Dec. 23rd: Spineless

All through elementary school and middle school, I was that nerdy kid who could be counted on to have a book in hand. Everywhere I went, I would have to have something to read, to keep me busy, to entertain me, and to get me engaged.  It continued on to high school, although a problem arose: as I got older, books became bigger, heavier, harder to whip out at a moment’s notice. I began to shift my reading from a constant activity to a very much controlled one. I would read for a half hour before bed, or a few minutes right after school. I began to develop routines.

But, as is always the case, as the world around me got more complicated, so too did finding time to read. All of a sudden, I found myself in front of screens more often than pages. It was increasingly difficult to not only find the time, but also the motivation to whip out a book. With the limited free time I have, a book isn’t necessarily the way I want to spend it.

Throughout college, though, I have made it a point to always read a little bit before going to bed. There is no better feeling than reading a book you simply can’t put down. More so than any other media, books can lead to hugely creative entertainment.

Finally, I decided to make a change to my reading habits. I decided to invest in a Kindle. For years, people had been telling me that e-Reading was perfect for me, and I had refused every time. I like the feel of a book, the smell of it, the way I can track my progress. After years, though, I decided to make the not-too-expensive decision and cave.

It didn’t take long for me to regret my years of resistance. All of my opposition to reading had an answer. I could track my progress not only through page numbers but also percentage of the book, time remaining in a chapter, and chapter headings. I could transition from one chapter to another almost as easily as if I flipped the pages.

The quality of the reading is perfect. Plus, I never had to worry about running out of content. I can preload books when I’m getting close to being done with one, and get all set to pick up right where I left off in a series, or start a new endeavor immediately. I don’t even need to go to the library.

All of this innovation, though, led to an interesting consideration: does digital reading lead to an increase or a decrease in reading? Does it mean that libraries will meet their demise? Do we have a reading problem on our hands and, if so, are e-readers part of the problem or the solution?

After a little time with my e-reader, it is pretty clear that e-reading offers a multitude of solutions to the reading issues that are becoming all-too-popular. The ease with which reading becomes accessible offers the consumer a whole new opportunity to interact with different texts and different media. We can continue to use screens, but this time, we will be doing more with that technology.

The consumer side of the market is better, growing, and easier. That doesn’t necessarily bode well, though, for the book industry as we know it. Book sellers and libraries face a difficult reality. They will either have to change the way they play the game, or choose to remove themselves. As we see them now, bookstores are locations for buying hard-copies of books. You can get new digital copies on the internet. Same goes for libraries. Under the current system, there is no need for these institutions if a digital download is available.

Yet, both bookstores and libraries are making shifts. Many libraries offer online libraries, where patrons can download copies of books and return them online, just the same as hard copies get returned to the library building. The same goes for bookstores. Barnes and Noble has created the Nook, their own version of the e-reader, and offers their books both online and in-store. While this won’t necessarily help the stores themselves, the company is prepared for the future.

The world of reading is changing, and so must the locations where reading is stimulated. That doesn’t mean, though, that reading is going to struggle. To continue to allow reading to be competitive with other sources of media, the industry needs to move to continue to allow consumers to get their hands on material.

After years of waiting, I decided to buy into the future of reading. It didn’t take long to realize just how limitless the possibilities are.

Dec. 10th: Fear Itself

This past Saturday was the anniversary of “a date that will live in infamy.” 72 years ago, Pearl Harbor was attacked, launching the country into a war that, to that point, we had avoided.

Now, as we reflect on the events of December 7^th, 1941, I can’t help but remember another famous statement by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, this time one eight years earlier on his inauguration for his first term as president. He boldly stated that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” This came at a time when living in America was a potentially terrifying notion. The Great Depression raged and a country in need of some courage was able to put their fear at bay by the words of their newly elected president.

American culture today is not that different. Our society is based almost entirely on fear. We go through every day in a perpetual state of discomfort and unease.

We fear what we do not know. Between homophobia, Islamaphobia, and even our fear of foreign cultures, we are trained to be scared of people who are different from ourselves.

We fear that, simply by their existence, organizations such as the Traditionalist Youth movement will become the norm. It doesn’t matter that their opinions and ideals are a tiny minority, the fact that they exist terrifies us.

We also fear being judged. An inordinate amount of time is spent worrying about what others think of us. We worry that we will be shamed, analyzed, critiqued, laughed at. We don’t want others to judge us, therefore we start campaigns against slut-shaming, gay bashing, and all other forms of criticism. While none of those things are acceptable in the society in which we live, they receive far too much of our attention, because of our constant fear that they will become our tags.

The result of these campaigns, though, is not less fear: it is more. We become afraid to say anything for fear that someone will be offended. We lose ownership of our own actions because we are so afraid of the ways that our behavior will be received by others.

The bottom line is that we all will be judged. We all will be put in situations that make us uncomfortable, force us to interact with different ideas and different kinds of people. Rather than retreating, then, and avoiding these situations, we have the opportunity to reflect on what makes us scared and actually do something about it.

During the Great Depression, fear was an incredibly real and contagious notion. That same concept of fear is no less real today. The difference is that the thing we fear most is ourselves. We are afraid to be who we are because we are worried that others will not take it well .We are afraid that, if we are who we are ,someone else, some “other,” will step in and attempt to take our identity away.

So what can we do? How can we avoid the crippling fear that permeates our lives? The answer comes in the form of information. We are most afraid when we are at our most ignorant. By learning about others and learning about ourselves, we can be less susceptible to the fear that has become culturally normal.

The fear in the aftermath of the Great Depression and World War II was followed by an era of great American growth and learning. America can learn just as significantly today from the fears and strength of our past.

December 4th: Polar Pops

One of the most successful advertising campaigns of all time just got a whole lot bigger.

Introduced for the first time as early as the 1920s, the polar bear has been a mainstay in Coca-Cola’s advertising campaigns. The ads spun off into a campaign with the World Wildlife Fund to help protect the bears, creating something of a symbiotic relationship between the advertisers and the furry friends that have helped to launch the company into the hearts of billions of people around the globe. Through the over 80 years of polar bear-based Coke ads, the animation and characterization has changed and developed, advancing as technology allows. Now, they are ready to take yet another step forward in the hopes of selling their iconic brand.

A short, six minute movie has been produced, featuring the Coca-Cola polar bears. Yes, that is how they are introduced. At first glance, it would be totally reasonable to believe that it is simply a children’s movie with polar bears as the protagonist, but within moments, Coke removes all doubt of their stamp on the film.

This is a brilliant move on the part of the Coca-Cola Company for several reasons. The timing is also pretty well scripted. The film trailers were featured in new releases such as the Hunger Games, which hit theaters just a few days after Coke announced their intentions to donate their advertising budget for the coming period to disaster relief in the Philippines. While donating their money in such a public way is definitely doing good work for the world, it is also a form of free advertising. The money that Coke sent to the Philippines also helped to create a positive media buzz that can’t hurt Coke’s bottom line. Having a six minute advertising movie can’t hurt their case.

It is also interesting to note the target audience for the short film. The expectation is not that older media consumers will stumble upon this film. The most significant demographic for this movie is children, who will seek out some screen time with their new favorite white friends. I’m sure there will be stuffed animals, t-shirts, and other merchandise running in parallel to the movie and even further infiltration into our homes. What this does is get children hooked on a brand before they are trained to understand the complexity of advertising and how it affects them. By getting them while they’re young, Coke is maximizing their ad profits, because they have the potential to create a connection with the individuals who will be their target audience not only now, but for the rest of their lives.

As one of the most innovative advertising companies in the world, Coca-Cola continues to find new ways to get their names out there and into the homes of consumers. Without analysis or thought, it can leave consumers completely at the mercy of the corporation.

Nov. 25th: Not Even Politics

For the fourth time in a month, President Barack Obama will have to go back to the drawing board to come up with a nominee for the Federal Appeals Court. The Senate rejected Robert L. Wilkins’ nomination, marking the third time that they have turned down an Obama administration selection to fill one of the vacancies on the court. Republicans in the Senate were forthcoming about their reasoning for the rejection: Wilkins is a liberal which will skew the ideology of the court to the left.

One of the perks of being President is the ability to decide the ideological trajectory of various government agencies, the court being the most significant. Yet again, we see the G.O.P taking all of Obama’s power away, rendering him virtually impotent.

This is just another example from a presidency that, in the scope of history, will likely come to be known for its political conflict across party lines. The Republicans in both the Senate and the House have made the decision to make Obama’s presidency as difficult as possible, no matter what they have to block to accomplish it.

In the aftermath of the government shutdown debacle, you would think that Congress would be on its best behavior. That doesn't appear to be the case. There seems to be this notion that Barack Obama’s presidency is just a tough time and that we, as America, are going to “ride it out.”

That isn’t the way government works, or at least isn’t the way it SHOULD work. We cannot waste the next three years. With so many government officials focusing so heavily on their upcoming elections, we need to leave the off-years to actually allow those elected officials to do their jobs, to allow the governors to actually govern.

While Congress does have the technical power to deny a president the ability to install a candidate to a particular vacancy, it does not mean that it needs to be used early and often. The checks and balances set up by the Constitution are meant to prevent a specific group or individual from abusing their power, installing under-qualified or nepotistic candidates. It is not an example of nepotism to install an individual of similar ideological background, yet the Republicans feel as though they can use that as the only grounds for refusal to approve.

It is totally understandable for different political parties to get into conflict about issues. The actual substance of what is being debated, and the conceptual pieces that make up government deliberation. It is not, on the other hand, the right of the politicians, Republican or Democrat, to shut down the government simply because a politicians cannot find it within him or herself to find a way to get along with the other party.

While the government shutdown has technically ended, behavior like this from the Republicans proves that governing is not occurring. For the political system to think it is acceptable to bide their time until there can be some kind of shift based on elections is not only wasting their time in office, but also wasting my time, as a citizen.

This country is in desperate need of governing right now. It is no longer acceptable, then, for those trusted with that task to continue to use their positions for petty argument, rather than bold and significant social and political analysis and, in some cases, reform.

Nov. 18: It's All Greek to Me

An article in the IDS last week, “Another Drunken Saturday,” has received a lot of attention for being inflammatory toward the Greek system. It wasn’t. This will be.

A gross example of obstruction of justice occurred last week. Here are the facts.

An article ran in the IDS detailing the Saturday morning of an Indiana University student. The student was under-age and a member of a sorority. The article showed her consumption of alcohol, both within the context of fraternities and also at family tailgates.

Here is the reaction. The Greek system responded with a twitter campaign, meant to show the great things that members of the fraternities and sororities across campus do, both for one another and for the university as a whole.

The problem is that the members of the Greek system decided to make the article about them, rather than about the social issue that the writer raises. Drinking culture is deeply ingrained in the IU community. Anyone who goes here knows that drinking is not only popular, but in many cases is a social expectation.  An exposé meant to shed light on the situation of excessive drinking, both underage and otherwise, is something that was not only well done by the writer, but also incredibly important and necessary for the community as a whole, not just the Greek community.

Indiana University has focused an incredible amount of attention in recent weeks to the way alcohol is handled on campus, especially in response to two freshmen who, earlier in the semester, died, seemingly from alcohol related incidences. The Greek system has been very responsive to this, attempting to limit the amount of hard alcohol permitted at their parties, and other self-imposed restrictions. But their biggest opportunity to come out looking like they cared about the safety of not only their people but also the college as a whole resulted in a sad dropping of the ball.

Instead of accepting the article for what it was, the Greek community decided that it was a personal attack. The IDS was accused of being anti-Greek. While the Opinions staff has had something of a history of coming out against fraternity and sorority life, the news and features departments don’t really have the vehicles with which to be overtly biased. This argument blames the newspaper, rather than the reaction to it.

It is also important to note the distinction between the Greek system and its members. When saying that there is a drinking problem within the Greek system, that does not automatically infer that every member of every house is a raging alcoholic. It simply means that, as a collective body, the organization as a whole does not do nearly enough to promote healthy and safe alcohol consumption.

All too common this week has been the notion of “I know tons of really great people in the Greek system.” By saying this, people are not helping to dissuade the stereotype. It is, rather, perpetuating the notion that those two things are mutually exclusive, which was never addressed. Whether they would like to believe it or not, drinking is most definitely a piece of what fraternities and sororities do. It is not who they are, though. Instead of jumping to remind everyone of that, the organization should own up, appreciate what the article was trying to say, and do what it can to help the university improve.

The newspaper article last week had the potential to open a lot of eyes to the scary drinking activities that go too far on this campus. It had the opportunity to raise awareness of just how wide-spread an issue this is. It had the chance to cause a very real change for the better in the way we understand drinking on our campus. Instead, it was turned into an opportunity for hurt feelings and hostility.

Members of the Greek system are extremely embarrassed after the article. And they should be. But they are embarrassed for the wrong reasons.

Nov. 17: Double Coverage

Since 2010, my blog, the Zoot Perspective, has been not only a posting site, but also a classroom. I have been able to work on my ability to write, to explore different topics that are important to me, and to navigate my ability to create a logical argument. Throughout those 4 years, I have gone through streaks of intense posting, periods of lackluster performance, and times when I needed to be pushed for my best work. Now comes an opportunity to take my blogging and my communications skills to a whole new level.

As a telecommunications major, I have had the opportunity to learn how media impacts our lives, and the ways in which we choose to interact with those media. I am prepared to revamp the Zoot Perspective in two unique and equally important ways.

First of all, the growth of Twitter has driven me to expand my blogging to the world of micro-blogging. Many of my readers also follow my personal twitter account, but as of today, there will now be a specific account meant for the Zoot Perspective. By following @ZootPerspective , you will have the opportunity to catch not only the publicity for my content, but also updates on my thought process and often times my inspiration. This will allow me to have access to smaller, more frequent posts throughout the week, not just one large post at a time.

One of the most important points of discussion in the world of telecommunications right now is the notion of audience segmentation. It is quite popular, for example, for television shows and movies to think long and hard about their target audience, and work hard to ensure that the content they are providing is tailored to that group. I believe that audience analysis and targeting is important, which is why, as of today, my blog will be splitting into two. While I will continue to write a weekly piece for the Zoot Perspective, I am starting a new blog specifically catered to my sports following.

My writing originated, in many ways, as the Sports Editor of my high school newspaper. In fact, the very first blog I attempted was a blog analyzing the Chicago Cubs (I only made it to one post. If my ninth grade self could see me now.)  It was that passion for sports writing that has so often been the inspiration for pieces throughout my years on the Zoot Perspective. I have come to realize, though, that I seemed to have developed two audiences. One audience wants to read my content about the sporting world, while the other wants only to view my social analysis and criticism pieces. That being said, I am making the concerted effort to keep up with both.

The title of the new blog is “The Left Fielder.” The name comes from the popular notion that things that surprise us come from “out of left field.” I want to have my sports blog focus on the elements of sports that make us feel, that make us think. Those pieces are what make sports so important to our everyday lives, and make them so transcendent in our culture. That being said, I, as the Left Fielder, want to be able to field the issues that come up, and shed light onto those cases in sports that elicit the most intense feelings and reactions. “The Left Fielder” will also have its own twitter account, @ZPLeftFielder. This twitter account will focus on both reposting important sports news pieces as well as commenting on them.

I have to admit that I am learning. There may be bumps in the road. It will take me time to find a balance between the two media outlets, and the ways in which I interact with each of them. But it is in that pursuit that my education continues. I’m going to learn how to balance two different accounts. I’m going to learn what should be posted from @ZootPerspective and what should be from my personal account. I’m going to learn what are the important issues that need to be shared on more than one platform, and those that don’t need sharing at all. I mentioned in a blog post from earlier this year that this blog is about my learning, my growing. I want my audience to grow with me as I develop my understanding of social media and the way they impact our lives. I want to learn how to build the ZP Media Conglomerate to become a comprehensive and meaningful source for my readers.

Here is the link to the first post from the ZP: http://zpleftfielder.blogspot.com/2013/11/opening-drive.html  Left Fielder. Read, enjoy, and feel free to comment with your feedback.

So let’s play ball.

Nov. 13th: A Seasonal Veteran

To celebrate Veteran’s Day this past weekend, the National Football League pulled out all the stops. Players wore camouflage gear, fans wore camouflage hats and t-shirts, and several players used a simple salute in their touchdown dances.

Salute to Service day, as it was known, was the NFL’s opportunity to commemorate those who have served our country and fought to allow us to play and watch football. Unfortunately, that notion was lost in the publicity and marketing of the event.

If you want to buy a hat, similar to the one worn by your favorite players, showing your favorite team’s logo on a camouflage backdrop, the price is $5 higher than if you were to buy the generic one. The same goes for jerseys, t-shirts, and anything else the NFL can get their hands on. Unfortunately, the only thing hidden by the camouflage gear was the intention and meaning of the holiday itself.

The reality is that Veterans Day has turned into a gimmick, rather than a legitimate opportunity to pay respects that are owed to the proud men and women who have given so much to each and every one of us who lives in this nation.

That isn’t to say that all celebrations of the holiday were selfish. There were several pregame ceremonies, both in the NFL as well as in the National Hockey League that honored soldiers and their families. This was, though, such a small part of the otherwise commercialized holiday.

The “holiday” didn’t stop just at the sports world. Many stores had Veteran’s Day sales, offering free shipping and discounts on their items storewide and site-wide throughout the weekend. Nothing says thank you to all of those who have forfeited years of their life to dedicate to this country quite like being able to buy your too-expensive camouflage hat at a discounted price!

Every day, we as Americans get the opportunity to live our lives because of the dedication of those who, over the past 250 years, have committed themselves to fighting for what is right. That fight has come in a multitude of forms. Some have used a gun to stand up to a bitter enemy, others have taken up the pen to fight against those who try to weaken us from within. Veteran’s Day is meant to be a moment, a 24 hour period, where we are able to reflect not only on the contributions that others have made to America, but also to think of the ways each of us can honor those individuals. While Veteran’s Day is specifically focused on those who have served in the United States Armed forces, it is also important to note that those sacrifices for this country come in a great many other forms.

So while we may choose to make the day one of touchdowns and sales, there are a multitude of ways, many far more meaningful, that we can commemorate and celebrate those who were willing to fight for our right to survive.

Thank you to all who serve and who continue to serve, so that we may continue to live our lives in peace.

November 7th: If you build it...

Since I was 12 years old, I’ve known that I want to be a rabbi. Never has that desire been stronger than it was this weekend.

This weekend I attended an undergraduate conference at Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion. HUC offers this conference both as a recruiting opportunity as well as a chance for learning and community building for all Jewish college students. 21 students from 11 different schools came together to discuss what it means to build community and how to accomplish it.

The most amazing part of this gathering was the intensity of the conversations we held. Topics included all different facets of what it means to be Jewish and what it means to be college students. We were sharing our opinions, our experiences, and our hopes for the future. It was an incredible opportunity to come together and learn from one another.

It was like nothing that we see in the rest of the world. There was openness; a willingness to participate that was something totally new. Everyone there was there for the right reasons, and the conversations flowed freely.

Some of the participants this weekend were rabbinic hopefuls, but there were those who were there just for the opportunity to experience their Judaism in a new way. To have a variety of different individuals with very different goals made the conversation all the more interesting. From the engineer to the musician, everyone brought their best to the table and were part of what made the community whole.

The theme of the weekend was focused on creating community. We analyzed what aspects of community are important to us and how we can best facilitate the construction of them. Not only did we talk about communities, but we developed one of our own. We had the opportunity to understand how a collection of individuals comes together, and seeing it in action allowed each of us to take our experiences back to our schools, our homes, and our congregations to use what we have learned to help develop our own communities.

We also had the opportunity to hear from several different HUC students about their own trajectory that sent them to study to be rabbis. It was so interesting to hear from each of these individuals, and it truly gave perspective on the multitude of very different routes that got them to this point. From those who are freshly out of their undergraduate experience to those who are seeking a second career, it gave an interesting insight into the different kinds of classmates that I, as a hopeful student, might encounter.

One comment that a certain HUC student made that really stuck with me was when she was discussing her rationale for making Judaism a career. She said that, as she grew up, she loved all of the pieces of what Judaism had to offer. She said that, by becoming a rabbi, she would get to experience all of the thing she loved about her religion as a job.

I was taught growing up to never work hard. I was taught that, if you enjoy what you’re doing, you won’t have to “work,” so much as get paid to do what you love. Hearing this student, just a  few years older than I am, talking about her passion in a way that was so reflective of my own, really set me in the right direction. It is my dream to be able to take my passion for people, scholarship, and leadership and create a truly meaningful career out of it.

October 30th: Psych out

To keep myself company as I wrote three different papers this weekend, I decided to watch my favorite TV show, Psych, from the beginning. I thought it would be fun to see how far the show has come. Plus, if I watch a show I’ve already seen, I’ll be able to focus on any schoolwork too, right?

Three episodes and two paragraphs later, I was engrossed fully in the show. The most interesting component of viewing was to see the ways in which the show has changed through seven seasons.

Every show has its developments. From season to season, characters change and grow, as do the circumstances around them. In Psych, though, the changes were more intense and more immediate.

Most significant of these changes were the setting and set designs. The pilot had locations that included the police headquarters, Shawn (the main character)’s father’s house, and the Psych office. By the fourth episode, all of these places had changed. The budget had gone up and sets were designed to meet the ongoing needs of the show.

The characters changed too. One of the main characters from the pilot was gone by the second show, and her storyline was wrapped up quickly, just for the sake of continuity.

It’s a scary thought to think that this show was someone’s baby, that they slaved for hours over each intricate detail of the story, and then, when the show was picked up, a network said “yeah, we like it, but there are going to have to be some changes.” It really begs the question as to which is more important: having your story shared to the masses, or having your story be indisputably yours. In this particular case, I would like to believe that the writer is pleased with the end result, and that the creation was a development, rather than a forced change. That makes the show advancements feel organic. Unfortunately, that is the reality of television production.

Further on in the show, there is a clear point where the makers of Psych clearly needed some financial assistance because product placement sprang up. For the first time, you could see Shawn using particular products and having them factor into the cases he is solving. It was startling to see how abrupt the shift was and how instantaneously the products became a part of the show.

Some parts never change, though. From the very beginning, Shawn is quirky and eccentric guy who demonstrates a difficulty with the separation between what is easy and what is right. Juliet, the female detective and love interest, is a key component of the show, and the tension between her and Shawn happens from the moment they meet. While many of the details change as the show progresses, the fundamental basis of the show remains for fans to connect to these incredibly developed and loveable characters.

October 23rd: 0 for Effort?

I started a new class this morning, a two and a half hour odyssey twice a week. Sociology 100 will not be too much of a challenge, but it’s a class where I hope to gain some pretty interesting insights into the world around me.

The first day of class did not disappoint. My teacher reviewed the syllabus and we had the chance to see exactly how the class was structured. At the end of the conversation about the grade breakdown, though, the professor had one trick up his sleeve. He offered the class the opportunity to take the course without grades. He said that for a few students, if they chose, they could take the class for the feedback, in hopes of improving academically and learning more intensely. The university requires him to submit a grade at the end of the semester, but that grade wouldn’t be discussed throughout the course. It would allow a student to take the course not for the grade but for the resulting knowledge.

I really liked the idea. The concept of learning for the sake of learning, rather than for a letter grade was intriguing to me. I appreciate those who can see past their GPA in favor of acknowledging how much they have learned.

There is the small problem that, when all is said and done, a grade will still be given. In that case, it isn’t worldly or bold to ignore the grades. It’s just negligent. It actually contradicts the point of education, which is to reflect on what has already been done in the hopes of improving and growing for next time. That being said, a class about sociology isn’t necessarily always about the end result but, often, the intention to get there.

The most undervalued part of college is learning, I think. If you were to ask college students why they go to class, very few would say that it is to actually learn. Answers may be to get good grades or because it is what is expected of them. Rarely, though, are classes viewed for the raw learning that comes from them. It was a big step for the professor to see this failure and try to fix it. To not receive a grade and instead be promised the opportunity for an in-depth analysis of the product that you, as a student, are producing could be a huge opportunity for academic growth.

The real basis for this is helping to find what motivates a student. In the grand scheme of things, nobody will care about your GPA. Nobody will care whether or not you even went to class. What will really cause an impact, though, is the extent to which you are able to use the education you have received in the context of the rest of the world. When grades are taken out of the picture, that can be done more honestly and more fluidly.

This isn’t to say that grades should be done away with. In fact, I think grades are a very good evaluator of the way that an individual can demonstrate learning and growth over time. It is, however, the chance to put those grades into some kind of context that will more thoroughly and thoughtfully help college students as they use their knowledge later on down the road.

October 16: God Only Knows

I ate the same sandwich I always eat. I drank the same drink I always drink. I sat in the same seat I always sit in. But everything was most definitely not the same.

As I was eating lunch in one of the University cafeterias on campus, I noticed a pair of girls sit down at a table just next to mine. As they sat down, I couldn’t help but hear one say to the other “hey, do you wanna pray before we eat?” The other girl thought about it for a moment and agreed.

The prayer was pretty basic. The girl who was giving the prayer thanked Jesus for giving them food to eat and for making the two of them friends. She thanked him for the beautiful day outside and prayed that she would do ok on her upcoming math class. She finished with a simple “Thank you.”

I was struck by two emotions that hit back-to-back. First, I was uncomfortable. Almost immediately after, I was disappointed in myself for being uncomfortable. As someone who is deeply religious myself, why would a pair of girls thanking their god for the food they were eating make me disconcerted?

The problem is that religion has been demonized in far too much of our culture and our society. There are two options: you are either a crazy Christian or a godless atheist. There is almost no middle ground.

My experience with extremely religious Christianity has, disappointingly, been dominated by preachers promising my damnation and that of my friends and family, young men and women trying to sway me from my own faith, and the ignorant believers who read a certain Book a little too literally. Those who are rationally religious are all-too-often shrugged out of the picture, forced to either go to an extreme or be quiet about things.

This is not all that different from what is happening to Islam. We are afraid of anything “Muslim” because the only images we have in our minds of religious Islam are the images we see from the Jihadist Middle East. We underestimate the fact that Islam is no different from any other faith: it is attempting to give practitioners a way to find meaning in the world.

I don’t want people to view my Judaism as crazy or hostile. I don’t want them to think of me as narrow-minded like the depiction of ultra-orthodoxy. I don’t want the assumption to be that, because I am religious, I am incapable of having a logical or scientific discussion.

Sitting at that lunch table, I couldn’t help but feel a little ashamed for being so initially judgmental. Jesus was a smart guy when he said that we should treat others the way we wish to be treated. If I want my religion to be viewed as valid by others, I have to return the favor.

Religion is the moral compass we use to view the world around us. We look at what is right and wrong, and we use the doctrine of a certain faith to help us find meaning. It doesn’t really matter what those teachings are, so long as they provide meaning to the life of the practitioner. We could all use a dose of understanding.

I pray that I can better understand others, and I pray that everyone who calls out to a god, any god, can find peace.

September 30: Once Upon a Time

When I was younger, my dad told me about business. He told me a lot of things, but the one that stuck with me the most is that everyone is selling something. Some people are selling physical items, some are selling services. The one that really got my attention, though, were the people who were selling what my father called “hopes and dreams.” These are your teachers, your politicians, your artists. These are the people who choose to sell the idea that life can be better, and that these individuals can provide a key ingredient.

Ever since this conversation, I’ve been thinking about what I’m selling. Having worked in both retail and food service, I have experience selling physical items and services. My career goals, though, have always been in the hopes and dreams department.

One such profession got me thinking. I was watching “The Newsroom,” a show written by Aaron Sorkin, who was also behind my favorite TV show, “The West Wing.” Sorkin is famous for his workplace dramas, where he takes viewers on a journey to understand a particular life for a certain group of people. Focusing on how the political landscape impacts the people, the real human beings in the White House, was what made “The West Wing” as brilliant a show as it was. This only continued in “The Newsroom.” Sorkin’s ability to craft the emotional experience of working and living in a news television company is what makes his storytelling so incredible.

What I came to realize was that the best thing I can imagine someone selling is a story. Crafting a world and characters allows an individual to step into a new world, and to experience things from a whole new way.

We, as readers, viewers, and observers, love the emotion of a story. We know what it’s like to feel elation by the success of our favorite protagonist. We know what it’s like to cry because of a main character’s loss. We even know what it’s like to fall in love with the bad guy, not because that character was inherently loveable, but because the author took us on a journey that concluded with empathy.

I love to tell stories. My life goal is to write a novel, and I have been working on story ideas for as long as I can remember. Storytelling in all its forms has always fascinated me.  From books to speeches, movies and jokes, I enjoy both creating and observing the storytelling of others.

The best part about a story, though, is that it’s the closest thing we have to real life that isn’t. We get to feel all of the highs and all of the lows that life has to offer, while at the end of the day, we get to walk away. We get to feel all of the emotion without the forced commitment that the real world brings.

My blog was my first real experience with storytelling. The stories I have told are exclusively non-fiction, yet as a general rule they are telling a very opinionated story. I have crafted my ability to write and to tell. Learning to lead my readers on a journey is a craft that I hope to sell for as long as possible. I am selling hopes and dreams, one word at a time.

September 17th: A Column About Nothing

While I don't usually re-post content from my other media outlets, I wanted to run the full text of my column from this morning's copy of the Indiana Daily Student. Due to space issues, we couldn't run the content in its full length, and I wanted to give my readers the chance to see the full text.


From September 17th issue of the Indiana Daily Student:

My column this week is about nothing. It is that way because I’m a white man.

Being a white man means that all interesting and meaningful topics are off limits to me. If I were to talk about any of the most significant social issues of our time, my writing would be thrown away. What right does a white guy, a white guy from a Chicago suburb no less ,to comment on important societal issues?

I have no right to speak about racial issues in America. I have no rights to say that the n-word makes me uncomfortable. I have no right to say that I think we undervalue our differences in favor of an inaccurate homogeneity that keeps anyone from getting hurt, at the loss of truly expressing ourselves.

Let’s ignore the fact that, although my skin is white, my social identification is Jewish. Let’s forget that, as recently as the 1940s, Jews couldn’t get work in America because of the discrimination they faced. Let’s never mind that, when Martin Luther King marched on both Washington in 1963 and Selma in 1965, it was Rabbis Joachim Prinz and Abraham Joshua Heschel who stood at his side. Let’s forget that my people have been fighting a war for thousands of years to defend our right to exist, and the fight continues to rage.

Let’s forget that, according to the United States Census Bureau, there are only five races. Those races are White, African American, American Indian, Asian or Pacific Islander. 

Let’s close our eyes to the fact that those five categories fail to appreciate the fact that a white, Christian farmer from Nebraska and I are in the same category.


At least by being Jewish, religious issues are fair game. It would be really boring if I was a white, Christian man. I wouldn’t have anything to talk about.


I’m white, though, so I have no right to talk about racial issues.


As a man, I have even less of an opinion. I have no ability to comment on the social pressures men put on women. I have no understanding of what it’s like to have my body examined and critiqued. I have no grasp of what it’s like to feel restricted by social expectations and gender norms.


Of course, let’s not take into account the 50 lbs. I lost so that I wouldn’t have to feel ashamed of my body, let alone the women who magically changed their opinions of me after the fact. Ignore the thought that if I cry in front of anybody, I’m weak. Forget that if I don’t watch sports and live at the gym, I’m a pussy.


Never mind that, as human beings, our brains need ways to distinguish the world around us, and gender is one of the most rudimentary ways of understanding what makes each of us individual. It isn’t sexism — it’s categorization. And that makes people uncomfortable.


As a man, there is nothing I can say that would get to the heart of a gender related issue.


There are plenty of other issues that are too taboo for me to discuss. I have nothing to contribute to any conversation of economic class, as I come from a middle-class family in an upper-class suburb. Even my allergy to animals would restrict me from having a stance on animal rights and vegetarianism, because I’ve never lived with or known the love of a pet.


The list about what I can write is much shorter than what I can’t. Sports are nice, and I could write the best movie review ever (as long as the movie was written by another white man.) As long as no other people are involved, my pen flows, but as soon as anything juicy comes up, my opinion becomes moot.


The role of columnist is actually a consulting job. When a racial issue comes up, look to the people of color in the room. Questions about slut shaming? Ask a respectable woman. Want to know what it's like to walk down the street and listen to an iPod, I'm your guy. But please, please don't cross those lines. I can only imagine the understanding and collaboration that would ensue.

September 11th: Public self-reflection

The ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are all about self-reflection. It is about making yourself a better person by figuring out where you are and deciding where to go next. It is also about fixing the wrongs that you have committed in the last year.

I am, by no means, a perfect person. I have messed up. I have room to grow. I want to take the chance to reflect on the areas where I can improve in a way that is both reflective and open, so that those to whom I owe an apology may hear my most heartfelt repentance.

I have been arrogant. I have let my emotions get the best of me. I have acted selfishly when I could have acted in the best interests of those around me. In the coming year, I hope to vastly improve on my ability to handle a situation, and improve on my reactions to the world around me. I want to work on my patience both with situations and with people.

I have worried. I have stressed. I have forgotten to look around me and see how beautiful the world is, because I have been so wrapped up in how stressful parts of it can be. I want, in the coming year, to open my eyes. To be here, in each moment. To understand that things have a tendency to work out, and that my ability to fix them is sometimes limited.

I have let things rest. I have been complacent. I want to be better. I want to push. I want to push myself, and push others. I want to continue to get better, as a person, as a friend, as a leader.  And I’m going to use the beautiful world around me to give that betterment meaning.

And I want to apologize. I want to say I’m sorry to those who I have hurt, or with whom I have lost patience. Most often it is the people I care for most who get hurt. My parents, my brother, my family, my friends, my girlfriend, everyone, deserves a little better of me, and by this apology, I also make a promise. I will work on it. I will do better. I will improve.

I think Yom Kippur comes with one final, under appreciated section. For every apology, there should be a thank-you. Thank you to those who stuck with me in my challenges. Thank you to those who set me on the right path when I wanted to go off the wrong way. Thank you to those who demonstrated patience with me and taught me when I couldn't do it by myself.

Yom Kippur is one of my favorite holidays. It isn’t about the fasting, and it isn’t about the long hours in temple. It is about the time that we spend looking at ourselves and assessing how we can be better people when we sit here next year.

We ask God to inscribe us in the Book of Life, to give us another year to improve. And that is a promise to God. We are asking God to give us another go-round, another chance to show the world the best of ourselves. And I intend to make the best use of the days I get to improve myself and improve the world around me.

To all I have hurt, I’m sorry. To all that love me, I love you. To all that I love, I’ll show you. L’Shana Tova Tikateivu.

September 3rd: Get in the Game

After a hiatus longer than most of their peers in the Big Ten, Indiana football kicked off this past Thursday, taking on the Indiana State Sycamores. What ensued was something I, as a Hoosier fan, have never seen before.

Looking up from my 8^th row seat, I saw behind me a solid wall of crimson-clad fans. I haven’t seen that many people crowding the student section of Memorial Stadium in my three years at school, and it didn’t go unnoticed. Throughout the game, the fans responded enthusiastically to every play, cheering on their team and doing a fair bit of heckling of our in-state foe.

The part that made this game so much more incredible than any before was the intensity with which the team attacked the game. Each and every player seemed to be soaking in the moment, getting pumped for the game. It was truly incredible to see just how much Indiana University, both on and off the field, was buying into the success of our team.

Indiana University is known as a basketball school. A historically elite hardwood squad has far outshone a lackluster team on the gridiron, and has always led people to somewhat scoff at the idea of being a Hoosier football fan. That wasn’t the case on Thursday night. It was clear that the school had made significant investments in the fan experience, updating the info-graphics and animations that played on the Jumbotron. The new football helmets, depicting the Indiana state flag logo on one side and the IU trident on the other, decked out the players in a new look that even further brought energy to the field.

Since his hiring two years ago, Kevin Wilson has preached a shift in football culture. He has changed the way the team prepares, the way the students get excited, and even the way the band pumps up the crowd. In this, his third year at the helm, there are big things expected on the horizon.

Here, though, is the kicker. The Hoosiers won. They didn’t win by a small margin, either. The Hoosiers put up more points than any other team in the college football nation, walloping the Sycamores 73 to 35. They also came within a field goal of tying the most points the team has ever scored in a game. What that tells us is that it’s working. The Hoosiers are shifting the direction. They are getting the production to go with the new, flashy uniforms and the attitude adjustment. They are producing where it counts.

It is important, of course, to acknowledge that this is the first game of the season. Indiana State is by no means an elite team. This one win does not necessarily signify and total shift in football culture. It does, though, indicate a significant change. It does show that the possibility is there. It does show that the days of Hoosier success on the football field is not so far away. The fans saw this weekend just how much their excitement can motivate their team. Now it’s their job to keep it up and stick with their team throughout the season. Let’s go Hoosier nation.

August 27th: Stand Up, Not On

During the first week of classes, everyone is trying to sell something. Coupon books are popular, textbook vendors are enthusiastic, and sidewalk chalk offers a seemingly endless choice of opportunities.

Most emphatic of these sales spokesmen are the Christian religious organizations, looking for participation in their programs. Young representatives of the Christian Crusade for Christ, Christian Religious Union, and others stand guard at academic buildings and street corners, offering food and pamphlets to help welcome students and assist with their adjustment into college.

While I personally don’t believe in proselytizing, I do understand the need for recruiting. I appreciate the fact that the religious organizations are actively seeking out new membership, and are trying to make their product as appealing as possible. Hillel does it; we offer free food and fun programming to help make religious observance more enticing. The difference is the force with which ideas are pressed upon a perspective attendees.

Walking down the street this afternoon, I saw an all-too-familiar sight: a pair of preachers standing under the iconic Indiana University clocks, discussing their views on Jesus and today’s society. A group had gathered, and at first I thought it was a collection of interested, engaged listeners. It was only upon getting closer that I realized that this was a hostile audience. The students were asking questions, either mocking the preachers or snapping at them. The preachers, meanwhile, were attempting to answer all of the questions as they arose. They tried to answer honestly and passionately.

As I passed, I could only hear bits and pieces. What I did hear made me pretty sad. Again, I don’t support the content that these men were preaching. Their form of Christianity is one of rigidity and fear. I don’t believe that anyone who does not accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior is damned. I don’t believe that God is a vengeful deity, who will smite the sinners.  I do, on the other hand, believe that a man should be allowed to stand in the designated location for protests and petitions and present his ideas. I do believe that he should be able to say what he wants, free of ridicule and disrespect. And I do believe that the students who are trying to prove how worldly they are by embarrassing him and belittling him are actually proving how immature and ignorant they truly are.

Frankly, by arguing with these guys, you are actually playing into their hands. More than anything, these proactive religious recruiters are looking for a conversation. They want you to stand there as long as possible, so that they can get more words in. They would rather you staying to put up a fight than to walk away quietly. Which means that is exactly what you should do. If you don’t agree with their beliefs or their way of spreading it, simply walk away. Don’t talk. Don’t listen. Just walk right on by. It is much harder to do, but it is the strength of walking by that directly combats what you are opposing when you see those who are pushing their beliefs. Standing up for what you believe in does not necessitate standing against the beliefs of others.

August 20th: Separation of State and Stupid

The limits of ignorance and ridiculousness are boundless. In this week’s example of “You SO can’t do that,” we visit Newport, Tennessee, where we see a judge taking a totally new direction in regards to fair decision-making.

A man and a woman are getting a divorce, and in the process, need to decide whether their 7-month old son should share his father’s or mother’s last name. They take it to court and are met by Judge Lu Ann Ballew.

Here is where things get out of hand. When the judge is hearing the trial, it comes to light that the son’s name is Messiah. Subsequently, in her decision, the judge declared that not only must the baby change his last name, but also his first name. The boy had to change his name to Martin, because the name Messiah “is a title and it’s a title that has only been earned by one person and that one person is Jesus Christ.”

The parents are, of course, livid. They didn't go to court to come up with new problems for their son, only to solve the last name debate. To be told that your name isn’t acceptable because you stole it from Jesus is, to say the least, a formative moment in an infant’s short life.

It would be easy to blast this woman for her inability to separate Church and State, which is an imperative part of the judicial system. The courts are meant to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the laws of whichever state in which they preside, and this most definitely falls outside the limits of those laws.

What is potentially more ignorant and disconcerting is the part of this that is totally arbitrary. The judge simply heard the name and got offended. She didn’t have any legal basis upon which to change this boy’s name. Her only defense was that, living in the county in which they did, the boy could have been subject to marginalization or bullying. First of all, wouldn’t that be interesting. “What did you do today, Jimmy?” “Oh, not much, Mom, just bullied Messiah.” On a more thoughtful level, though, this act of emotional response rather than calculated rationalization brings to light a scary idea. If the American people are to be living their lives according to the laws set forth by not only Congress but also the judicial system, we need to have some degree of faith (no pun intended) in those individuals to do what is right, despite their own personal issues with it. Nobody was going into this court room to hear what Lu Ann thought about things. They were there to see how Judge Ballew would rule in accordance with rationality and legal code.

This of course comes in the same week that a Louisiana Republican came forward and publicly stated that she didn't know that when she voted for religious school vouchers, that this didn't only include Christian schools. It has been a tough week to be, oh, I don’t know, rational in the United States.

August 12th: Comedy and Tragedy

This week, I had the opportunity to see a musical that was, to say the least, creative in its analysis of society’s ability to laugh at itself. To say the most, it was downright heinous.

“The Book of Mormon” was as raunchy and insensitive, insulting and affronting as could possibly be. And you know what? It was hilarious. It was fun, it was clever, and it allowed almost everyone at some point or another to feel like they were the butt of the joke, and that that was OK.

The timing of things couldn't have been better. I happened to have seen the play just a few weeks after having a very interesting conversation with several individuals of different backgrounds who were discussing, for lack of a better way to describe it, the difficulty of living in a world with so many social and environmental challenges. We discussed everything from sexuality and gender stereotypes to obesity, from socio-economic environments to the educational system. While we covered an incredible array of material, there were two major concepts that I found interesting and challenging.

First of those challenges was the frequency with which we allow people to pass the buck. It is so easy to blame obesity on food producers or genetics or a wide variety of outside sources. And while that may be totally valid, it fails to get to the root of an important issue: anyone can, if presented with the opportunity, change their circumstances. I think we are writing blank checks that we can’t cash if we allow too many different groups of people to say that they have no control of themselves because they are in challenging circumstances. While I appreciate the fact that many are in extremely challenging circumstances, that is not to say we, as people, don’t have an obligation to better ourselves. Plus, some of the statistics are a little skewed.  One of the major arguments for the obesity issue is that it costs an incredible amount of money to eat healthy foods, while fast food is cheap and easy for low income families. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, though, 35.7% of Americans are obese, with an individual of minority background actually having a higher chance of obesity as income increases. It also goes on to say that obesity became more prevalent across all educational and economic scales from the early 90s to 2007. That clearly means that, while obesity may more difficult to monitor at lower incomes, it is something that is becoming a wide-scale issue, and one that does require some degree of control and restraint.

We cannot continue to blame “society” for the reason women wear bikinis. As much as women wear them because men want to see them, most women want to be seen, whether by men or by their peers. We cannot continue to blame the government for our obese who don’t take advantage of their environment to get their weight under control. We have an obligation to start evaluating not just what someone else can do for me to better my life, but how hard I’m willing to work to make my life better.

Second of all, it dawned on me how difficult it is to navigate these conversations for fear of insulting someone. I have no idea what the political correct term is for a black person in America is. I've heard from some that “African American” is the best bet, while others say that there is nothing “African” about many black people. I've heard thousands of options, and it seems that someone is always insulted. This gets even more complicated with those with developmental disabilities. I have difficulty with what I have heard as “differently abled,” because it fails to get to the root of the need for personal care and attention that these individuals need. With all that in mind, it would be a tragedy if certain groups of people were left out of important conversations not because of their need to be involved, but rather because it is such a mine-field for a neurologically typical white guy to find a way not to insult, well, everyone.

This was one giant rant, all spurred on by a funny musical, and meant to be a satire. But with that satirical comedy, we have the opportunity to look at the world around us and make it better. I can’t claim that I’m doing a good job, but I’m going to try. We need to take ourselves a little more seriously and, at the same time, laugh at ourselves a little more. It’s all about finding the balance.

August 6th: Punishment Befitting the Crime

For the first time in almost 10 months, Alex Rodriguez’s name appeared in the lineup for the New York Yankees. It just so happened that his 2013 debut came the same day that his 211 game suspension for his alleged steroid use.

Alex took the field to a chorus of boos from the Chicago crowd, and proceeded to go 1 for 4 with a bloop single and a strikeout. If I were the starting pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, though, things would have gone very differently.

I believe that the game should be played with integrity. I've always been very outspoken about the fact that professional athletes are, first and foremost, entertainers, and therefore are expected to be public servants, in a sense. That being said, athletes also have the expectation of being held to the standard that viewers set for them.

There is a debate that, if baseball players are meant to truly entertain, who cares if they are taking steroids to do so. Fans want to see the home runs, and they don’t care what makes that happen. While this may be true, there are rules in place that restrict that kind of behavior, and whether it should or shouldn't be is a moot point. If you are doping, you are saying to the league and to its fans that the rules don’t matter, and therefore demonstrate a lack of respect for the game and its fans.

Rodriguez is not the only player who was given suspensions today. 12 others were handed bans for 50 games, each for violating the MLB drug policy. The reason that Rodriguez’s suspension is so much worse is that not only was he involved in taking the drugs, but also encouraging other players to use and trying to obstruct the MLB investigation when things got bad.

All of that being said, my approach as a pitcher would have been simple: take all of A-Rod’s at-bats away from him. If he is unwilling to take the suspension and get out of the game, do the dirty work for him. Every single at-bat, A-Rod should have either been hit by a pitch or intentionally walked, essentially taking away his opportunity for success.

This is, of course, not the cleanest of strategies, considering it would allow him to get on base every time, but this move is transcendent of the competition of the game. In the same way that his acts tarnished the game, it would be a symbolic gesture of the other team to say that it doesn't matter whether or not he gets on base, but the bigger picture of refusing to allow him to demonstrate success.

This is an extreme sentiment, but one that comes from a serious disdain for cheating in baseball. Bud Selig has done incredible work in the last few months to attempt to clean up the game, and Alex Rodriguez has not only been at the heart of the issue, but been a direct contributor to why the process has been so long and painful. That being said, the man needs to be shown that a lack of respect for the great game of baseball will not bode well for him.

Playing baseball is a privilege, and one that so few people get to experience. Alex Rodriguez has tarnished the game, and deserves a life ban. While that may not be legally realistic, baseball needs to show the player that he is a tiny piece of the game, and can and will be swiftly replaced. The faster the better.

August 4th: Applying yourself

A few short days ago, I noticed a tweet that got me thinking. Indiana University alerted its followers that the application for the class of 2018 was now active. First of all, the class of 2018 was terrifying, considering how long a way that feels. Looking back though, it reminds me of what it was like, not so long ago, to apply to schools.

I remember the hard work of high school, trying to decide what classes a college would think are most appealing. I remember cramming my schedule with as many extra-curricular as I could manage, hoping to strike the most attractive balance. I remember the college essays, trying to put together the most beautiful 500 words that I could to sum up exactly who I was and why they should want me.

What I remember most, though, was the anxiety of the application process. I remember waking up every morning, running to my computer to check if any colleges had decided that I was worthy to be a student. I remember both the excitement at getting in somewhere that fit me, and I remember being told I wasn’t good enough.

There are so few ways that a college can truly evaluate you. Every year around this time we hear a debate about whether or not the ACT and SAT standardized tests are effective barometers of the talent of a high school student. While I agree that a score on a single test is not an acceptable way of evaluating an individual and their intellect, I also appreciate the difficulty of the decision for colleges. Standardization is the only way that colleges can evaluate two students from two completely different backgrounds and upbringings and see how they compare. When you can accept a finite number of applicants, there need to be different standards for admittance. While it isn't pretty, it is absolutely necessary.

That being said, the tests are not nearly enough to gain an understanding of a well-rounded, holistic individual, the likes of which a university wants. The most undervalued part of the application process is the extra-curricular end of things. That is where you best see what kind of person student might be.  A student who is an all-state athlete demonstrates a passion and commitment that, while exemplified on a sports field, seems indicative of determination overall. A teen who has put in thousands of man-hours to a club or organization that they care enough about should be looked at more favorably because of that dedication.

All of that taken into account, it need not be said that the college process is a little out of whack. The stress and pressure that all high school seniors feel is, while a rite of passage, is one that can cause an individual to lose faith in himself or herself. While getting into college is an important moment in the life-cycle process, it cannot be forced. As someone with plenty of experience in that department, it is important to keep in mind that there is a good college opportunity out there for everyone. And while it may be herd, patience can go a long way toward making the decision-making process far less stressful.

June 10th: A Summer Investment

Like most young Jewish Americans, I have spent the past few weeks packing and preparing for summer camp. All over the country, the excitement is spreading.

My family has experienced both participating and staffing three different Union for Reform Judaism camps, each with its own flavor and culture. Yet, one very important detail permeates all three: they are training grounds for the creating of the best and brightest that Judaism has to offer.

All too often, the future of organized Judaism is filled with doom and gloom. Analysts or anyone with a blog has commented about how far fewer teens are getting involved in Jewish activities. There have been countless efforts to make things more enticing, more exciting, more active for teens to get involved in Jewish activities.

It seems as though summer camp has been a hug part of the visioning for future engagement. With one summer away at a URJ summer camp, any teenager has the ability to learn who they are in a way that will totally alter their Jewish experience.

Jewish camping allows participants to test their limits. A boy with a deathly fear of crowds receives a guitar and finds his voice. A girl who has struggled to make friends in school goes home with dozens of new relationships. A group of twenty comes together in a way that none of them thought possible a mere 4 weeks prior. Anyone who has ever gone to a Jewish summer camp knows what it is like to go back to school in August and feel the need to explain themselves to all of their school friends. “It’s a camp thing. You wouldn’t understand.”

Jewish camping allows participants to network. I have, throughout my first two years of college, faced the possibility of getting stranded in an airport. No matter what city I’m in, I know that there is someone out there that I can call who would be willing to give me a couch to sleep on and a meal to eat. Without camp, that would have been impossible. I’m just two short years out of high school, yet there are far fewer friends from my school time that I would care to call than from my time at summer camp.

Jewish camping allows participants to grow. From the very first moment a young person steps onto camp, there are a collection of role models walking around. It doesn’t take much searching to find someone to emulate, someone to respect. Growing through the system, those same children who looked up to their counselors one day becomes the leader for the next group of young Jews. We have a phrase for that. It’s generational leadership. As someone who has experienced camp since I was 10, I know what it is like to see those unattainable goals, those incredible men and women who are the best people I know, and to grow up hoping to be that cool one day. It isn’t until someone thanks you for inspiring them that you realize that you have just past down the greatest gift that camp can offer.

As I get older, camp becomes a more difficult decision. Internships beckon. Job opportunities abound. The urge to advance one’s career presses sometimes suffocating. But nothing in the whole world prepares you for the adventure that is the “real world” quite like summer camp.

If you aren’t already, investigate signing up for camp. It may seem daunting or foreign, but within moments, you will know that it is the place where you belong.

If you are already signed up, get ready. Because the summer of 2013 is gearing up to be the best one yet.

Root Root Root for the Home Team

Wrigley Field is a hotly contested issue right now. The Cubs are struggling with the city of Chicago for several different points, including the ability to advertise and a proposal for significant building renovations. Alternative playing venues have discussed, including a Schaumburg team offering to give their playing field to the Cubs for the remainder of the season, as well as an offer from the mayor of Rosemont to build a new stadium in the Chicago suburbs.

For only the second time in several years, I had the chance to go back to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs take on the Rockies this past week. The drive down to the city at 5 o’clock was painfully slow, and parking was a pain in the butt, but once we made it to the park, I had that moment that all baseball fans know so well: walking through the tunnel until it opens up on the expanse of the field.

It was a beautiful night for baseball, and the Cubs did as we expected: lost. Yet the atmosphere was more electric than a sub-par team should expect from their home fans. Walking around the concourse, I was struck by the sheer number of Cubs hats, t-shirts, and smiles adorned on so many fans, a fairly significant crowd for a Tuesday night game.

As a college student who spends 10 months of the year outside of the Chicago area, it was a pretty special opportunity to spend some time at a landmark I so idolize. Getting Cubs baseball on TV is a rare treat in mid/southern Indiana, and getting the chance to get it at its source was particularly wonderful.

You would be hard pressed to find a more dedicated and passionate Cubs fan out there than I am. Yet, if it was possible, I became even more enthusiastic about my team after I went to school. Being surrounded by people from all around the country and world, it can be difficult to find any real connection to where you are from. Sports teams are one of the ways to connect with the city that you call home. While my interest in the Bears has never been particularly rabid, this past season I found myself keeping up with the Monsters of the Midway far more than ever before. It wasn't because of some new-found appreciation for Jay Cutler. It was because the Chicago Bears represented my home town, and offered me the opportunity to connect with my friends and family who may live in different places, but will always love sweet home Chicago.

Now that the Cubs are considering moving to the suburbs, going to Cubs games would be far easier. Instead of an hour long Odyssey with limited parking and a relatively small ballpark comparatively, we could have a twenty minute trip to a new mega-stadium, built to match the size and commitment of the Chicago fan base.

If the move happened, though, home would be a little different. Going to a Cubs game would be easier, but it would also require a whole new collection of memories. The pair of seats down the first base line where I caught the ball tossed by the Montreal Expos First Base Coach with my dad wouldn't be there anymore. The seats near the right field foul pole where I saw the Cubs and Padres get into a fight wouldn't exist. The place where, as a small boy, I imagined playing, umpiring, managing, broadcasting, whatever it may be, it would all have to move, to change.

In a college student’s life, there is plenty of change. Sometimes it is nice to know that, no matter how far away you go, you can always come back to watch the home town team play ball.

May 13: The Hero We Have

It has been impossible to avoid hearing about the news coming out of Cleveland this past week. Three women had been held captive in a house for almost a decade, unbeknownst to the surrounding neighborhood. Only this week, when a neighbor heard a girl trying to escape, did anyone have any idea what was going on.

The man who heard Amanda Berry was Charles Ramsey, a 43 year old African American man, who lived next door. Almost overnight, he became one of the most recognizable men in America, at least for the remainder of his 15 minutes of fame. He has been touted as the hero of the case, having done what was right and what was necessary in a time of need for a young woman he didn’t know.

As any YouTube search of this man will tell you, there is far more going on in this character than the title “hero” can clearly state. First of all, the man is clearly brasher than what many believe to be the common model of hero. His humorous spin on a horrible situation includes a description of the captor’s genital endowment, as well as a menu for the interaction he had had with his monster of a neighbor. His colorful antics have led to a viral video campaign, both of his initial interview and subsequent “remixed” editions.

Within days of his “heroic” actions, however, the news media was having a field day with this man. A record of his past with run-ins with the law have surfaced, forcing the man to answer questions on a public scale that otherwise could have remained private. His description of his meal during the time of the incident, McDonalds, has been scrutinized for whether or not he was looking for some sort of public relations interaction with the corporation. His face now even appears tattooed on the leg of a man in Cleveland who was so moved by Ramsey’s actions.

With one decision, this man not only put himself into position to do what is right in one given moment, but also set himself up for intense media surveillance for however long the public sees fit. In many ways, this has overshadowed the real issue at hand. Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight are now able to return home to their families after their terrible ordeal. Ariel Castro, the man who kidnapped and raped these three women, is finally revealed for the heinous excuse for humanity that he is. And the world is just a little better off knowing that this one case has been brought to a close.

Yet the story is continually muddled. The public wants a hero, wants to be able to put up a protagonist against the horror that was Ariel Castro. For every bad guy, there must be a good guy. And in that moment, Charles Ramsey was a good guy. He did what was needed of him in the moment. In no way shape or form does that require him to become a celebrity, though, and it is up to the public not to be too disappointed when he doesn’t take off his glasses and reveal a cape and super powers.

It doesn’t take a hero to be heroic. It takes a good man, doing the right thing. Something more people should strive to do more often.