Miley and Sociology

Miley Cyrus' performance at the VMAs has been causing quite the stir, and for two reasons that tie closely in with sociology.  Some have focused on the provocative sexual nature of the performance, while others have voiced concerns about Miley's "appropriation... of black culture."  Judge for yourself if you agree with these assessments: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/anne-theriault-/miley-cyrus-vma-performance_b_3819177.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

Whether you agree with HuffPost blogger Anne Theriault's viewpoint, she raises very interesting questions about race and culture in America.  This issue has popped up from time to time in the US for 100 years, and Miley is only the latest white performer to create controversy with her choices.

How do you feel about Miley's performance, and the criticisms of it?

North Korea: Explained

Hank Green, brother of "Fault in Our Stars" author John, explains why North Korea has been making such crazy threats recently.  He fantastically compares North Korea to a toddler screaming in a supermarket.  Should we give in so they'll calm down?  Bomb them before they make good on these threats?  What are our foreign policy objectives when it comes to North Korea?

Are US drones terrorising civilians? - Inside Story Americas - Al Jazeera English

We've discussed the justification for using controversial weapons in war, from the atomic bomb to Agent Orange.  The latest debate in this unending cycle involves the use of unmanned drones to carry out attacks and assassinations.  Watch the video and read the short article that accompanies it:

Are US drones terrorising civilians? - Inside Story Americas - Al Jazeera English

Then post a comment to this posting answering the following questions:
Is the use of drones to assassinate terrorist targets an acceptable tactic?  Why or why not?
Also, what fears and concerns could be caused by the increasing use of drones?  (Think about how the atomic bomb led to fears of nuclear war.)

Finally, you must respond to a classmates' posting, replying thoughtfully to their opinion and ideas, not simply agreeing or disagreeing.

Transgendered at Five

How do we define gender roles in our society?  One five-year old in Virginia is blazing her own trail at a young age.  Should children be pushed to gender identify in certain ways?

Fascinating story about the U.S. military intervening in a potential honor killing in Afghanistan. From NPR: Facing Death, Afghan Girl Runs To U.S. Military

Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images Afghan women pass U.S. soldiers near Bagram Air Base outside Kabul in 2010. While conditions for Afghan women have improved over the past decade, but they still face many restrictions, as well as abuses like honor killings.



From North Carolina, homophobia in advance of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to ban gay marriage.  You can clearly see the traditional gender roles and the conservative reaction to anything outside society's norms.

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