For my last entry, I really wanted to post a video about either stereotypes, racism, bullying, something like that. I spent a lot of time on youtube searching these topics and discovered the amount of videos promoting unity and change. There were many anti bulling videos, anti stereotypes, how stereotypes can affect a person, defeating the label sort of videos, anti racist videos, the list goes on and on.
There were 3 important things I noticed from searching and seeing all of these videos:
1) The actual amount of existing videos that promote an "open mind".
2) The fact that most of the videos were either made by or involved in some way teenagers and young adults.
3) All of the views and comments that the videos had.
Why are these points important? Simple, its proof that times are changing. The newer generations are beginning to understand (or already do) the necessity of having a broader perspective and acceptance of people of different race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, personal taste, etc.
This is one of the reasons as to why there is so much conflict between the older and newer generations.
But not all young people are like this though. I can personally say that I'm a very open minded person, but I have family members who are not. Some of my own cousins, for example, tend to use a lot of racist jokes and can be very close minded in relation to sexual orientation, urban groups and whatnot. My guess is that it is the result of the environment in which they grew up in and the limited access to the media. Their main family is consisted mainly of boys who, following the steps of their fathers, can be a bit "macho". A few years ago they didn't have as much access to the media as I did or what more city people had.
So, as seen in class and in other posts, it is true that the media helps spread stereotypes and such BUT it also helps provide a wider perspective or view on things. Youtube is an example. Thousands of people have watched the video shown here plus many others. Thousands have the notion that bullying, stereotyping, labeling and racism is wrong. Thousands more will continue to watch the videos. It is also important to note the comments written on the videos. People are showing their support towards change and are no longer standing on the sidelines but actually taking action not with violence, but with non violent resistance (as promoted by Martin Luther King).
I chose this particular video because it was made by people more of our generation, it had a more happy vibe to it (there were other good videos but they tended to be a bit more sad and trying to change your mentality by making you feel bad), it showed all kinds of people and it was fun to watch. It catches your attention plus the music is catchy. The song used is actually adequate "Who Do U Think U R?" *note the lyrics.
Here are some links to other videos I found interesting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YXCVy8wlXo&feature=related (Very good)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90Y4jx38DF4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWJut7KQhI4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrJxqvalFxM
We have advanced a lot but we still have a long way to go. What do you think? Is there hope for the future?
I agree with your point of view. More and more youngsters are changing and becoming more tolerant with the diversity of minorities, sometimes it is because of their own parents influence who give them the option to see things with more perspective of the differences between ones and others.
ReplyDeleteI liked your post. and I agree with it. is scary how social media can be use in such bad way.to segregate and discriminate people, and specially how teens use it as one of the strongest ways of bulling.
ReplyDeletebut, as you said, there is hope.Is great to see how the same teens are now teaming up to fight all this discrimination, and giving help and hope to those who suffer from bulling.