Last weekend, the organization that runs my study abroad program, organized a homestay in a township for everyone. We went to Ocean View, a community of people displaced by apartheid. It has the lowest violence rates of any of the townships and supposedly a great culture with great people. Unfortunately, I didn’t really experience that.
On Friday night, we met our families at a big dinner at the local high school. Luckily I was with my friend Ellie, and we met our host parents, David and Alice. We didn’t talk much during dinner, but we learned she grew up in Ocean View and he had just moved there recently (about 15 years ago). After dinner, we went back to their house. They had a small covered patio, a living room, a dining room covered almost entirely by Alice’s fake plant collection, a kitchen with a few cabinets, one bedroom (where the children sleep), a side room (where I think David and Alice sleep), a garage (though they don’t have a car), and a bathroom with only a sink and a toilet. It was definitely not the accommodation we were used to, but we were glad to experience how they live. When we returned to their house, they asked us a few questions (such as how old we were, and they were shocked to discover I am 20 and Ellie was 21, they thought we were 18), and we tried to ask them about life in Ocean View, but they kept speaking Afrikaans to each other. Shockingly, Ellie and I don’t speak or understand one word of Afrikaans. Despite their conversations in a different language, there were still many awkward silences. Apparently they experienced these more severely than we did, because the second Ellie and I yawned, they ushered us off to bed. We insisted we could stay up longer, but they insisted we go to sleep at 10:30 pm.
On Saturday, we went to the Navy Festival in Simon’s Town. It took about an hour to get there (a guy who we assumed was a family friend drove us) and when we got out of the car, we discovered there were about 20 mph winds and it was 90 degrees outside. We walked around a little, and then decided to wait in line to take a boat ride. After finally boarding the boat, we literally waited for an hour before the steam boat took us on a 5-10 minute ride around the small bay. Next we went to the main arena, a grassy area where they had presentations and shows every 20 minutes. We watched a gun show and a few other presentations before watching our “sister” play “When the Saints Go Marching In” with her youth marching band. After baking in the sun, we left to go home, or so we thought.
Knowing how long the drive was, Ellie and I gladly accepted their invitation to sleep in the car. We woke up when the car stopped, excited to be home, but we realized we were picking up their other daughter at badminton practice (we learned from the newspaper clippings in her room that she on the Western Province under-15 team). Ellie somehow recognized this area as somewhere about 10 minutes from where we live. Feeling as though we couldn’t ask to be dropped of at home, we kept quiet and squished 5 people in the backseat of the car and drove back to Ocean View.
On Saturday night, we went to the birthday party for one of David’s relative. This time, we fit 8 people in the 5 person car. The position I was sitting in was unbearable, and when I asked how much longer the drive was, my question was met with laughter. This was the conversation:
Alice: “Are you comfortable?”
Katie: “I mean, how much longer is the drive?”
Alice: “Ha ha”
Katie: “No seriously, are we close?”
Alice: “Ha ha ha”
Finally we arrived. I always thought of birthdays as secular events, but this celebration was easily one of the most religious occasions I have ever attended. After an hour of songs such as “I Know I Will Be Okay Because He Is Alive” and many prayers (all in Afrikaans), we were served food. Luckily, Ellie and I told them we were vegetarians so we didn’t have to eat most of the food. After the dinner, we went outside to socialize with the rest of the family. “Socializing” apparently means being borderline sexually harassed. The guys there confessed their love for us, proposed, and kept asking us to kiss them. I think David may have witnessed this and we escaped soon after to go home and go to sleep.
At our homestay orientation, we were told that Sundays were a big family day, where people cook all day and that we would spend it talking to our family or doing their planned activity. Ellie and I asked Alice what our plans for the day were and she responded “relaxing.” We weren’t leaving until 3 pm. Despite the concert via speakers blaring outside of the wall next to my bed, we were able to sleep until 10 am. We went to the living room to see if we had any plans, but Alice just repeated that we should just “relax” until David came home from prison (he was preaching) and we could have lunch. Ellie had her iPod and a book (I didn’t bring anything because I was told we would be busy), so we took turns listening to music and reading. Needing to get out of the house, we decided to go for a walk. We told Alice, and she told us not to get sunburned. As we turned the corner, another family who was hosting students asked us what we were doing and informed us we could not be walking around alone. We retreated home to Alice. The conversation that followed:
Ellie: “We tried to go for a walk, but they told us we couldn’t walk alone.”
Alice: “Ha ha.”
We went back to the room to “relax” and watch the clock tick until 3 pm. On Sunday the temperature reached 100 degrees, and air conditioning is rare in even nice houses in South Africa, let alone in townships. At 2:45 David walked us to the high school where we met the bus. He was very nice and invited us back whenever we wanted, but I doubt we’ll be returning, at least to visit their family. Back in our house, everyone was raving about their experiences and their families. I was definitely expecting a different experience, and wished I would have learned something about life in Ocean View, but I ultimately am glad that I saw and lived a completely different lifestyle, even if only for the weekend.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
2 Days: Wine Tasting and 2 Hikes. No Big Deal.
While the rest of the U.S. spent the weekend obsessed with a sport that previous held no interest to anyone in America (aka hockey), we had one of our best and definitely most athletic weekends yet.
On Saturday, our program organized a day at a wine festival in Stellenbosch. I imagined Stellenbosch to be the South African equivalent of Napa, but apparently it’s a college town with a lot of wine. I slept through most of bus ride (per usual) but the area around Stellenbosch looked beautiful, and it’s only 45 minutes by train so I’m sure we’ll be back. I had this idea of what wine tasting was and thought we (all 160 of us) would be on a tour learning obscure facts about wine and trying all selections. Obviously impractical. I was wondering how logistically it was going to work out until we arrived and learned this wine tasting was actually a wine festival. We walked around a pretty small area with different stands and different wines. We each had 5 tickets which we could use to sample wines. I tried 5 white wines and I honestly could not tell one from another or from a box of wine. At least I wasn’t alone; we were all asking the vendors what the difference between chardonnay and sauvignon blanc is. I’m sure they were appalled. The theme of the festival seemed to be “find your personality” and upon entering they handed us a sheet with 8 personality descriptions. Apparently you were supposed to find the most applicable one to yourself and sample the corresponding wine. Within a minute I pinpointed 4 of my friends, but neither I nor anyone could find a fitting personality description for me. I’m not sure what this means—and if it’s good or terrible—but at least I know I’m fairly indescribable, at least in terms of wine.
On Sunday, we woke up at 6:30 and hiked table mountain, the biggest mountain in Cape Town. It always tops this list of “things to do in Cape Town,” and after a week of planning, we were determined to finally do it. The main concern in planning to hike table mountain is the weather. It’s often windy here, and because of the elevation, the wind makes it significantly harder. It also can be very cloudy, with a “tablecloth” covering the mountain and blocking the amazing view at the top. We choose a perfectly clear and calm day—the only problem was that the high was 90 degrees. Before the hike, I assumed the hike would be a dirt path with wood-defined stairs. This wasn’t the case. The “stairs” were 2 foot high rocks that were uneven and steep. The mountain is high, and even with the trail crossing back, the elevation increase was substantial and the hike was much more difficult than I imaged, especially because of the heat. When we (finally) reached the top, the view was amazing and everything was well worth it.
Later that day, being the prime athletes that we are, we hiked Lion’s Head, another mountain next to Table Mountain. The feat of athleticism was only completed because of the amazing stories we heard of hiking to Lion’s Head to watch the sun set and the full moon rise. Of course we choose the day with the full moon to hike Table Mountain. Lion’s Head was a much easier hike, and was much more similar to my imagined Table Mountain than real Table Mountain. The end was more difficult, with ladders and some rock climbing, but the top was beautiful. On one side we watched a beautiful sunset, tainted by only one or two clouds in the sky, and on the other side, the full moon rose over an orange, pink, and blue sky. We hiked down under only the light of the moon (and a flashlight), which was scary at times but the view was definitely worth it.
On Saturday, our program organized a day at a wine festival in Stellenbosch. I imagined Stellenbosch to be the South African equivalent of Napa, but apparently it’s a college town with a lot of wine. I slept through most of bus ride (per usual) but the area around Stellenbosch looked beautiful, and it’s only 45 minutes by train so I’m sure we’ll be back. I had this idea of what wine tasting was and thought we (all 160 of us) would be on a tour learning obscure facts about wine and trying all selections. Obviously impractical. I was wondering how logistically it was going to work out until we arrived and learned this wine tasting was actually a wine festival. We walked around a pretty small area with different stands and different wines. We each had 5 tickets which we could use to sample wines. I tried 5 white wines and I honestly could not tell one from another or from a box of wine. At least I wasn’t alone; we were all asking the vendors what the difference between chardonnay and sauvignon blanc is. I’m sure they were appalled. The theme of the festival seemed to be “find your personality” and upon entering they handed us a sheet with 8 personality descriptions. Apparently you were supposed to find the most applicable one to yourself and sample the corresponding wine. Within a minute I pinpointed 4 of my friends, but neither I nor anyone could find a fitting personality description for me. I’m not sure what this means—and if it’s good or terrible—but at least I know I’m fairly indescribable, at least in terms of wine.
Wine Festival
On Sunday, we woke up at 6:30 and hiked table mountain, the biggest mountain in Cape Town. It always tops this list of “things to do in Cape Town,” and after a week of planning, we were determined to finally do it. The main concern in planning to hike table mountain is the weather. It’s often windy here, and because of the elevation, the wind makes it significantly harder. It also can be very cloudy, with a “tablecloth” covering the mountain and blocking the amazing view at the top. We choose a perfectly clear and calm day—the only problem was that the high was 90 degrees. Before the hike, I assumed the hike would be a dirt path with wood-defined stairs. This wasn’t the case. The “stairs” were 2 foot high rocks that were uneven and steep. The mountain is high, and even with the trail crossing back, the elevation increase was substantial and the hike was much more difficult than I imaged, especially because of the heat. When we (finally) reached the top, the view was amazing and everything was well worth it.
Table Mountain from Below
The View from Above
Later that day, being the prime athletes that we are, we hiked Lion’s Head, another mountain next to Table Mountain. The feat of athleticism was only completed because of the amazing stories we heard of hiking to Lion’s Head to watch the sun set and the full moon rise. Of course we choose the day with the full moon to hike Table Mountain. Lion’s Head was a much easier hike, and was much more similar to my imagined Table Mountain than real Table Mountain. The end was more difficult, with ladders and some rock climbing, but the top was beautiful. On one side we watched a beautiful sunset, tainted by only one or two clouds in the sky, and on the other side, the full moon rose over an orange, pink, and blue sky. We hiked down under only the light of the moon (and a flashlight), which was scary at times but the view was definitely worth it.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
UCT-The Beginning
We have finally started classes, volunteering, and clubs. Registration was an experience in itself, with everyone done by hand. We got preapproved for classes in the fall, but of course two of the three I was preapproved for overlapped and one was so late in the day it would exclude me from volunteering or participating in clubs. So I searched for other classes, and finally found a few that fit in my schedule. To register, we had to wait in line after line after line, as they do everything manually. Rows of chairs were set up for us to wind through until we could talk to an advisor who would then sign our registration sheet. Then we had to go to “data capture” where another person entered our classes onto the computer. It’s hard to believe that they have everyone here (over 20,000 students) register like this each semester. When it’s time to sign up for classes at school I think I’m going to be in shock at how quick—and electronic—it is.
Despite all the time it took to register for classes, I ended up having to change my schedule significantly and spent a significant part of the first week in the humanities building with the schedule change form. (I even tried to take Xhosa but when I found out how many clicks there were and how much class participation was involved, I looked for another class). Luckily I figured out my classes and they all seem pretty good. I’m taking a sociology class, Culture in the 21st Century. The professor is new to UCT, like us, but actually may know less about the school than we do. I’m also taking a political science course (the only one I’m getting major credit for), Advanced South African Politics. I don’t have the obvious advantage of being from South Africa or ever having taken a South African Politics class, but the subject matter is so interesting and the professor is great so it should be a good class. My last class is Introduction to Philosophy. One of my friends is convinced I’ll hate it because it’s too abstract, but so far it’s okay. Since it’s an intro level class, it’s mostly freshman, and UCT doesn’t cap classes, so there are literally 450 students. Almost everyone fits into the huge lecture hall, but everyday some stragglers are left to sit on the stairs. The schedule here is more like high school, with 45 minute periods. Because each class is so short, we have each class four times a week, but it goes by pretty quickly.
In addition to classes, we also started volunteering. I am working on two projects—one through SHAWCO, an organization through UCT and one through our study abroad program. For SHAWCO, I’m volunteering with SMART, a program that tutors math and science to high school students in the township Kahyletshia. I'm tutoring math to two 15 year old girls. At first they were shy, but by the end of the first session, they had opened up. The first lesson was on square roots, and asked questions like “what is the square root of 27 between?” and I could tell they were very confused. In the beginning, I struggled with how to explain the process of solving it, but soon I taught them to make a table (like a multiplication table but with only squares, like 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, etc), and then to find where 27 would be. By the end of the time, they were asking me to quiz them on it. I didn’t realize how rewarding it would be to know that they understood and were comfortable with that subject.
Because, apparently, the first week is the week to join organizations, I also went to a tennis club practice. Being very involved in tennis at school, I didn’t want to spend an entire semester here without playing, but I also didn’t want to commit a huge amount of time to an activity that I can when I’m back home. Luckily, I found a compromise in the tennis club. They practice a couple times a week, but there isn’t required traveling that would exclude me from experiencing Cape Town and traveling throughout the country. I’ve also met new hitting partners and found tennis as a great way to meet more African students.
Despite all the time it took to register for classes, I ended up having to change my schedule significantly and spent a significant part of the first week in the humanities building with the schedule change form. (I even tried to take Xhosa but when I found out how many clicks there were and how much class participation was involved, I looked for another class). Luckily I figured out my classes and they all seem pretty good. I’m taking a sociology class, Culture in the 21st Century. The professor is new to UCT, like us, but actually may know less about the school than we do. I’m also taking a political science course (the only one I’m getting major credit for), Advanced South African Politics. I don’t have the obvious advantage of being from South Africa or ever having taken a South African Politics class, but the subject matter is so interesting and the professor is great so it should be a good class. My last class is Introduction to Philosophy. One of my friends is convinced I’ll hate it because it’s too abstract, but so far it’s okay. Since it’s an intro level class, it’s mostly freshman, and UCT doesn’t cap classes, so there are literally 450 students. Almost everyone fits into the huge lecture hall, but everyday some stragglers are left to sit on the stairs. The schedule here is more like high school, with 45 minute periods. Because each class is so short, we have each class four times a week, but it goes by pretty quickly.
In addition to classes, we also started volunteering. I am working on two projects—one through SHAWCO, an organization through UCT and one through our study abroad program. For SHAWCO, I’m volunteering with SMART, a program that tutors math and science to high school students in the township Kahyletshia. I'm tutoring math to two 15 year old girls. At first they were shy, but by the end of the first session, they had opened up. The first lesson was on square roots, and asked questions like “what is the square root of 27 between?” and I could tell they were very confused. In the beginning, I struggled with how to explain the process of solving it, but soon I taught them to make a table (like a multiplication table but with only squares, like 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, etc), and then to find where 27 would be. By the end of the time, they were asking me to quiz them on it. I didn’t realize how rewarding it would be to know that they understood and were comfortable with that subject.
Because, apparently, the first week is the week to join organizations, I also went to a tennis club practice. Being very involved in tennis at school, I didn’t want to spend an entire semester here without playing, but I also didn’t want to commit a huge amount of time to an activity that I can when I’m back home. Luckily, I found a compromise in the tennis club. They practice a couple times a week, but there isn’t required traveling that would exclude me from experiencing Cape Town and traveling throughout the country. I’ve also met new hitting partners and found tennis as a great way to meet more African students.
Garden Route Road Trip
After orientation and before classes started, we had a week to explore, travel, and basically do whatever we wanted. A group of 14 of us decided to take a road trip down the coast of South Africa along the Garden Route. I assumed it was like the PCH of South Africa, but instead of seeing just beach, we literally passed through every type of landscape. We rented three cars for the 14 of us, and luckily they were all automatic. Having to drive a standard shift car on the other side of the road would probably be a little too overwhelming. We all drove for a part of the trip, and at first it was weird but after a little we all got the hang out of it. I was in a car with my friend Nicole from Bucknell, Michael and Matt from Princeton, and Matt’s surfboard tied to the roof of the car.
The first day, we drove to Jeffrey’s Bay, a small surf town about 800 km away from Cape Town. Our group (the A-team as we called ourselves) made it there in about 7 and a half hours, had dinner, and settled into our hostel. It was right on the beach and full of surfers. We spent the next day hanging out at the beach. The water wasn’t too cold, the beach was beautiful and practically empty and town had cute stores. That night, we went down the beach to “supertubes,” a surf spot for only the best surfers, to watch the sunset.
On Wednesday, we left Jeffrey’s Bay on our way to Plettenberg Bay, another small beach town. On our way, we stopped at Tsitsikama National Park and went on a beautiful hike to a waterfall. The hike turned out to be more of climbing over rocks than walking on a designated path, but all the views were amazing and we all went swimming in the waterfall. After the hike, we stopped at Monkeyland, a manmade reserve for hundreds of monkeys. We also visited Birds of Eden, a huge sanctuary with literally every kind of bird. We were impressed by the forest with beautiful, colorful macaws, but then continued through the reserve to find flamingos and cranes.
About 200 yards (or meters) after the animal reserves, we got a flat tire. We were a little concerned, seeing as we were in the middle of Africa, where Triple A does not exist, and no one in the car knew exactly how to change a tire. Luckily the boys figured it out pretty quickly and we were able to make it into Plettenberg Bay on the spare.
Thursday was the last day of our trip (we had mock lectures on Friday), so we explored Plettenberg in the morning then began the trip back. In the morning, we decided to go sea kayaking. It sounded great, until it started raining. Plettenberg is apparently in the midst of a drought, and there were signs all over our hostel informing us of this and advising us not to use excessive amounts of water. Apparently their drought ended during our sea kayaking. One of my roommates and I were in a kayak together, but just couldn’t get our paddling in sync. As the rain began to come down even harder, we seriously considered swimming back to shore in the shark-infested waters, but luckily, we made it back in one piece, and still in the kayak.
The drive home was a reality check—classes were starting on Monday and we our 3 week vacation in South Africa was coming to an end. However, while these weeks were great, it’s nice to have a consistent schedule and a routine again.
Our Car, with the Surfboard
The first day, we drove to Jeffrey’s Bay, a small surf town about 800 km away from Cape Town. Our group (the A-team as we called ourselves) made it there in about 7 and a half hours, had dinner, and settled into our hostel. It was right on the beach and full of surfers. We spent the next day hanging out at the beach. The water wasn’t too cold, the beach was beautiful and practically empty and town had cute stores. That night, we went down the beach to “supertubes,” a surf spot for only the best surfers, to watch the sunset.
Michael, Nicole, me, and Matt watching the Sunset at Supertubes
On Wednesday, we left Jeffrey’s Bay on our way to Plettenberg Bay, another small beach town. On our way, we stopped at Tsitsikama National Park and went on a beautiful hike to a waterfall. The hike turned out to be more of climbing over rocks than walking on a designated path, but all the views were amazing and we all went swimming in the waterfall. After the hike, we stopped at Monkeyland, a manmade reserve for hundreds of monkeys. We also visited Birds of Eden, a huge sanctuary with literally every kind of bird. We were impressed by the forest with beautiful, colorful macaws, but then continued through the reserve to find flamingos and cranes.
Our Hiking Group at the Waterfall
About 200 yards (or meters) after the animal reserves, we got a flat tire. We were a little concerned, seeing as we were in the middle of Africa, where Triple A does not exist, and no one in the car knew exactly how to change a tire. Luckily the boys figured it out pretty quickly and we were able to make it into Plettenberg Bay on the spare.
Thursday was the last day of our trip (we had mock lectures on Friday), so we explored Plettenberg in the morning then began the trip back. In the morning, we decided to go sea kayaking. It sounded great, until it started raining. Plettenberg is apparently in the midst of a drought, and there were signs all over our hostel informing us of this and advising us not to use excessive amounts of water. Apparently their drought ended during our sea kayaking. One of my roommates and I were in a kayak together, but just couldn’t get our paddling in sync. As the rain began to come down even harder, we seriously considered swimming back to shore in the shark-infested waters, but luckily, we made it back in one piece, and still in the kayak.
The drive home was a reality check—classes were starting on Monday and we our 3 week vacation in South Africa was coming to an end. However, while these weeks were great, it’s nice to have a consistent schedule and a routine again.
Activities in and around Cape Town
Everything in Cape Town is still amazing. After we finished orientation, we had more time to explore Cape Town for ourselves. Here are some of the highlights:
Opening of the World Cup Stadium: Okay, so this was an organized, group activity, but so cool. We saw a game between Ajax and Santos, two local teams, and even though I wouldn’t call myself an avid soccer fan, I love any live sporting event and it was amazing to see the spirit and passion of all the South Africans. The stadium was built specifically for this, and the pride for the stadium was amazing. The one downfall of the stadium was the fact that they not only allowed but gave away noisemakers called Vuvuzelas (essentially a horn that makes the worst noise in the world). Despite the annoying noise, they embody the spirit and excitement for the World Cup.
Minibus-taxis: Transportation may not seem like an activity, but the taxis here are truly an experience in themselves. In an effort to see local markets (see below), we decided to take these illusive minibus-taxis, which we had only seen and heard about, but never actually experienced. These minibus-taxis are extremely sketchy: they drive down Main Road yelling out their destination (“Cape Town” or “Wynberg” are the two most popular routes near us). If you choose to use this form of transportation, you squeeze in to an already-full van and pay anywhere from 3 to 8 rand to go to a destination, or at least as close as possible if your destination is not on Main Road. Each taxi has a driver who honks no less than 40 times a minute and a man who sit in the back yelling out the destination and collecting money. We completely underestimated the taxi. Within a minute, we were passing cars, grazing pedestrians, rolling over curbs, as well as stopping in a second for anyone who as much as blinks an eye at the driver or his assistant. Luckily we made it out alive, and even continue to take them.
Green Market Square and Long Street: Two of my roommates and I decided to visit this famous market and Long Street, a street famous for cute shops during the day and fun clubs at night. Having already experienced the nightlife, we decided to see it in daylight. The market was fun, with tons of vendors selling everything from keychains to bowls to paintings. Everything was so cool and colorful, I could have spent much more time (and money) than I did. But I’m sure we’ll be back.
Old Biscuit Mill: We just discovered this Saturday food/clothing market and plan on returning every Saturday. Originally a biscuit mill, every Saturday, about 50 food vendors gather for a market. Part of it is an expanded farmer’s market, where they sell every kind of pesto and olive and cheese, and many stands make food in front of you. They have a stand that makes an amazing chicken sandwich and the smoothies were also great. There’s a tent full of little vendors with jewelry and cute, trendy clothes.
Rugby Game: We went to a rugby game between the Cape Town Stormers and the Australian Waratahs. Our program director sent us an email reminding us to wear black to support the home team. I put on a black tank top and a black cardigan (I felt color on color was appropriate if I was rooting for the home team) only to discover the Stormers’ colors are navy and another color that isn’t black. As if we don’t look foreign enough, a mob of American exchange students is sitting at a rugby game and everyone is wearing black. Before the game, I felt like I was fairly knowledgeable about rugby from having a team at my high school and college, but I learned that was not the case. I knew a try was the word for touchdown, and the circle all the guys get in is a scrum, but the game moved much faster than I was expecting. All of a sudden, the crowd would erupt in cheers, and we would sit there confused, trying to mimic their enthusiasm. The game turned out to be very exciting, the Cape Town team won 27-6.
Muizenberg: Because of the great weather, we decided to explore the beaches. One day, thinking we had the afternoon free, 5 of us went to Muizenberg, a beach about 45 minutes away. We took a cab there, only to find it overcast, windy, and cold. First attempt: fail. A week later, we returned, this time by train, and this time, it was beautiful. The water was a little cold, but the sun was shining and we were able to see and appreciate the cute beach town. Second attempt: success.
Peninsula Tour: We took a bus tour organized by the overseas office, where we saw parts of Cape Town we hadn’t seen. The beaches were beautiful and we got to see penguins (even though they were smaller than the emperor penguins)! However, the best part was going to Cape Point and hiking down to the Cape of Good Hope. The hike was along a cliff above the water, and we stopped about every 10 feet to take a picture. When we got to the Cape of Good Hope, we were typical tourists and took pictures with the sign. Some people claim this is where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet, but this is widely disputed. It’s better known as the most southwestern point on the African continent.
V & A Waterfront: The waterfront is an upscale shopping area next to the water that is a hotspot for tourists. Most hotels are there (as well as one the one I stayed at a few years ago when I came here with my family), along with a huge mall, tons of restaurants, and a few craft markets. Always looking to do a craft, my friend and I explored the craft market and picked up some string and bracelets to make bracelets. We also went to the aquarium and saw the different exhibits. They had a penguin exhibit and a huge tank with sharks, turtles, and eels. They also had a tank of clown fish with a cylinder that we could stand in and pretend we were in the tank. It was probably made for people half our age but it was still fun.
Kirstenbosch Gardens: On Valentine’s Day, we went to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for their weekly Sunday Summer Concert. The band was the winner of “South African Idol,” and mostly sang covers of songs by people like Shania Twain that were once semi-popular in America. The gardens were amazing with so many trees and flowers and a perfect view of table mountain behind the stage.
p.s. thanks Raquel for (most of) the pictures!
Opening of the World Cup Stadium: Okay, so this was an organized, group activity, but so cool. We saw a game between Ajax and Santos, two local teams, and even though I wouldn’t call myself an avid soccer fan, I love any live sporting event and it was amazing to see the spirit and passion of all the South Africans. The stadium was built specifically for this, and the pride for the stadium was amazing. The one downfall of the stadium was the fact that they not only allowed but gave away noisemakers called Vuvuzelas (essentially a horn that makes the worst noise in the world). Despite the annoying noise, they embody the spirit and excitement for the World Cup.
The New Cape Town Stadium
Minibus-taxis: Transportation may not seem like an activity, but the taxis here are truly an experience in themselves. In an effort to see local markets (see below), we decided to take these illusive minibus-taxis, which we had only seen and heard about, but never actually experienced. These minibus-taxis are extremely sketchy: they drive down Main Road yelling out their destination (“Cape Town” or “Wynberg” are the two most popular routes near us). If you choose to use this form of transportation, you squeeze in to an already-full van and pay anywhere from 3 to 8 rand to go to a destination, or at least as close as possible if your destination is not on Main Road. Each taxi has a driver who honks no less than 40 times a minute and a man who sit in the back yelling out the destination and collecting money. We completely underestimated the taxi. Within a minute, we were passing cars, grazing pedestrians, rolling over curbs, as well as stopping in a second for anyone who as much as blinks an eye at the driver or his assistant. Luckily we made it out alive, and even continue to take them.
Green Market Square and Long Street: Two of my roommates and I decided to visit this famous market and Long Street, a street famous for cute shops during the day and fun clubs at night. Having already experienced the nightlife, we decided to see it in daylight. The market was fun, with tons of vendors selling everything from keychains to bowls to paintings. Everything was so cool and colorful, I could have spent much more time (and money) than I did. But I’m sure we’ll be back.
Green Market Square
Old Biscuit Mill: We just discovered this Saturday food/clothing market and plan on returning every Saturday. Originally a biscuit mill, every Saturday, about 50 food vendors gather for a market. Part of it is an expanded farmer’s market, where they sell every kind of pesto and olive and cheese, and many stands make food in front of you. They have a stand that makes an amazing chicken sandwich and the smoothies were also great. There’s a tent full of little vendors with jewelry and cute, trendy clothes.
Vendors at the Old Biscuit Mill Market
Rugby Game: We went to a rugby game between the Cape Town Stormers and the Australian Waratahs. Our program director sent us an email reminding us to wear black to support the home team. I put on a black tank top and a black cardigan (I felt color on color was appropriate if I was rooting for the home team) only to discover the Stormers’ colors are navy and another color that isn’t black. As if we don’t look foreign enough, a mob of American exchange students is sitting at a rugby game and everyone is wearing black. Before the game, I felt like I was fairly knowledgeable about rugby from having a team at my high school and college, but I learned that was not the case. I knew a try was the word for touchdown, and the circle all the guys get in is a scrum, but the game moved much faster than I was expecting. All of a sudden, the crowd would erupt in cheers, and we would sit there confused, trying to mimic their enthusiasm. The game turned out to be very exciting, the Cape Town team won 27-6.
Raquel, me, and Christina at the Rugby Game
Muizenberg: Because of the great weather, we decided to explore the beaches. One day, thinking we had the afternoon free, 5 of us went to Muizenberg, a beach about 45 minutes away. We took a cab there, only to find it overcast, windy, and cold. First attempt: fail. A week later, we returned, this time by train, and this time, it was beautiful. The water was a little cold, but the sun was shining and we were able to see and appreciate the cute beach town. Second attempt: success.
Colorful Huts at Muizenberg
Peninsula Tour: We took a bus tour organized by the overseas office, where we saw parts of Cape Town we hadn’t seen. The beaches were beautiful and we got to see penguins (even though they were smaller than the emperor penguins)! However, the best part was going to Cape Point and hiking down to the Cape of Good Hope. The hike was along a cliff above the water, and we stopped about every 10 feet to take a picture. When we got to the Cape of Good Hope, we were typical tourists and took pictures with the sign. Some people claim this is where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet, but this is widely disputed. It’s better known as the most southwestern point on the African continent.
Hannah and me at the Cape of Good Hope
V & A Waterfront: The waterfront is an upscale shopping area next to the water that is a hotspot for tourists. Most hotels are there (as well as one the one I stayed at a few years ago when I came here with my family), along with a huge mall, tons of restaurants, and a few craft markets. Always looking to do a craft, my friend and I explored the craft market and picked up some string and bracelets to make bracelets. We also went to the aquarium and saw the different exhibits. They had a penguin exhibit and a huge tank with sharks, turtles, and eels. They also had a tank of clown fish with a cylinder that we could stand in and pretend we were in the tank. It was probably made for people half our age but it was still fun.
The V & A Waterfront, courtesy of Google Images
Kirstenbosch Gardens: On Valentine’s Day, we went to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for their weekly Sunday Summer Concert. The band was the winner of “South African Idol,” and mostly sang covers of songs by people like Shania Twain that were once semi-popular in America. The gardens were amazing with so many trees and flowers and a perfect view of table mountain behind the stage.
Our Picnic at Kirstenbosch
p.s. thanks Raquel for (most of) the pictures!
Moving In
For the first few days, before we moved into our house, we moved into a set of UCT dorms. The next few days were full of organized activities, speakers, and ice breakers. We were able to explore the area around school (called Rondebosch) and learn more about the campus, including the 25 minute hike required to reach it. In groups of about 10 people, we participated in the well-planned “ama-zing race,” a scavenger hunt around campus. Unfortunately, this happened to be the hottest day since we had been here, and we had to trudge around campus looking for buildings we didn’t know existed.
After four days in the dorm, we moved into our houses. We have an awesome location, a few minutes away from Main Road with restaurants and the grocery store, and walking distance to campus. We also have a great house, there are 30 of us divided between a 12 person house and a duplex with 8 downstairs and 10 people upstairs. I’m in the bottom floor with 4 other girls and 3 guys. Our duplex is brand new, and looks like a modern, Ikea loft but with dorm rooms. Everyone has their own room, mine has one bright red, brick wall, and came furnished with a bed, desk, nightstand, and dresser. It’s really fun to live in such a social environment, and it’s been great cooking house meals and just sitting and talking to people in the living room. Once we moved in, it really hit be that we would be spending the next five months here, and I’m happy to call this home.
During our first week, we had a few more organized activities. Most were becoming repetitive, as we just wanted to get out and explore by ourselves, but by far the most interesting was the tour of sites where we could volunteer throughout the semester. Until this point, we really only saw the developed side of Cape Town, but the townships acted as a reminder that much of South Africa still has a lot of progress to make. Just a few minutes outside of the city, miles and miles of houses spanned next to the freeway. These “houses” were more like shacks, they had weak wood frames and tin roofs held down by cinderblocks, ropes, and tires. Most of these townships don’t even have running water, and it was a sad reminder of the reality that so many people live like that.
After four days in the dorm, we moved into our houses. We have an awesome location, a few minutes away from Main Road with restaurants and the grocery store, and walking distance to campus. We also have a great house, there are 30 of us divided between a 12 person house and a duplex with 8 downstairs and 10 people upstairs. I’m in the bottom floor with 4 other girls and 3 guys. Our duplex is brand new, and looks like a modern, Ikea loft but with dorm rooms. Everyone has their own room, mine has one bright red, brick wall, and came furnished with a bed, desk, nightstand, and dresser. It’s really fun to live in such a social environment, and it’s been great cooking house meals and just sitting and talking to people in the living room. Once we moved in, it really hit be that we would be spending the next five months here, and I’m happy to call this home.
(almost) Everyone in our House!l
During our first week, we had a few more organized activities. Most were becoming repetitive, as we just wanted to get out and explore by ourselves, but by far the most interesting was the tour of sites where we could volunteer throughout the semester. Until this point, we really only saw the developed side of Cape Town, but the townships acted as a reminder that much of South Africa still has a lot of progress to make. Just a few minutes outside of the city, miles and miles of houses spanned next to the freeway. These “houses” were more like shacks, they had weak wood frames and tin roofs held down by cinderblocks, ropes, and tires. Most of these townships don’t even have running water, and it was a sad reminder of the reality that so many people live like that.
Changes
The first week was full of adjustments, from the time change to the landscape. I arrived into the Cape Town airport after literally 34 hours of traveling to find a group of people wearing orange and black shirts yelling in excitement for my arrival. I soon learned these would be our RAs. I met some other people on the program (unlike apparently everyone else on the trip, I didn’t travel with or meet anyone on the plane), and had literally the same conversation with everyone, with “where do you go to school?” immediately following introductions. While USC is actually the best-represented school here with 19 students (out of 160), I didn’t know all of them before coming, and most people on the program are from the east coast. Though USC attracts students from all over, I was surprised at the number of people from Boston, New York, etc, and how many small, liberal arts, east coast colleges I had never heard of. I guess that’s the consequence of not applying east of Arizona.
The first week was definitely a change. 1. South Africa is 10 hours ahead of the west coast, which makes communication extremely difficult. Contributing to this, we had no internet in the dorms, and extremely unreliable internet in our houses. 2. They drive on the left (aka “wrong”) side of the road, which can get very confusing, especially while crossing streets. They also don’t seem to have the same qualms American drivers do about hitting pedestrians. 3. Everything takes a longer here. Despite being in a very developed part of Africa, we are still in Africa, and we are in a third world country. We’ve learned that “we’re leaving now,” doesn’t mean “now,” but rather, “now now,” which can be anywhere from about 15 minutes to an hour or more. 4. The seasons are reversed. And there are more season here in one day than there are in a year in L.A. I (gladly) left 40 degree weather at home to come to 70-80 degree weather (aka perfection) daily.
One of the most drastic changes we have all had to adjust to is reality of living in a city with such high poverty, unemployment, and crime. I felt like I would be prepared coming from downtown Los Angeles but really nothing can fully prepare you. We essentially cannot go anywhere alone, especially at night. We have a gate around out house, with both barbed and electrical fencing. We also have a security guard at night for additional protection. We frequently hear about pick pocketing, but luckily nothing worse has happened (knock on wood). We have to remember to be extra vigilant and aware of our surroundings. We are adjusting, but it’s still hard, especially being a girl, because of the lack of independence.
The first week was definitely a change. 1. South Africa is 10 hours ahead of the west coast, which makes communication extremely difficult. Contributing to this, we had no internet in the dorms, and extremely unreliable internet in our houses. 2. They drive on the left (aka “wrong”) side of the road, which can get very confusing, especially while crossing streets. They also don’t seem to have the same qualms American drivers do about hitting pedestrians. 3. Everything takes a longer here. Despite being in a very developed part of Africa, we are still in Africa, and we are in a third world country. We’ve learned that “we’re leaving now,” doesn’t mean “now,” but rather, “now now,” which can be anywhere from about 15 minutes to an hour or more. 4. The seasons are reversed. And there are more season here in one day than there are in a year in L.A. I (gladly) left 40 degree weather at home to come to 70-80 degree weather (aka perfection) daily.
One of the most drastic changes we have all had to adjust to is reality of living in a city with such high poverty, unemployment, and crime. I felt like I would be prepared coming from downtown Los Angeles but really nothing can fully prepare you. We essentially cannot go anywhere alone, especially at night. We have a gate around out house, with both barbed and electrical fencing. We also have a security guard at night for additional protection. We frequently hear about pick pocketing, but luckily nothing worse has happened (knock on wood). We have to remember to be extra vigilant and aware of our surroundings. We are adjusting, but it’s still hard, especially being a girl, because of the lack of independence.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Welcome to Africa
As I enter a completely new phase of my life, the theme of my blog is shifting as well.
It’s been…
2 months since I finished finals at school.
2 months since I left for Europe
1.5 months since I got back from Europe
1 month since I left for Cape Town
3.5 months until I’m back in the U.S.
I can’t believe any of these numbers, especially the last two. Just one month ago I was stressing about fitting all of my clothes into two 50 pound (or 22 kg) suitcases, and now I’m fully settled into Cape Town. It’s been an eventful month—so much so that no blog post will do it justice, but I’ll try anyway. I’m sorry in advance for long and possibly scattered entries, I’m basing everything off of my journal entries, pictures, and a calendar.
So here it goes, my semester abroad in Cape Town. T.I.A. (THIS IS AFRICA).
Warning: This city is so amazing and my experience so far has been so incredible that no blog, picture, or even description can fully convey everything. That being said, I’ll do my best.
It’s been…
2 months since I finished finals at school.
2 months since I left for Europe
1.5 months since I got back from Europe
1 month since I left for Cape Town
3.5 months until I’m back in the U.S.
I can’t believe any of these numbers, especially the last two. Just one month ago I was stressing about fitting all of my clothes into two 50 pound (or 22 kg) suitcases, and now I’m fully settled into Cape Town. It’s been an eventful month—so much so that no blog post will do it justice, but I’ll try anyway. I’m sorry in advance for long and possibly scattered entries, I’m basing everything off of my journal entries, pictures, and a calendar.
So here it goes, my semester abroad in Cape Town. T.I.A. (THIS IS AFRICA).
Warning: This city is so amazing and my experience so far has been so incredible that no blog, picture, or even description can fully convey everything. That being said, I’ll do my best.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Cyber Monday Compensating for Black Friday
Many retailers were disappointed with Black Friday. While they placed much hope on day-after-Thanksgiving sales, there was only a marginal increase compared to last year, and the numbers fell short of many store's projections.
However, a buying surge on Cyber Monday-a term coined by the National Retail Federation in 2005 for the Monday after Thanksgiving-boosted retailers to a 13.7% increase over last year. By mid-day on Monday, over 500 vendors reported a 38% increase from last year on the average online order. Last year, the average per purchase was $130.24 and this year it grew to $180.03.
Attracted by deep discounts and temporary offers, U.S. shoppers spent $887 million on Monday, approximately the same amount they spent on December 9, 2008, which set an all-time record for online sales. This is reassuring to vendors, as the peak in online shopping will probably happen closer to shipping deadline, around mid-December.
Online spending on Black Friday also increased 11% from last year. Many believe this is due to stores treating online shopping the same as in-store shopping, and offering discounts online as well.
According to a shop.org survey, 96.5 million Americans planned to shop on Cyber Monday this year, a large increase from the 85 million in 2008. And retailers were listening-according to another shop.org survey, 87.1% of retailers offered a special promotion for Cyber Monday, up from 83.7% last year and 72.2% in 2007.
Scott Silverman, Executive Director of Shop.org, said, “With more people shopping on Cyber Monday this year and an increasing number of retailers offering promotions, this was the largest – and most important – Cyber Monday yet."
However, a buying surge on Cyber Monday-a term coined by the National Retail Federation in 2005 for the Monday after Thanksgiving-boosted retailers to a 13.7% increase over last year. By mid-day on Monday, over 500 vendors reported a 38% increase from last year on the average online order. Last year, the average per purchase was $130.24 and this year it grew to $180.03.
Attracted by deep discounts and temporary offers, U.S. shoppers spent $887 million on Monday, approximately the same amount they spent on December 9, 2008, which set an all-time record for online sales. This is reassuring to vendors, as the peak in online shopping will probably happen closer to shipping deadline, around mid-December.
Online spending on Black Friday also increased 11% from last year. Many believe this is due to stores treating online shopping the same as in-store shopping, and offering discounts online as well.
According to a shop.org survey, 96.5 million Americans planned to shop on Cyber Monday this year, a large increase from the 85 million in 2008. And retailers were listening-according to another shop.org survey, 87.1% of retailers offered a special promotion for Cyber Monday, up from 83.7% last year and 72.2% in 2007.
Scott Silverman, Executive Director of Shop.org, said, “With more people shopping on Cyber Monday this year and an increasing number of retailers offering promotions, this was the largest – and most important – Cyber Monday yet."
Monday, November 16, 2009
Eating Sick Animals is Making Us Sick
At the McDonalds drive-thru have you ever been asked, “Would you like penicillin with your Big Mac?” No? Well, you actually didn't have to be. With the rampant factory farming in the United States, all animals raised for consumption are fed extreme and unnecessary doses of antibiotics.
Not only does factory farming contribute to millions of illnesses per year, it is also leading to an increase in the number of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.
If we are feeling sick, we can’t go to the local pharmacy to pick up an over-the-counter antibiotic, but rather we have to go to a doctor and obtain a prescription for antibiotics and other antimicrobials. Little debate exists over this practice, as this minor inconvenience is accepted because of its medical importance and as a public-health precaution to limit the number of these drugs being taken by humans. Microbes eventually become immune to antimicrobials, and we want to make sure only truly sick benefit from the limited number of uses of any antibiotic before the microbes adapt and become immune.
However, these same precautions are not used with animals. On most factory farms, drugs are fed to animals with every meal. The living conditions promote illness, and the factory industry has compensated for animals' compromised immunity with drugs. As a result, farm animals are given antibiotics nontherapeutically—or before they get sick.
In the United States, about 3 million pounds of antibiotics are given to humans each year, but the Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that the farming industry uses approximately 25 million pounds of antibiotics before animals are even sick—or for every one dose of antibiotics taken by a sick human, eight doses are given to a "healthy" animal.
Beginning in the 1960s, scientists warned of the harms of nontherapeutic antibiotics and today the American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization have connected nontherapeutic antibiotic use with increased antimicrobial immunity. Studies have shown that antimicrobial resistance follows soon after the introduction of new drugs into farms.
Despite the need for a total ban on the use of antibiotics for “healthy” animals, the farming and pharmaceutical industries has so much power given to them by us—the people that fund them on a massive scale by eating tons and tons of factory farmed animal products daily.
The environment that contributes to the food-borne illness of at least 76 million Americans and that promotes antimicrobial immunity also increases to the risk of a pandemic. Today, the farm-pandemic link is increasingly clear. The recent H1N1 swine flu outbreak originated at a hog factory farm in North Carolina, and then spread throughout the world, killing almost 4,000 in the United States.
Breeding sickness-prone birds in overcrowded and disgusting farms encourages the development of pathogens. However, this practice promotes efficient and cheap meat, forcing Americans to chose: cheap meat or health?
The choice may seem obvious, but this rationalization is pushed in the back of our minds. Maybe we block out the knowledge that unhealthy and unnatural conditions plague the farms which breed our meals. Maybe we know more than we admit when it comes to meat and its production. Soon however, this information will reach us—whether through the media or through illnesses, and we will learn that these sick animals are making us sick.
Not only does factory farming contribute to millions of illnesses per year, it is also leading to an increase in the number of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.
If we are feeling sick, we can’t go to the local pharmacy to pick up an over-the-counter antibiotic, but rather we have to go to a doctor and obtain a prescription for antibiotics and other antimicrobials. Little debate exists over this practice, as this minor inconvenience is accepted because of its medical importance and as a public-health precaution to limit the number of these drugs being taken by humans. Microbes eventually become immune to antimicrobials, and we want to make sure only truly sick benefit from the limited number of uses of any antibiotic before the microbes adapt and become immune.
However, these same precautions are not used with animals. On most factory farms, drugs are fed to animals with every meal. The living conditions promote illness, and the factory industry has compensated for animals' compromised immunity with drugs. As a result, farm animals are given antibiotics nontherapeutically—or before they get sick.
In the United States, about 3 million pounds of antibiotics are given to humans each year, but the Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that the farming industry uses approximately 25 million pounds of antibiotics before animals are even sick—or for every one dose of antibiotics taken by a sick human, eight doses are given to a "healthy" animal.
Beginning in the 1960s, scientists warned of the harms of nontherapeutic antibiotics and today the American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization have connected nontherapeutic antibiotic use with increased antimicrobial immunity. Studies have shown that antimicrobial resistance follows soon after the introduction of new drugs into farms.
Despite the need for a total ban on the use of antibiotics for “healthy” animals, the farming and pharmaceutical industries has so much power given to them by us—the people that fund them on a massive scale by eating tons and tons of factory farmed animal products daily.
The environment that contributes to the food-borne illness of at least 76 million Americans and that promotes antimicrobial immunity also increases to the risk of a pandemic. Today, the farm-pandemic link is increasingly clear. The recent H1N1 swine flu outbreak originated at a hog factory farm in North Carolina, and then spread throughout the world, killing almost 4,000 in the United States.
Breeding sickness-prone birds in overcrowded and disgusting farms encourages the development of pathogens. However, this practice promotes efficient and cheap meat, forcing Americans to chose: cheap meat or health?
The choice may seem obvious, but this rationalization is pushed in the back of our minds. Maybe we block out the knowledge that unhealthy and unnatural conditions plague the farms which breed our meals. Maybe we know more than we admit when it comes to meat and its production. Soon however, this information will reach us—whether through the media or through illnesses, and we will learn that these sick animals are making us sick.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Google Doodles
This week, many celebrated the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street. One such celebrator was Google. For the past week, Google has incorporated very cute Sesame Street characters into the search engine.
I always noticed the fun Google designs for (mostly) significant holidays, but sometimes had to click on the “Google” to read about what the design was commemorating. Recently, Google released their complete doodle database to the public. I never knew this existed before, but apparently it was very limited. Now, you can browse all the doodles. When I stumbled upon this website, I learned that Google celebrates worldwide holidays and the designs actually change in each country.
The first Google designs were created in 1998, with a commemoration of Burning Man festival on August 30. I don’t remember Google in 1998, but even with the same color scheme, the logo looks very different.
In 1999, Google celebrated Halloween and Thanksgiving in the U.S. and had a snowman in the first “o” for a worldwide season’s greetings.
2000 marked the first year that Google produced significantly more designs, beginning with “Happy New Year.” Since the creation of Google doodles, they have since spread internationally.
Here are some fun international designs:
And here's a YouTube video montage with some of the cooler ones:
I always noticed the fun Google designs for (mostly) significant holidays, but sometimes had to click on the “Google” to read about what the design was commemorating. Recently, Google released their complete doodle database to the public. I never knew this existed before, but apparently it was very limited. Now, you can browse all the doodles. When I stumbled upon this website, I learned that Google celebrates worldwide holidays and the designs actually change in each country.
The first Google designs were created in 1998, with a commemoration of Burning Man festival on August 30. I don’t remember Google in 1998, but even with the same color scheme, the logo looks very different.
In 1999, Google celebrated Halloween and Thanksgiving in the U.S. and had a snowman in the first “o” for a worldwide season’s greetings.
2000 marked the first year that Google produced significantly more designs, beginning with “Happy New Year.” Since the creation of Google doodles, they have since spread internationally.
Here are some fun international designs:
And here's a YouTube video montage with some of the cooler ones:
Friday, October 30, 2009
Spring Forward, Fall Back
On this Sunday, November 1 at 2 a.m. local time, daylight saving time ends in most of the United States. While more U.S. residents will turn back their clocks before going to sleep on Saturday, people in Hawaii, Arizona, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands will remain on their standard time.
Despite this biannual tradition, no federal law requires that states observe daylight saving time. A federal law originally passed in 1918 and revised in 2005 mandates that areas which observe daylight saving time must switch to standard time at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November and that these same regions must “spring forward” and lose one hour at the same time on the second Sunday in March.
The origination of daylight savings time is strange, as Congress transferred oversight from the Interstate Commerce Commission to the Department of Transportation in 1966. While the Department of Transportation may seem unfit to deal with time laws, the delegation of daylight saving time dates back to railroads.
Before the regulation, each locality set their own time, which proved difficult when setting railroad schedules. In 1883, the railroad industry established official, national time zones, which Congress eventually adopted into law in 1918.
Part of this law included an observance of daylight saving time, but that section was repealed the next year and ever since, daylight saving time has been up to the discretion of local jurisdictions. The time was finally standardized with the Uniform Time Act in 1966, which allowed states to remain on standard time. Few changes have been made, and the recently set dates for changing clocks remain.
Daylight saving time aims “to adjust daylight hours to when most people are awake and about,” says Bill Mosley, an officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation. The time change decreases daylight in the early morning, therefore making it available during the evening.
Daylight savings may bring many benefits. Some experts claim that it saves energy (though others say it cancels out any savings because people use more electricity in the morning). Research has proven than daylight saving time has reduced traffic accidents as well as crime. And, lastly, more daylight provides more opportunities for children to play outside and use parks.
I much prefer daylight saving time to standard time—I like sunny, warm weather—but at least when switching back to standard time we gain hour.
Despite this biannual tradition, no federal law requires that states observe daylight saving time. A federal law originally passed in 1918 and revised in 2005 mandates that areas which observe daylight saving time must switch to standard time at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November and that these same regions must “spring forward” and lose one hour at the same time on the second Sunday in March.
The origination of daylight savings time is strange, as Congress transferred oversight from the Interstate Commerce Commission to the Department of Transportation in 1966. While the Department of Transportation may seem unfit to deal with time laws, the delegation of daylight saving time dates back to railroads.
Before the regulation, each locality set their own time, which proved difficult when setting railroad schedules. In 1883, the railroad industry established official, national time zones, which Congress eventually adopted into law in 1918.
Part of this law included an observance of daylight saving time, but that section was repealed the next year and ever since, daylight saving time has been up to the discretion of local jurisdictions. The time was finally standardized with the Uniform Time Act in 1966, which allowed states to remain on standard time. Few changes have been made, and the recently set dates for changing clocks remain.
Daylight saving time aims “to adjust daylight hours to when most people are awake and about,” says Bill Mosley, an officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation. The time change decreases daylight in the early morning, therefore making it available during the evening.
Daylight savings may bring many benefits. Some experts claim that it saves energy (though others say it cancels out any savings because people use more electricity in the morning). Research has proven than daylight saving time has reduced traffic accidents as well as crime. And, lastly, more daylight provides more opportunities for children to play outside and use parks.
I much prefer daylight saving time to standard time—I like sunny, warm weather—but at least when switching back to standard time we gain hour.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Census Season Beginning with a Murder Doesn’t Bode Well for Turnout
On September 12, the body of William “Bill” Sparkman was found bound and hanged, with “FED” written across his chest and his Census Bureau identification card taped to his forehead. Was this just a random killing or a political statement? With the Census ID and “FED” covering Sparkman’s chest, it’s hard to believe this murder is anything but politically motivated.
This homicide brings to light a frightening possibility that Sparkman was targeted because of his part time job at the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau is under increasing fire from conservatives and some fear that the hundreds of other Census employees may be in danger. The bureau has many reasons to worry: the U.S. is facing unprecedented homeless rates, illegal immigrants are planning a boycott of the census, conservatives claim it's rigged in favor of the Obama administration and some extremists even claim it’s even unconstitutional; and, for the first time in recent memory, census season has begun not with a mailing, but with a murder.
Law enforcement officials are keeping most details surrounding the killing secret, causing conclusions that the anti-government atmosphere recently escalated in the Obama era is resulting in anti-government violence.
As more details emerge regarding Sparkman's death, Village Voice Media's True Crime Report blog cited the recent "rage against Washington . . . especially in the rural South," and said the death had "all the makings of some anti-government goober taking his half-wit beliefs way too far."
The death has spurred debates from all sides of the political spectrum—liberals stating the murder was politically motivated while conservatives are accusing the media of trying to politicize Sparkman’s death.
The death is a hint at the conservative attempt to undermine the government by not participating in the Census. According to the Census bureau, both a rise in identity theft and a mounting mistrust of the government discourage people from completing their Census forms.
While some citizens are skeptical of sending their personal information to the government, it is essential for their states and counties to receive funds. Monica Davis, the spokeswoman for the U.S. Census Bureau's Philadelphia Regional Census Center said, "The Census really boils down to power and money for the community.” Conservatives may be trying to make a statement, but ultimately, not completing a census form causes harm to the community rather than sending a political message.
Some conservatives are publicizing their refusal to complete the Census form. Most notably, Representatives Michele Bachmann, a republican from Minnesota, declared on Fox News that she would not fully fill out her Census form, accusing the government of abusing the obtained information.
Despite their desire to make a political statement, in not completing a census form, conservatives may be “cutting of their nose to spite their face.” Over $400 billion of federal funding will be affected by the data from the 2010 Census—everything from school districts to representatives in Congress, to housing for low-income families, to senior citizen centers. Congressional representation is also determined by Census results, so incomplete Census forms may alter the distribution of representatives. Monica Davis, the spokeswoman for the U.S. Census Bureau's Philadelphia Regional Census Center said, "The Census really boils down to power and money for the community.” Essentially, the Census has been a crucial source for determining demographic, education, and employment data in the U.S.
The Census bureau must emphasize the Census is a tool for obtaining demographic information about the country, not for the government’s ulterior motives.
This homicide brings to light a frightening possibility that Sparkman was targeted because of his part time job at the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau is under increasing fire from conservatives and some fear that the hundreds of other Census employees may be in danger. The bureau has many reasons to worry: the U.S. is facing unprecedented homeless rates, illegal immigrants are planning a boycott of the census, conservatives claim it's rigged in favor of the Obama administration and some extremists even claim it’s even unconstitutional; and, for the first time in recent memory, census season has begun not with a mailing, but with a murder.
Law enforcement officials are keeping most details surrounding the killing secret, causing conclusions that the anti-government atmosphere recently escalated in the Obama era is resulting in anti-government violence.
As more details emerge regarding Sparkman's death, Village Voice Media's True Crime Report blog cited the recent "rage against Washington . . . especially in the rural South," and said the death had "all the makings of some anti-government goober taking his half-wit beliefs way too far."
The death has spurred debates from all sides of the political spectrum—liberals stating the murder was politically motivated while conservatives are accusing the media of trying to politicize Sparkman’s death.
The death is a hint at the conservative attempt to undermine the government by not participating in the Census. According to the Census bureau, both a rise in identity theft and a mounting mistrust of the government discourage people from completing their Census forms.
While some citizens are skeptical of sending their personal information to the government, it is essential for their states and counties to receive funds. Monica Davis, the spokeswoman for the U.S. Census Bureau's Philadelphia Regional Census Center said, "The Census really boils down to power and money for the community.” Conservatives may be trying to make a statement, but ultimately, not completing a census form causes harm to the community rather than sending a political message.
Some conservatives are publicizing their refusal to complete the Census form. Most notably, Representatives Michele Bachmann, a republican from Minnesota, declared on Fox News that she would not fully fill out her Census form, accusing the government of abusing the obtained information.
Despite their desire to make a political statement, in not completing a census form, conservatives may be “cutting of their nose to spite their face.” Over $400 billion of federal funding will be affected by the data from the 2010 Census—everything from school districts to representatives in Congress, to housing for low-income families, to senior citizen centers. Congressional representation is also determined by Census results, so incomplete Census forms may alter the distribution of representatives. Monica Davis, the spokeswoman for the U.S. Census Bureau's Philadelphia Regional Census Center said, "The Census really boils down to power and money for the community.” Essentially, the Census has been a crucial source for determining demographic, education, and employment data in the U.S.
The Census bureau must emphasize the Census is a tool for obtaining demographic information about the country, not for the government’s ulterior motives.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Moving on from "Wife Swap"
On Wednesday night, I wandered into the living room when I heard my roommate laughing at something on TV. I asked her what she was watching and she announced, “Wife Swap.” I left the room after approximately 10 seconds. I’ve never been a huge reality show fan—and that’s an understatement—but this show was especially terrible. I read about it on abc.com, which brags, “two families with very different values are chosen to take part in a two-week long challenge. The wives from these two families exchange husbands, children and lives (but not bedrooms) to discover just what it's like to live another woman's life. It's a mind-blowing experiment that often ends up changing their lives forever.” I instantly lose respect—and interest—in any show that boasts that a season will bring, “tears, tantrums and raised voices as the wives clash with their new families.” And here I thought “Jon and Kate Plus Eight” was bad. Maybe it’s because I’ve been raised with a “we keep family matters in the family,” mentality, but I immediately thought, “who would ever be on this show?”
The next day, I was on the phone with my mom stressing about my study abroad visa, and she interrupted me to announce that a six year old Colorado boy was floating away in a helium balloon. Obviously very confused, I spent my next class reading about it on cnn.com on my phone. Immediately, a few concerns crossed my mind: a. What was this family doing with a large helium balloon in their backyard? b. The child’s name is Falcon. c. Where is Falcon??
Hours later, after planes were grounded, people were spanning the potential radius of the balloon for 6-year-old Falcon, and the nation watched in fear, the balloon landed—empty. Soon, however, during the desperate manhunt, Falcon is found, hiding in a box in the attic of the garage.
Doubts about the truth of the entire event arose, stemming from Falcon’s comment, “you guys said that, um, ‘we did this for the show’” when asked why he didn’t come out if he heard his parents calling for him. And with that one line, Falcon destroyed another of his parents’ apparently never ending schemes for publicity. Here is the video of the Heene family on “Larry King Live” being interviewed by Wolf Blitzer.
Since this confession, the general consensus is that this was a hoax and a desperate cry for attention. The credibility of the story decreases with each exposed detail of the family. According to TMZ, the family approached TLC (the station broadcasting “Jon and Kate Plus Eight”) about a reality TV show and even the station which seems to have impossibility low standards with shows like “Toddlers and Tiaras” and “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant” rejected the idea. Apparently, ABC had a different opinion on the family. Before the balloon hoax, the Heene family appeared on "Wife Swap" not once, but TWICE. I guess that answers my question of who would volunteer for that show.
With new reports that Flacon may not have even been hiding, local sheriffs have announced that they plan to press charges. The sheriff in Larimer County, where the Heenes reside, announced the family may face up to three felonies: conspiracy to commit a crime, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and attempting to influence a public servant. While the first two are misdemeanors, the last charge carries a possible sentence of six years in prison.
While the whole situation is truly bizarre, this hoax is simply another incident proving the sad trend away from truth and responsibility and toward reality TV and desperate attention cries. From Heidi and Spencer to Patti Blagojevich, everyone seems to want the same thing: attention. The Heene family had a taste of fame on their first stint on “Wife Swap” but apparently their insatiable thirst for publicity. Obviously, their second experience on “Wife Swap” wasn’t enough either. These reality TV veterans still weren’t satisfied, and after proposing a reality show premise to various networks and achieving nothing, they finally have their 15 minutes of fame. And sadly, maybe more. Despite the legal problems the Heenes may face, their name and their story have been given worldwide exposure. Especially with the hoax allegations and the extremely low standards of reality TV, producers may see the Heenes as profitable and marketable. This whole situation may boost the “career” of the Heenes remarkably.
While their actions are truly abominable, the continued attention is only fueling their fire. Each article or broadcast news piece grants them more exposure and keeps their name in the minds of everyone. A Wikipedia page already exists, titled “Colorado Balloon Incident,” which cites 65 articles. The attention they are gaining from the alleged hoax, sadly, may be exactly what they need to finally achieve a TV career outside of “Wife Swap.”
The next day, I was on the phone with my mom stressing about my study abroad visa, and she interrupted me to announce that a six year old Colorado boy was floating away in a helium balloon. Obviously very confused, I spent my next class reading about it on cnn.com on my phone. Immediately, a few concerns crossed my mind: a. What was this family doing with a large helium balloon in their backyard? b. The child’s name is Falcon. c. Where is Falcon??
Hours later, after planes were grounded, people were spanning the potential radius of the balloon for 6-year-old Falcon, and the nation watched in fear, the balloon landed—empty. Soon, however, during the desperate manhunt, Falcon is found, hiding in a box in the attic of the garage.
Doubts about the truth of the entire event arose, stemming from Falcon’s comment, “you guys said that, um, ‘we did this for the show’” when asked why he didn’t come out if he heard his parents calling for him. And with that one line, Falcon destroyed another of his parents’ apparently never ending schemes for publicity. Here is the video of the Heene family on “Larry King Live” being interviewed by Wolf Blitzer.
Since this confession, the general consensus is that this was a hoax and a desperate cry for attention. The credibility of the story decreases with each exposed detail of the family. According to TMZ, the family approached TLC (the station broadcasting “Jon and Kate Plus Eight”) about a reality TV show and even the station which seems to have impossibility low standards with shows like “Toddlers and Tiaras” and “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant” rejected the idea. Apparently, ABC had a different opinion on the family. Before the balloon hoax, the Heene family appeared on "Wife Swap" not once, but TWICE. I guess that answers my question of who would volunteer for that show.
With new reports that Flacon may not have even been hiding, local sheriffs have announced that they plan to press charges. The sheriff in Larimer County, where the Heenes reside, announced the family may face up to three felonies: conspiracy to commit a crime, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and attempting to influence a public servant. While the first two are misdemeanors, the last charge carries a possible sentence of six years in prison.
While the whole situation is truly bizarre, this hoax is simply another incident proving the sad trend away from truth and responsibility and toward reality TV and desperate attention cries. From Heidi and Spencer to Patti Blagojevich, everyone seems to want the same thing: attention. The Heene family had a taste of fame on their first stint on “Wife Swap” but apparently their insatiable thirst for publicity. Obviously, their second experience on “Wife Swap” wasn’t enough either. These reality TV veterans still weren’t satisfied, and after proposing a reality show premise to various networks and achieving nothing, they finally have their 15 minutes of fame. And sadly, maybe more. Despite the legal problems the Heenes may face, their name and their story have been given worldwide exposure. Especially with the hoax allegations and the extremely low standards of reality TV, producers may see the Heenes as profitable and marketable. This whole situation may boost the “career” of the Heenes remarkably.
While their actions are truly abominable, the continued attention is only fueling their fire. Each article or broadcast news piece grants them more exposure and keeps their name in the minds of everyone. A Wikipedia page already exists, titled “Colorado Balloon Incident,” which cites 65 articles. The attention they are gaining from the alleged hoax, sadly, may be exactly what they need to finally achieve a TV career outside of “Wife Swap.”
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Expanding the House of Representatives
Our nation was founded upon the principals of “one person, one vote.” While this saying once rang true, this staple of American democracy may not be as true now. For example, if you live in Rhode Island, your vote in the House of Representatives carries almost twice as much weight than someone living in Montana. Or, the votes of Utah residents count almost two-thirds more than those of Iowans.
With only 435 members of the House of Representatives and a constantly-shifting population, equal representation may be a concept of the past. As the institution of the House of Representatives has evolved, it has encountered a problem balancing a need for representation versus legislative efficiency. Historically, this tradeoff has contributed to a struggle between serving constituent interests and maintaining and organized and functional body. Ultimately, expanding the House of Representatives would lead to greater representational equality but may only make the institution more unwieldy.
For almost a century, the House of Representative has been comprised of 435 members. Until 1920, the seats of the House were reapportioned based on population following each decennial census. Between 1850 and 1910, the population of the United States quadrupled, booming from not even 22 million to over 91 million people. While the House of Representatives did not exactly parallel the exponential increase of the population, it did attempt to match the substantial expansion by doubling. By 1920, over 60 new seats were established for the House to correspond to the growing population. However, in 1920, dissent from publications and prominent society members fearing an even less effective Congress curtailed the growth of the House. Except for the temporary addition of two representatives in the 1950s to accommodate Alaska and Hawaii, the House has remained at 435.
The initial census of 1790 indicated that the US population was 3,615,823. This population was divided into 105 districts with one representative each, or approximately 34,436 people per representative. In 1920, when, for the first time, the size of the House was not increased and remained at 435 members, the population was 106,021,537. This divides out to 243,728 people per district or representative, an obvious great increase over the not even 35,000 people originally represented by one House member. A substantial population growth and no change in the House of Representatives for 90 years has led to even less representation. The 2000 census indicated the US population is 281,422,177. With 435 districts, each district should theoretically contain 646,498 people, though most districts’ populations fall far from that number. Here is a table and a graph charting the exponential increase of population and the stabilization of the House of Representatives:
With the 2010 census approaching, state populations will soon determine congressional districts throughout the country. This ineffective system will continue to inaccurately represent Americans. As has been the case for almost one hundred years, political leaders will, as Peter Baker put it in this New York Times article, “[prepare] to cobble together a patchwork quilt of districts that will leave some Americans underrepresented.” The districts truly are a patchwork quilt, but with significantly sloppier stitching.
While reapportionment may solve some of the discrepancies in representation created by the population growth and shift, much of the disparity is inevitable. Theoretically, each House member should represent an equal number of people. However, because each state, regardless of its population, is guaranteed one representative and the size of the House remains the same, the number of people represented by one representative can vary greatly.
For example, the most recent census indicated that Nevada’s Third District is the most populous in the country, with 960,000 people. They are all represented by one member of the House. Similarly, Montana’s entire 958,000 person population also has just one vote through their one representative. These districts remain incredibly similar in size, but compared to other districts, the under-representation is clear. Wyoming’s population of 523,000 and each of Rhode Island’s districts of 527,000 and 531,000 all receive a separate vote.
Since 1920, suggestions of increasing the size of the House of Representatives have not been seriously considered. Recently, the idea of expansion has been proposed but has garnered little support. Columnist George Will proposed expanding the House to 1000 seats, or one for about every 281,000 people, and Florida Representative Alcee Hastings proposed that it be studied, but ultimately each effort has been ignored. Jane S. De Lung, the president of the Population Resource Center, states, “we have tripled our population since 1910,” and notes that representatives already have difficulty responding to constituents as it is, let alone with a growing population. She asks, “If you can’t do it with 700,000, how in the world are you going to do it with 1 million?”
Recently, some citizens have acted on these concerns and on September 17, 2009, five plaintiffs from the five most under-represented states (Delaware, Mississippi, Montana, South Dakota, and Utah) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Mississippi challenging the constitutionality of the size of the House of Representatives. They argue that the current House size of 435 violates the “one person, one vote” principal and hope to remedy this inequality by adding more members. The lawsuit is the first of its kind, and a victory would require the House to increase its size to provide equal representation throughout the country. This table illustrates the discrepancy between states’ current district size and the national average of 646,952 people per district. Most notably, Montana’s one district has 258,364 people over the national average, while Wyoming has 151,648 less than average.
Supporters of the lawsuit claim there are a variety of problems with over-sized Congressional districts. Most obviously, the greater number of constituents in the district, the less accessibility each person has to his or her representative. With less people per district, each House member could be more attentive to his or her district. Representatives could focus on the prime duty that they were elected to fulfill: expressing constituent interest at the national level. Additionally, if representatives served smaller districts, they would not have to solicit as much funding for their reelection and could save time and money fundraising and campaigning. Because elections are held ever two years, representatives are constantly campaigning, instead focus on primary responsibilities, like making legislation. Less voters allow hopeful candidates and incumbents to focus on a more concentrated area and ultimately campaign less. Many people believe that the huge number of constituents per district is homogenizing the diverse beliefs of the American people, and with more representatives, citizens would have a greater chance of having their interests expressed in Congress. Some even believe that an increased House of Representatives would lead to significant changes in the Electoral College and may have even resulted in alternative outcomes in the 2000 Presidential Election.
However, if the size of a House were increased, the entire legislative process could be harmed. The initial limitation of 435 seats was rooted in the fear that enlargement would restrict deliberation and limit the time for speeches and debates. Congress members thought an enlarged House would lead to an unmanageable federal government. With the controversies and questions about the alleged incompetence already surrounding Congress members, does the country really want or need more politicians? Logistically, increasing the House would be challenging, as accommodating potentially thousands of legislators in the would be nearly impossible. Not only would an increase require a larger chamber for meetings, but new offices for legislators and their staff would also have to be created. Many people, like those bringing the suit, wish for the House to more than double—bringing its total to over 1000. Congress simply does not have the capacity to facilitate that many legislators and their entourages. Also, with more representatives, each House member would have less relative power and the majesty of membership would be diluted, making it unattractive to incumbents. With only 435 members, the House of Representatives is well-respected and elite. Being elected into it requires hard work and determination, and vastly increasing the size would inherently decrease the significance of membership.
However, proponents of expanding the House argue that with technological advances, it is no longer necessary to force all representatives into one room. Though Winston Churchill legislated in a different country, his insights still hold true to the United States House of Representatives. As he said regarding reconstruction of the House of Commons, “we shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us. The House of Commons…should not be big enough to contain all its Members at once without overcrowding, and there should be no question of every Member having a separate seat reserved for him.” He defends his statement by saying that a House with a huge capacity would lead to the vast majority of the debates conducted in a depressing atmosphere with an over half-empty room. Churchill continues by saying that parliamentary conversation ``requires a fairly small space, and there should be on great occasions a sense of crowd and urgency.'' Despite that a small room may induce a more intimate and productive setting, eventually, a larger facility would be needed for important matters.
Essentially, the system may be more equitable but less governable. Congress, and especially the House of Representatives, is already considered an unwieldy organization. The various committees and the red-tape bureaucracy make the current House of 435 cumbersome. While each constituent may have better accessibility to his or her representative, those interests would doubtfully be recognized amongst the other thousands of representatives.
More districts would also lead to less funding per district. Especially with the current budget crisis, federal funding would doubtfully increase significantly (if at all), and the money would be distributed amongst literally over one thousand districts. The small allocation would not aid the districts.
Obviously discrepancies in representation in the House of Representatives exist throughout the country, and reform is necessary. An expansion of the House could introduce more members into Washington, providing a new perspective and perhaps less corruption. More minorities, third party candidates, and people from all different backgrounds who appeal to a smaller political market would have a chance to run, therefore diversifying Congress. However, an increase in membership could also harm the House of Representative and only slow the legislative process. A proposal to increase the size of the House of Representatives has never been seriously considered, but with the lawsuit and the only-increasing disparity of representation between the states, now may be the time for drastic reform.
Works Cited
Baker, Peter. “Expand the House?” The New York Times. September 17, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/us/politics/18baker.html
Frederick, Brian. “Constituency Population and Representation in the U.S. House.”
Frederick, Brian. "Frozen at 435: The Size of the United States House of Representatives and the Impact upon Legislative Representation." April 07, 2005.
Goldberg, Jonah. “We need a bigger House.” Los Angeles Times. October 6, 2009. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-goldberg6-2009oct06,0,5681017.column
Ladewig, Jeffrey W. and Mathew P. Jasinski. “On the Causes and Consequences of and Remedies for Interstate Malapportionment of the U.S. House of Representatives.”
Schaller, Tom. “Getting a Bigger House.” FiveThirtyEight. http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/09/getting-bigger-house.html
http://thirty-thousand.org/
With only 435 members of the House of Representatives and a constantly-shifting population, equal representation may be a concept of the past. As the institution of the House of Representatives has evolved, it has encountered a problem balancing a need for representation versus legislative efficiency. Historically, this tradeoff has contributed to a struggle between serving constituent interests and maintaining and organized and functional body. Ultimately, expanding the House of Representatives would lead to greater representational equality but may only make the institution more unwieldy.
For almost a century, the House of Representative has been comprised of 435 members. Until 1920, the seats of the House were reapportioned based on population following each decennial census. Between 1850 and 1910, the population of the United States quadrupled, booming from not even 22 million to over 91 million people. While the House of Representatives did not exactly parallel the exponential increase of the population, it did attempt to match the substantial expansion by doubling. By 1920, over 60 new seats were established for the House to correspond to the growing population. However, in 1920, dissent from publications and prominent society members fearing an even less effective Congress curtailed the growth of the House. Except for the temporary addition of two representatives in the 1950s to accommodate Alaska and Hawaii, the House has remained at 435.
The initial census of 1790 indicated that the US population was 3,615,823. This population was divided into 105 districts with one representative each, or approximately 34,436 people per representative. In 1920, when, for the first time, the size of the House was not increased and remained at 435 members, the population was 106,021,537. This divides out to 243,728 people per district or representative, an obvious great increase over the not even 35,000 people originally represented by one House member. A substantial population growth and no change in the House of Representatives for 90 years has led to even less representation. The 2000 census indicated the US population is 281,422,177. With 435 districts, each district should theoretically contain 646,498 people, though most districts’ populations fall far from that number. Here is a table and a graph charting the exponential increase of population and the stabilization of the House of Representatives:
With the 2010 census approaching, state populations will soon determine congressional districts throughout the country. This ineffective system will continue to inaccurately represent Americans. As has been the case for almost one hundred years, political leaders will, as Peter Baker put it in this New York Times article, “[prepare] to cobble together a patchwork quilt of districts that will leave some Americans underrepresented.” The districts truly are a patchwork quilt, but with significantly sloppier stitching.
While reapportionment may solve some of the discrepancies in representation created by the population growth and shift, much of the disparity is inevitable. Theoretically, each House member should represent an equal number of people. However, because each state, regardless of its population, is guaranteed one representative and the size of the House remains the same, the number of people represented by one representative can vary greatly.
For example, the most recent census indicated that Nevada’s Third District is the most populous in the country, with 960,000 people. They are all represented by one member of the House. Similarly, Montana’s entire 958,000 person population also has just one vote through their one representative. These districts remain incredibly similar in size, but compared to other districts, the under-representation is clear. Wyoming’s population of 523,000 and each of Rhode Island’s districts of 527,000 and 531,000 all receive a separate vote.
Since 1920, suggestions of increasing the size of the House of Representatives have not been seriously considered. Recently, the idea of expansion has been proposed but has garnered little support. Columnist George Will proposed expanding the House to 1000 seats, or one for about every 281,000 people, and Florida Representative Alcee Hastings proposed that it be studied, but ultimately each effort has been ignored. Jane S. De Lung, the president of the Population Resource Center, states, “we have tripled our population since 1910,” and notes that representatives already have difficulty responding to constituents as it is, let alone with a growing population. She asks, “If you can’t do it with 700,000, how in the world are you going to do it with 1 million?”
Recently, some citizens have acted on these concerns and on September 17, 2009, five plaintiffs from the five most under-represented states (Delaware, Mississippi, Montana, South Dakota, and Utah) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Mississippi challenging the constitutionality of the size of the House of Representatives. They argue that the current House size of 435 violates the “one person, one vote” principal and hope to remedy this inequality by adding more members. The lawsuit is the first of its kind, and a victory would require the House to increase its size to provide equal representation throughout the country. This table illustrates the discrepancy between states’ current district size and the national average of 646,952 people per district. Most notably, Montana’s one district has 258,364 people over the national average, while Wyoming has 151,648 less than average.
Supporters of the lawsuit claim there are a variety of problems with over-sized Congressional districts. Most obviously, the greater number of constituents in the district, the less accessibility each person has to his or her representative. With less people per district, each House member could be more attentive to his or her district. Representatives could focus on the prime duty that they were elected to fulfill: expressing constituent interest at the national level. Additionally, if representatives served smaller districts, they would not have to solicit as much funding for their reelection and could save time and money fundraising and campaigning. Because elections are held ever two years, representatives are constantly campaigning, instead focus on primary responsibilities, like making legislation. Less voters allow hopeful candidates and incumbents to focus on a more concentrated area and ultimately campaign less. Many people believe that the huge number of constituents per district is homogenizing the diverse beliefs of the American people, and with more representatives, citizens would have a greater chance of having their interests expressed in Congress. Some even believe that an increased House of Representatives would lead to significant changes in the Electoral College and may have even resulted in alternative outcomes in the 2000 Presidential Election.
However, if the size of a House were increased, the entire legislative process could be harmed. The initial limitation of 435 seats was rooted in the fear that enlargement would restrict deliberation and limit the time for speeches and debates. Congress members thought an enlarged House would lead to an unmanageable federal government. With the controversies and questions about the alleged incompetence already surrounding Congress members, does the country really want or need more politicians? Logistically, increasing the House would be challenging, as accommodating potentially thousands of legislators in the would be nearly impossible. Not only would an increase require a larger chamber for meetings, but new offices for legislators and their staff would also have to be created. Many people, like those bringing the suit, wish for the House to more than double—bringing its total to over 1000. Congress simply does not have the capacity to facilitate that many legislators and their entourages. Also, with more representatives, each House member would have less relative power and the majesty of membership would be diluted, making it unattractive to incumbents. With only 435 members, the House of Representatives is well-respected and elite. Being elected into it requires hard work and determination, and vastly increasing the size would inherently decrease the significance of membership.
However, proponents of expanding the House argue that with technological advances, it is no longer necessary to force all representatives into one room. Though Winston Churchill legislated in a different country, his insights still hold true to the United States House of Representatives. As he said regarding reconstruction of the House of Commons, “we shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us. The House of Commons…should not be big enough to contain all its Members at once without overcrowding, and there should be no question of every Member having a separate seat reserved for him.” He defends his statement by saying that a House with a huge capacity would lead to the vast majority of the debates conducted in a depressing atmosphere with an over half-empty room. Churchill continues by saying that parliamentary conversation ``requires a fairly small space, and there should be on great occasions a sense of crowd and urgency.'' Despite that a small room may induce a more intimate and productive setting, eventually, a larger facility would be needed for important matters.
Essentially, the system may be more equitable but less governable. Congress, and especially the House of Representatives, is already considered an unwieldy organization. The various committees and the red-tape bureaucracy make the current House of 435 cumbersome. While each constituent may have better accessibility to his or her representative, those interests would doubtfully be recognized amongst the other thousands of representatives.
More districts would also lead to less funding per district. Especially with the current budget crisis, federal funding would doubtfully increase significantly (if at all), and the money would be distributed amongst literally over one thousand districts. The small allocation would not aid the districts.
Obviously discrepancies in representation in the House of Representatives exist throughout the country, and reform is necessary. An expansion of the House could introduce more members into Washington, providing a new perspective and perhaps less corruption. More minorities, third party candidates, and people from all different backgrounds who appeal to a smaller political market would have a chance to run, therefore diversifying Congress. However, an increase in membership could also harm the House of Representative and only slow the legislative process. A proposal to increase the size of the House of Representatives has never been seriously considered, but with the lawsuit and the only-increasing disparity of representation between the states, now may be the time for drastic reform.
Works Cited
Baker, Peter. “Expand the House?” The New York Times. September 17, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/us/politics/18baker.html
Frederick, Brian. “Constituency Population and Representation in the U.S. House.”
Frederick, Brian. "Frozen at 435: The Size of the United States House of Representatives and the Impact upon Legislative Representation." April 07, 2005.
Goldberg, Jonah. “We need a bigger House.” Los Angeles Times. October 6, 2009. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-goldberg6-2009oct06,0,5681017.column
Ladewig, Jeffrey W. and Mathew P. Jasinski. “On the Causes and Consequences of and Remedies for Interstate Malapportionment of the U.S. House of Representatives.”
Schaller, Tom. “Getting a Bigger House.” FiveThirtyEight. http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/09/getting-bigger-house.html
http://thirty-thousand.org/
Saturday, October 3, 2009
To Rio the Olympics Go
Chicago had the Obamas and Oprah. Tokyo had $4 billion. Madrid made it to the final run-off vote. But all three cities lost the bid to host the 2016 Olympic games to Rio de Janeiro. While all cities boasted hopeful citizens cheering, no city offered the passion and story of Rio. The exciting, fun-loving city erupted when the president of the International Olympic Committee announced the final verdict.
The 2016 games will mark the first Olympics ever held in South America. While the Olympics pit countries against each other and focus on sports at an international level, since the Olympic revival in 1896, only four continents (North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia) have hosted the games. Rio de Janeiro bid—unsuccessfully—for the Olympics in 1936, 1940, 2004, and 2012. Finally, they will have there chance, but it won’t be easy. Brazil currently has the tenth largest economy in the world—and is projected to grow by 2016—but the country is plagued by unemployment and poverty.
Despite the plan that Rio proposed to the IOC, some doubt the facilities and the city can manage the volume of people. Rio plans to use the stadium built for the 2007 Pan Am Games, but this facility has only staged a few athletic events. Brazil claimed athletes and spectators would be very close to the stadium, but given traffic and the isolated facilities, the actual commute could be hours. Brazil has been struggling for years with public transportation, with a metro service still failing to reach suburbs. The main airport is also in dire need of repair, especially considering the throngs of people expected.
However, Brazil claims through their growing economy they have direct funding and investments in the facilities that still need to be built. While opponents argue against the games in Rio, the games will actually increase Brazil’s presence in the world.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The Next Prop 8?
This November will mark the one year anniversary of the passing Proposition 8, which added the section “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California” to the state constitution. Though the proposition passed by a 52.5% to 47.5% margin, or about 500,000 votes, many Californians remain passionate about overturning the ban.
Last Thursday, a coalition of groups supporting same-sex marriage submitted ballot measure language for a potential initiative repealing Proposition 8. These groups, led by Love Honor Cherish, hope to overthrow the law, which was upheld by the California Supreme Court in May. But these efforts only mark the first step; they will need about 700,000 signatures from registered California voters before April 2010, as well as millions of dollars.
While thousands of people are outraged over the passing of Prop 8, not all same-sex marriage proponents are unified in the push for a 2010 ballot measure. They believe that the measure will more likely prevail in 2012, during the next presidential election. Equality California, the state’s largest gay rights group, announced in August that it would wait until 2012 to propose an amendment. Public opinion polls suggest Californians remains closely divided on the issue of gay marriage, and some gay rights groups, such as Equality California, believe waiting until 2012 could help the repeal gain both popularity and sympathy. However, they did state that they would support the measure if it does make it onto the ballot.
The day after Love Honor Cherish and other groups announced their decision to put the ballot initiative to voters in 2010, former President Clinton publicized his recent decision to change his personal stance on same-sex marriage. During an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, he said that he believes states should ultimately decide on same-sex marriage, but he is not personally opposed, as he once was. In the interview, he said:
"I was against the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage nation-wide, and I still think that the American people should be able to play this out in debates. But me, Bill Clinton personally, I changed my position. I am no longer opposed to that. I think if people want to make commitments that last a lifetime, they ought to be able to do it."
While many Californians, and now former President Clinton, are swaying in support of repealing Proposition 8, some are taking a drastically different approach. On September 1, 2009, Sacramentan John Marcotte submitted proposed legislation to the Attorney General that would add a different initiative to the 2010 state ballot. Entitled the “2010 California Marriage Protection Act,” this legislation would essentially ban divorce in California. He calls it “a logical extension of Prop 8.”
Marcotte, a fervent proponent of Prop 8, describes himself as “a firm believer in traditional family values.” He claims that though the legislation would essentially be diminishing people’s rights, it would be to protect traditional marriage, therefore attracting the same voters who voted “yes” on Prop 8.
On his website, captions like “You said ‘Til death do us part.’ You’re not dead yet” and “Jesus still loves you if you get divorced—just not as much as before” pan across the main page. According to website, the campaign has raised $1105.94 from 45 contributors since September 4. This CNN piece features an interview with him
This would never pass…right? The whole campaign seems pretty ridiculous, but then again, not even a year ago, California voted to ban same-sex marriages and revoke basic rights to a huge community.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
The Evolution of Public Intellectuals
Many argue that public intellectuals are losing their once strong audience. These people—known for extensive studies in academic areas as well their application of theories and insights to current society—may becoming unappreciated and outdated.
With the questions of the future of the public intellectual, a problem arises in how to define them. Today, is there a distinctive difference between public intellectuals and just writers? The creation and ease of the Internet creates more questions about defining a public intellectual. Anyone can create a blog or personal website—how do we differentiate between authors, public intellectuals, and those simply writing as a pastime. It seems fairly obviously to separate leisure writers and published, distinguished authors, but how do we differentiate between the latter and public intellectuals?
Alan Lightman, a professor at MIT and a public intellectual himself, devised a system of three tiers to classify public intellectuals. These levels are defined in his piece, “The Role of the Public Intellectual.” He classifies public intellectuals by the following standards:
Level I: Speaking and writing for the public exclusively about your discipline. This kind of discourse is extremely important, and it involves good, clear, simplified explanations of the national debt, the how cancer genes work, or whatever your subject is.
...
Level II: Speaking and writing about your discipline and how it relates to the social, cultural, and political world around it. A scientist in this Level II category might include a lot of biographical material, glimpses into the society and anthropology of the culture of science.
...
Level III: By invitation only. The intellectual has become elevated to a symbol, a person that stands for something far larger than the discipline from which he or she originated. A Level III intellectual is asked to write and speak about a large range of public issues, not necessarily directly connected to their original field of expertise at all.
Some believe public intellectuals are on quickly becoming irrelevant, such as Richard Posner in his book Public Intellectuals: A Study of Decline. Others, however, insist that the Internet has lead to a renaissance of diverse public intellectuals. One such person is Daniel Drezner, a political economist from Tufts University, who recently published an essay that seemingly lowered expectations to become a public intellectual and therefore included significantly more people.
New York Times blogger Barry Gewen argues against this trend of increasing inclusivity of authors into the elite category of public intellectuals. He states in his blog
for [writers Fareed Zakaria and Samantha Power] to be considered public intellectuals in the old New York Intellectual sense — with its commitment to cultural “centrality” — I think they would have to demonstrate greater breadth than they have so far displayed.
He opposes the classification of authors of serious books who have attracted a modicum of attention as public intellectuals. He views the public intellectual as someone more concerned about a broad variety of information and the impact on society, rather than a specialist in one area.
However, we must consider that human knowledge is growing at exponential rate. It seems especially unrealistic to expect public intellectuals to write intelligently and insightfully about, for example, politics and the economy, physics, and computers. It seems public intellectuals have evolved from generalists to specialists.
Narrow specialization of public intellectuals may prevail at the expense of a broad perspective, but the recent transformation of mass communication has increased the transparency of public intellectuals. With the ability to publish a piece on the Internet with the click of a button, public intellectuals can easily share their opinions with anyone who wishes to read it.
Stephen Mack offers a completely different but perhaps more appropriate means of classifying public intellectuals. In his article “The ‘Decline of Public Intellectuals?,” he writes
So, is there any way of conceptualizing something called the public intellectual that is consistent with democratic values? Of course there is, but it needs to begin with a shift from “categories and class” to “function.” That is, our notions of the public intellectual need to focus less on who or what a public intellectual is—and by extension, the qualifications for getting and keeping the title. Instead, we need to be more concerned with the work public intellectuals must do, irrespective of who happens to be doing it.
I agree that a person’s contributions should define them as a person, and the public should not be focused on the celebrity of a public intellectual. However, established public intellectuals have created a name and an image for themselves through previous work and ideas. Previous work defines a person, and essentially, it becomes difficult to completely separate a person from their work.
One such person who has used their academic history and strong beliefs to become a public intellectual is Sam Harris. The first time I ever heard of Sam Harris was April of 2007. He was interviewed with Rick Warren—an evangelical pastor who launched the megachurch Saddleback Church—in Newsweek, and I was instantly fascinated by his intelligence, biting comments, and scientific skepticism. I was fascinated. To this day, I have not forgotten this segment of the interview:
Rick, if you had been born in India or in Iran, would you have different religious beliefs?
WARREN: There's no doubt where you're born influences your initial beliefs. Regardless of where you were born, there are some things you can know about God, even without the Bible. For instance, I look at the world and I say, "God likes variety." I say, "God likes beauty." I say, "God likes order," and the more we understand ecology, the more we understand how sensitive that order is.
HARRIS: Then God also likes smallpox and tuberculosis.
WARREN: I would attribute a lot of the sins in the world to myself.
HARRIS: Are you responsible for smallpox?
Two and a half years later, I was with one of my friends and somehow (I wish I knew the context) the subject of natural selection came up. Seconds into the conversation, he said “I don't know if I believe in evolution.” I was shocked. How do you not believe in evolution? I literally had no words. Growing up in a liberal family and attending a secular school, I naively assumed that by 2009, everyone knew that evolution is a proven fact. (As Sam Harris says, “Nature offers no compelling evidence for an intelligent designer and countless examples of unintelligent design.”) I went home to talk to my (also) very liberal roommate about this, and after she expressed her equal bewilderment, I tried to explain Sam Harris’s interview, as it still resonated with me. Thanks to the scope of the Internet, and the archives of newsweek.com, we quickly found the article and reveled in knowing that at least one person out there was standing up for science.
I started Googling him and learned all about his background and efforts to spread scientific knowledge in conjunction with secular beliefs. His first book, The End of Faith, discusses organized religion and the problems with tolerance of religious fundamentalism. His second book, Letter to a Christian Nation (which is about 75 pages long and definitely worth reading, regardless of your religion), is a response to all the criticism he received from the first book. Despite the title, as he says in the introduction,
“the primary purpose of the book is to arm secularists in our society, who believe that religion should be kept out of public policy, against their opponents on the Christian Right. Consequently, the “Christian” I address throughout is a Christian in a narrow sense of the term…I have set out to demolish the intellectual and moral pretensions of Christianity in its most committed forms. (Letter to a Christian Nation viii-ix).
In additionally to publishing these nonfiction books, Sam Harris has been published in many news magazines and newspapers, and has been featured on numerous TV shows, such as The O’Reilly Factor,
He frequently debates religious leaders, and here he is with Rabbi David Wolpe.
He recently pioneered The Reason Project, “a nonprofit foundation devoted to spreading scientific knowledge and secular values in society.” This project focuses on producing films holding conferences, sponsoring studies, and conducting research and opinion polls to ultimately erase dogmatism and fanaticism.
Sam Harris is a specialist regarding religion, science, and their combination and effect on society. He uses all forms of mass media to address and convince the public of the inherent flaws of religion. He has strong opinions on religion and the future of reason and, like all public intellectuals, has not and will not stop educating the world.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
