Journal Entry 10/7/2009

I'm convinced that Multi-Ethnic reporting must be taught at any institution that has a communications program. Besides the experience it gives students in going out in the field, it should also teach advertising majors how to not make themselves look like an ass. Although there are many levels that ads have to go through before they are published, it would help to teach those that design the ads to not disenfranchise entire segments of the population.

The ads that Professor Reisner brought in were mostly prime examples of ad designers not being in touch with the world. How else would an ad for weapons have American soldiers storm a mosque with no obvious provocation besides the 'all of Islam are terrorists' stereotype. That also goes for the British ad featuring an Islamic man anxiously waiting for the sun to set so he can eat his chicken. I'm pretty sure that the ads weren't designed to piss off an entire religion or people, but they certainly did a good job of it. I'm also sure that the people that designed the ads have had little interaction with the races they are stereotyping and belittling. A class like Multi-Ethnic reporting (or something along those lines) would expose people to different groups of people and hopefully prevent something like that.

It also may have something to do with how people in society seem to be afraid to be frank about race. Religion can sometimes be spoken about openly, but only if it's Christian-based. With the exception of Professor Reisner, I've never heard Judaism spoken about openly and I've never heard Islam spoken about. I don't know if it's fear of being called a bigot or if people inside just don't care. Although it didn't answer this question, the NPR interview right before the Obama/McCain election was an interesting insight into the mind of Americans. Although everybody there claimed that race wasn't an issue on their vote or general opinion on politics, by the end of the group interview it was clear that race was a major issue in their viewpoints.

I can't say it surprises me, but it does make me sad on the state of the country that something as simple as discussing race was like pulling teeth. If people fear talking about what makes us different, how are we going to deal with more complicated issues? The fact that race is an issue at all is a sad reflection of on us as a country. Hell, it might be better if a class like Multi-Ethnic is taught to everybody, maybe then people will have a better understanding on how different people live and not be so judgemental.