"I'm not as sad as Dostoevsky, I'm not as clever as Mark Twain."
We've been talking about the Vietnam Conflict lately in my "Current World Problems" class. Somehow, the class has morphed from "Current World Problems" to "Modern American Conflict", but it's still pretty interesting so I'm not complaining.
Of course the topic on the Kent State shootings came up. It's a little weird for me now, because Kent State is probably where I'm going to get my Masters of Library and Information Science at. When I hear "Kent State," I think "That's where I'm going to get my masters degree!" whereas most people think "That's where those people got shot!"
After the Kent State shootings, the campus of Ohio University in Athens erupted in riots. The administration was forced to shut down the university for the remainder of the year and the town was patrolled by troops for weeks afterwards. Professor Mackin said that it was one of the saddest things he had ever seen.
A few weeks ago, I had to shell out $130 for two measly paperback textbooks and I thought "Dammit, bookstores! This is why you were targeted during the Vietnam riots!"
Anyway, Mackin made the point that many people in the 1970s approved of the National Guard opening fire on the protesting students. They felt like college students were rich, privileged kids who didn't understand how the real world worked. I think the Kent State shootings were a terrible tragedy, but I can kind of see where those people were coming from. Which is why I'm so glad that I took the opportunity to attend the Chillicothe branch campus of OU.
I know I complain about OU-C a lot, but as far as an introduction to the "real world", one could do a lot worse. The average age of the student body is 33, over two-thirds are women. The majority are working class, people who are trying to get a degree so they can get a better job and make a better life for themselves. Most of them are the first generation to go to college in their families. I'm comparatively wealthy compared to most of the students (and both of my parents have masters degrees) and it does make me realize how lucky I am. I now feel like I'm much more grounded and grown up than a lot of the kids at the main campus in Athens.
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So, I was reading this month's GQ and they did a brief feature article on actors Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd. These are the guys who played Steve Carell's buddies in The 40 Year Old Virgin. GQ was going on about how brilliant they were in the "You know how I know you're gay?" scene (answer - "Because I saw you make spinach dip in a bread bowl") and I started wondering what that game would be like if women played.
You know how I know you're a lesbian?
Because you know how to change a carburetor.
Because you wear granny-panties.
Because you can name at least eight members of the Legion of Superheroes.
Because you like rugby.
Because you read GQ every month.
Hmm. Maybe it doesn't work quite as well. Either way, it's pretty ridiculous.
Of course the topic on the Kent State shootings came up. It's a little weird for me now, because Kent State is probably where I'm going to get my Masters of Library and Information Science at. When I hear "Kent State," I think "That's where I'm going to get my masters degree!" whereas most people think "That's where those people got shot!"
After the Kent State shootings, the campus of Ohio University in Athens erupted in riots. The administration was forced to shut down the university for the remainder of the year and the town was patrolled by troops for weeks afterwards. Professor Mackin said that it was one of the saddest things he had ever seen.
A few weeks ago, I had to shell out $130 for two measly paperback textbooks and I thought "Dammit, bookstores! This is why you were targeted during the Vietnam riots!"
Anyway, Mackin made the point that many people in the 1970s approved of the National Guard opening fire on the protesting students. They felt like college students were rich, privileged kids who didn't understand how the real world worked. I think the Kent State shootings were a terrible tragedy, but I can kind of see where those people were coming from. Which is why I'm so glad that I took the opportunity to attend the Chillicothe branch campus of OU.
I know I complain about OU-C a lot, but as far as an introduction to the "real world", one could do a lot worse. The average age of the student body is 33, over two-thirds are women. The majority are working class, people who are trying to get a degree so they can get a better job and make a better life for themselves. Most of them are the first generation to go to college in their families. I'm comparatively wealthy compared to most of the students (and both of my parents have masters degrees) and it does make me realize how lucky I am. I now feel like I'm much more grounded and grown up than a lot of the kids at the main campus in Athens.
* * *
* * *
So, I was reading this month's GQ and they did a brief feature article on actors Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd. These are the guys who played Steve Carell's buddies in The 40 Year Old Virgin. GQ was going on about how brilliant they were in the "You know how I know you're gay?" scene (answer - "Because I saw you make spinach dip in a bread bowl") and I started wondering what that game would be like if women played.
You know how I know you're a lesbian?
Because you know how to change a carburetor.
Because you wear granny-panties.
Because you can name at least eight members of the Legion of Superheroes.
Because you like rugby.
Because you read GQ every month.
Hmm. Maybe it doesn't work quite as well. Either way, it's pretty ridiculous.