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A Notre Dame Thanksgiving

By The Observer · Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, bringing with it the requisite Thursday night feasts and the subsequent food-induced naps. For students scrambling to keep up with hectic end-of-semester schedules, Thanksgiving break provides a welcome respite from the constant hustle and bustle of life at Notre Dame: a time to sleep, eat and catch up on missed episodes of favorite TV shows. But Thanksgiving holds significance beyond its consistent ability to induce food comas and remedy our perpetual sleep deprivation. The very word "thanksgiving" encourages us to actively express gratitude for the blessings we've been granted, but the importance of that action is often overshadowed by Grandma's delicious pumpkin pie. Though Americans have a tendency to commercialize holidays, Thanksgiving actually retains its traditional focus on uniting friends and family through a shared meal and quality time together. Whether you catch a plane home Tuesday night or stay on campus during break, chances are you won't be celebrating Thanksgiving without some semblance of family surrounding you. That essential emphasis on family is important enough to warrant days off work and school to allow people to spend time with their relatives and be grateful for their presence in each other's lives. And beyond our individual family trees, we as Notre Dame students have another family to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. Despite its frequent, often clichéd overuse in Domer-to-Domer conversations, the tight-knit "Notre Dame family" has a real, tangible influence on nearly every aspect of our lives whether we recognize it or not. We can thank the academics of the family, our professors, for challenging us to think outside the box, to work to our full potential, to expand our learning beyond the classroom and into the local, national and global communities. We can thank our peers for living with us, for studying with us, for having fun with us, for supporting us through the ups and downs of the four-year rollercoaster ride that is college. We can thank our rectors and campus religious figures for providing spiritual guidance and moral support whenever we need it most. We can thank the people like the maintenance and cleaning staff that make the daily operations of this campus possible. We can thank various branches of the University for giving us countless opportunities to become global citizens and expand our experience beyond the Notre Dame bubble through study and service abroad. We can thank this year's football team for uniting the student body and the worldwide Irish fan base behind an undefeated team with hopes of restoring the University to the gridiron glory of lore. Through these and other avenues, the multifaceted influence of the biggest of Irish families encourages us to prioritize people and relationships over grades and individual glory. Thanks to our Notre Dame education and experience, we are a community of highly motivated, extremely successful individuals who also happen to approach all that we do with a compassionate spirit unique to past, current and future residents of this hallowed campus. And like any family, we have our flaws. We argue. We don't get along perfectly all the time. But for all our whining about parietals and papers, we know deep down why putting up with those challenges for eight fleeting semesters sets us apart from the crowd. MantiTe'o, perhaps the most visible member of the Notre Dame community right now, summed it up best in a recent interview with fellow Domer Kate Sullivan. "Notre Dame isn't a school, it's a family." When we leave this University, whether a semester or three years from now, we will leave as lifelong Domers, knowing any member of the extended Notre Dame family will support us through thick and thin. So when you're digging into your third slice of pumpkin pie next Thursday, take time to be thankful for all the family members who couldn't fit at your table, but would give anything to be there with you anyway.

The Observer

Lackluster election for campus

By The Observer · Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012

With the 2012 presidential election wrapped up and President Obama in office for another four years, I found the campaign more dramatic and my first-time voting for president more anticlimactic than I ever imagined. I have to admit I did not follow politics at all until I turned 18. I was completely unaware of policies and candidates alike. However, when I turned 18 I realized I needed to pay attention because my vote now counted, and though one vote may not seem to make a difference, as was seen in this race, it can. One vote often does have a significant amount of power, and it is crucial that voters are informed. And so for the past year I have been following both parties' candidates, reading and watching the news, trying to make sense of the biased mess that many networks broadcast. At first, I fell for President Obama's charisma and for Mitt Romney's experience. I was politically inept and had a hard time looking past the public persona of the candidates. Then someone told me that I didn't necessarily have to like my president, but I did have to trust him. Those words changed the game for me and gave me a new perspective while following the campaign. And, I have to be honest, I was pretty disgusted by the presidential campaign. Collectively, the 2012 presidential election cost roughly $4 billion. That is an obscene amount of money spent in a country whose debt clock is set on fast forward. Is that kind of money really what it takes to run for office? It's discouraging to think so and it limits who is able to run for office in this country, this country that we like to think of as the land of opportunity. Also, for the presidential election, each campaign turned into a race to make the other candidate look as bad as possible to the American people. As someone who dislikes conflict, it was nearly physically painful for me to watch the debates. The passive aggressive and sometimes outright boorish behavior displayed by the presidential and vice presidential candidates was uncomfortable, unprofessional, and unlikable. Though the campaign wore on me, I still held onto some hope for Election Day and my excitement to vote. Voting, though a citizen's right, is also a privilege that not everyone in our country has always had. However, even this monumental milestone was ruined for me as, like most college students, I had to vote absentee. Absentee voting is the most unexciting form of voting that exists. It's a pain, deterring the busy, or lazy, college student from making it to the polls at all. Nonetheless, I full-heartedly believe that it's incredibly important to vote, and I hope students from battleground states such as Ohio and Florida did vote. While some cities and states across the country were in full campaign and election mode, there was little to no visibility of Election Day's near arrival on campus. If someone visited campus who knew nothing of American politics or the upcoming presidential election, the Notre Dame campus would do nothing to inform them. Even on Election Day, there was barely any mention of this landmark national event. This lack of discussion and attention cannot just be due to the fact that no one was wearing the "I Voted" sticker on November 6th; rather, politics just don't seem to be on most Notre Dame students' agendas. And this is not only true of most students, but also, in my experience, sometimes the case with faculty and staff on campus. I was surprised that there was such little discussion in the classroom surrounding both the campaign and election. Overall, I found Notre Dame's lack of attention shocking due to the fact that this election was the majority of the student body's first time voting in a presidential race. The 2012 presidential election was a huge national event for the majority of the United States. The campaign and outcome have huge consequences for our country and it is vital to give it some attention. It is exactly because this election was so costly and ugly that we cannot afford to tune out and ignore it. Few current Notre Dame students will be on campus for the next presidential election, but I hope that wherever they are they pay attention and invoke discussion because young adults have a duty to be to aware, to engage, and to participate because, sooner rather than later, who is in office will be directly affecting us.

The Observer

Campaign finance

By The Observer · Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012

Campaign finance reform has long been a controversial issue, but its impact on elections has become increasingly clear in recent years. Supporters of the two major presidential candidates were set to spend at least 76 percent more in 2012 than in 2008. Whereas it was once an impressive feat for the campaigns to get their hands on $1 billion just four years ago, FEC reports indicate they are bound to break the $2 billion barrier this time around. President Obama even used his 2010 State of the Union address to scold the Supreme Court Justices for their role in Citizens United. All this points to the need for the government to reign in what is commonly called 'outside spending,' and more specifically 'Super PACs.' The Citizens United decision allowed these groups to use unlimited funds to push for political causes, provided they do not coordinate with the actual candidates in the race. Of course campaign finance reform is a politically charged subject, so some may be suspicious of the motives behind my conclusion. Republicans, for example, probably find it nearly instinctive to oppose more stringent campaign finance regulations. This makes sense considering conservative Super PACs outspent liberal Super PACs by an impressive $269 million during the past two elections cycles. While this may appear to give Republicans an advantage on the surface, in reality they would benefit from outside spending losing much of its influence over elections. The Republican Party took the country by storm during the 2010 midterm election, but it learned that a hands-off approach to campaign finance cannot guarantee victory. The influx of outside spending was unable to either gain them a majority in the Senate or win them the presidency. Though there are countless reasons behind the Party's failure this past week, the lack of cohesiveness amongst conservatives certainly did not help. Conservative Super PACs deserve much of the blame for this. Their omnipresent role in the election - it was tough to turn on the TV without seeing negative ads this past month - only served to associate them with Mitt Romney and the other Republicans in the eyes of the average voter. It is thus no surprise when Karl Rove, whose group American Crossroads raised more than $100 million for Republicans in 2012, comes across as the unofficial spokesman of the Party. This is not necessarily an issue - Rove has won elections before - but it does become a problem when others want similar roles. After all, what happens when dozens of powerful individuals form SuperPACs? They make use of different strategies because each one believes his/her approach will be remembered by history for winning the elections. This left voters confused about the direction of the Republican Party when they went to the polls, and certainly played a roll in GOP's loss. Republicans were uncharacteristically decentralized this past election cycle, and should realize that even outside spending has a tipping point.

The Observer

Cheers to us

By The Observer · Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012

It is time to honor a group of Notre Dame students. They are some of the most spirited individuals on campus. They put in long hours perfecting their skills, getting ready to perform on Saturdays. They're at every pep rally and put in appearances at other Notre Dame sporting events during the week.

The Observer

Death of a Catholic University?

By The Observer · Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012

Recently, an article in Scholastic Magazine sought to answer the question: "Is Notre Dame Catholic Enough?" The author referenced the deeply troubling book by law professor Charles Rice, "What Happened to Notre Dame," as well as Pope John Paul II's apostolic constitution on Catholic Universities, "Ex CordeEcclesiae."

The Observer

A sincere apology? Priceless

By The Observer · Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012

Have you ever sat down with your family at the dining room table after someone has made a mistake? I mean, really a whopper? Have you ever had to re-enter your dorm room, knowing that you deeply wounded your roommate through a betrayal, a lie or a careless slight? Have you ever encountered a friend to whom you know you must apologize in order to have even a hope of rekindling your relationship?

The Observer

Death of a Catholic University

By The Observer · Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012

Recently, an article in Scholastic Magazine sought to answer the question: "Is Notre Dame Catholic Enough?" The author referenced the deeply troubling book by law professor Charles Rice, "What Happened to Notre Dame," as well as Pope John Paul II's apostolic constitution on Catholic Universities, "Ex CordeEcclesiae."

The Observer

Unlayering conflict with Dr. Seuss

By The Observer · Monday, Nov. 12, 2012

The world of the Yooks and the world of the Zooks are divided by a long and winding stone wall, according to Dr. Seuss. In "The Butter Battle Book," the Yooks eat their bread with the butter-side up, while the Zooks eat their bread with the butter-side down. Fearful of the Zooks' strange ways, the Yooks place a guard by the winding stone wall. The guard is armed with a tough-tufted prickly snick-berry switch to hit any Zook who comes close to the wall. When the switch is broken by a Zook who does not play by the rules, the Yook guard goes to his "boys in the back room" to build him something else, something better and something bigger. Each time the Yook guard gets a new weapon, the Zook rebel returns equally armed. The Yook's triple-sling jigger is countered by the Zook's jigger rock snatchem. The kick-a-poo kid is matched by the eight-nozzled, elephant-toted boom blitz. The utterly sputter is identical to the blue-gooer. Finally, the Yook's boys in the back room create the ultimate weapon with no possible defense: the bitsy big-boy boomeroo. But, the Zook's boys in the back room make the same weapon for him. The story closes with the Yook and the Zook holding the bitsy big-boy boomeroos over their enemy's side of the wall, and a little boy asks "Who's going to drop it? Will you or will he?" to which the Yook replies, "We'll see. We will see." I finished reading this story with a student at Perley Elementary. I asked him, "So, what is the conflict?"   "Well, the Yook was going to drop the bomb on the side of the Zook and the Zook was going to drop the bomb on the side of the Yook, and they were going to blow each other up."   "Definitely. What is the original conflict in the story?"   After thinking for a few seconds, he replied that he could not remember. Do you remember? It started because the Yooks eat their bread butter-side up and the Zooks eat their bread butter-side down. Although written as a commentary on the bipolarity of the Cold War's mutually assured destruction, "The Butter Battle Book" makes a clear statement about the complexity of conflict: The more layers that are added, the further we get from the actual cause of the conflict. It is a simple point, but one that must be taken into consideration in the attempt to manage, resolve and prevent conflicts. Organizing literature argues that the best way to approach a conflict, understanding that a conflict is something which causes tension and can result in change, is to start with the "world as it is." Starting with the "world as it should be" ignores the underlying reality of the "world as it is" and therefore any changes created will not be sustained under the weight of the actuality of experience in the conflict itself. All changes will be superficial.   However, even within the context of analyzing a conflict from the perspective of the "world as it is," it is necessary to take one more step back and take a look in from the perspective of the "world as it used to be." The "world as it is" is a product of the "world as it used to be." This type of analysis is harder. It requires more investments. It means learning more about the person who is being considered the enemy. Ultimately, it separates the people from their present circumstances and takes them back toward the core of the problem.   The gacaca courts in Rwanda present an important case study on removing layers of conflict and complexity. Implemented after the genocide, these courts were established in communities in order to uncover the truth regarding the genocide, reconcile the families of victims with the perpetrators and reintegrate the perpetrators back into the community in order to become productive members of society. The "world as it is" view at the time of the gacaca court creation was a country with the legacy of the genocide halting any economic growth and security. In order to move forward with the development of the country (the "world as it should be"), the community had to address the "world as it used to be," to learn not only what happened during the genocide, but the reasons for what happened. Only then could the community begin to heal and move forward together. The gacaca courts was not a perfect system, but it combined the models of the "world as it used to be" and the "world as it is," and attempted a solution that could both address historical grievances and lay the foundations for a stronger future. It is not only possible to un-layer our conflicts, it is necessary. We can step back from the brink when we look at the conflict in human terms, and that means recognizing the past and its pervasive role in the present. Alex Coccia is a junior Africana and Peace Studies major, and a Gender Studies minor. He appreciates classroom conversations in Black Politics in Multiracial America.  He can be reached at acoccia@nd.edu     The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

The Observer

Food for thought

By The Observer · Monday, Nov. 12, 2012

After two weeks of intense studying - you can definitely sense around campus Thanksgiving break is just around the corner - I finally feel I have a couple of days to get my life back on track. And, when I say "life" I mean organize my room, clean my kitchen and apartment common area, catch up on some of my favorite shows and cook. Yes, cook. For the past weeks, my diet has consisted of strawberry NutriGrain bars, Easy Mac bowls, lots of coffee and the occasional Subway, Burger King or Taco Bell quick meal at LaFun. I haven't had the time just to sit down and cook something I really want to eat. So, as I was walking back home from my 2 p.m. class on Tuesday, knowing I had nothing to hand in or prepare for today, I decided I would endeavor into cooking a healthy, delicious, Instagram picture-worthy meal. I would relax, unwind and finally stop my crazy and hectic eating habits - for a day or two at least. Once home, I placed all of the groceries I had in my fridge in the kitchen counter. Just looking at them made me want to start mixing different ingredients right at the moment. However, before making an unappetizing mess - I seriously lack knowledge and creativity in the kitchen - I decided to consult with my loyal and super-chic friend, the Londoner. "Who's the Londoner?" you might ask. A guilty blog-addict, the Londoner is one of the many websites I follow on a daily basis. It's the blog of a British marketing consultant in her twenty-somethings named Rose. In it she posts about fashion, travel, things to do in London and, of course, food. Rose has the best recipes. They are easy to make, mouth-watering plates that will definitely impress your family, friends and even yourself. From creative versions of the traditional hamburger to her most popular "Slutty Brownies," you will find all kinds of delicious ideas in the Londoner. So, if you just finished the most of your schoolwork due before Thanksgiving like me or will in a couple of days or so, take a peek at the Londonder's recipes and let them inspire you. I'm still debating between her "Avocado Spaghetti" or her "Spicy Lemon Chicken Wrap". Decisions, decisions...  

The Observer

The human dignity of campus workers

By The Observer · Monday, Nov. 12, 2012

"Be the change you want to see," be "pro-life" and support worker rights - what do these three ideas have in common? More than we might realize. This past Friday night at the Peace House, I had the wonderful opportunity to gather with a group of my fellow Notre Dame students who were involved with the Campus Action Labor Project for an evening of fellowship and a conversation about the dignity of workers. There were so many new faces and I was humbled to meet so many other students who care about labor justice, despite our differences. Throughout our conversation, a central idea that we all agreed on was the significant way that we as students can promote the dignity of workers by how we relate to the many who work daily for us here on campus. Many students shared encouraging stories of ways that they had witnessed individual students or entire student communities show honor and care for those who serve us by working for Notre Dame. As a student who is deeply committed to upholding the human dignity of workers who are often overlooked or underappreciated, I was inspired by these positive examples that model how we ought to relate to those who work for us in a spirit of solidarity. Perhaps the most important question I could be asking right now is not about how "the University" is upholding the dignity of workers, but rather, how am I loving those who make my education possible through their work on a daily basis? I am not suggesting that we don't need to care about where Notre Dame invests its money or how the workers are treated in factories that produce the Adidas apparel we proudly don at our football games. But perhaps the best place to start is with ourselves and our own attitudes. The stories I heard on Friday night were intentional gestures of love to our workers that can reflect what we believe, and ultimately, what Notre Dame students believe. In many ways, this University has intentionally taught us that the dignity of the human person is of utmost importance. We have the opportunity to demonstrate this belief by making loving gestures toward workers more frequently in our own community. The people who work for us are part of the Notre Dame family. They make our education possible just like our professors and benefactors do. And yet, we can all forget to care for them at times. It doesn't have to be that way. To me, there seems no more appropriate way to "be the change you want to see." I know I need to hear this. As Notre Dame students, we can demonstrate our concern for our fellow brothers and sisters who do the dirty work on our behalf and thus speak volumes about our desire for worker rights to be upheld in the business world. And we can be transformed in the process. As a Catholic, this is an important part of what it means to me to call myself "pro-life."   Annie DeMott is a senior theology major and education, schooling and society minor. She can be reached at ademott@nd.edu     The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

The Observer

Quotation remarks

By The Observer · Monday, Nov. 12, 2012

I really love quotes. I have Word documents, Moleskines, OneNote presentations and numerous iPhone notes full of them. I first fell in love with quotes in high school when, as I asked numerous theological and philosophical questions of myself and my faith, my mentor, Mr. Yeazell, countered with ideas from just about everyone - from Dr. Seuss to the Pope. These short little nuggets of wisdom helped me see difficult concepts in meaningful ways. And since then, I have made it a point to have them ready just in case I can help others to see, too. Not only are they words of wisdom for me, but mantras to live by, words that guide how I act in and think about the world.

The Observer

Honoring the veterans

By The Observer · Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012

The University of Notre Dame and the U.S. Military share a very proud history. For more than 60 years, students at the University of Notre Dame have trained as cadets and midshipmen and commission as officers in the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force. Many Notre Dame graduates have gone on to serve distinguished careers in the Armed Forces, along with millions of other Americans. Veterans Day is a day that we remember the sacrifices of these brave men and women. Here at Notre Dame, the Cadets and Midshipmen in the Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC units show their respect for all veterans during our annual Veterans Day Vigil and Ceremony. The Vigil takes place at Clarke Memorial Fountain, more commonly known as Stonehenge, and lasts 24 hours, beginning yesterday evening at 4 p.m., and ending this evening at 4 p.m. This year, our annual Veterans Day Ceremony begins at 5 p.m., also at the Clarke Memorial Fountain. We stand guard there to show that we will never forget the sacrifices that the men and women of the U.S. Military have made for the freedoms that we all share and are truly blessed to have. While you are walking by Clarke Memorial today and see your fellow students standing guard, or attending the ceremony this evening, we respectfully ask that you take a moment out of your day to reflect and give thanks to those who have served, those who are serving, and those who will serve in the defense of this great Nation. Thank you. Ted Spinelli Army ROTC senior off campus Nov. 11 Patrick Bowlds Air Force ROTC senior off campus Nov. 11 Kevin Hickey Navy ROTC senior off campus Nov. 11 Mike Dompierre Army ROTC senior off campus Nov. 11

The Observer

Vegetarian nightmare

By The Observer · Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012

Thanksgiving: The one day a year where you can get away with eating literally all day long and doing nothing but sitting around feeling like you're going to explode. Turkey, stuffing, cranberries, sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows, green bean casserole ... Sounds like heaven, right? Wrong. Thanksgiving is an organic-loving vegetarian's nightmare. Watching the toddler-sized bird being baked, fried or browned, then stuffed and pulled apart ... I have to leave the room to keep my breakfast down. It's not even that I feel bad for the turkeys (although baby turkeys are adorable; Google it and see) - I just can't stand the muscle-y, dripping-wet texture and the irrational thought that I will accidentally bite into a bone. Then, there is the preservative-filled "bread" that has been soaking in the bird's bodily fluids for hours, appropriately named stuffing, the cranberries that slide out of the can in perfect cylindrical shape, still ribbed from the can's contours, the browned marshmallows ruining perfectly delicious and healthy sweet potatoes, green bean casserole burying the actual green beans in fried onions, fat and oil ... I think I'll pass. However, it's just awkward to sit there with an empty plate while everyone else stuffs their faces, not to mention it is a huge insult to the cook. So whenever we travel to see family for Thanksgiving, I am forced to fill my plate with a little bit of everything and sit there hiding my scowl, nibbling and moving food around to give the appearance that maybe I had too many snacks during the day and can't eat another bite ... as I suppress my growling stomach.            Come to my house for Thanksgiving and I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised. Not only do I cook half the food myself, but also it is fresh, natural and (partly) meat-free. Of course, my family rolls their eyes at my refusal to participate in the ritualistic eating of the turkey, but I know they secretly love my pumpkin ravioli, butternut squash and walnut risotto, sautéed green beans with bacon (confession time: I am a shameless bacon-loving 'vegetarian') and mashed sweet potatoes dusted with cinnamon sugar. This feast of healthy deliciousness is absolutely as fulfilling as the typical American spread, if not more. So next Thursday as you're slicing your gelatinous "cranberries" and violating your turkey by stuffing it with perfectly cubed bread, you'll wish you were at my table. Now who wants some pumpkin pie? Contact Maddie Daly at mdaly6@nd.edu The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

The Observer

Who we are and what we do

By The Observer · Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012

How do you define yourself? Often, we describe who we are by stating what we do. Rene Descartes associated his actions as a philosopher with his being as an individual when he said, "I think, therefore I am." Many of us view our being in similar ways: "I study biology, therefore I am," or "I run track, therefore I am," etc. Being and doing are not identical, though. We still are who we are even when we are not doing what we do. I believe being is even more important than doing because we can do the things we do only because of who we are. One of my friends recently wrote a blog post for a contest in which she encouraged her readers to stop "doing" and start "being." I agree with her because I believe that the differences in what we do matter far less than the similarities in who we are when it comes to how we should relate to each other. We are all human beings living human lives, and we must never let actions, whether good or bad, ours or someone else's, overshadow this fact. For example, most of the rhetoric exchanged between Obama and Romney during the recent presidential election had to do with jobs. They would have us think that people with jobs are happy and fulfilled because they contribute to the greater good of society and provide for their material wants and those of their families. People without jobs are pitiable fellows who face fear everywhere they go because of their inability to ensure a stable material future for themselves and their loved ones. (And if you fall into the second group, it's the other guy's fault.) As you might have guessed, I do not think this is a full and accurate picture of American life. I will now tell a story to help explain why. About a year ago, when I went to visit my sister at college in Philadelphia, I went for a morning run down by the Schuylkill River. (Don't ask me how that's pronounced; I'm still not quite sure.) It was a beautiful day, and I was enjoying the fine weather and picturesque scenery of the waterfront. Soon, I ran by a homeless woman who had just gotten up after sleeping on a bench by the river. I noticed she was smiling and cheerfully singing to herself as she folded up the elements of her makeshift bed and put them into her backpack. This woman probably didn't have a job. Therefore, it is likely that she did not perform the same functions and acquire the same means of purchasing material comforts that the employed visitors to the river did. Despite not doing those things, though, she still had as much right to be there and experience the beauty of the river as anyone else, and she seemed to be taking as much joy from it as all of the people around her, if not more. In this way, she was no different from the wealthiest person in Philadelphia. Both live human lives in which they experience joys and sorrows. Make no mistake: The homeless face extremely difficult challenges that the rich and even the middle class never experience and can only partially understand, but they are also spared the unique disorders and discomforts brought on by wealth. Uninterrupted happiness belongs to no one. We are all humans, and as such, we all share the ups and downs of human life. This notion could change the way we think about jobs and other subjects of political debates. People do not "earn" the right to a living by doing things that others value. Instead, they deserve to be offered a productive outlet for the creative powers they possess by virtue of being human. I did not hear either Obama or Romney talk enough about creating jobs that affirmed human dignity instead of degrading and instrumentalizing it. While America has created plenty of jobs, robots and computers do most of them. We need to find means of production that augment and harness the human spark within workers instead of ignoring it and turning those we don't replace with robots into robots themselves.   I hope President Obama and all of our other newly elected and re-elected leaders can look at things from this perspective when considering which legislation to enact. I also hope that we ourselves can use this insight to inform the way we treat our "neighbors." I know that I have failed in this regard. Just as a new term brings new hope to President Obama, each new day brings new hope for us. Let's all use our next opportunities wisely. Elliott Pearce can be reached at Elliott.A.Pearce.12@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

The Observer

The Irish through English eyes

By The Observer · Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012

As an Englishman, it pains me to say much of what you are about to read. I've visited the States a few times now, and I didn't think there could be that much left in American culture that held any real surprises. That was, until my friend in town said he'd got tickets to the game last Saturday. He explained the "Fighting Irish" were something called "Eight-and-Zero" - which apparently was extremely unusual and important.   So much so that within a day or two of arriving in South Bend, I'd been taught that instead of using commonplace phrases like "Hi" and "See ya later," I was to mutter "Irish, Irish, Irish." This novel practice, he told me, came from an incident when one of the Holy Fathers of Notre Dame was attending a game some years back. He found he was standing next to a grizzle-chinned fan, who was stood alone and evidently talking to himself. The good father wondered whether he'd had the misfortune to run into a schizophrenic, or worse still, a man possessed. But as he moved closer, he realised that if the guy was possessed, it had to be by some demonic leprechaun, since he was repeating over and over, "Irish, Irish, Irish, Irish ..." Instead, our hearty priest concluded that the man was probably the sanest person in the park, and he took to doing the same if ever he had a moment to spare. By the time we were climbing the stairs to the press box - somewhere several thousand feet above the field - to watch the Irish take on the Pitt Panthers, I'd been well-briefed on what I was about to witness. I had also been beguiled into stepping into the bookstore shop, where I had been separated from no less than 170 of my hard-earned dollars (and I'd just gone in for a t-shirt). So I felt that if I didn't yet have any emotional investment in the Irish, I had at least made something like a financial one. Irish, Irish, Irish, Irish ... We reckon ourselves great sports fans back over the Pond, but frankly, after Saturday, I don't think we have any clue. Where are our bands? Where are our flags? Where is our fighter-jet fly-by? Where is our national anthem? (Okay, we have one of those.) But where is our second national anthem? And most importantly, where are our cheerleaders? The most fun English fans have at a game is getting drunk, insulting the rival fans' mothers and crushing each other to death. So it was a bewildering experience to see what can be done to make a football game such a grand spectacle. (I mean, sideways-marching xylophone players - dozens of them!)   Was it actual pride I was feeling when attempting to sing along to the Star-Spangled Banner, trying to remember exactly which great-grandparent it was my mom had told me was American? I think so. (Although I forgot to cover my heart with my hat - sorry about that.) Irish, Irish, Irish, Irish ... And then the game. The clock ticked its way through the third quarter and the score was still at 20-6. I felt faint embarrassment that I'd managed to jinx Notre Dame's winning streak. Meanwhile my friend was dying inside. "There's still time," he said, while his doubting English friend smiled and pitied such blind faith. But a late third quarter prayer to Touchdown Jesus seemed to do the trick, and the Irish proved why they come with their combative descriptor. By the time the lads had levelled it back to 20-20, I was a changed man - I believed. I had seen the light, and the light was green. Irish, Irish, Irish, Irish ... Then came overtime - a fumbled touchdown, a missed Panthers field-goal (how the Holy Mother loves her children!), and then - sweet glory - a rushin' touchdown and the Irish had done it again.   When Jesus comes back, South Benders are going to have a problem - could the crowd here really be more excited by the Second Coming than they were by the score that would take them to "Nine-and-Zero"? I fear there may be stern words if you can't find something a little extra. Still, even to an ignorant Englishman, it was clear that there is something special about this place. About this team. Could they be? Surely they must be.   A "Team of Destiny"? Really? I just don't know. It's too hard to think straight with all the voices in my head. Irish, Irish, Irish, Irish, Irish ... Theo Brun recently completed a solo bicycle journey from Hong Kong to Norfolk, England. He visited campus to talk about it and stayed for the Pitt game. He can be reached at theobrun@gmail.com The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

The Observer

The color of success

By The Observer · Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012

This past week while tutoring off-campus, one of the kids I work with asked me this question: "Did you ever envision yourself going to Notre Dame?" He said "Notre Dame" with widened eyes and an awe-filled tone. We were working on a math problem and this question caught me off guard. This kid, Marquise, is in the fifth grade and is one of the most boisterous kids I've ever met. So I was thrilled and alarmed when he was suddenly serious and finally had a genuine interest in what I had to say. However, I was not confused. I knew exactly why Marquise asked me that question. Like him, I am black and this fact challenges his idea of what a Notre Dame student can be. Marquise asked me this question because, to him, Notre Dame represents a giant orb of white grandeur that is not easily penetrable by people like us. So when he sees someone who looks like him and shares his identity at such an institution, it both confuses and inspires him. This probe into Marquise's reasoning is not mere presupposition, rather the result of its similarity to my own educational experiences. I recall being Marquise's age and seeing very few people who looked like me in college, nonetheless in authoritative positions. This, of course, is due to many historical, structural and social factors - definitely not some pseudoscientific explanation of inferiority. I attended a nearly all-black grade school of about 200 children. All of the teachers were white. However, it wasn't their whiteness that was alarming; it was the fact that their race contradicted ours. The visual contrast was striking: a classroom of 30 black children with a white teacher up front, giving commands. Over time, kids may notice this difference and wonder: "Why is the teacher always white? Is that how it is supposed to be?" This dominant visual is also seen outside of the classroom setting. We've all seen the proverbial photo of a white volunteer in a crowd of African children. Sure, this is touching, but what is really being perpetuated by this image? Think of the implications from the perspective of a black child, who may incur subconscious dissonance: "I look like the people who are being helped. Do I really need to be helped? The white person is in power." I question if this causes self-doubt, but I do believe it imparts a false notion of the color of success and speculation regarding the position of a person of color in society. Are we always just the ones to be taught or helped? The visual and cultural disproportion I experienced combined with media output of mainly white images of success and power cultivated the incorrect assumption that power was the domain of white people. An accumulation of white images of power and success can perpetuate a false notion of white superiority in children of color. The racial and cultural disconnect in my experiences of being taught or helped had been mirrored in Marquise's experiences; so much so that he is incredulous at the idea of a black person attending Notre Dame and being an authoritative figure. Our race and culture helps shape our experiences, ideas and perspectives. A lack of cultural sensitivity does no good when educating children of color. In my grade school, no mention was ever made of anything unrelated to white culture or history and Black History Month was vehemently ignored. Kids can notice a disregard of their culture and the accompanying championing of people who are not like them. Marquise's question displayed that his ideas of just who can succeed had been impacted by his amassed observations of a tendency for positions of power to be held by whites. People of color have the opportunity to challenge this notion and serve as inspiration and leaders for youth in their communities. It is also imperative that whites recognize the fallacy of color blindness and adapt a mechanism of cultural sensitivity and literacy and an awareness of the very visible power structure that presents itself when mentoring or teaching in settings where children of color are in the majority. Overall, Marquise's question revealed his cumulative perspective of how successful a black person could be in a world dominated by whiteness. A delusional image of success can be overcome by providing kids with more positive images of people who look like them - different ideas of what success, power and authority look like. Students in largely minority classrooms could also benefit from culturally literate instructors and curriculum that recognizes the legitimacy of their identity. My answer to Marquise's question? "No, I didn't envision myself coming to Notre Dame. I didn't think I was good enough. But, guess what? I'm here and you can be, too." Leila Green can be reached at lgreen2@nd.edu     The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.  

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