Who are

America’s
New Role
Models?

Cinderella’s Revelation:
Disney’s influence
on children
 The Dark Cartoon World

Mannequin in a Glass Display: The Damaging Effects of

Cinderella on Young Girls

By: Lan (Nicole) Ngu, N.
 Does Cinderella portray as a princess or just young girl’s
unachievable dream?

How to Guide Children

Fallen Heroes
By: Jonathan Luna
 Drug addiction has been turned into super
power that beats superheroes.

Buy a Kill Pill

Gender Inequality in Comics

By: Joseph Hong
 Females treat with vases that serve with males?
Do female superheroes consider weak without
muscles?

Wanted
 The New Icon in Society

Michael Jordan and His Impact

By: Yin (Kristy) Cheng
 Shoe’s brand taints the “God of Basketball”. How
does he fight back??

Why Jordon? Why Air Jordon?

The Life and Fame of Michael Jordan

By: Alejandro Salgado

 Difficult, difficult, difficult! But difficulty never blocks
Michal Jordan.

Michael Jordan’s Shoes Brings You Skills!

 Yao Ming: The Basketball Phenomenon

By: Allen Jin

 What has the “Asian Giant” done?? Check out the
“Big Ball”.
The Yao Ming Effect in the Chinese Community

of the United States

“Go Purple”: How the Media Supports the LGBT

Community
By: Choco Deng
 Wants to know what is LGBT? Check out the
media and become a part of “Go Purple”.

“Born This Way”: Support Gay Groups!!!

Not the Weak, but the Geek Will Inherit the Earth

By: Kenneth Averion

 The nerd: society’s clown or the newest idol?

Evolution of the Geek

Dear Readers:

Are you having trouble finding a positive role model to look up to? Well if so,
icon magazine deliberates issues on old and new role models. Although fairytales
and comic books characters are positives role models for some of us, they can also
be destructive to others. Now we seek inspiration from role models that are realistic,
with real struggles and real achievements.

The entertainment industry once promoted positive role models through fairy tales
and comic book superheroes, but as things make life harder, children tend to grow
up faster because they have to be more like an adult and take care of themselves.
They now realize that their superheroes or their fairy godmother are not going to
be their savior. When children grow up they stop caring for their old role models
because it is impossible to gain super power as Superman or Spiderman and it is
irrational to think that godmother can change them dramatically. To keep
viewers watching, the entertainment industry has come up with a new approach
to catch viewers’ attention, making female superheroes more sexy, and fairy
tale characters like Cinderella more attractive. In a way, these role models now
have negative impacts on children, because not every child can be as beautiful
as their role models, which is degrading for the children.

On the other hand, now the entertainment industry provides positive role models
for people including minor groups by depicting real people who live around us.
Like common people, these new role models also have flaws making them more
realistic. As a result, they are an inspiration to us because they allow us to
understand that we too can achieve our goals and conquer our obstacles from
courage, determination and discipline. This issue of icon features positive role
such as Michael Jordan and Yao Ming. Especially in recent
years, nerd and the LGBT community are accepted by society
or even become desirable because people want some
distinction or something unique and cool, so they want to try
to accept something unknown or new.

Hopefully, after reading this magazine, you can find your

own role model. When you are depressed or when you want to give
up because of pressures or obstacles, or just want to seek a person
who stimulates or encourages you to improve yourself
continuously. You will not feel alone anymore, your role
model will be with and give you mental support.
 Mannequin in a Glass Display:
The Damaging Effects that Cinderella has on Girls

Once upon a time, a beautiful and Disney version of Cinderella. The

pitiful girl named Cinderella who lives with
her evil stepmother and two stepsisters in a
very old building. Cinderella is treated
mistreated unfairly. She has to do all the
household chores by herself. She works
busily from dawn to midnight every day.
Even though she is given no respect or
compassion, she always smiles and treats
people nicely and kindly. One day, the
prince is holding a Royal Ball to look for a
beautiful wife to be his empress. Cinderella
cannot attend the Royal Ball because she has
to separate the green beans and red beans
which the stepmother had mixed together on
purpose. Worse, she does not have a formal
dress, and she only knows to cry heavily.
Magically, a fairy godmother appears and
uses her magic that came from her wand to
transform Cinderella to be a beautiful well
dressed girl like wearing the most fantasy
gown with a pair of glass slippers. As a
result, she can marry the prince. They live
happily forever with each other at the end of
the story. I was told this bedtime story when
I was little kid. I never feel bored although I
am told and I watch the Disney movie more
than a thousand times. When I was a kid,
after listening, I always have a good sleep
while dreaming I was a Cinderella. She is
kind, beautiful, hard working, and of course
she marry a prince.
However, I change my mind not to
be Cinderella after I find out that Cinderella
is weak physically and mentally. In order to
enhance that traditional female role model,
beautiful appearance of Cinderella plays an
important role in the theme of fairy tales.
The traditional stereotypes of this Disney
princess can impose on negative affected the
behavior of young girls who watch the
phenomenon of the Disney princess
Cinderella therefore has damaging effects on
girls.
Disney films are considered high
quality family entertainment, but we can
find the Disney princess‘ character as slave
to gender stereotypes. Weak behavior is
most portrayed in Disney Princess. A good
example is Cinderella. She is weak in her
character because she is passive. According
to Turkel, ― it is conceivable that patriarchal
Victorians neglected stories featuring strong
females and promoted those tales that
depicted women as weak or witless or at
most…‖ (e. p. 3). ―Witless‖ means foolish
and unintelligent. For example, Walt
Disney‘s Cinderella is portrayed gender
stereotyped behavior. She has a miserable
life because her stepmother and her two
mean and selfish stepsisters treat her cruelly
and brutally. She never complains about
that. She is just patient and tolerant,
forgetting what the stepmother and her two
little stepsisters have treated her as a slave.
She is always dreaming a charming prince to
rescue her one day. In spite of experiencing

2
 Cinderella waits patiently to be
rescued. Potter asserts, ―Cinderella is a
miserable stay-at-home [woman] waiting
passively for a fairy godmother to transform
her and for prince charming finally to
resolve all her problems‖ (e. p. 1). ―Stay-at-
home‖ means that Cinderella does not leave
the home; therefore, she under the control of
someone with a higher authority. The
traditional female models follow what they
had been told. They are busy and work hard
in the house, and they devoted all their time
and energy to family. ―Waiting passively‖
means waiting patiently. She is waiting for a
man to resolve all her problems. In the
mistreated in life, she can have the power of
opening scene, Cinderella sings ―A dream is
controlling of her own
a wish your heart
destiny. She can train
makes./ When you're
herself to be
fast asleep,/ In dreams
independent. She can
The fairy tale films of Walt you lose your
escape from her
Disney emphasized the hapless, heartaches. /Whatever
stepmother and live by
helpless heroine who must be you wish for, you keep./
herself. She can sew,
Have faith in your
cook, clean, sing, dance saved by birds, rabbits, mice,
dreams and someday./
and raise animals in deer and other cute wildlife, or Your rainbow will come
which she does not need even by a bunch of almost men, smiling through./ No
to depend on her the dwarves. matter how your heart is
stepmother to give her
grieving./ If you keep on
food and to provide her
believing, the dream that
place to live. If she
you wish will come true.‖ She keeps hoping
works hard, she can have a better life than
that one day a handsome prince will take her
live with her stepmother. Second, if she is
away from this evil place. I wonder why she
not willing to fly away, she can challenge
can waiting patiently for the prince to rescue
her freedom. She can report her bitter
her. If the prince does not appear, she cannot
stepmother and her mean stepsisters to the
escape her miserable life from her
local official government ever since her
stepmother forever. She will live as a slave
father went away. It sounds ridiculous if she
throughout her grieving life. Think for a
cannot challenge her suffering. If she cannot
moment. Even though the prince does
control her own life, no one else can help
appear, what will happen if the prince does
her achieve the freedom. Although
not like her at all? As a matter of fact, she
Cinderella represents a successful Walt
only finds her happiness in her dream.
Disney movie, her weak behavior is a bad
Turkel insists, ―The fairy tale films of Walt
role model for girls.
Disney emphasized the hapless, helpless
heroine who must be saved by birds, rabbits,
mice, deer and other cute wildlife, or even
by a bunch of almost men, the dwarves‖ (e.

3
p. 3). ―The hapless‖ means unlucky and
unfortunate. Cinderella is a miserable victim
of her stepmother jealousy. She is pitiable
child since she cannot obtain love from her
stepmother and her two stepsisters after her
father goes away. She feels that she leads a
miserable life. She prefers receiving
people‘s love to giving love to people.
Hence, she seeks help from people like
prince because love and wealth can give her
happiness.
In the scene Cinderella need a
suitable dress to attend the Royal ball, she is
upset because her step mother purposely
keeps her busy all the time. She feels that
she will not have time to alter the dress
which her mother had left her when her
mother died. Her best friends (animals) have
an idea to help her make a lovely gown from
her old dress. They work together on the
dress, and Gus and Jack (two mice) take the
great risk to take a scarf and a necklace to
make her dress while the cat keeps a close
watch on the mice. Finally, Cinderella
shows a big surprise to the dress after they
finish the dress. Even though the story is
told in a conceivable and relative way,
Cinderella is portrayed as passive, helpless
and waiting patiently to be rescued. She is
helpless and unintelligent that she cannot
solve the problem by herself. She is lack of
action to deal with her own problems and
leaving her to be the traditional female role.
She is too weak to combat her obstacles that
she needs other people or friends to help her.
Another scene we can see that Cinderella is
a fragile and faint. She just keeps crying and
crying while she is locked in her room when
her step mother finds out that she is the one
who danced with the prince on the Royal
Ball that night. Again, she is rescued by Gus
and Jack. They stole the keys for her, so she
can have a chance try on the glass slippers.
Her life is worthless because she always
waits for other people to rescue her. I am not
trying to say all Disney movies is bad on
female role models, but I think that female
role models should be strong and active
because these traits would greatly have
impact on girls‘ personalities and self-
image.
Even though women have
advanced in a modern American society,
girly-girls are still stuck in the fairy tale
world. Most teenage girls and young kids
hold traditional beliefs about feminity. They
focus on elegance and appearance instead of
their true personalities-they train themselves
to become submissive dolls of society.
Albright illustrates, ―‗Cinderella‘ contains
4
 fairy tales themselves: Cinderella, Sleeping
Beauty, Snow White—all pitted against evil,
ugly old women, waiting for the prince
they‘ve never met to fall for their beauty
(not smarts) and rescue them from misery‖
(e. p. 1). ―Pitted against‖ means a person try
to use his/her strength, power and ability to
complete another person. Here, pretty, good
women are ―pitted against evil‖ which
means they battle with the ugly women. We
can see the example of the story of
Cinderella and two stepsisters. We have
already been trained by society to think that
the highest number of allusions to female
people with dark clothes or ugly
appearances, and the Cinderella story has
appearances are evil, whereas people who
been featured in books and movies the
are physically good-looking are good
most‖ (e.p.2). By ―Highest number of
people. The stepsisters in comparison to
allusion‖ Albright means the story of
Cinderella are ugly we assume that they are
Cinderella is published in a various sources,
evil upon first seeing their appearances. In
such as toys, books, movies, magazines and
the film, as soon as the clock tolls to twelve
newspapers. For example, in the scene of the
o‘clock, Cinderella has to leave the Royal
transformation, the fairy godmother uses her
Ball immediately and hurry. She is afraid
wand to change Cinderella into an attractive
that the prince would see the dirtiness of her
girl wearing a glamorous white gown with a
appearance and her ragged clothes and ran
pair of glass slippers. She stands out like a
away. She is scared of him rejecting her in
star especially with her hairdo and make up.
the form of a servant. She has no self
Of course, after her transformation, she can
confidence. Her dream is to marry the
attend to the spectacular Royal Ball.
prince, but if she does not she would be
However, this is a bad lesson about beauty
divested from rejection. This is a reason why
image for feminists
Cinderella is not a
because it emphasizes
good role model for
her beauty appearance
young girls. She
more than her inner Just think about the fairy tales
allows others to base
beauty, her personality themselves: Cinderella, Sleeping
her worth, and she
and true self. Even Beauty, Snow White—all pitted
depends on others for
though she wears rag
against evil, ugly old women, her happiness. She is
clothes, old shoes, and
not smart because she
no makeup, I believe waiting for the prince they‘ve never
only uses her
that prince would still met to fall for their beauty (not
camouflage of beauty
fall in love and marry smarts) and rescue them from
to exchange for a
her because of her kind misery.
comfortable life. The
and benevolent
ending of this fairy
personality. It can be a
tale reflects the
problem to raise the younger generations to
gender stereotype in which girls are taught
be identified by being pretty and passive and
that beauty is the most valued. Girls should
not how to desire their inner beauty.
be involved in active planning for their
According to Bennett, ―Just think about the

5
are brainwashed to hold their versions of Cinderella like
conventional beliefs that they Cinderellama which can guide
are like mannequins waiting children to explore a new
passively for their masters to world around them and save
give them fantasy lives. people in need not only
Parents are not giving birth to explore their femininity. Also,
a beauty machines; parents we want our girls to be
are developing human beings. professionals while they
Parents should beware of grown up. Parents should be
which fairy tale is a good great compasses to help guide
lesson for child development children, not pamper them to
because more than a thousand sit still to be rescued.

Works Cited
Albright, Julie M. ―Impossible Bodies: TV Viewing Habit, Body Image, and Plastic Surgery
Attitudes among College Students in Los Angeles and Buffalo, New York.‖
Configurations. 15.2 (2007): 103-123,193. ProQuest. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
Bennett, Jessica. ―Disney Princesses and the Battle for Your Daughter‘s Soul: Can pink frilly
dresses and magic wands really harm young girls? Peggy Orenstein thinks so.‖
Newsweek Web Exclusives. 26 Jan. 2011: n. pag. ProQuest. Web. 28 Aprl. 2011.
Cinderella. Dir. Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske. Perf. Ilene Woods.
Disney, 1957. DVD.
Farley, Christopher John. ―Media Business – On The Horizon: Author Blasts Disney Princesses
As ‗Girlie-Girl,‘ ‗Rabid Materialists‘.‖ Wall Street Journal 10 Jan. 2005: B.6. ProQuest.
Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
Hurley, Dorothy L. ―Seeing White: Children of Color and the Disney Fairy Tale Princess.‖ The
Journal of Negro Education. 74.3 (2005): 221-232. ProQuest. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
Potter, Cherry. ―Commrnent & Analysis: The princess who refused to die: The new
Cinderella films have lost the story‘s meaning-they just teach girls they must be pretty
to be loved.‖ The Guardian 3 Aug. 2004: 18. ProQuest. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.
Turkel, Ann Ruth. "From Victim to Heroine: Children's Stories Revisited." Journal of the
American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry. 30.1 (2002): 71.
ProQuest. Web. 28 Apr. 2011.

6
 Welcome to My Free Guide of Children
HOW TO Behavior!!!

GUIDE
CHILDREN

Please take advantage of my website:

www.Cdph.ca.gov/carlkmoymd or text
MDCARLMOY

I majored in child development and grow up in

a big family, ten siblings; now I am a child
psychologist. Therefore, I completely
understand the different stages that a child
goes through. My experience tells me that two
useful tips can help parents with where to start
and what to look for to guide their children’s
behavior in an appropriate way when they grow
up.

Tip 1: Focus on positive behavior. Choose the

books or movies which contain positive
behavior like the new version of fairy tales:
Alice in the Wonderland, Cinderellama or the
Fog and the Princess.

Tip 2: Shape the positive behavior. Guide the

children to think positively and creatively after
they finish reading books or watching movies.
Help children to solve their own problems or
accept their appearance by using positive
communication and a gentle reminder.

Thank you for visiting my website. Good luck

and enjoy your time with your children.
Remember to reward your children with a kiss
or hug because they deserve your love and
respect, and let them know you always approve
of positive behavior.
7
Fallen Heroes
Written by: Jonathan Luna
A
dolf Hitler was the Aryan race’s miracle, for he brought
back pride and dignity to the country of Germany. He
gave his people jobs at a time of depression. Germans
once again had the luxury of being able to provide for their
families. In the eyes of the Germen’s Hitler was a hero, but
he persuaded them in a sleazy way. The lizard’s tongue of
Hitler, tempted the Germans to
annihilate the Jews, allowing the
Aryan race to step up and flour-
ish. For once it seemed as if evil
prevailed, for indeed they had
the upper hand. With scientists
and an army force way ad-
vanced for its time, Hitler nearly
invaded eleven different coun-
tries before his reign of power
came to an end. Drug addiction
was Hitler’s downfall. A daily
dose of methamphetamine tab-
lets made Hitler paranoid, but
worst of all they made him naïve; he believe that his race was
supreme to all others. Attacking and fighting when he should
not caused the superpower to fall. Like Adolf Hitler’s down-
fall, the impact that drug addiction has on viewers in away
has also brought down the entertainment industry’s famous
superheroes. As drug addiction destroys family, children
tend to grow up faster. They realize that the powers of their
superhero aren’t as strong as they seem, whereas the power
of drug addiction certainly is. Therefore superheroes have the
power to change the world, as does drug addiction. Even
heroes can fall. Fairy tales are lost, and reality is revealed.
Superheroes are given the power to change the world.
This power is meant to make viewers feel safe, and to
persuade viewers to be more like them. Superheroes take
a stand for what is right, and they coordinate our world; giv-
ing peace to a world of suffering. Superheroes like Iron Man
and Spider Man fight terrorists and
villains who are seeking to take over
the world. Spider Man gives justice
to New York City, and Iron Man gives
freedom to third world countries.
Superheroes like Batman and the X-
men also give resources and oppor-
tunity to those in need. Through the
Wayne’s Foundation, Batman gives
housing and security to orphans,
and through the X-men academy,
Professor Xavier gives housing and
education to mutants. These are
qualities of a superhero. Consider my
parents, they were my heroes. In my dad’s eyes I am always
righteous. I could be a bum or a straight up thug, and my
dad will still think highly of me because I am his boy. Without
a doubt if I were to get busted today and spend the rest of
my life in jail, my dad would spend the rest of his life trying
to break me out because in his eyes he is fighting for what
is right. My mom has always been poor, yet she is rich. My
mom gives to others, knowing later that she will be left empty
handed. If she sees an animal stranded on the streets, she
will take it home. If a person has nowhere to go for the night,
my mom will offer him a plate of food and a place to sleep.
My mom supports a houseful, with chump change. My mom
is low income, but she is rich in people, for she’s a mother
to the hood. I love these qualities that my parents have and I
try to imitate them for myself. Jonathan Schmidt persuades,
“There are superheroes across the spectrum of social loca-
tions, which can serve as tremendous encouragement for
clients to rise above their own adversity and make healthy
choices” (e.p.1). “Spectrum” means a series of colors formed
when white light is dispersed into its components. “Social lo-
cation” is a place of pleasant companionship. “Tremendous”
means amazingly large, or powerful. “Adversity” means hard
times. Therefore,
there are good
role models in ev-
ery race of every
country that can
give hope and
faith to a person
whose feeling
down.
Drugs have
the power to
change the world. This power was meant to cure sickness,
or to relieve pain. Drugs give Doctor’s, Dentist, surgeons,
and parents, the ability to do their jobs. Medical person-
als use drugs to sedate their patients during operation, and
parents use drugs to cure, or relieve their child’s illness.
However there are some drugs that come with a side effect.
This effect has destroyed people physically and mentally.
Addiction makes a person forget about everything he once
loved, including the love for himself. Addiction controls a
person’s mind to think only about how and when he is going
to get his next fix. Consider the Vietnam War. Medics gave
soldiers morphine, and other pain killers, to ease the pain of
their bullet wounds, and blown off limbs. After taking these
drugs over a period of time, these soldiers became strung
out on drugs. These American heroes returned home in bad
condition, not because of bullet wounds or explosions, but
because they came home as drug addicts. A person could
have everything in the world, but if he is addicted to drugs,
he can not make things work with his family. His addiction
comes before anything or anyone else. Jessica Cleck and
Julie Blendy deliberate, “Addiction is a chronic brain dis-
ease in which individuals cannot control their need for drugs
despite negative health and social consequences” (e.p.1).
“Chronic” means frequent or persistent. “Consequences”
means results are effect. Therefore, like cancer, drug addic-
tion can be fatal, and seems to have no cure. Drug addiction
has swept across the country like a plague. Jessica Cleck
and Julie Blendy acknowledge, “Drug abuse is among the
top three health problems in the United States in terms of
economic and health care cost” (e.p.1). Therefore, drugs
have infected so many people that not only are they hurting
8
themselves, but also the country. day there will be a rewarding gift under the tree from Santa
Even superheroes can fall. To defeat most superhero, you that the child desired all year. However, if the child was bad
first have to get them addicted to a drug; otherwise, like most all year long, come Christmas day they’ll be a lump of coal
superheroes they will live forever. waiting for the bad child to open.
Superheroes have too many good Like fairy tales, the entertainment
qualities to be defeated any other industry made superheroes for one
way. Strength, power, wisdom, cour- of same reasons. Superheroes teach
age, and discipline make a super- children that good always prevails
hero indestructible. However, drugs over evil, so if they are bad, then
are weapons of mass destruction. It their destination is only going to
has the power to slowly drain away lead them to failure. This gimmick
any good qualities a person may makes life seem simple for children,
have, leaving a person weak, sloppy, which is good, because children are
scared, and a fiend. A superhero un- too young to have worries anyway.
der the spell of drug addiction makes Children growing up in a normal fam-
him a mortal, with a deadly disease. ily never lose focus of their dreams,
Consider my superheroes. As a child because they have no worries. They
nothing seemed more powerful or believe that if something evil is hiding
stronger to me, than my parents. under their bed or inside their closet,
No matter how sad or sick I felt, my their superhero will come and strike
dad always had the power to turn the evil monster down. The parents
my frown right up. At times when my of these children do a good job
mom had to be a single parent, she of keeping their children innocent
was superwomen. She cleaned and through fairy tales, because they
cooked for four kids, and still had the know the outside world is filled with
strength to make miracles happen on the evil of drugs. Angela Chambers
holidays. However, as an adolescent enlightens,” Peter Parker has girl
I saw both of my heroes fall to the trouble, kids bully him, his boss yells
addiction of drugs. I saw my dad go at him, he can’t pay his rent yet, he
in and out of jail, losing a countless still chooses the responsible path”
number of jobs because of his addiction to heroin. I watched (e.p.1). Therefore, the message is to teach kids that if life is
as his addiction rotten his appearance, aging him over night. giving you a little bit of problem, choose the same path that
For a moment I lost all respect for the woman who gave me your superhero did, and stay away from drugs and alcohol.
birth, because of her addiction to methamphetamine. For al- Superheroes are usually made as good role models for chil-
most five years I exchanged unpleasant words with my mom. dren. Jonathan Schmidt insinuates, “What would Superman
I saw her drop down to 90 pounds and I watched as police do? This chapter recommends an approach to therapy that
officers took my mom away to the psychiatric home, for try- is useful in identifying how patterns of questions can encour-
ing to kill her self. You see, even heroes can fall victim to drug age children and youth to want to behave as their heroes
addiction. In the film “Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked,” do” (e.p.1). “Therapy” is a treatment for mental or physical
the Green Arrow’s side kick Speedy falls to the disorder. “Ap-
addiction of heroin, and from there the series was proach” means
canceled. Alcohol addiction is also very power- to move nearer
ful. Ron Novy indicates, “In the Demon in a Bottle or close to.
story line, Tony Stark confronts his most intimate Therefore, they
enemy: alcoholism … Tony’s judgment becomes are trying the
impaired: his clumsiness risks lives of innocent same gimmick
people, and he insults his friends” (p.g.1). “Tony that normal
Stark” also known as Iron Man. “Intimate” means families use on
very friendly or a close friend. “Impaired” means their children,
diminished in quantity, value, or ability. Therefore, but it is still
Iron Man pushes his friends away, and brings his just a practice
alcohol addiction closer. By doing this he puts his because these
life and others in jeopardy. When fighting against children have
the evil of drug addiction, superheroes can not reality to deal
always come out victorious. with. Therefore
superheroes are
Fairytales were made to teach children to ideal to children, but only if their life is also ideal.
behave well so that they can one day reach their hopes and
dreams. Consider the fairytale of Santa Claus. Children are Reality of the real world is revealed to most people as
told that if they behave well all year long, come Christmas soon as they become adults, and their parents stop support-
ing them. However, parents that are drug addicts do a very

9
poor job of supporting their children from the very beginning.
As a result, fairytales do not work for these children because
they know that it is a lie. Consider if your parents were ad-
dicted to drugs. If you were acting out, and your parents told
you to behave are else Santa Claus is not going to bring you
anything for Christmas, you would probable laugh because
whether you behave well or not, come Christmas day there will
be nothing there for you to open. Fact is that if your parents
are drug addicts most likely they
don’t have a job, and what little
many that they do have goes to
their addiction. Children grow-
ing up in a life of adversity are not
going to watch childish television
shows because it does not apply
to them; just how children grow-
ing up in a glamorous life are not
going to watch television shows
that are parental guidance. This
is a major issue for the entertain-
ment industry because as life gets
too harder for children, they tend
start experimenting with drugs,
and like their parents they also
become addicted. This becomes
a life cycle, drugs become more popular and superheroes
are forgotten. The entertainment industry has already made a
change in superheroes. Hank Stuever discovers, “The latest
hope in the fantasy biz is called reality, as best evidenced in
a new DC comics series called Real worlds, where the most
familiar of the Time- owned superheroes have been recast
as somewhat ordinary folks with everyday problems” (e.p.1)
Therefore, since the original superhero comics are not selling
any more, the entertainment industry has made the initiative to
make superheroes more realistic. Although the entertainment
industry has lost their young consumers, their hope now is to
get older buyers. Stuever takes inconsideration, “The people
who make comic books have discovered what everyone else
has: Real sells” (e.p.1) Therefore, from observing everyone
else, you can see that reality entertainment is what people
want. The hardship that drug addiction gives has killed the
fairytale of superheroes and has revealed reality, or perhaps
not. In the article A Need for a Superhero suggests, “Having
fought no tragic war or been colonized, we need no savior”
(“Superhero”e.p.1) Therefore, since we have not had any big
threats or any big wars, we have no interest in superhero,
because we do not need them. I have to disagree with that
statement though, because we are fighting a war in our
own country. We are fighting
a war on drugs, and so far we
are losing, because not even a
superhero can dispel the curse
of drug addiction.
Although superheroes make
the world go round, drug addic-
tion makes it stop. For once in
life evil has prevailed. Dreams
are lost, and nightmares begin.
Human beings were created as
ideal creature, for we are car-
ing, loving, understanding, and
wise. You can meet a boy or a
girl for the first time, and fall in
love with him or her, because
they seem like the ideal person.
However, as you start dating, feelings start to change. As
conditions alter, you no longer behave like an ideal person.
You allow stress and anger to get the best of you. The same
thing goes for superheroes, they may seem ideal at first, but
when conditions alter, when people stop having interest for
their favorite hero; they tend to change. A life of adversity can
either make a person are break a person, and in most cases
it will break the person down. Drugs make life hard. If you
ever want to take an enemy out, get him addicted to a drug.
Only drug addiction has the power to take all good qualities
a person might have. I guarantee you, if you gets your enemy
strung out on drugs, you won’t have to get your hands dirty.
Like Adolf Hitler, your enemy will kill himself, to end his own
misery.

Works Cited
Anonymous. “A Need for Superheroes.” The Bangkok Post 19 July 2008. ProQuest. Web. 05 May 2011.
Chambers, Angela. “Comic Is a Teaching Tool: Superheroes Speak out Agaainst Drugs, Alcohol in Book for Students.”
Dallas Morning News 08 Apr. 2007. Gale Opposing Viewpoints. Web. 10 May 2011.
Cleck, Jessica N., and Julie A. Blendy. “Making a Bad Thing Worse: Adverse Effects of Stress on Drug Addiction.” Journal
of Clinical Investigation 118.2 (2008): 454-61. ProQuest. Web. 29 Apr. 2011.
Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked. Dir. Michael Chabon and Will Eisner. New Video, 2005. DVD.
Novy, Ron. “6/ Fate at the Bottom of a Bottle: Alcohol and Tony Stark.” Iron Man and Philosophy. Hoboken, New Jersey:
John Wiley & Sons, 2010. 7-264. Print.
Schmidt, Jonathan. “Using Superheroes in Coumseling and Therapy.” Smith College Studies in Social Work 79.1 (2009):
87-0_7. ProQuest. Web. 27 Apr. 2011.
Stuever, Hank. “Superheroes’ Last Stand; Can Reality Save Them From Their Archenemy, the Vanishing Reader.” The
Washington Post Comany 06 May 2000: C.1. . ProQuest. Web. 05 May

formatted by: Kenneth Averion

10
 Buy a kill pill
Is there a person, or a group of people that have been giving you problems, and you don’t

know how to deal with it? Well if so don’t go to the cops or try to fight them off yourself,

because going to the cops is not going to do nothing but make things worse, and fighting them

yourself is too much of a risk. So what do you do? To defeat, or get rid of a person, you first

have to get him addicted to something. The question now is get him addicted to what. The

answer to that question is simple; you get him addicted to the “A Kill Pill.” This pill is more

addicting then the alcohol that weakened Iron-Man, the cocaine that got rid of Charlie Sheen

from the TV show “Three and a Half Men”, and the methamphetamine that caused Adolf Hitler

to kill him self after losing multiple battles in World War Two. This pill has powers of mass

destruction, and it could be your weapon for the very low cost of one hundred dollars for a bottle

of twenty pills, but wait if you call now to 1800-got-pills, we will through in an extra bottle free

on top of your perches. Again the number is 1800-got-pills. Call now whiles this deal still last.

11
Who will become the
heroes of the future?
BY JOSEPH HONG

12
The bigger the body of the
superhero the more power
he possesses.

13
14
Spiderman 2

15
Los Angeles Times

The Florida Times

16
17
18
 Works Cited
Brown, Jeffery A. "Comic Book Masculinity and The New Black Superhero." African
American Review. Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., 1991. Web. 6 May 2011.

Kenan, Randall. "Beyond the Final Frontier: Science Fiction, Superheroes, and the South
in A Visitation of Spirits." The Southern Literary Journal. 43.1. 125-150. Project
Muse, 2010. Web. 3 May 2011.

Lissau, Russell. "Wonder Women Here They Come, Crashing Into the Sexist Stronghold of
Superhero Comic Books. What Do They Want? What Will They Do?
[Cook/DuPage/Fox Valley/Lake/Mchenry Edition]." Daily Herald. ProQuest. N.p.,
22 Feb. 2000. Web. 3 May 2011.

Lovejoy, Heather. "Superheroines Can Be Hard to Come By In Popculture." Florida Times

Union, ProQuest. N.p., 26 Oct. 2009. Web. 3 May 2011.

Mankiller, Wilma, Et. All. "Superheroines." The Reader’s Companion to U.S. Women’s
History. SIRS Researcher. N.p., 1 Dec. 1998. Web. 3 May 2011.

Spider-Man 2. Dir. Sam Raimi. Perf. Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst. Columbia
Pictures, 2004. Film.

Steblea, Jeffrey J. "Boys Vs. Girls: How Our Culture Creates a Conflict Where Both Sexes
Lose." Women's Study Quarterly. 38.3. 317-23. ProQuest, 2010. Web. 3 May 2011.

Formatted by Choco Deng

19
20
 Michael Jordan and His Impact
Red, still red,
the basketball fans only remember the red
jersey in the 1980s-1990s. A guy was
wearing the red number 23 jersey in the
Chicago Bull- Michael
Jordan.
Michael Jordan
is a professional
basketball player who
won 6 NBA
championships, 6 him by his basketball legacy.
NBA Final MVPs
and 2 Olympic
Gold Medals. He is
first basketball player
to own the title "Athlete of the
Century” in NBA history, and he has hit
countless big time clutch buzzer beaters to
help the Chicago Bulls to win games.
Michael Jordan is the best shooting guard
in the NBA history and he had set many
unbreakable records no one able to surpass
anytime soon. People always remember
the good side of Michael Jordan, but he
still has a bad side. Michael Jordan’s flaws
include his controversy with Nike
sweatshop which is about foreign workers
having bad conditions to make Jordan
shoes, and the gambling situation that
created many bad rumors. However, those
two flaws did not affect his image
significantly, people still admire him
greatly. Michael Jordan is the best
basketball player in the whole world
because his will to compete and win is like
nothing we have ever seen. People called
him the God of basketball because he is
Michael
By: Kristy Cheng
able to play to score points, to defend, and
to lead the team and win. Also, he will not
accept losing, and his competitiveness had
helped him to work harder and influence
his teammate to improve their game.
Michael Jordan influenced lots of players
from past and now, and every team should
have a great leader like him. Lastly,
everyone knows he is one of the most
popular people in the whole world.
However, no matter how good a person is
in something, he will always have flaws.
Although Michael Jordan has some flaws
in his life, people will always remember
Michael Jordan’s Sneakers can be
purchased all over the world, but behind
each sneaker are workers who are being
taken advantage by the Nike manufactures.
“Critics of Nike” explains that “Across the
Pacific, in factories where Nike
manufactures shoes Jordan helped make
famous, the workers often earn pennies for
an hour's work” (e.p. 1). The sweatshop
between the Nike manufactures and the
workers of other country is a very big
issue to Jordan’s iconic image. The shoes
are so expensive per pairs, but the workers
only get little money to make those Jordan
shoes. It is not fair to the workers, and not
a positive ratio between Michael Jordan
and the workers. As Del Jones describes,
“To make Air Jordans, children toil under
sweatshop conditions worse than those
faced by children making Kathie Lee
Gifford apparel, says Joel Joseph,
chairman of Made in the USA
Foundation” (e.p. 1). Nike want to use less
money to make the Air Jordan shoes, the
21
company hires the child workers, so the
company can pay less money to hire them.
On top of that, the children get a very bad
condition to work in the company. Then,
Nike sells the shoes with very high price
thanks to Jordan’s fame to earn higher
profits. It is very inhuman for the Nike
Company to take advantage of the children.
“Gifford has publicly named Jordan as
another celebrity who endorses apparel
without knowing under what conditions it
is made” (Jones e.p. 2). Although Michael
Jordan might not be involved with the
sweatshop, however, he didn’t take any
action to improve the situation but allow
the endorser to continue to take advantage
of the foreign workers is inexcusable. As
Phil Mushnick describe, “Once, when
asked to comment about muggings and
murder committed to procure $150 and up
Jordan-signature Nike sneakers that were
made by
Indonesian
and
Vietnamese
workers
(for far less
than what
Gifford's
Wal-Mart
Honduran workers were paid), Jordan
blamed it on retailers. He said they set the
prices too high” (e.p. 2). When Michael
Jordan was asked about the problems his
sneakers had caused for the workers and
the poor fans, he blamed others and
continued to stay quiet instead of helping
the workers get a better working condition
or lower the price of the sneakers.
Gambling is Michael
Jordan’s biggest problem
that spread bad rumors that
hurt his iconic image.
Usually, gambling will only
cause a person to lose lots
of money, but sometime it
will also affect the people
and things around you. As
Mike Freeman describes, “Jordan’s
gambling habits first drew significant
attention last year when it was revealed he
had written a $57,000 check in 1989 to
James (Slim) Bouler, a convicted drug
dealer from North Carolina, supposedly to
pay off golf debts. Jordan initially said the
payment was a loan” (e.p. 2). Jordan's
iconic image was hurt not only because he
had a gambling problem, but also the
people he deal with and the lie he told the
media about the situation. People tend to
follow what Jordan does because he is
such an iconic figure, but it’s difficult for
the young generations to look up to him
when he has so many problems that are not
good influences. Michael Jordan’s
addiction to gambling also brings different
kind of rumors to his life. According to
Dan McGrath, “The most prominent: that
his retirement was actually a suspension
for gambling” (e.p. 1). Michael Jordan had
declared that he wanted to retire because
he had lost the love for the game of
basketball, but the rumors revealed he was
forced to retirement because he has a
gambling problem. If Michael Jordan does
not gamble, there won’t be so many
rumors that had hurt his image. “But a
darker theory held that he'd (Jordan’s
Father) been killed in retribution
forMichael's unpaid gambling debts”
(McGrath e.p. 1). Although it is just a
theory, to hear that one of the family
member, the father figure in Michael
0Jordan’s life, was dead because of
Jordan’s gambling problem is very
devastating. Michael Jordan’s gambling
problem has hurt his image, however, no
one is perfect; his image of
being the greatest basketball
ever will always be
remembered in people’s
memories and his
competitiveness had helped
many young kids to be
motivated and try their best
not only on basketball, but
many other things as well.
Although Michael Jordan’s
22
gambling situation has hurt his iconic you the truth, he's not playing the way we
image, it is his competitive nature that are used to seeing. But he will do whatever
created this flaw. is necessary to win the ballgame. No one
can match his mental toughness”(e.p. 2).
Even though he does not have the body
One of and legs he used to have to play basketball,
Michael Jordan’s but he still tries his best to play every
He's not greatest characteristics game because no one has Michael Jordan’s
addicted to is his competitiveness competitive fire and tough mind to win.
gambling, he's to accept all “What got Michael Jordan from A to Z is
challenges and win. his competitive nature. Something like that
addicted to When he decide to do doesn't go away. If he's coming back,
competition. something he want, believe me, he's not coming back to
Michael Jordan will embarrass himself. We'll never know until
always try his best and the season is over, but Michael Jordan is
win in all cost. As Don Markus Michael Jordan” (“Look who” e.p. 3).
describes, Michael Jordan “got to stay Michael’s competitive nature is what made
competitive in whatever he does” (e.p. 2). him successful. He came back to play
Michael Jordan will basketball because his
always “stay competitive nature did
competitive” or be not allow him to walk
ready to contend all away even though he
challenges. Michael had accomplished
Jordan’s nature will everything he needed
not accept losing; to accomplish in the
therefore, he will break game of basketball.
through all obstacles to Although the physical
achieve his goal. side of him had
“Peterson has declined, the mental
witnessed Jordan's side of him will always
almost ruthless attitude be the ultimate
when it comes to competitor of the old.
competition” (Markus e.p. 2). Michael No matter how old Michael Jordan gets, he
Jordan reveals his “Ruthless attitude” or will still be the greatest ever in everyone’s
heartless and cruel side in all competition. mind, there is no player can surpass his
When Michael Jordan is in a competition, level of competitiveness.
nothing else matters for him anymore, all
he cares about is how to win. “He's not Michael Jordan influenced the
addicted to gambling, he's addicted to NBA sport and made the game of
competition” (Markus e.p. 2). Being basketball one of the most popular sports
“Addicted” or obsessed to competition in the whole world. His impacts on
means Jordan indulge in competition more basketball let many people understand the
than anything else. His father knows he fun and excitement of the game. Without
loves gambling because the competition to Michael Jordan’s achievement and
win is what Michael desired, not the popularity, people might not fall in love
money. Being addicted to gambling means with basketball. According to Philip
you want to win money, Michael Jordan Hersh, “It was not only his court presence
don’t care about the money, all he care but his having a presence off the court that
about is winning and being able to made Jordan so unusual even other star
compete. “Look who” explain that “To tell athletes were in his thrall” (e.p. 1).

23
Michael Jordan’s influence of basketball
on and off the court has made other stars
athletes view their impact on sports as
almost meaningless. Not only is Michael
Jordan’s impact great on people from the
United States, but “in France, where the
national soccer team just won the World
Cup, kids in the poor Paris suburbs relate
more to Jordan and basketball than to
soccer heroes” (e.p. 1). Michael Jordan
has influenced the game of basketball in
ways that no one else ever did. When
kids from other country talk about
Michael Jordan and basketball instead of
the Champions of the World Cup of their
own continent, it says a lot about Michael
Jordan’s game and his influences on
basketball throughout the world. Also,
“His influence and impact on the
popularity of our game is a great reason
why we are so sad he is retiring" (e.p. 3).
Michael Jordan brought so much fun and
excitement each and every game to the
people. People want Michael Jordan to
keep on playing basketball because his
game had bring so many different kinds of
emotions to the people; they will feel very
excited when he go for an unbelievable
dunk, breath holding when he takes the
last shot and cheerful when he makes it
and sad when he misses. That’s why when
Michael Jordan said he wanted to retire,
everyone was sad because they knew there
would be no one that could take over
Michael Jordan in people’s heart.
Therefore, Michael Jordan’s game
increased the popularity of basketball and
helped the people around the world
understand the fun and excitement of the
game.
Great leader gives the team great
success; Michael Jordan is one of the
greatest leaders in NBA history. Michael
Jordan’s ability to lead Chicago Bulls is
one of the most important reasons the
team won so many championships.
According to Frank Schwab, “Whether it's
a Michael Jordan or whoever, it was the
leadership skills their coaches talk about
that brought the team chemistry together”
(e.p. 1). Great skill must complement with
great leadership. Michael Jordan’s
superior basketball skill is unquestionably
one of the best in the world; however,
without his leadership skill the team won’t
able to have the chemistry they need to
win. His teammates follow his lead not
only because he’s the best player on the
team, but because they know Michael is a
great leader who can help them improve
and play better together. As Michael Grant
describes, “Leading a team that suffered
injuries, suspensions', and a few
embarrassing losses, Jordan, entering the
finals, led himself with the powerful
affirmation: "We can win (another
championship) with what we have”(e.p.
2). When the team is suffering and many
players lost their confidence, the leader of
the team must step up and carry their team
over the misery. Michael Jordan didn’t
give up or lose his confidence when the
team is going through a hard time because
he knew if himself, the leader of the team
don’t believe they can still win, there’s no
chance they will win. Instead, he believed
himself and the team and continues to play
with what they have. Peter Kendall
explain that “Horace Grant is telling a
reporter about Jordan's team leadership,
about how vital it has been to the younger
Bulls players this season” (e.p. 1).
Jordan’s team leadership is what people
most talk about on and off the court, and it
has helped his team win many
24
championships during his career. When he basketball merchandises are being
got older, his leadership also helped the purchased worldwide. The result of his
younger players to improve. In any team popularity influences the economy
sport, there will be no success without a throughout the world drastically.
great leader, even if you are the best player According to Bruce Niendorf, “The
in the whole world. implication was that Jordan's rumored
return to basketball increased his value as
The popularity of Michael Jordan an endorser resulting in an over $2 billion
had affected the sport of basketball and the dollar gain to shareholders” (e.p. 1).
economy of the world dramatically. His Michael Jordan is so popular that even a
iconic fame has impacted the selling rumor of him can result in money profit.
product in the NBA and the world Every action he takes can be valuable
economy in billions of dollars. “Legend because he is such an iconic and popular
Jordan” explains that “With the retirement figure and people’s admiration of him is so
of Michael Jordan, the National Basketball strong that everything he does will draw
Association has lost the largest selling on- interest. Therefore, every sponsor will be
the-court product it has had in its 52-year attracted to Jordan because they knew he
history.” (e.p. 1). Thanks to his impacts can help them create money opportunities.
and achievements in basketball, Michael
Jordan has become not only the best In the world of basketball, Michael
player, but also the most Jordan is the role model every player and
popular athlete in the fan look up to. His basketball leadership,
NBA history. He competiveness, influence, and popularity
become the largest are second to none. Michael Jordan is like
selling on-the-court the god of incarnation when he plays
product, and his basketball. He changed the game of
popularity help the basketball and took the popularity of it
NBA gain millions of from NBA throughout the world.
dollars in profit by However, Michael Jordan is still a human
selling Chicago Bull’s and every human has flaws. His off court
game tickets and his NBA Jerseys, Etc. controversy with Nike and sweatshop
With his retirement, The NBA will which causes many foreign workers to
probably lose millions of dollars because only earn pennies and work in a terrible
there will be less supporting fans that are condition, and the gambling situations that
willing to buy tickets and products, and the cause many rumors has done huge damage
popularity of the game will also decline. to his image. Michael Jordan became
Not only Michael Jordan help change the super iconic because he is the most
economy in the NBA, competitive player and
“Fortune magazine person who will keep
estimated Jordan's on trying until he
impact on the world reaches his goal. His
economy to be in the unbelievably
neighborhood of $10 basketball skill
billion.” (“Michael complement by his
Jordan” e.p. 1). leadership has carried
Michael Jordan has him to his goal, and
become so well-known most importantly, his
that his products, influence in the NBA
including jerseys, and made the game of
shoes and other basketball one of the
25
most popular sports worldwide. One of
Michael Jordan’s favorite motto is “I can I can accept failure,
accept failure, everyone fails at something. everyone fails at
But I can't accept not trying”. Michael
Jordan believes to become stronger and something. But I can't
better, he must continue trying no matter accept not trying.
how many times he failed. That’s how he
became successful and that’s why he’s the
best basketball player in the world.
Jordan's influence had already beyond
sports, race, and national borders range.
When he announced his retirement from
the game of basketball, people are
devastated because they know there will
never be another player who can impact
the game as much as him. Nonetheless,
Michael Jordan has made a history in the
sport world, and people would never forget
the person who wears the number 23 on
the Chicago Bulls Jersey.

26
 Works Cited

Bruce Niendorf. "The Michael Jordan Effect." American Business Review 17.2 (1999): 5-10.

ProQuest. Web. 11 May 2011.

"Critics of Nike Press Jordan on Sweatshops Entertainer Kathie Lee Gifford Says She Will

Try to Enlist The NBA Star in Her Crusade Against Sweatshop Abuses." Orlando

Sentinel 7 June 1996: 1. ProQuest. Web. 7 May 2011.

Freeman, Mike. "Pro Football; Jordan Gambling Saga Has New Twist: Taylor." New York

Times 18 July 1993: 2. ProQuest. Web. 25 Apr 2011.

Grant, Michael. "Jordan: Model of Personal Leadership." New Pitsburgh Courier 28 June

1997: A8. ProQuest. Web. 3 May 2011.

Hersh, Philip. "Michael a Symbol of Excellence. Incredible Skill. Indomitable Will. Style,

Grace and Charm. Michael Jordan’s Many attributes and Shrewd Marketing Came

Together to elevate Him Well Beyond Basketball.; Around The World." Chicago

Tribune 17 Jan. 1999: 1. ProQuest. Web. 3 May 2011.

Jones, Del. "Critics Tie Sweatshop Sneakers to 'Air' Jordan." USA Today 6 June 1996: 1.

ProQuest. Web. 7 May 2011.

Kendall, Peter. "Jordan Adds Dimension to Chicago Bulls Star Is Now Also Floor Leader."

Seattle Times 9 Apr. 1989: C7. ProQuest. Web. 11 May 2011.

"Legend Jordan Bows Out." Orange County Regist 13 Jan. 1999: 6. ProQuest. Web. 3 May

2011.

"Look Who's Back In Town ** Michael Jordan Has Not Been as Successful in His Second

Comeback. He and His Wizards Are Struggling." The Morning Call 28 Nov. 2011:

C1. ProQuest. Web. 3 May 2011.

27
Markus, Don. "A Different Road, but Same Old Drive; NBA: Michael Jordan Is In A New

Position As Minority Owner of The Wizards, and His Peers Say His Competitive Fire

Is What Lured Him to His Latest Challenge.: [FINAL Edition]." The Sun 22 Jan.

2000: 1. ProQuest. Web. 3 May 2011.

McGrath, Dan. "High-risk 'action': He Gambles with His Image." Chicago Tribune 10 Sept.

2009: 16. ProQuest. Web. 3 May 2011.

"Michael Jordan: The Ultimate Competitor." American Red Star 29 Jan. 1999: 4. ProQuest.

Web. 3 May 2011.

Mushnick, Phil. "Cheap Shots At Kathie Lee- Why No Flack For Michael Jordan's Far Fatter

Sweatshop Profits?" New York Post 28 July 2000: 29. Proquest. Web. 26 Apr 2011.

Schwab, Frank. "Leadership Void Is Filled." The Gazatte 9 Nov. 2009: 1. ProQuest. Web. 3

May 2011.

Formatted by Lan (Nicole) Ngu, N.

28

  a n ?
W h y J o r d
A i r J o r d a n ?
W h y
Do you want to be like Michael
Jordan, the Greatest basketball player of
all time? Then you should purchase his
Air Jordan Shoes because his shoes are
very comfortable and help you perform
better on the court. Air Jordan sneakers
can also be very good fashionable
choices as well. There are variety styles
and colors for you to choose from.
29
You should definitely get a pair and show off to your
friends, I bet they will envy you greatly. Michael Jordan
has lot of fans thanks to his legendary performance and
achievements on the court; therefore it helped the
popularity of his shoes. Now Air Jordan has 23
generations, every generation defines different meanings.
Air Jordan shoes are so unique not only because they are
high performance and comfortable, but because each pair
represents something about Michael Jordan. Let’s put on a
pair of Air Jordan and get onto the court and become like
Mike.
 The
 

History
 
Continues...

 
 By Alejandro Salgado
obe Bryant‟s love and
passion are for the game of
basketball. He has led his
team, The Los Angeles
Lakers, to five NBA Championships.
Indeed, Bryant is an inspiration to many
young athletes for his great skills and
determination. He has also brought respect
to the City of Los Angeles. Michael Jordan,
like Kobe Bryant, is another well known
professional basketball player. His career
helped him launch his own brand of shoes,
but for being a great person he has
mistreated his workers negatively. Michael
Jordan behaved negatively by paying his
workers a small amount of money for the
hard work they performed. Like every other
person, he has dealt with struggles in life
and with fame. Jordan had great skills. His
goals were to become a champion and
inspire people. His skills have inspired
many people to like, and to look up to him.
His many awards have made him a
champion in the NBA. He struggled
because people doubted him and thought
that he was not going to make it as
professional basketball player. His example
has influenced people greatly. Motivation
in his life has helped him to pursue his
dream. Although Michael Jordan has
struggled, he has often served as a great
role model.
Michael Jordan is known as one of
the most famous athletes with courageous
values, but as well has his own tragic flaws.
Tragic flaws means, a failing of character,
such as seen a failing of character in the
hero of tragedy that brings about his
downfall. MJ announces, “In purely
commercial terms, Jordan and the other
celebrity endorsers can probably dodge this
issue just as Nike has evaded it at the
corporate level. Jordan can head-fake his
way through questions with his „I‟m just a
jock‟ patter without serious repercussions”
(Fowler e.p. 2). Therefore, regardless of the
deprived people working for Nike‟s
corporation. For example, his shoes were
being made in a third world
company. Jordan has no consequences
because he‟s famous. When asked about
the issue he often answers with I‟m just a
“Jock”. MJ says by him being a basketball
player that nobody
can tell him
anything because
his just playing the
30
game. The workers at the sweatshops with his negative actions, his fans never stopped
Nike have a contract that consists of only seeing him as a role model.
$2 a day and they also work 18 hours a day.
Despite the Nike controversy,
Every time the Nike Corporation moves to
Michael Jordan is a role model because of
another country, they aim to pay less. They
his skill on the basketball court. The
mostly move to Asia because they know
meaning of skill is the ability, coming from
they could pay them less. The New York
one‟s knowledge, practice, aptitude, etc., to
Times announces “Now Nike moving into
do something well. Cleveland Cavaliers
Vietnam, where the minimum wage
President Wayne Embry points out, “I
amounts to $30 a month” (“Jordan Nike”
certainly hope a lot of young players aspire
e.p. 1). It‟s saying that Nike is always
to be Michael Jordan whether they‟re in
looking to find cheaper labor. Fowler
the pros, whether they‟re in college,
points out, “It‟s certainly true that the U.S.
whether they‟re in high school or below.
government can‟t mandate the minimum
Because if you aspire to be Michael Jordan
wage in Indonesia, but in practical terms
and fall short, you‟re still pretty darn
Nike and other morally bankrupt fat cats of
good” (Myslenski e.p. 1). The reason that
people look up to MJ is because of skills.
“It’s certainly true that the Everyone wishes to have great skills like
U.S. government can’t him. Everyone should be inspired and do
mandate the minimum wage whatever they wish to do to fulfill their lives.
in Indonesia, but in practical It is great to have high hopes and goals to
achieve something in life. Michael Jordan
terms Nike and other
is a great example of accomplishing goals.
morally bankrupt fat cats of Jordan took the game of basketball from
the corporate world could, the streets to the NBA, and became a
to a large degree”. basketball icon. Many kids all over the
world would like to be like Jordan and one
day become just like him.
the corporate world could, to a large
degree” (e.p. 2). A morally bankrupt fat cat
means that the more money the bank
makes, the bank can never fall short. Nike
knows that the U.S government cannot
command the minimum wage in other
countries because they do not have the
authorization to do so. Nike is well known
and takes advantage of Indonesian wages
by offering them jobs and paying them low
wages. Nike and other endorsers will Since Jordan joined the NBA as a rookie
continue to pay the lowest amount of he has showed many people all over the
money to the foreign workers to get the world what he could do as a player and
highest amount of profit they can and how good he is. Pacer President Donnie
nobody can do anything about it. Since MJ Walsh said, “Michael Jordan had a lot to
has all the authority to control his business do with building the league to what it is,
this effects his well known fame because he and the fact is there will never be another
is treating his workers unethically. Despite Michael Jordan” (Myslenski e.p. 2).

31
Therefore, Michael Jordan set the pace of
basketball and replacing his steps will be
difficult to do. Coach Kevin Loughery
points out, “If I put him with the starters,
they win. If I put him with the second team,
they win… No matter what I do with
Michael, his team wins” (“Notable Sports
Figures” e.p. 3). So no one can replace a
great basketball player as Michael Jordan
because of his great leadership. His
leadership makes him a role model.
Michael Jordan is one of the most
successful athletes in college and most
successful professional basketball player in
history. When
Jordan was cut
off the
basketball team
as a 10th grader,
he realized that
he had to work
harder. Jordan
made the
basketball high
school team his
junior year
when he was 6
foot 1 in height.
When playing high school ball, Jordan
averaged 20 points a game. The University
of North Carolina (UNC) noticed Jordan
from his talent so they recruited him. He
left to play for UNC. While playing for
UNC he was the second player to start as a
rookie. Jordan was the player that they
hoped would bring UNC a NCAA
championship. He was awarded rookie of
the year in (1982) and also known as the
player of the year in 1983-1984. In
Jordan‟s junior year he was drafted by the
Chicago Bulls. The Bulls wanted a player
that would be a leader in the team and a
player that could score points. The Chicago
Bulls drafted Jordan as their number 1
pick. They drafted him because they said
that he seemed like a perfect fit to the team.
In 1985 MJ became the rookie of the year.
Now everyone noticed Michael Jordan
because of all he accomplished in his
rookie year. He then became a starter for
the Bulls. MJ started to take his team to the
NBA Finals every year since he got to the
Bulls not until 1991 did he win his first title
by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers for the
Bulls first title. In 1992 the Bulls defeated
the Portland Trail Blazers for their 2th title
in a roll. In 1992 the Bulls defeated
Phoenix Suns for their 3th title. The Bulls
were known as the team that three „peats in
the 3
years
they
won.
Then
Jord
an
decid
ed to retire in 1993. He decided to come
back in 1994-95 due to his competitive
nature and the will to become a champion
again. He returned to the Chicago Bulls
during the 1994-95 regular season, and
people wondered, „Could he do it again?‟”
(Jordan e.p. 2). Could he win another
championship? In 1996 he won another
title as well in 1997, and in 1998. The
Bulls‟ three peat again with Jordan back in
the team. He was awarded the NBA‟S Most
Valuable player „MVP‟ in 1988, 1991, 1992,
1996, and 1998. MVP is when a player is
known as the best basketball player in the
whole NBA for a particular year. As a role
model Jordan was one of a kind because of
what he has accomplished in the NBA.
Michael Jordan had no family
support and made it to the top by himself. A
lot of people put him down for playing
basketball. All his family worked at a
General Electric Plant place, as well as
Jordan, but he did not work hard in his job
that he had; it just wasn‟t meant for him.
When he played basketball he always
32
 “It‟s probably worked hard to better job. He struggle being young because he
good that it himself to do well. All did not have support from anybody. He was
happened. It of Jordan‟s energies young and he wanted to prove everyone
made me know went to playing what a role model he can be.
what basketball and not to
Michael Jordan was inspired to play
work. All of Jordan‟s
disappointment family was short in
basketball
felt like. And I by a family
height so they said that
member.
knew that I Jordan was going to be
His older
didn‟t want that short like the rest of the
brother
feeling ever family. Basketball is
Larry was
again” for tall people, and not
his
for short is what he
influence to
was told. Jordan did
play ball. In
not care being short he
“Notable
still played the game
Sports
no matter what. Jordan tried out for his
Figures”
high school basketball team when he went
Jordan said
there. In the two years he was in high
on his Web
school he tried out for the team and he was
site, “my motivation came from wanting to
cut the two seasons he tried out. When he
beat my brother. This inspired my
found out the second time they cut him
extremely competitive nature” (e.p. 2). MJ
from the team he went home, cried, and he
just wanted to beat his brother. He worked
would say that that‟s all he wanted to do is
hard to defeat him. This made him so
play for the team. In “Overview” Jordan
competitive in basketball. Competitive is
announces, “It‟s probably good that it
when someone is displaying a strong desire
happened. It made me know what
to be more successful than others. When
disappointment felt like. And I knew that I
Jordan played on the team he wanted to
didn‟t want that feeling ever again” (e.p. 2).
have the number 45, but that was his older
All the crying he did, he did not want to
brothers Larry‟s number, so MJ decided to
ever feel like that again. Over the night
have half of 45. His number became 22,
Jordan grew from 5 feet to 6 feet tall. Well
half of 45, but he just went with the
soon after he tried out for the basketball
number 23. When MJ started to play for
team and made it because he was tall. As
his high school team he wanted to be better
soon as he approached the court he showed
than his brother. When MJ had a game he
everyone what he was capable of. He was
would tell his brother that he was going to
accepted to the University of North
dunk the ball tonight just like Larry did
Carolina to play basketball. Jordan
when he played. His brother Larry told his
endured, “Everyone in Wilmington
brother that he wanted to see Jordan do it,
expected me to go to North Carolina, sit on
and MJ announced that he would dunk the
the bench for four years, then go back to
ball. Larry made MJ who he is now.
Wilmington and work at the local gas
Michael Jordan‟s story of how Larry
station” (“Overview” e.p. 2). Many people
inspired him makes MJ a role model
doubted him saying that he wasn‟t good
because it reminds others to remember who
enough; they expected him to be
inspired them.
unsuccessful and stuck in a working-class

33
 Being cut from his High School
basketball team motivated Michael Jordan.
He cried and he never wants to feel like
that ever again. He supported himself to
continue to become a better player. He
played day and night to prove the
motivation he has in himself. His father
James states, “What he does have is a
competition problem. He was born with
that… the person he tries to outdo most of
the time is himself” (Jordan “Call & Post”
e.p.1). His father claims that MJ had a
competitive problem because in reality he
was only competing with himself. He tries
to outdo himself because he always wants
to be better and pushes his performance till
he surpasses. The only way to show his
motivation he had to work hard to
demonstrate what his was made of on the
basketball court. Due to all his up‟s and
down‟s in life he has become the great
person and a role model to the people that
are inspired by him.
Michael Jordan‟s life has made him
the great role model that he is. Many
Works Cited
Fowler, Ed. "Nike Should Walk in Workers' Shoes." Houston Chronicle 22 June 1996: 1.
ProQuest Newsstand. Web. 23 Apr. 2011.
people did not know about the
negative actions he was doing to
sell his products. His workers
were paid very low wages for the
hard work and commitment the
workers performed. Although
MJ behaved negatively, his skill
is what also brought him fame. His great
performance on the basketball court helped
him and his team The Chicago Bulls to 6
NBA championships. MJ has shown that
he is a champion. He worked hard to
become the great player that he is. Growing
up MJ struggled. He had no family to
support him when he first discovered his
passion for basketball. His only inspiration
was his older Larry. MJ made sure he
defeated his brother at basketball. He was
motivated to fulfill his dream that he has
accomplished. He has showed anyone can
follow their dreams with great motivation
and inspiration for themselves. MJ proved
to be a self-motivated role model.

"Michael Jordan." Call & Post 9 Feb. 2011: 2. ProQuest Newsstand. Web. 03 Mar. 2011.

"Michael Jordan." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Gale Biography
In Context. Web. 25 Apr. 2011.

"Michael Jordan, Nike and the Exploitation of Slave Labor." Midwest Today. Midwest
Today, an. 1997. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.

"Michael Jordan." Notable Sports Figures. Ed. Dana R. Barnes. Detroit: Gale, 2004. Gale
Biography In Context. Web. 25 Apr. 2011.

Myslenski, Skip. "The Next Michael Jordan? Forget It' NBA Types Know They've
Witnessed a Legend." Chicago Tribune 14 Jan. 1999: 5. ProQuest Newsstand. Web.
15 Apr. 2011.

"Overview Michael Jordan." Contemporary Black Biography. Vol. 21. Detroit: Gale, 1999.

Gale Biography In Context. Web. 25 Apr. 2011.

Formatted by Allen

34
Are you looking for STRENGTH, BALANCE, and SKILLS? Well
here is your chance to be a great basketball player like Michael
Jordan. The best way to do so is buying MJ’s shoes. They are
equipped with keeping your body in balance, order, strength,
and give you skills. These shoes are essential to wear for sports,
running, and anything athletic. These shoes are known to have
magic! A six year old boy can have the power to slam dunk the
ball into the basketball rim. The shoes give you strength to
move around quick and increase your speed. It is guaranteed
that the shoe gives you balance, because the shoes have great
grip to keep you from being injured. The shoes increase your
skills to play better. You can have a greater chance of playing
defense well because nothing can stop you while having MJ’s
shoes on. So in order to become a great athlete, I advise you to
buy MJ’s shoes.

35
2012 SLAM DUNK
CONTEST

I
C
O
N
WINNER
WINNER
CROWNED AA CHANCE
CHANCE
CROWNED TO
AS
AS NEW
NEW TO BE
BE
JORDAN AA LEGEND
LEGEND
JORDAN
2


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





















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


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



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



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
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

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
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







 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 














42
 
























         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
     
     
     
     
     
     
    
    
    

    
    

43
 The Yao Ming Effect in the Chinese Community of the United States

Allen Jin went to Jungle Bo Ba in Alhambra where lots of Chinese teenagers and young Chinese
adults hang out. The purpose of his visit was to interview people and found out whether Yao
Ming has an influence on the Chinese community in the USA. The person he interviewed was
Chris who is 19 years old and moved to Los Angeles from Houston three years ago.

Allen J: What is your perspective on Yao Ming? Do you think that he has an influence on the
Chinese community in the USA?
Chris: Yes, his influence on the Chinese community is huge, especially on children, teenagers and
young adults; Yao Ming has become their role model, and the effect of role models is enormous.
Allen J: Can you talk about more in depth on how he influences teenagers?
Chris: Yes, sure. Although there are lots of Chinese in Houston, their living condition is not as
good as you think, especially the standard of living of new Chinese immigrants is terrible; they
spend most of their time working hard to earn money. We always talk about how some African
American communities are chaotic. However, there are several groups of gangsters in the Chinese
community. It is also easy for some Chinese teenagers to go astray due to lack of parental control.
I always see some Chinese teenagers ramble around the streets when they are supposed to go to
school; they have no goals and their parents have no time to take care of them. Nevertheless, now,
their parents can say that “Why not strive to become a man like Yao Ming"? These words have
positive effect on them and may make them for the better.
Allen J: Can you talk about the effects of Yao Ming's influence?
Chris: Lots of Chinese teenagers dare to join basketball leagues because of Yao Ming. There is a
well-known saying that if parents want their children stay away from crime, the best way is that
let them join any kind of sport. Before Yao Ming joined the NBA, lots of Chinese teenagers left
school and went home directly instead of staying and playing basketball after their class was over;
they thought they were not as strong as American teenagers, so they could not compete with them.
However, now, Chinese teenagers actively play basketball. If someone says "yellow face does not
know how to play basketball". They can courageously reply "our Yao Ming is an all star center"!
Yao Ming definitely makes Chinese teenagers more confidence. By the way, there is an example
that Yao Ming as a role model who makes a child mentally stronger; he was like an inspiration
that helped the child fight against a serious disease.

44
 “Go Purple”
How the Media Supports the LGBT Community
by Choco Deng

What do people think when they see two men holding each other’s hands walking
on the street? What about kissing? Or even more close actions? On October 20, 2010, the
media reported to the whole world that people wore purple clothes to support lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. This action was called “Go Purple”, which
had the purpose of attracting people’s attention to the deaths of six teenagers who com-
mitted suicide because of the discrimination of homosexuality.

believe that the media portrays children growing up

with same-sex parents to be more likely to become
homosexual and have all kinds of bad influences on the
public and themselves. However, the media also pro-
vides the model of LGBT society. Through the positive
point of view of the media, more and more audiences
try to accept same-sex marriages. In addition, the
media supports the right to become same-sex parents.
Therefore, although the media causes society to be
against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people,
it has a more positive influence that encourages society
to accept LGBT, legalize the same-sex marriages, and
support same-sex parents.

T he media is an efficient way to spread cur-
rent issues around the world. Today, more and more
people are involved in same-sex relationships. By fol-
lowing the tendency of LGBT, the media changes the
different perspective of the audiences, for example
their reactions and their minds to accept unknown and
new matters. First, under the traditional view, some
people consider LGBT to be immoral. Second, without
the acceptance of LGBT, the media leads controversy
and the audiences’ strong disapproval against same-
sex marriages that causes some sad stories. Audiences
T he media challenges the traditional view
of what is moral or immoral by largely broadcasting
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pro-
grams. More frequently, under the traditional culture,
some people believe that a woman and man are only
sexually attracted to each other. They consider that
kind of love to be normal and moral; as a result, those
people feel uncomfortable by seeing the LGBTs in the
media and view them as immoral and offensive. As
Richard D. Mohr describes, some people view LGBTs
are “somehow immoral” and “willfully perverse,” and

45
some people feel afraid that with their undesirable
sexual tendency, LGBTs will lead others to become
part of them (17). “Immoral” in the article means that
homosexual conduct does not conform to accepted
principles of traditional or heterosexual relationships.
“Willfully” defines doing something bad deliberately,
and “perverse” refers to showing deliberate deter-
mination to behave in a way that most people think
is wrong, unacceptable or unreasonable. The groups
who oppose LGBT think that homosexuals deliberately
seek the same-sex relationships that most people do
not accept. Unfortunately, homosexuality is frequently
teased, banished, prejudiced, and separated by the
opposing groups because these groups’ concept of
LGBT is that the LGBT community is “unnatural, im-
moral, and dangerous both to public health and to
their own health” (Sprigg 16). They believe that LGBT
is deliberately challenging the traditional principle
of heterosexual relationships with their unnatural and
immoral sexuality; at the same time, LGBT becomes
a bad model in public because some people cannot
accept untraditional same-sex love; as a result, those
people feel upset about LGBT’s behavior, so they
cause others to be physically and mentally uncom-
fortable. Without society’s acceptance, unfortunately,
although media has widely played LGBT programs,
some people still view LGBTs as immoral.
L GBTs cause controversy, and some people
still strongly oppose same-sex marriages although
media tries to persuade people to accept different
sexual orientations. Same-sex marriage is a big social
issue, and people are arguing about whether it should
be legalized. The traditional groups believe that mar-
riage is between one man and one woman, which is a
legal marriage. Consequently, they oppose and dis-
approve of the actions and marriages of homosexuals.
Because of powerful opposition, gays or homosexuals
live lives that are stressful and full of discrimination.
For example, “Easter Parade” reports a male teenage
victim, Tyler Clementi who, because he was discrimi-
nated for being homosexual committed suicide after
his sexual life with his partner was secretly recorded
and posted online by his roommate (e.p.1). The media
also is affected by the anti-gay group. In One Live To
Live, producers made a gay couple Oliver and Kyle
break up at the end because audiences did not sup-
port the couple as they expected it should be. The
show caused audiences to have negative responses
and strong disapproval after seeing the video of the
first gay couple making love. Although the media tries
to help audiences know more about LGBT, some audi-
ences still have problems with LGBT and the issue of
the acceptance of same-sex marriage.
W hile broadcasting the LGBT programs,
the media provides inappropriate and inaccurate in-
formation and misrepresentations to children and has
a bad influence on children who are growing up with
same-sex parents; as a result, it leads society to not
accept same-sex couples to raise and adopt children.
In Bruno, a gay man, Bruno, adopted a black baby,
and he had a negative habit of treating his baby as
an object. He dressed his baby with the label of “Gay
BY” T-shirt, and he talked about how he got the baby.
Audiences strongly opposed Bruno being a gay par-
ent because the way he got his baby was by swap-
ping an IPod. Bruno also took offensive photos for his
baby, such as putting his baby on a cross. He took his
baby out with his male friends while they were naked
in a Spa; as a result, the adoption officer took away
his baby. Parents are the models for their children,
and children are easily affected by what they see.
The anti-homosexual groups fear that the children with
the same-sex parents will follow the actions of homo-
sexuality; therefore, they disagree with homosexuals
becoming same-sex parents because they believe
that children will grow being “confused” and “lack-
ing values and morals”, and even become homosexu-
46

als (Gilbert 13). Children feel “confused” because
their homosexual parents are different from the het-
erosexual parents. They might have conflict with two
mothers and two fathers. Moreover, these children are
generally treated with discrimination. Dennis Patrick
illustrates his own example of prejudice against him
for being a gay parent, and also his children being
treated as immoral and being physically and sexu-
ally abused (64). According to Doughty, in Barnardo’s
survey, almost one third of the public believes that
same-sex parents are not as good as heterosexual
parents (e.p.1). Consequently, because of the negative
examples of public figures of gay parents, same-sex
parents’ children being abused, and the statistic of un-
biased homosexual parents, society still has conflict to
support same-sex couples to adopt children.
H owever, the media has positive influences
to create a model homosexual society. It has broad-
casted homosexual programs since the 1920s and
1930s. In the late 1960s, the media freely broad-
casted gay characters in Mart Crowley’s The Boys in
the Band. Also, more gay movies were shown in the
1970s, such as Butley, Find Your Way Home, Bent,
The Shadow Box, and Streamers (Barnes e. p. 1). The
great gay movies and dramas in the 1980s to the
present are Two of Us, Cruising, Brokeback Mountain,
Shelter, Modern Family, Gossip Girl, Plan B, Easy
A, and so on. The media portrays gays as having a
“common humanity” that people seen in stage (Barnes
e. p. 2). “Common humanity” is the natural character
that people have. The media believes that gays are
not any different from straight people, and their “dif-
ference” is normal because it is part of hu-
man personality that others probably have or
potentially have. Moreover, Barnes describes
that in those homosexual dramas, “No longer
is sexual orientation the subject for dramatic
conflict; rather, it is one of many elements af-
fecting family reconciliation” (e. p. 1). “Con-
flict” is disagreement and argument, and “rec-
onciliation” means the end of disagreement
and the start of a good relationship again.
Some people think that homosexual dramas
are immoral and dishonest images towards
the traditional sexual orientation. However,
Barnes believes homosexual dramas help the
conflicted families start new with good relationships
between the family members. For example, Eric, a teen-
age boy, in Gossip Girl, is in a family that was always
full of argument because they were dishonest to each
other; however, Eric re-created a good relationship in
his family after he told the truth of himself being gay
to his single mother and older sister. The media has put
out more LGBT images that have created acceptance
of homosexual society.
B ecause the media largely provides posi-
tive homosexual images, more people are successfully
persuaded to accept same-sex marriage. In the televi-
sion show Modern Family, a model gay couple named
Cameron and Mitchell is a positive model for same-sex
marriage. Producers portray their marriage as full of
peace, love, comedy, and empathy, and it is just as
healthy as the heterosexual marriage; Cameron has
a humorous personality and works in the house play-
ing the wife part, and Mitchell is responsible to work
in society as the husband. They love each other and
live together in perfect harmony. Also, public figures
like lesbians Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi got
married after dating each other for 3 years. They also
live in a peaceful, lovely and warm house. By seeing
that, the LGBTs believe their marriages should be legal-
ized on the biases of equal rights for everyone. People
marry for love. Varnell explains, “[l]ove [i]s [n]atural in
[a]ll [f]orms” and “[h]omosexual [l]ove [i]s [n]ot [w]rong”
(22-23). Varnell suggests that love does not apply only
between men and women. Also, homosexual couples
explain their shared feeling of love is as “natural”
47
or moral as the feeling between straight couples.
Moreover, under the disputation of same-sex mar-
riage issue, LGBTs claim that they are “not scary
or threatening; We’re just like you” (Berlin e. p. 1).
“Scary” means frightening, and it refers to one of
the reasons that frighten anti-gay people, which is
homosexuals’ unnatural action of being attracted
to people of the same sex. However, LGBTs are not
afraid to reveal their sexual orientation, and they
believe their love is natural, moral, and just like
heterosexual love because love applies to every-
one. Now, more and more people accept same-sex
marriage and treat their marriages as normal. John
E. Goldingay, et al. report that modern western
societies in North America, and Europe, including the
traditional Catholic society of Spain, have gradual-
ly accepted the same-sex relationships. Also, some
American states have legalized the right to allow
same-sex marriage (e. p. 1). Under this element, the
media increasingly broadcasts the LGBT programs
to make more people accept homosexuality.
T he media encourages society to support
same-sex couples to adopt children to benefit the
orphans by providing a home. Gay parent is still a
disputed issue for most people and still unaccepted
in society, and those people argue that gay parents
are not as good as heterosexual parents. Doughty
refutes the argument, saying that the idea that “a
same sex couple is not as able to raise a child as
a heterosexual couple is at once absurd and un-
substantiated” (e. p. 1). “Absurd” means ridiculous and
not logical, and “unsubstantiated” means there is no
evidence to prove something is true. The idea that the
judgment of same-sex parents is not as good as het-
erosexual parents is not logical and has no evidence
to prove it. Also, the media breaks the rule of straight
parents and shows same-sex parents. The media por-
trays children that are all living in lovely, healthy,
warm, stable, and full of care home with same-sex
parents. For example, in Modern Family, a gay couple,
Mitchell and Cameron, adopted a baby Vietnamese
girl. They were responsible for her, took good care of
her, and worked hard to provide all the goods to her.
As gay parents, Mitchell and Cameron attended a chil-
dren care class to learn how to take care of a baby.
Moreover, a famous singer, Ricky Martin, revealed
that he was gay because his two children inspired him
to speak out to the public as a father. He gave all the
best to his twins. By showing positive models of some
gay parents, the media attracts more people to sup-
port same-sex parents.
“society should
encourage more
same-sex couples to
adopt children”
A
t the same time, many organizations have
recognized the importance of gay people’s aid for
adoption and creating a better environment for those
orphans. The U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services illustrates how many children are in the foster
care system and how many of them are waiting for
new parents. The research in 2009 reveals that there
were 423,773 children in the foster care system and
114,556 children are waiting for adoption (U.S. e. p.
1&5). As the statistics suggest, Dougzhty has a strong
48
argument about “[anti-gay groups] discouraging gay
adopters [as] severely diminishing the chances of
securing loving, stable homes for the children who are Barnes, Michael. “Plays Offer Tolerance// Theater Leads
waiting” (e.p.1). “Diminishing” means decreasing, “se-
curing loving” is the protection that children received
from parents, and “stable homes” refers to homes that
are safe and that are always there for children. By
opposing same-sex couples to adopt children, the anti-
gay groups decrease the amount of children that can
have homes. Therefore, instead of opposing homosex-
ual parents, society should encourage more same-sex Bruno. Dir. Larry Charles. Perf. Sacha Baron Cohen, Gustaf
couples to adopt children.
“Homosexuals Are
the same
as others”
T
he media is an important way to spread
the current issue and information to the world. For the
information of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgen-
der, the media negligently provides the inappropriate
views to society that causes some people to go against
them; however, the media has a positive influence that
persuades society to accept homosexuals and their
marriages, which are breaking the traditional principle
of heterosexual marriage, and the media encour-
ages society to support same-sex couples to raise and
adopt children. The media is still working on how to let
gay programs become more popular, and it struggles
because our society still needs campaigns like “Go
Purple” to convince people that homosexuals are the
same as others, and they should never become a dis-
puted issue in society. LGBTs are “common humanity”
and are just like us!
-Formatted by Joe Hong Varnell, Paul. “Homosexuality Is Not Immoral.” Homosexual
Works Cited
Transformation in Treatment of Homosexuals:
[Final Edition].” Austin American Statesman. 29 Jan.
1993:19. ProQuest. Web. 26 Apr. 2011.
Berlin, Valerie. “Gays and Lesbians Fight Back- and Win.”
Campaigns & Elections. 31. 5 (May 2010): 22-27.
ProQuest. Web. 26 Apr. 2011.
Hammarsten, and Clifford Banagale. Univer
sal, 2009. Film.
Doughty, Steve. “Gays Make Fine Parents Says Barnardo’s
Boss.” Daily Mail. 31 Jan. 2011: 6. ProQuest.
Web. 26 Apr. 2011.
“Easter Parade Tradition Both Elegant and Zany.” The Brat
tleboro Reformer. 25 Apr. 2011: 3. ProQuest.
Web. 26 Apr. 2011.
Gilbert, Jesse. “Children of LGBT Parents: Growing Up Under
Scrutiny.” Families Like Mine. Ed. Abigail Garner. New
York: HarperCollins, 2004. 13. Print.
Goldingay, John E., et al. “Same-Sex Marriage And Anglican
Theology: A View From the Traditionalists.” Anglican
Theological Review. 93. 1(Winter 2011): 1-50. Pro
Quest. Web. 26 Apr. 2011.
Mohr, Richard D. “Lesbian and Gay Basics: Some Questions,
Facts, and Values.” The Long Arc Of Justice. New
York: Columbia University Press, 2005. 17. Print.
Patrick, Dennis. “Gay People Should Be Allowed To Adopt
Children.” Homosexuality. Ed. Emma Bernay.
San Francisco: Thomson Gale, 2008. 64. Print.
Sprigg, Peter. “Is Homosexuality a Moral Issue?” Homosexu
ality. Ed. Emma Bernay. San Francisco: Thomson Gale,
2008. 16. Print.
United States. U.S. Department of Health And Human Serv
ices. Administration of Children and Families.
The AFCARS Report. U.S, Department of Health And
Human Services. Web. 9 May 2011.
ity. Ed. Emma Bernay. San Francisco: Thomson Gale,
2008. 22-23. Print.
49
 Same sex love, marriages, and parents are always a disputed issue in
our society. Some people are influenced by the traditional view that strongly
opposes LGBT community; however, the modern people have gradually
accepted gay groups. Lady Gaga is the model and supporter of same-sex
relationship. According to her song “Born This Way”, “I am beautiful
in my way, because God makes no mistakes,” and “Don’t
hide yourself in regret, just love yourself and you’re set.” This
reflects gays to be themselves and be confident the way they are. They
should feel proud of themselves because they are also the only one born the
way as others in this world.

Furthermore, Lady Gaga encourages Target Company to

quit funding anti-gay groups but instead support gay groups. She
said, “Part of my deal with Target is that they have to start
affiliating themselves with LGBT charity groups and begin to
reform and make amends
for the mistakes they’ve
made in the past.”
Through Target, Lady Gaga
can easily spread the
message to Americans and
even the whole world that
we should love life and love
the way we are born, no
matter what race, religion,
color, and sex we are.

50
E
X T
P R
R U
E E
S
S S
E
Y L
O F
U
R
 We Also Got Married
A gay couple, Ellen Degeneres and Portia De Rossie got
married in California on August 16, 2008.

“I cannot wait to get married. We all deserve the same rights.”

------Ellen Degeneres
2
Not the Weak, but the Geek Will
Inherit the Earth
By: Kenny Averion
“W00t we just pwnd your team
n00bs! We are so l33t”! This is video
game terminology used by nerds and
translates to: Yeah! We just owned
your team of newbie‟s, we are elite.
Very few people would understand
this phrase unless they are nerdy in
some way. Many do not understand
nerds because they are so unusual,
and because of their different
characteristics they choose to
ridicule them and reject them from
society. A nerd was known as the type
of person nobody wanted to be
because he is seen as a dull and
lifeless person who does not follow
the social norm. Being a nerd is being
an outsider who is secluded from
society because others see nerds as
single minded people who are obsessed
with nonsocial hobbies. Although the
nerd has always been seen as the
scrawny distasteful person that
everyone rejected, the nerd in
modern society is being accepted
because of entertainment, technology
and individualism. Modern film and
entertainment portray nerds as the
top dogs. Society now sees
individuality as desirable and being a
nerd or rather trying to be a nerd has
become mainstream because of the
quest to be unique and cool.
Nerds were always classified as
the book worms and math whizzes
that everybody disliked because of
their odd personalities. It was known
school wide to make fun of the nerd
because he was always vulnerable and
easy to spot because he‟s so
different, weak and never nearly
friendless. Patrick T. Reardon
reports, “If you ask kids, „Are nerds
cool?‟ they say, „Absolutely not.‟ Nerds
are hateful, says David Anderegg, a
new England-based clinical child
psychologist and author of a recent
study of nerds” (Reardon e.p.1).
Children learn at an early age that
being or acting like a nerd should be
avoided because they would face
being ridiculed and bullied.
51
 Since nobody would accept nerds,
they are lonely and socially challenged
because of their social exclusion.
Anderegg reported, “ I have had child
patients who have attempted suicide

Other students would make fun of

nerds because they stand out from
the normal social crowd, and they
appear weak and vulnerable to pick on
because they are usually never
physically active. Reardon declares,
“So well, in fact, that in elementary
school American children generally
shy away from science and
because of the shunning that goes
mathematics or underperform in the
along with perceived nerdiness”
classroom to avoid the label” (Reardon
(Reardon e.p.2). Sometimes the
e.p.2) Students would even do badly in
mockery and banter raise to extremes
school performance just to appear
for nerds which can be emotionally
“normal” because of the fear of being
unbearable. But some nerds eventually
socially out casted. Being labeled as a
gain friendships with others who are
nerd is serious because no other
like them and feel some acceptance.
student would accept you because
Despite the ridiculing and social out
they wouldn‟t want to be labeled as a
casting of nerds, today nerds are
nerd as well.
slowly being accepted and merging
into the social norm.

One reason why the nerd is

gaining social acceptance is through
technology. We need geeks to
understand how computers work, and
video games are here for our source
of entertainment. Inventing or
recreating new technology was a way

52
of success in the nerd world.
Lynn Bartholomew believes,
“The nerd's ascent has a lot to
do with the computer revolution,
Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Those
guys were quote-unquote geeks
and for baby boomers they've
now got what's important -
prestige, money and power”
(Brooks e.p. 2).
Both Bill Gates and Steve jobs were
early computer inventors who
eventually became successful and
quite wealthy because of the wide use
of their products in our modern
society‟s strive for new technology.
Success is what computer geeks
dream of, creating a new inventive
device or program that revolutionizes
technological history just like the
nerdy grandfathers, Gates and Jobs.
Both Gates and Jobs are
multimillionaires who are very
inspiring to those who pursue careers
in the electronic and technology field,
such as computer geeks. advancing and
being a part of daily There are
modern revolutionary nerds who have
changed modern technology and
became successful. Xan Brooks
insists, “To Gates and Jobs must now
be added the name of Mark
Zuckerberg” (Brooks e.p.2). Mark
Zuckerberg is young fellow computer
geek who created the well-known
website of social networking,
facebook.com. As you can see it was
very successful and is widely used
internationally. Nerds are out there
and proving to the world they can be
successful with what they love, such
as electronics.
53

As technology keeps use, society
comes to accept and learn about how
electronics and such work, making
everyone a nerd or geek in some way.
Technology is helping our society
accept more and more nerds.
Since technology has become
one of the main interests of the nerd,
it is linked to many forms of
entertainment such as in video games,
anime, and science fiction. All these
interests create nerd culture. Nerds
love certain characters from anime,
video games or sci-fi movies and
sometimes try to cosplay (dress up as
a certain character) at conventions to
show their passion for the game,
movie or anime.
Natalie Mainland claims, “What I
really like about Geek.Kon is that it
has everything geeky rolled into one”
(Miller li e.p. 1). Geek.Kon is a
convention that was created for geeks
to share and enjoy their culture such
as dressing up in costumes, rolling
dice, playing videogames, reading
comics and collecting toys. This
convention has been rather successful
and illustrates that many want to
celebrate and share geek culture,
therfore there are many nerds out
there. Stanley A. Miller li reports,
“Geek.Kon began as a free event on
the UW campus, but it's moved to the
Sheraton Madison Hotel so it can run
longer and offer more” (Miller li e.p.
1). Knowing that Geek.Kon has grown
from a campus to a larger building to
fit more people shows that the nerd
population has grown in quantity and
54
will continue growing. There‟s also no
age limit when it comes to sharing
nerd culture. Miller li implies,
“Mainland said the big buffet of
geekdom lures a diverse group of
attendees ranging from senior-citizen
tabletop gamers to young costume-
role-playing couples with children”
(Miller li e.p.1) These types of
conventions usually have a variety of
items and displays of geek culture
which can easily attract a large
amount of nerds and promote them
into enjoying something new. Also,
there‟s no same nerd or geek that
share the same exact interests
because they are diverse and of
different age groups. They all show up
to Geek.Kon to enjoy and share nerd
culture regardless of their age. So,
knowing there are public conventions
that promote geek culture that have
hundreds to even thousands of
attendees shows that our society is
totally accepting nerds because we all
share interests that relate to geek
culture.
As modern day technology
advances, it tends to depict people
differently through film. Nerds are
now seen differently because they
were usually viewed as the weak male
that everybody laughed at. Xan
Brooks acknowledges, “In pop culture
terms, he (and it usually is a he) has
his roots in 1950s teen culture. He's
the skinny sprat in the Charles Atlas
ads, the comic relief in beach party B-
movies” (Brooks e.p.1). The nerd was
always the character that no body
wanted to be and always a side
character. But, in recent blockbuster
movies, the nerd has changed
drastically compared to those from
the 1950‟s. He‟s finally seen as the
hero. Brooks claims, “These days he's
Nerd 2.0: a character whose nerdish
elements are no barrier to heroic
feats of derring-do (beating baddies,
making money, finding love)” (Brooks
e.p.1). By “Nerd 2.0,” Brooks means
that the upgraded nerd can still have
his goofy geeky elements but still be
branded the hero and being a nerd
doesn‟t hold him back from success or
romance.
55
Some examples of these movies are
Kick-Ass and Scott Pilgrim vs. the
World. Brooks claims, “Then there was
Scott Pilgrim vs the World, which
casts chinless Michael Cera as a
badass indie kid, a hipster Hercules
who battles "seven evil exes" in order
nerd is no longer seen in film and the
to win his fair damsel. Here he's both
word “nerd” is surely fading away.
a plausible romantic lead and a bona
Brooks implies, “In films like Kick-Ass
fide action hero” (Brooks e.p.1).
because they are nearly opposites of
or Scott Pilgrim, the consumer has
each other. Sherrie A. Inness
become the character. The age-old
addresses, “Daphne was tall, blonde-
image of the nerd has been fleshed
haired, and attractive; Velma was
out, retouched and brought to life by
short, dark-haired, and plain” (Inness
hydra-headed Michael Cera and Jesse
1). This cartoon made it obvious on
Eisenberg” (Brooks e.p.2). Films such
which character was more appealing.
as these portray nerds as the hero to
Inness reports, “American popular
society and we accept that image
culture cannot seem to get enough of
which changes the whole view of the
stereotypical „dumb blondes,‟ and, for
nerd from loser to top dog.
generations, the mass media have
Although nerds are usually seen featured scores” (Inness 1-2). Nerds
as the scrawny male with pimples and are always seen as unattractive and
glasses, there is also a female boring, regardless of gender. But,
counter-part. One example of a with the change of technology and
female nerd would be Velma from the social networking, society itself has
television cartoon, Scooby-Doo, changed its views on the geek;
Where are You! Velma would be especially the female geek.
compared to another character in the
show named Daphne by audiences ple
see geek as beautiful. Inness
claMichael Cera appears as a scrawny
boy who plays as the goofy nerd who
manages to battle and defeats seven
evil exes to gain his love. This movie is
rather showing the macho side of the
nerd, that he can be strong and heroic
despite his geeky interests. T he old

56
 attractive, and the thought of
physical appearance is totally left out.
The portrayal of female geeks in
Some poems, “In the world of Web
entertainment usually ties into actors
sites like GirlGeeks.org and the
imitating those who are true geeks in
television world of shows like the
real life pointing out that they do
Gilmore Girls, female intellectual
exist and to show them on national
brilliance is socially valued and varied,
television. Though nerds weren‟t
as viewers experience multiple and
accepted in the past, in the present
recurring images of smart women in a
being a geek is seen as beautiful and
variety of ages, occupations, and body
attractive. So both male and female
types” (Inness 12). So, female geeks
nerds now have no fear of social
are found often in various forms of
exclusion.
entertainment such as in the web and

television which gives them a certain
level of social acceptance. So the view
of intelligence is

57
 Work Cited
Abele, Robert. "Not Just McLovin; In 'Role Models,' Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Expands beyond His 'Superbad' Dweeb." Los Angeles Times 6 Nov. 2008: 1-
2. Print.

Brooks, an. "FilXm & Music: 2010 in Review: When the Alpha Nerds Kicked Ass:
This Year Brought a New Kind of Hero as Kick-Ass and The Social Network
Proved It's the Geeks Who Shall Inherit the Earth." The Gaurdian 17 Dec.
2010: 1-3. Proquest. Web. 15 Apr. 2011.

Inness, Sherrie A. Geek Chic : Smart Women in Popular Culture . 1st ed. New York:
Palgrave Macmillan, 2007. Print.
Miller Li, Stanley A. "Geek.Kon Freak Is On: Subgroups of Nerd Culture Is
Gathering for Madison's Convention's Third Year." Tribune Business News
23 Oct. 2009: 1-2. Proquest. Web. 25 Apr. 2011.
Nugent, Benjamin. American Nerd: The Story of My People. 1st Scribner
Hardcover ed. New York: Scribner, 2008. Print.
Reardon, Patrick T. "Nerd Culture Is Trendier than Ever, but Is It Cool to Be
One?" Tribune Business News [Washington] 3 June 2008: 1-2. Proquest.
Web. 25 Apr. 2011.
Synnot, Siobhan. "Geek Show." Scotland on Sunday 27 Mar. 2011: 1-2. Proquest.
Web. 25 Apr. 2011.

Formatted by Jonathan Luna

58
 a place to fulfill your nerdy needs!

buy to save or else you’re a n00b! fry’s electronics