The First Presidential Debate.

After watching the debate, it seems rather difficult to decide who won the debate. Obama spoke very well and addressed his thoughts in a very intelligent way; he spoke with confidence and courage. McCain on the other hand, spoke well and showed his experience rather than future plans. I believe that neither presidential candidate stood out from the other. They both presented themselves well, and chose their words wisely. Thus I feel torn to make a decision on the behalf of who I believe won. I feel as though they both in a sense equaled each other out.

The blog I read at http://thebridgecincy.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/the-first-presidential-debate/, had the same principals and thoughts as I did. It stated, "The candidates are so different, it was hard to say who won the debate." It states that McCain is about experience and Obama has a lot of ideas, which is the same idea that I had, which was that they are two different to even be compared.

I believe that both candidates were very prepared for the topic of foreign policy. I was surprised that Obama was able to counter argue with McCain on this topic because McCain's strength includes foreign policy. I though McCain was going to slam Obama with his experience and knowledge, but Obama held up and fought back.

While watching the debate I was glad to see that Afghanistan was brought up, it seems like the nation talks less and less about the War In Iraq but Afghanistan is hardly ever brought up and it still is a serious issue.

The Media did a good job portraying both candidates as equal. They both seem to have an equal opportunity to get their points across. Over all I feel this first presidential debate was a success, and I believe that people now have a greater understanding on each candidate and their views.

Blog number two

Speech and writing are both very important forms of communication in today's society, but I feel as though the form of writing is more superior when communicating. Speech is a very important aspect of today's society. We listen to the radio for news and entertainment, in addition to communicating to on another on a daily basis. We speak our opinions and listen to others. Vocal communication saves time over writing and shows emphasis on specific phrases and tone of voice.

Writing, on the other hand connects us to others with or without being face to face. Writing enables us to communicate with people all over the world through letters, emails, internet posts, chat rooms, instant messaging and text messaging. Before people spoke to one another, writing took its first steps with symbols. In fact, according to The Washington post's article, "The End of Literacy? Don't Stop Reading by Howard Gardner, "it was less than 100,000 years ago that our human predecessors first made meaningful marks on surfaces, notating the phases of the moon or drawing animals on cave walls." As time went on, "within the past 5,000 years, societies across the Near East's Fertile Crescent began to use systems of marks to record important trade exchanges as well as pivotal events in the present and the past,(The End of Literacy?" which proved as beneficial as the early steps or writing.

I feel as though writing is superior to speech because writing is the building block of speech. In order to form words and sentences the formation of the alphabet must be written down before anything can be spoken. As noted previously by the article The End of literacy, about 5,000 years ago humans took the first steps of writing by communicating trade information, even though they could not talk to one another. So, in other words, writing came first, and the human’s civilization can survive and communicate without speaking.

Today communication is getting faster and to the point. Nowadays, "more than a billion people can communicate via e-mail, chat rooms and instant messaging; post their views on a blog; play games with millions of others worldwide; create their own works of art or theater and post them on You Tube; join political movements; and even inhabit, buy, sell and organize in a virtual reality"(The End of Literacy? Don't Stop Reading) Even speaking to one another has shortened, According to a Washington Post article titled, “The Dumbing of America” by Susan Jacob, Harvard University's Kiku Adatto found that between 1968 and 1988, the average sound bite on the news for a presidential candidate -- featuring the candidate's own voice -- dropped from 42.3 seconds to 9.8 seconds." The incredible difference in time show how less speaking can get the point across. Not to mention today presidential candidates have their own websites where people can get information themselves through the writing process. According to Chapter five in the textbook "Communication in History" by David Crowley,"political leaders have always used writing, Nearly 4000 years ago and a totally different script separate the famous black basalt law code of Hammurabi of Babylon."

Although, nationally, we speak and write everyday I feel as though we can survive without speaking and write to one another, even if it is more time consuming. Writing although abbreviated at times is a useful source of communication and superior to speaking.

Sarah Palin And Her New Born.

Politics is an informative yet complicated conversation topic. In November of 2008, Sarah Palin may be elected the next vice president of the United States of America. I feel this will bring a great change to our society and my generation will respond well to her in office. More women will feel that they’ve accomplished something by voting and electing her.

Earlier generations may not have approved of a white female running for the vice presidency of the United States. In earlier years, women did not have as many “rights” as they do now. Women were not even allowed to vote until 1920. Now, not even 90 years later, we have a woman running for candidacy of vice president. In addition, many women weren’t allowed to have the same jobs as men. If a woman went to a company office in the early 1900’s she would have been sent home. Back in those days it was custom for the husband to go to work, and for the wife to stay home and cook, clean, and watch their children; and if the females failed to do so, they were frowned upon.

Currently, my generation, in today’s society is more open about their beliefs and values; as well as more willing to make changes. Young people are allowed to voice their own opinions and say how they feel with or without being judged. If a woman wants to get a house, car, job and kids all on her own, without a husband she may, and nobody has the right to tell her otherwise. Today, it does not matter if you are a man or woman, you should be treated equally. Many young women today are a part of women’s rights activism. Now, young women from the tender age of 14 and up, until they pass away, are allowed to work, almost anywhere they desire -- as well as run for president/vice president if they wish to do so. In addition, they have the right to drive cars, boats, planes, you name it, as long as you get the required training, license etc.

I read a blog titled “Why Isn't New Mommy Sarah Palin Qualified To Be Vice President?” that stated that some people believe that Palin is not an acceptable running mate because she has a new born. The blog at http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/03/06/2212053.php states that “there are those, liberal and conservative alike, who now think just because the woman is pregnant she is disqualified to become the Vice President of the United States of America.” I feel as though at this day and age it is completely unacceptable. There is not reason that Candidate Palin cannot succeed as a Vice President just because she has a new born. A comment on this blog states, “we have new mommies who go off to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. No one says they can’t do that. Women have babies every day, and go back to work in situations where they must either put their children in day care, or leave them entirely to the graces of lest than optimal situations.” So why discriminate against the Alaskan Governor, she does a superb job now and has four children as well.

When I think of my generations’ reaction to a women running for vice president I highly believe it would be positive, whether she has children or not. Young men and women today are willing to try different things, and I agree completely. The idea of a female running is a excellent idea, and my generation agrees.

Why Isn't New Mommy Sarah Palin Qualified To Be Vice President? Written by SJ Reidhead Published March 06, 2008. http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/03/06/2212053.php

My connection to the Media.

My name is Dan Schutt. I am a white Caucasian, a little over six feet tall with brown hair and eyes. I enjoy playing sports, spending time with friends and family and traveling. I play ice hockey during the winter and bike ride a lot during the summer. On my free time I like reading, shooting pool and playing poker with my friends. I am in my third year at The University of Maryland Baltimore County where I major in American Studies.

For as long as I can remember I have always been interested in the media and have actively participated in what it has to offer. I feel as though the media leads us to how we should live. The media is very persuasive, it leads us to watching television, listening to specific music, watching sports, and promoting idols. Even though the media provides entertainment, it is also an important source for advertising and spreading news and communicating. The media is very active in politics and covers stories about the 2008 presidential election. For example this article, http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/03/06/221205.php states why Sarah Palin is qualified to be vice president.

Personally, I actively participate with the media everyday. From the very moment I wake up I either turn on the news or read the morning paper, where I learn about current events and what’s going on around the world. I listen to the local radio stations and read billboards as I drive down the street. For communication I talk on my cell phone, text my friends, and log on to Facebook, witch links me to my community and promotes social relationships.

I feel as though the media is very important for daily interaction, news and entertainment. America relies on the media everyday and without it many people would be completely lost.