I seriously was pondering when I'd make an actual blog entry. Then, after watching a certain documentary, I was inspired to write down a few of many thoughts I had regarding it. What better spot than a blog?
I demand your patience in getting to the actual content of this, my very first, blog post. It's my blog, yo!
First off, inspiration behind this inspiration... you could say... would be the fact that my dear friends Adrienne and Hannah have blogs that I've been guiltily following ever since they told me about them. I like the idea. I like the stories. I think people just intrigue me. Oh, and, of course, my friend Grant has a blog. I've always wondered how his brain processes the world. One step closer, right? Hm. Time for honesty. I've also been trying to find a way to somewhat journal without the actual journal. I'm having a hard time gathering the discipline to do this and I will, by golly, find any means to avoid it. The wonders that would await me if I actually journaled! I would be flicking through years of pages and reflecting like a mad man... but it's such an endeavor! Anyway, I just wanted to preface my first blog entry with that little tale of how I got to this point of writing on this website.
By the way, don't expect any logical flow to my blog posts.
Also. Tomodachi means 'friend' in Japanese. :D
So, this documentary was referred to me at an interview from a fellow interviewee. Based on the fact that I was a media communications major, she told me to watch it. I was exceedingly pleased by her forwardness to talk to me because this documentary was not only enjoyable, but also a bit eye-opening.
The full documentary and also a buttlot (quoting a certain music&business guest) of Celine Dion adverts is here:
THE LISTENING PROJECT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_tveBecS1w&feature=fvst
Simply put, it's all about how other countries view America. I strongly recommend it. Put aside an hour and 13 minutes for it if you get the chance.
A few things that interested me from The Listening Project:
1. America is such an anomaly. Most of the world tunes into the American presidential election. This is a strange thought. I almost didn't watch our election, let alone watch other countries elections. It's an interesting thing living in the country that has the most influence and supposed power in the world. The fact that many Americans, including myself, live ignorantly was amplified by watching this doc.
2. Some people in Brazil had no idea what Americans, not their government, were actually like. Their only idea was that of rich and perfect people. A reoccurring topic of the documentary was that Hurricane Katrina revealed to the world that there was actual poverty in the US. The image of seeing people dead in America shocked many people. To some people, these images in the news were the only negative media they had ever seen attributed to the livelihoods of Americans. Similar to this point...
3. People commonly mentioned how America should be less involved with the world, and more involved with itself. They believed that America had many problems that it had to work out before even trying to help other developing countries. A comment that was made by a man in Juarez, Mexico was that although other countries may produce the most drugs, it is America who consumes the most.
So anyway, just some random thoughts regarding the documentary. I hope you watch it, because I'd love to chat with you about any and all "The Listening Project" topics.
As a little conclusion to my blog post, I like to quote things. So, I think I'll finish with one from the excellent Ralph Waldo Emerson.
"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could."
Ah. That makes me feel good about myself! :)
-Kev
