window and the US dissolves its nuclear ban. Utilizing new robotic technology, artificial intelligence, advanced aeronautics and bio chemical warfare, they commence the most vicious and grandest form of not only cultural, but geographical genocide the world has ever seen. Bodies are collected by automated machines, shipped to different locations around the globe and shot into space where they are released for disposal. The imminent doom for 4 billion people only has one hope. The president's senior military leader, General Gauge, is the vigilante who seeks to unravel the entire plan. The only problem, the operation has already eradicated 1 billion people and the machines have become self aware.

White Flight

This blog entry was a trying one because I do not like horror movies. I never have. Seeing people getting their heads chopped off by someone who we all know died 25 years ago (... or did he?) does not interest me. I do not see the social commentary they aupposedly address. I just think they are gross and ridiculous. Here is my movie pitch:

Inspiration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F12ndQmmdc0

Genre: Thriller
Logline: A high-ranking Cabinet official finds the real reason behind the reduction in the White population in America.

Synopsis: Barack Obama successfully completes his bid to become the first non-White president of the United States. America sees several other non-White candidates (Shiro Kira, Muzungu Mauaji Ya Halaiki, Saphedi Hatyara to name a few) become president. The political landscape in America is not all that is changing - America is changing. Whites are now truly the minority. Some noticed a reduction in the population after former President Obama's second term. News reports attribute the decline in the White population to 'White flight' - Whites leaving America for Europe, Canada and other parts of the world in outrage over the 'darkening of America'. Only with each successive non-White president, the numbers of Whites in America has decreased even more.

This begins to concern Marie Guardiere, a high-ranking Cabinet official. She has discovered that White population is now down to only twenty-five percent in the United States. What is worst is that there have been no surges in population in any of the countries where Whites are reported to have fled. In fact, she is noticing that the White population in those countries is dwindling as well.

Marie soon learns that White flight does exist, but it is much more sinister than she could have ever imagined.

WEEK 1

Sorry, I just got access to bbvista so here is my post for last week.
Like many other students had mentioned I havent followed a lot with politics. Especially not in the past two years. Only what is discussed in some classes. After reading this article i dont have an ill opinion about Cindy McCain. In fact I have a lot of respect for her. It goes to show you that no matter who you are, who your husband is or how much money you have it doesn't mean you always get the best things in life. She has been through a lot that I will never understand. Even though at one point in her life she was addicted to pills she's also done a lot of good things. She is obviously a caring woman and in no way a monster. I wouldn't mind at all if McCain was our next First Lady. If her once addiction to pills is one of her biggest down falls then I am just glad it is behind her. People always tend to see anything that isn't perfect as scandalous and i do think it is weird not seeing your husband alot but then again am I in no way shape or form in the public view such as their family. I am not saying that they should get away with say murder but I think people should be more understanding. I know if my family was under a microscope it would not look that great either.

Oil Wars- movie pitch

Its 2011, President McCain has implemented domestic drilling due to foreign oil no longer being available to the United States. All throughout the country people are drilling anywhere possible. Out in Texas, John begins to drill in hopes of becoming the next Jed Clampett. After days of trying, suddenly he strikes, he has found oil! Screaming with excitement the neighbors come out to see what the big fuss is. Immediately they rush to try and get some of John’s oil. They call friends and family to come quick, “we have found oil!” John becomes enraged, this is his oil and no one is going to take it without paying a price. John begins to fight off the others, a large fight brakes out and before you know it, the small Texas town is complete chaos. Thousands of miles away the same incident breaks out in rural Pennsylvania, in Alaska, in Wisconsin, and eventually all throughout the United States. Fights turn in to riots and riots turn into civil war. No place is safe, friends become enemies, and it’s every man for himself. The fate of the United States depends on the actions of a hero. One who must stop the violence, reunite the country, and find a way to provide oil to all (that’s cheap, of course).

Rally Round the Blood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmNCALGHOC4&NR=1

We open on a suburban living-room. Average teens Jake and Jordan are watching TV. A blood-filled horror film flicks across the screen. Jake and Jordan are mesmerized. Just then, a news report breaks into the broadcast. The economy has suffered a major stock-market crash due to wealthy investors leaving the country, being unable to receive tax cuts. The current President calls for solidarity among the people in a nation that has become a veritable police-state. Jake and Jordan still stare at the TV, like Zombies.

Later, Jake and Jordan discuss the problem. Jordan feels like he should find a way to help people get food and supplies. Jake thinks the government will take care of it. Later on, Jake and Jordan watch the TV again, another blood-bath depicted onscreen. Another news report breaks in. The President asks for volunteers to help with the crisis at hand.

Jake and Jordan sign-up at a local gestappo-like office. They are given official uniforms and are herded into an auditorium with hundreds of other young men and women to receive their orders. The lights dim and a huge screen lights up with the face of the President, earnestly calling for the help of the youth: Jake and Jordan are thrilled. The President gives the orders: "To achieve solidarity I need your help, I appreciate your support -- you are responsible for the safety of the nation and in order to secure this nation, we must take down our enemies." The screen changes to showing videos of the elderly being massacred by youth in the same uniforms Jake and Jordan are now wearing. The youth responds with a roar of applause and shouting, excited at their mission. Jordan recoils in horror.

The President's voice booms over the speakers: "In order to preserve what little resources we have, we must fortify the strong and eliminate the weak." Again, the crowd surges with applause. Jordan runs out of the auditorium, dodging zombie-like youth, still fixated on the screen. A guard runs after Jordan and it becomes a game of cat and mouse as the youth annihilate all those deemed enemies of the state. Jordan gathers a group of like-minded people, including some considerably advanced in years. They determine the only way to stop this horror is to kill the killers.

One by one this group of "traitors" meet their demise and Jordan, the final enemy of the state is confronted by the now mass-murderer Jake. Jake begs Jordan to become one of them and not be killed. Jordan refuses and asks mournfully if this is what comes about when a nation rallies round their common interests. After this, Jake doesn't hesitate in pulling the trigger. Total victory for the "Presidential" regime.

Zimbabwe: The Return of the Lost People

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fqJwBZ6hViw

The movie starts out in Zimbabwe on the streets late at night, when a man walks up to a young girl and they start to speak in Zimbabwe. He forces her to have sex, which is common in their cultural, they believe they have to have sex with virgins to prevent the HIV virus from spreading, which is a huge epidemic in the country. After the scene of the man raping the women it goes to a political rally where in the streets their is a riot where the people are against the corrupt government. A shooting breaks out on innocent people who are just trying to fight for their rights. The government has taken control once again. Late that night the camera goes into a hut/home where a family lives and has a lost a son in the massacre. The family is sadden but will not continue to put up with the loss of their child/brother any longer neither will they let the government get away with these horrific crimes. The family has now made it their goal to make their hurt, form the loss of their son, known to the government. The plan an invasion into the "president" palace where they are to kill everyone and make it known to the people that they are not putting up with the corrupt government and the unjustness of their fellow people.

As the movie continues their is a bloody brutal scene where many die. Americans become aware of the problems in these countries because of the newscasting which is streamed live from Zimbabwe right into American homes. The brutality of the nation has hit home among Americans and the president as well. The military has been assigned to make a sneak attack on the Zimbabwe government to overthrow them along with the citizens. In the end the government has been taken over and then the scene goes back to the mother who lost her son in the beginning of the movie, sitting on the streets with dead bodies and smoke everywhere crying. Crying tears of joy and tears of sadness because of her son and the start of a new beginning.

Lost Faith

Inspiration: http://youtube.com/watch?v=-aR3Gpsn4v4&feature=related

“To fix healthcare, we have to fix Washington.” President Obama tried to ‘fix’ healthcare. He has lost his faith in the United States Government. He squarely placed the blame for his mothers death on one thing, and one thing alone: Faulty Healthcare. He had spent the last seven long and frustrating years trudging through bureaucracy, in hopes of passing healthcare reforms that would prevent millions of Americans from meeting his mother’s tragic fate. After several votes resulting in its rejection, Congress’ last vote on his revolutionary healthcare plan was approaching soon. Even though he had scraped together every possibly “yea” vote, it still wasn’t a majority. In order to have the legislation passed he had to start decreasing the “nay” votes. Memories flooded his mind of the last painful months of her life, struggling to pay medical bills, negating possible life-saving treatment because of her insufficient healthcare. The memories spur his urge to remove any hindrance on his legislation, whether it is a politico using a pesky filibuster, a lobbyist trying to steal his ‘yea’ votes, or even the doctor who refused to administer life-saving chemotherapy to beloved his mother. Cloaked head-to-toe in surgical scrubs, Obama begins a methodical killing spree against his long list of “wrong do-ers”. Washington is rocked by the killing spree. Eventually the police arrest a suspect, but won't release his identity to the public. Not surprisingly, when it comes time for the vote, the legislation is passed without a single “nay” vote. The climax of the movie is the doctor who cruelly refused to administer care to Obama’s ill mother, is found guilty of the murders and subsequently put to death. His family, including his 23 year old son (a Yale law student), swears to his innocence, and eventually loses faith in the judicial process. Nobody ever suspects that the President of the United States is behind the murders, let alone would set up an innocent man for murder. The movie ends with Obama placing flowers on his mother’s grave.

Of course there will be a sequel! The Doctor’s son will begin a sick and twisted murdering, which will culminate the murders of the District Attorney and the Jury from his father’s trial.

Urban Jungle: Horror Movie Pitch

Government misconduct has sent the once prosperous nation into ruins with a rapidly depleting economy causing inflation to the point where poverty is at an all time high. A regular American family hit with unforgivable times results to the lowest forms to survive. Once living in a nice 5 bed room house in the suburbs of Chicago now shift from street corner to street corner in order to sleep. Looting, stealing, and begging has now become common practice in making a buck. Anarchy is the new practiced government by the people and the streets have become an urban war zone as people go by the rule: kill or be killed. With danger around every corner the family tries to stay together through tough and scary times and tries to find a way to make it back to the life they used to know and love before they too become a victim of a society ruined by the carelessness of the government.

-DUStudent

Patriots - Horror Film Movie Pitch

The year is 2012. The once proud, liberated nation of the United States has become the most decadent, ruthless world-power history has ever seen. Martial law rings true as the nation’s anthem, and one by one, the military is hunting down any and all personal freedoms that could break their reign over the nation. Wiretaps, mass security sweeps, and even mandatory DNA identification – all for the safety and security of the nation – are at the heart of what is defined as being an American citizen. The military has total and utter control over everything, and willfully abuse this power with intractable discretion. Mass massacres go virtually unnoticed. Hate, suspicion, and rampant paranoia rule the streets. The nation is fueled on fear. The Underground counterculture, an organization that fights for personal freedom and the rights of all Americans, is America’s last hope. In an epic and glorious, bloody slaughter, the military works laboriously and viciously to mow down and destroy these last free-thinking spirits. Anyone who isn’t a supporter is a traitor, and traitors must be punished.

better late than never

Hey everyone! Sorry I am a bit late on this.. but I just wanted to do my little introduction.

I am from Utah/the suburbs of PA, kind of confusing to explain. I am always going from place to place and constantly on the move. I come from a very conservative family. I was raised Catholic, went to all girls private Catholic school and was pretty sheltered until I reached college.

I'm really excited about this class. I think this blog is a great idea. To be completely honest I'm not a big follower of politics at all. I hope this class will teach me alot and get me involved.

That's about all I have for now!

Newsweek reporting that the McCains Defaulted on Home Taxes

Once again, the McCains are showcasing their exemplary behavior. Newsweek has published an article revealing that the McCains have failed to pay taxes on their beach-front condo in La Jolla, California, for the last four years and are currently in default. wow I would be honored to allow these people represent me to the world. It wouldn't be the first time we had 2 lunatics in the Whitehouse (see Cheney and Bush). Who cares that one of the McCains is senile and the other is a recovering pill popping lunatic? At least Cindy McCain has been proud of her country her whole life.

Here is the link to the article: http://www.newsweek.com/id/143775/

After reading the article I was left with the impression that Cindy McCain does not seem to be well suited to a life in the public eye. The life of a public figure is very difficult, and they are placed under constant scrutiny. Cindy McCain's history of drug problems and emotional distress do not seem to be the makings of a stable first lady. The article also makes me think less of John McCain. He was much older then Cindy when he met her and a married man. It is surprising that conservatives are willing to accept John McCain's indiscretions but have made major scandals out of any Democratic indiscretion. If John McCain were the president when he began his relationship with Cindy they would not be very different from Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. I did not know much about the McCain family before I read this article, but it has not left me with an improved opinion of them.