Beer and TV

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtS2PGXPUTs


Beer commercials, while a subject of strife for much of the population, can actually be quite funny.  I really love this commercial, and it reminds me of an article in my read, reason write book.  According to studies conducted by the Alcohol Institute, beer commercials only influence the kind of liquor one who drinks would buy.  These commercials are simply scoffed at by those who do not drink, and do not significantly increase the amount of under-age drinkers in America.

However, I think that caution must always be used when presenting ideas to a broad audience that is sure to include children.  This is why I personally would like to see more comedic beer and alcohol commercials.  Sounds kind of crazy at first, but I think that these commercials pose even less of a threat to young, impressionable minds.  For children, the humor is all that is seen; while for those old enough to drink, the brand name is noted.

I think that this is a good compromise between those who vehemently oppose alcohol commercials on broadcast television and those who believe in free speech.  This allows the companies to get their names out, and be remembered without having to mess with excessive brand name repetition.  I also believe that the freedom of speech of these companies should only apply when it does not infringe on the rights of parents to keep their children safe.

I personally do not see advertisements for alcohol as necessary, because if people are going to drink, they don't need to be reminded to.  However, given these simple guidelines, we can make accommodation for those in favor and those against alcohol advertisement.

the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world

I recently read an article for my English 104 class named, "Watch Your Language."  The article, which was written by Andrew Vachss, is a short piece on how the words we use to describe things affect our views of those things.  Vachss argues that there is a big difference in calling an underage sex salve a "child prostitute" versus calling her a "prostituted child."  The difference has to do with more than just word order.  A prostitute, according to dictionary.com, is a woman who engages in sexual intercourse for money; a whore or harlot.  This means that a child prostitute is a child who has sex for money.  This is, however, not true of prostituted children.  Their "owners" are the only ones who make money from the horrendous acts they force the children to carry out.  The term, "prostituted child," then, is far more appropriate; as it captures the true nature of the child.  That child has been prostituted (verb - to offer as a prostitute).


These kind of mind games that criminals play with us are, according to Vachss, intentional and common.  That is why Vachss encourages us watch our language.  By simply changing the way we talk, we begin to change the way we think.  


I find these tactics both fascinating and disturbing.  It's amazing to me the power that words have, even in everyday conversation.  However, I think that learning to talk and think the right way is only half the battle.  What we do with this information is what really matters.  It is what separates sympathizers from heros.

Watch this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLcJg66pUWc).

(For a brief summary of IJM, check out http://www.ijm.org/whoweare)