My Thanksgiving was great, thank you for asking. I did everything that was required for a 100% Real American Thanksgiving. I went to a real American family in a small American town. I ate loads of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing and cranberry jelly. I watched the traditional Thanksgiving Greenbay Packers game with a size XXL Packers Super Bowl shirt on me. I cheered and grunted at more or less appropriate times. After the game I fell asleep on the chair. Still wearing the shirt. Later in the evening it was time for more socializing and eating. All in all, I tried my best to eat as much as I could and simply relax.
However, this family-centered relaxation is not all there is to Thanksgiving. Black Friday should not be forgotten. According to The Guardian "the term Black Friday was coined to illustrate the point at which shops and stores start to make a profit, or go "into the black"." Nowadays Black Friday kicks off the Christmas shopping season as people are lured to stores by bargain deals that often start in the middle of the night. So much for the peace and quiet. As millions of people rush to stores to grab what they think they need with their hard earned cash or credit, the money they don't own, it is no surprise that things get messy. Really messy. This year a woman pepper-sprayed 20 other custormers in a Walmart. There was also plenty stabbing, shooting and police brutality to go around (Associated Press). On top of this, I heard that the stores open earlier and earlier each year. This year you could not even afford to sleep until 6 am to grab the best deals as some stores opened their doors between 10 pm and midnight thursday night.
Black Friday seems like the perfect crystallization of the American (and western) consumer culture. You know, the basic stuff - people buying stuff they don't really need with money they don't really have. Thanksgiving and the following Black Friday also show the contrast between two middle class sets of values. On the one hand is the family-centered, peaceful suburban life, and the other is the freedom to take part in the consumerist society and fulfill your material desires. Each of these sides is equally part of the middle class American dream.
I was too tired to go out shopping. I slept in. I didn't feel like fighting the hordes in the darkness to get an iPodPad or a Dyson DC24 Multi Floor Vacuum or a refreshing breeze of pepper spray in my face. Instead, I did my shopping online like every sane person.
PS. I might add photos later. I was too lazy to take any during Thanksgiving, really.
Black Friday Bonus (ugh)
"The story of a Finnish exchange student spending a semester in the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, middle of nowhere, WI, United States of America."
Monday 28 November 2011
Friday 18 November 2011
Solidarity 4eva
Ever since World War I, American policies have been coloured by a conflict between democracy and capitalism. Fundamentally the tension is caused by the combination of a political system where power is grounded in the majority of people and an economic system where those who make more money have more power. So the government policies try to provide people with equal political power, while at the same time securing private property and the rights of companies to make profit. Problems arise when corporations start to have more and more impact on political decision making, and thus distorting the democratic ideal of equal power.
Many Americans have, nevertheless, benefitted from this marriage of the two ideologies, but economic crises often bring the issues to surface as people lose their jobs and houses. This happened in the 1930s after the economic slowdown and the Wall Street stock market crash and also in present after the western world was plunged into a recession. While there are differences between the reactions of people back then and now, there is at least one thing in common - solidarity.
The Occupy Wall Street movement has been occupying Zucotti Park more or less constantly since September 17 despite the pepper sprayings, arrests and the cold. As the movement lacks clear leader and, some say, focus, various newspapers have come up with their own descriptions of the movement. For example, the Wall Street Journal describes the movement as "a social media fueled protest against U.S. banking institutions" while NY Daily News says that people protest against "dysfunctional economic system that unfairly benefits corporations and the mega-rich". According to the arguably less biased, unofficial de facto online resource the protests are targeted against "the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse".
Signs at Occupy Whitewater.
The movement has attracted a lot of students and unemployed graduates who feel like they have been let down by the system after doing everything that they were expected to do. They were told that studying hard and earning a degree guarantees a job with wages that enable full participation in the consumerist society. Instead they are left with no job, no future, massive debt and a deadbeat stigma. I can relate. (Drawing ideas from here.)
Coming from a country where higher education is supported primary through taxes, I find it quite stunning that tuition for a semester in relatively inexpensive state university costs roughly between 3.500 - 7.500 dollars (depending whether one is from in or out of state). I only have to pay about 1-2% of this, meaning 75 dollars. With such figures, it easy to see how students in the US have mounted a considerable debt by the time they graduate. To make matters worse, due to a state budget lapse, the tax funding of the University of Wisconsin systems is cut considerably to balance the budget. The university system will bear 38% of the reductions on state spending while it only represents 7% of the state's expenditures, which many people understandably find unfair. Moreover, these reductions are added on top of the prior 250 million dollar budget cuts. (Sources: this and a message regarding the budget lapse.) These cuts will reflect directly on the benefits, pensions and insurance payments of the faculty, which in turn acts as a push factor for professors to abandon ship. All in all, to cut it short, the budget cuts are likely to lead to increased tuition and a decrease in the quality of education as reducing bureaucracy is not likely to be enough to compensate for the cuts.
After all this, it is hardly surprising to see the Occupy Wall Street movement spreading to such small town as Whitewater, WI. Like protests around the US and the world, Occupy Whitewater (November 17, 2011) infuses local issues with the general protest against the influence of corporate power in politics. I find it interesting how the lack of clear objectives for the OWS moment gives local protests an opportunity to protest against the policies of governor Walker and the handling of the budget lapse, for example. It seems to me that this kind of localization of the movement adds to it's appeal and partly explains it's popularity across the globe.
Occupiers in front of the Anderson Library at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
As the movement landed on campus, I couldn't stay away. For me, it was both a chance to display my support for the Occupy Wall Street movement and the local students and a cultural experience. I felt like I was part of something greater, something historical. And yet, there I was close to my dorm with the core couple dozen protestors some of whom I already knew. We spent the evening singing Solidarity Forever, eating pop corn and alternating between defying the power of the "1%" and the cold. I'm glad we had hot chocolate.
To reveal a secret - I wasn't really all that angry.
All in all, I had a blast - even to the extent that I decided to wrap myself up in all the clothes I have and sleep in a tent. I didn't get too much sleep but at least I got an amazing experience and even more respect for the people who have slept in Zucotti Park, NY for months now. Solidarity, you know.
Many Americans have, nevertheless, benefitted from this marriage of the two ideologies, but economic crises often bring the issues to surface as people lose their jobs and houses. This happened in the 1930s after the economic slowdown and the Wall Street stock market crash and also in present after the western world was plunged into a recession. While there are differences between the reactions of people back then and now, there is at least one thing in common - solidarity.
The Occupy Wall Street movement has been occupying Zucotti Park more or less constantly since September 17 despite the pepper sprayings, arrests and the cold. As the movement lacks clear leader and, some say, focus, various newspapers have come up with their own descriptions of the movement. For example, the Wall Street Journal describes the movement as "a social media fueled protest against U.S. banking institutions" while NY Daily News says that people protest against "dysfunctional economic system that unfairly benefits corporations and the mega-rich". According to the arguably less biased, unofficial de facto online resource the protests are targeted against "the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse".
The movement has attracted a lot of students and unemployed graduates who feel like they have been let down by the system after doing everything that they were expected to do. They were told that studying hard and earning a degree guarantees a job with wages that enable full participation in the consumerist society. Instead they are left with no job, no future, massive debt and a deadbeat stigma. I can relate. (Drawing ideas from here.)
Coming from a country where higher education is supported primary through taxes, I find it quite stunning that tuition for a semester in relatively inexpensive state university costs roughly between 3.500 - 7.500 dollars (depending whether one is from in or out of state). I only have to pay about 1-2% of this, meaning 75 dollars. With such figures, it easy to see how students in the US have mounted a considerable debt by the time they graduate. To make matters worse, due to a state budget lapse, the tax funding of the University of Wisconsin systems is cut considerably to balance the budget. The university system will bear 38% of the reductions on state spending while it only represents 7% of the state's expenditures, which many people understandably find unfair. Moreover, these reductions are added on top of the prior 250 million dollar budget cuts. (Sources: this and a message regarding the budget lapse.) These cuts will reflect directly on the benefits, pensions and insurance payments of the faculty, which in turn acts as a push factor for professors to abandon ship. All in all, to cut it short, the budget cuts are likely to lead to increased tuition and a decrease in the quality of education as reducing bureaucracy is not likely to be enough to compensate for the cuts.
After all this, it is hardly surprising to see the Occupy Wall Street movement spreading to such small town as Whitewater, WI. Like protests around the US and the world, Occupy Whitewater (November 17, 2011) infuses local issues with the general protest against the influence of corporate power in politics. I find it interesting how the lack of clear objectives for the OWS moment gives local protests an opportunity to protest against the policies of governor Walker and the handling of the budget lapse, for example. It seems to me that this kind of localization of the movement adds to it's appeal and partly explains it's popularity across the globe.
As the movement landed on campus, I couldn't stay away. For me, it was both a chance to display my support for the Occupy Wall Street movement and the local students and a cultural experience. I felt like I was part of something greater, something historical. And yet, there I was close to my dorm with the core couple dozen protestors some of whom I already knew. We spent the evening singing Solidarity Forever, eating pop corn and alternating between defying the power of the "1%" and the cold. I'm glad we had hot chocolate.
All in all, I had a blast - even to the extent that I decided to wrap myself up in all the clothes I have and sleep in a tent. I didn't get too much sleep but at least I got an amazing experience and even more respect for the people who have slept in Zucotti Park, NY for months now. Solidarity, you know.
Thursday 10 November 2011
Loss of Perspective
August 22nd I was excited to stand on United States soil. Everything was new, exotic and pretty much blowing my mind. When I say everything, I mean everything. The scenery, buildings, food, grocery stores, "walk" -lights at pedestrian crossings (they are white!), measures (inches, ounces, miles, pounds, Fahrenheit), and even choice of beverages in McDonald's ("what is this thing called Rootbeer? Refills?). The first few days I was busy taking pictures of crappy-looking motels and carwashes with pink elephant logos. I was paying attention to every little detail that was different from Finland, and as you can see, there were a lot of things.
Just like the movies, right? Exciting, right?
Lately, I've noticed that my interest in the little things has diminished. Oh, they eat blue ice cream here. Yea, the coins are like this. These small and unconfortable desks are all they have here, who cares. It's normal that people go to classes in their pyjamas. I've become too accustomed to the state of things here that I've muted my foreign perspective.
Yesterday, the first snow gave me a glimpse of what I used to see here. Yes, I'd seen tons of the same cold and white snow in Finland, but having it here was a whole new experience. The exciment reminded me of the way I felt during the first weeks in the States. It reminded me of how I should feel right now. RIGHT NOW. In exactly seven weeks I will be back home. When I go back I'm sure to again realize the peculiar things about the US.
But I don't want to do it then. I want to do it now. I'm gonna be a tourist again!
Me, as a tourist. A reminder for myself. (Photo by Mariko. Sorry for stealing this, but I know you understand my identity crisis).
Lately, I've noticed that my interest in the little things has diminished. Oh, they eat blue ice cream here. Yea, the coins are like this. These small and unconfortable desks are all they have here, who cares. It's normal that people go to classes in their pyjamas. I've become too accustomed to the state of things here that I've muted my foreign perspective.
Yesterday, the first snow gave me a glimpse of what I used to see here. Yes, I'd seen tons of the same cold and white snow in Finland, but having it here was a whole new experience. The exciment reminded me of the way I felt during the first weeks in the States. It reminded me of how I should feel right now. RIGHT NOW. In exactly seven weeks I will be back home. When I go back I'm sure to again realize the peculiar things about the US.
But I don't want to do it then. I want to do it now. I'm gonna be a tourist again!
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