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Show • IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR INACTION M inority groups are constantly battling to champion their causes. It is a movement that is changing our culture and our country as a contemporary reformation. However, there are many unique, powerful voices and causes that need to be heard within the minority community. We should not simply clump all minority groups together. It is offensive and downplays the importance of individual voices. We should recognize that saying you are "color-blind" is itself a form a racism and that ignorance toward issues such as gender pronouns facilitates prejudice. We should be aware enough to educate ourselves. We should celebrate diversity in all its forms. Anti-discrimination is a good banner, so long as we do not use it as a way to see all people in the same way. We should see all people equally, and everyone should be able to feel equally privileged. However, differences should be celebrated rather than "not seen" through the guise of sameness. The pursuit of happiness is not a conveyor belt of systematized arrangements. The United States should not be a melting pot where cultures come in and assimilate their uniqueness into a uniform, homogenous mixture of monotony. No, the U.S. should be a land of freedom. A land where you are free to be, think, work, worship, marry, vote and participate in the human race without reservation. I must acknowledge a certain degree of my own ignorance as well. I am not actively involved in any minority groups and am most likely seen as one of the privileged who could go through this life without worrying about discrimination. However, ignorance is not an excuse for perpetuating the existing system of inequality. There are changes that need to be made, and it starts in our minds and actions. We all must be advocates for each other and spread awareness and affect change. This said, I am at times confused by the sense of rivalry that exists between some members of minority groups and members of other minority groups. Lately, I have heard and come across situations in which an individual responded to an event or petition for certain causes with eye rolls and disregard. I was surprised because these people were champions of their own communities, seeking to be heard. It seemed that their thought processes somehow didn't take into account their cause and detracted from their community's voice. I understand that everyone thinks their cause is the most important, but that does not mean reacting to someone else's efforts to be heard in a manner that makes them irrelevant. If you are against the prejudice of the system, see it all. In a way, fighters against the system can also perpetuate it by only seeing the changes that would affect them and theirs. Step back and see the changes that can encompass all who need to be heard. letters@chronicle.utah.edu CORPORA •PilinikfiliPTWO111D ;F PSI I IR [1111T • W hen we hear the phrase "corporal punishment," the first SABIHA image we may think of are men being flogged as a form of punishment. Corporal punishment was used widely in American and European history but was slowly phased out to make room for a newer, more profitable punishment model — incarceration. Although it may not be used commonly in the countries we frequent on vacation, corporal punishment is still utilized in places such as Malaysia, Guatemala and Syria. Incarceration is a multi-million dollar industry that hemorrhages state funds and perpetuates the stereotype that punishment based on depriving inmates of mental and emotional security is more humane than the corporal punishment or physical torture we often see in other parts of the world. We subconsciously characterize these countries as primitive or less developed and blame religious and cultural practices for its application when in fact corporal punishment is just another MASUD 10 { THECHRON OPINION ARTS method used to deter crime. Incarceration is just as harmful to individuals as corporal punishment — they are simply different systems. One does not have more merit than the other. We ought to consider both discipline structures to be at the same level in terms of a moral standard (or lack thereof). We rarely encounter people endorsing corporal punishment, but the largely negative effects of incarceration are kept quiet for the most part, away from the media and from the public. In terms of effectiveness, multiple studies have found that incarceration does not actually deter crime. Criminals who are released are likely to become secondtime offenders. They slip back into the same harmful routines because their sentence ultimately did nothing but maim them psychologically. This brings us to the more serious side of incarceration. The lifelong effects of being locked up in prison include post traumatic stress, anxiety and depressive disorders, social withdrawal and increased violent tendencies.The mental torture experienced in prison, as well as the deprivation of freedom and autonomy, hold no benefit to anyone in the system — or out of it for that matter. In addition, incarceration hurts more than just the SPORTS I FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 • • • As§ • 00 00 06 406 406 406 406 406 406 406 • atire 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 • • 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 • STUDENTS GE IFE NECESSITI FROM AMAZON ollege is a time of low RONA cash flow for all students. From tuition bills and housing bills to buying Panda Express at the Union every day, extra money can seem like a rare commodity. But whether you've got some extra cash to spend or are barely scraping by, one thing is certain: Spending money on Amazon.com is a necessity. Students can order anything online at any time and have it sent to any place within days. Anything is possible on Amazon. It is a marvel of human accomplishment. However, this "retail freedom" has caused many problems in students' budgeting plans. "I can admit that I am guilty of purchasing many articles of Pokemon paraphernalia on Amazon," said Greg Cards, a freshman in Generation II. "You could argue that the items were not `necessities: but I would strongly disagree. I had to have them BOOMER for Pokemon u t was . I ical college expenditure. I have to keep up on my extracurriculars." "Where else can you buy Birkenstocks in the winter?" said Chase Toe, a medical student in podiatry. "They are a crucial part of my wardrobe year-round." Most students have used Amazon for pertinent dorm decorations and adornments. "I had to have posters of bikini chicks in my room': said Joe Swoll, a freshman in furniture moving. "All the guys have them. Everyone has to know how masculine we are." There are many items on Amazon that simply aren't available in the Utah market. With the growth of the Internet, students have developed desires for things that are simply not available in the United States. "I have bought an embarrassing amount of Rubik's Cubes from China since I started college: said Suze Clix, a junior in mind games. "I have a lot more time on my hands now:' "I had to have that black and white poster of Taylor Swift with red lipstick," said Jane White, sophomore in Starbucks lattes. "Without it, my apartment would look like no one lives there." Amazon also offers a Pn • ' • v1 • at has b- I • popular among college students. "I like to think of it as Netflix's ugly cousin," said Swoll. "It's not as pretty or exciting, but it will do': The service offers movies and TV shows for streaming but does not offer the same variety as Netflix. However, students are drawn by the free trial and the more obscure programs that are available, such as "The Wonder Pets and The White Queen': "I had to get Amazon Prime TIP,' Clix said. "They have the first season of Dora the Explorer. Everyone knows the first season is the best." It would seem as though Amazon is necessary for college survival. These critical online expenditures should be incorporated into students' budgets. "I ordered bead curtains for my doors," said Jade Bohemian, freshman in hipster studies. "They really tie my vintage ambiance together. I can't just order a vintage record player and not have bead curtains, I mean, really." letters@chronicle.utah.edu ii CIRATIOW RAP MUSIC RETURNS TO ITS MISOGYNISTIC ROOTS I imprisoned individual in question. Prison sentences have short-term and long-term effects on children and family members.The confusion, uncertainty and lack of information that surrounds incarceration leaves children unable to build coping mechanisms and focus in other parts of their lives. One study found that in a group of 166 children aged six to eight, 70 percent of those with incarcerated mothers showed poor academic performance, and five percent exhibited classroom behavior problems. Corporal punishment, on the other hand, primarily affects the criminal without directly affecting his or her family and friends in negative ways. Only the offender is punished, not the innocent people in their lives. It has long been looked at as the sort of cruel and unusual punishment which the Eighth Amendment forbids, but corporal punishment is a viable alternative to incarceration. Both systems have their negative aspects, but corporal punishment poses less detriment to family, society and the individual in question. Although the physical harm experienced during corporal punishment is not pleasant, the mental trauma endured throughout incarceration is a wound which may never heal. letters@chronicle.utah.edu BY IAN HAMMERIAN / COLUMNIST he Rap industry pledges to be 40 percent more misogynistic in Q2 this year. Hip-hop fans at the U rejoiced earlier this week as the rap industry pledged to increase their misogyny by a minimum of 40 percent this upcoming quarter. This much-needed change is thought to have been in response to the recent allegations that rappers were letting up on the issue of hating women. We contacted producer Mike "Will Have Likely Made It" Ekim and asked him why such drastic changes were being made. "All of us in the industry were worried that our glory days of the 1980s were gone and passed': Ekim said. "So we decided to throw it back and do what works for us: treating half of the population like second-class citizens:' While many view the 40 percent increase as a worthy goal, other rappers believe otherwise. Speculation by the faces of the industry has made up half of the hype about this radical change. Rap analyst, Jim Hughes, offered an alternative view. "I don't expect that this 40 percent figure will be across the board': Hughes said. "As far as lyrics about domestic violence go, I think we can expect at least a 65 percent increase, but artfully introducing slurs will be much more of a challenge, so we're much more likely to see less than a 20 percent increase on that front" In an interview with Lil Wayne, the rapper told us, "[Expletive], [expletive] [expletive] you, [expletive] [expletive]? [Expletive] [expletive] right, [expletive] [expletive] [expletive] [expletive]" This effort by the industry has been met with almost unanimous support and has been hailed as a re-reclaiming of former glory. However, other genres are not so excited about the change. Classical music released a statement that it would continue to feel superior to rap. Sources say this was released not as a direct response to rap's increased misogyny but instead to rap's continued use of lyrics. Folk music, in a recent interview, when asked about this increase in misogyny, has stated that it "don't really understand what most of them fancy words there meant," but is scared nonetheless. Country music has responded that by being more misogynistic and culturally ignorant, rap music was plagiarizing their ideas. We contacted reggae music for comment, but it declined. Reggae has since admitted it was too high at the time to respond. This stance by the rap industry to increase misogyny so drastically, while ambitious, is not out of reach. What is out of reach, according to industry experts, is continued growth at this rate. Most analysts expect that it will drop off by Q4. The industry has responded to these claims with its statement, "While we recognize we will not be keeping the goal at 40 percent during Q3, we have plans to expand other sectors, such as swearing, drug use and material that is inappropriate for children:' letters@chronicle.utah.edu Donate plasma today and earn up to $300 a month! Who knew I could earn money, save lives, and get free wi fi at the same time? - 2978 South State St., Salt Lake City, UT 84115 CI 801-485-5085 Scan for an insider look at , the plasma donation process To scan and view content. you must download ..cp,odereads,frornyourAppstore. .Applkableforeligible,qualifiednewdorion.Feesvaryby weight.NewcioriorsrilustbringpllotolD,proofofackiress anclSocialSecuritynumber. 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