Happy Mardi Gras!

Time to eat up today, especially Paczki!

However, just watching the news last night and today of the reverlers in New Orleans, a part of me still feels sad and upset with the current state of New Orleans.

Six months later, homes are still abandoned, people are still displaced, pets are still abandoned, and there's still a lack of cohesive plan for the future of New Orleans.

Individuals are still living in trailers, with no way to support themselves. As one BBC reporter stated last night, it still looks like a hurricane went through New Orleans last night.

When will the cleanup begin? Why is there no plan? Why are we (STILL) treating our citizens this way in America?

SIGN THIS PETITION!

One of my friends from high school sent me information about this new grassroots movement.

If you care about the state of education in America, and you want the right to a high quality education to be a guaranteed right for everyone, sign this petition!

To sign the petition, visit www.OurEd.org/pages/sign-the-petition . For more info about this campaign as a whole check out www.OurEd.org.

A new show on FX entitled Black. White http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/blackwhite/main.html .

A new six-part documentary where individuals take on different racial identities and live lives as an "African-American" or as a "Caucasian". Such an eye-opening look on the way racism is still being played out in America and how we still treat people based on the way they look. For example, a bar scene where a White bartender expresses his opinions on minorities freely in front of an African-American woman. A scene where a white woman calls an African-American woman a "beautiful Black creature". And so on and so on. I can go on and on, but I think it's so important to watch this show that I won't divulge any more scenes. This shouldn't be on cable, but on one of the major networks.

But, would many Americans want to watch this show? Doubtful.

people are not able to destroy these stereotypes because diversity is becoming non-existent in schools and neighborhoods. More and more families are separating from each other, raising their children in homogenous environments where stereotypes are developed and thriving. Growing up in a suburb, I have heard these stereotypes from many people. They start out as little whispers, private jokes shared between close friends. However, they come out in full force during economic downturns and rising job competition. For instance, at the local Polish-American center, the conversation always focuses on immigrants and minorities and how they are not as "hard-working as their grandparents" and they expect everything to be "handed out on a silver platter". I listen to these conversations, without saying a word or voicing my own opinion.

This is where part of the problem arises. I care deeply about social justice and civil rights and I should speak up and not care about what people think. However, it is so difficult when the stereotypes and indifference are so powerful that no one really cares what you think or say. This is what makes the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina so difficult to watch and endure. We send out money and clothes to those who need help, which helps the problem temporarily. But, when we need to work on the problems that need long-term solutions, such as racism, people run away and refuse to do anything about it. Oppressed individuals are powerless and there are not many powerful venues for people to talk openly about race and racism, allowing the problems and inequities to persist for the future generations.

We need an honest discussion about race relations in America!

On Friday, I watched the music video "Stupid Girls" by Pink. What a great song! At last, an anthem against all the stupid actions and the incessant attention on these girls (aka Britney, Paris, Lindsay, Nicole, Jessica Simpson, etc.)! I feel so sorry for young girls who live in this culture that values the stupidity and airheadness of these girls and encourages young girls to act this way. What horrible role models! It's about time that someone addresses these problems. Way to go, Pink!

(I also watched an interview of Pink where the reporter asked how she feels about any potential Hollywood backlash against her song...as if we need to worry about how Hollywood will react!)

Here are the lyrics of her song "Stupid Girls" (from lyricshop.com)

"Stupid Girls" by Pink
Stupid girl, stupid girls, stupid girls
Baby if I act like that, that guy will call me back
What a paparazzi girl, I don't wanna be a stupid girl

Go to Fred Segal, you'll find them there
Laughing loud so all the little people stare
Looking for a daddy to pay for the champagne
(Drop a name)
What happened to the dreams of a girl president
She's dancing in the video next to 50 Cent
They travel in packs of two or three
With their itsy bitsy doggies and their teeny-weeny tees
Where, oh where, have the smart people gone?
Oh where, oh where could they be?

Baby if I act like that, that guy will call me back
What a paparazzi girl, I don't wanna be a stupid girl
Baby if I act like that, flipping my blonde hair back
Push up my bra like that, I don't wanna be a stupid girl

(Break it down now)
Disease's growing, it's epidemic
I'm scared that there ain't a cure
The world believes it and I'm going crazy
I cannot take any more
I'm so glad that I'll never fit in
That will never be me
Outcasts and girls with ambition
That's what I wanna see
Disasters all around
World despaired
Their only concern
Will they **** up my hair

Baby if I act like that, that guy will call me back
What a paparazzi girl, I don't wanna be a stupid girl
Baby if I act like that, flipping my blonde hair back
Push up my bra like that, I don't wanna be a stupid girl

[Interlude]
Oh my god you guys, I totally had more that 300 calories
That was so not sexy, no
Good one, can I borrow that?
[Vomits]
I WILL BE SKINNY

(Do ya thing, do ya thing, do ya thing)
(I like this, like this, like this)
Pretty will you **** me girl, silly as a lucky girl
Pull my head and suck it girl, stupid girl!
Pretty would u **** me girl, silly as a lucky girl
Pull my head and suck it girl, stupid girl!

Baby if I act like that, flipping my blonde hair back
Push up my bra like that, stupid girl!

Baby if I act like that, that guy will call me back
What a paparazzi girl, I don't wanna be a stupid girl
Baby if I act like that, flipping my blonde hair back
Push up my bra like that, I don't wanna be a stupid girl

Sometimes I'm stupid and I just do stupid and silly things. Why can't I just be normal and do normal things like everyone else? Why can't I just interact normally with other people? For instance, today was my sister's Chinese New Year celebration at her school. Instead of being the nice dutiful sister and just helping her out, I just had a stupid temper tantrum of the fact that that I need to use the computer at her school to finish a job application for a VIP job that I can possibly get. I just made it through the 2nd round of interviews and my next interview is on Monday and I need to get these forms finished today! In my eyes, was it so difficult for her to walk to the computer lab and log me onto the computer? Or, why she couldn't remember her stupid password in the first place and just gave it to me? Instead, I had to go back and forth, pestering her to log me onto the computer.

Now, I'm sitting in the computer lab, finishing my job applications. Now I just feel embarassed and I don't want to go back and help out with the decorations. Did i need to make a scene? No. But, do I need the job in order to get more experience? Yes.

I just feel so overwhelmed. I am starting graduate school in the fall and I feel so intimidated about my lack of experience in comparison to others. However, I don't know of any other way for me to get experience. I'm just so confused and pathetic sometimes. However, I will find a way to get through this. I just need more experience in order to feel more confident with myself.