Post by karlsie on Mar 9, 2009 2:54:13 GMT -5
It's not easy writing about a culture that's not your own, but it's one of the best ways to create bridges of understanding. I believe this year's Irish theme is a prime example of how many misconceptions people can have of a culture versus its reality. For those who feel they would still like to submit something centered around the theme, there have been several suggestions brought up during the discussions. A very interesting subject is the Celtic, pre-Viking, pre-English era; the history, the religion, the customs, the origins of their superstitions. We haven't really touched at all on the immigrant Irish; their place in the Revolutionary and Civil War. There were the Mob Irish and the outlaw Irish. There were even the immigrant Australian and Canadian Irish.
An upcoming theme is Interactive addictions; chatting, gaming, blogging; any of those time consuming Internet involvements that sometimes gets out of hand. How have they changed our lives? How have they differed from, say, television viewing or reading a book? Is there a need for remedial therapy?
For those who haven't exhausted themselves with holiday themes, we have Easter coming up. Obviously, there is plenty of space for humor when comparing colored eggs to a bloody era of human torture, but face it; bashing the holiday itself has become an expected element of our page. Let's try to come up with some things that will surprise people.
Don't forget that May is National Mental Health Awareness month. If you start thinking about your articles now, you'll have them spit and polished by May.
One of our writers has been struggling with a piece on the Ku Klux Klan. Racial prejudice is a very sensitive area. It's a part of America we'd like to believe doesn't exist but it does. We want our magazine to reach International levels. To do this, we must become outspoken and honest about racial prejudice. We must expose the truth when we see it practiced. The racism has become one of disposing of oppositional customs, cultures and religions. Perhaps there are others who wish to contribute to a theme dedicated to racism.
An upcoming theme is Interactive addictions; chatting, gaming, blogging; any of those time consuming Internet involvements that sometimes gets out of hand. How have they changed our lives? How have they differed from, say, television viewing or reading a book? Is there a need for remedial therapy?
For those who haven't exhausted themselves with holiday themes, we have Easter coming up. Obviously, there is plenty of space for humor when comparing colored eggs to a bloody era of human torture, but face it; bashing the holiday itself has become an expected element of our page. Let's try to come up with some things that will surprise people.
Don't forget that May is National Mental Health Awareness month. If you start thinking about your articles now, you'll have them spit and polished by May.
One of our writers has been struggling with a piece on the Ku Klux Klan. Racial prejudice is a very sensitive area. It's a part of America we'd like to believe doesn't exist but it does. We want our magazine to reach International levels. To do this, we must become outspoken and honest about racial prejudice. We must expose the truth when we see it practiced. The racism has become one of disposing of oppositional customs, cultures and religions. Perhaps there are others who wish to contribute to a theme dedicated to racism.
