Building a Foundation

The Dove campaign, which I had seen prior to watching the film, is a step in the right direction. I was just about to say that it had good intentions but realized that really isn't true. The huge industry of cosmetics and beauty has created an ideal image of beauty that is not realistically attainable. The thing that shocked me the most from watching the film was how much it was true. True when it talked about the way in which people define beauty. The movie focused on women and the pressure they have to look good but didn't touch much on the male side. It was acknowledged that it was also an issue but that there just wasn't as much research or information out there. Regardless, what shocked me was how I picture beauty and what I find attractive. That goes for how I judge other people to how I see myself, and it is a very stereotypical image that comes to mind. Indeed it made me feel a bit disgusted with myself, but also intrigued at the same time. If someone were to ask me what I find attractive in someone else it is almost completely based on what other people say is attractive. I've been told by so many girls that they love tall skinny boys. I am not a tall skinny boy and that has made me think that I am less attractive. And I say to myself right now, "How fricken ridiculous is that?" I have the same number of appendages on each side of my body, and am twenty-one years old, and I am self-conscious of my appearance?!?!!? It doesn't get much better than this right now, and this silly sense of what is attractive is beating me down? With that said, here is another conversation that I've had with many girls my age that I think needs to be shared.

Your skin is the foundation of your outward appearance, not the foundation you put over it! Make-up and your face are not like frosting and cake. I have never met a girl that I would rather see her with make-up on than not make-up on simply because she is not improving her "situation." All you are saying is that I am not comfortable with how I look so I'm going to put a different face over my own in hopes that people can't see right through it. I'm not trying to knock girls for wearing make-up, I'm just trying to say that I truly believe that seeing your skin as it is and your eyes how they are, is much more attractive, and that's my personal opinion. And maybe it is just a lack of knowledge of how to properly apply make-up, I'm not sure. I'm also not a woman so I can't relate, I can only tell you how I perceive things.

It is unfortunate that girls as young as elementary and middle school have self-esteem and confidence issues because of an image projected by the media. It's just one more situation where it is so important to be educated so we can have the ability to filter through all of the crap that comes across our T.V., computer screen, and magazine covers, just so we can know how feel good about ourselves. Maybe it would help to compliment people more. I think that's what I'm going to do.

Press Release (rough draft)

(Note: THIS IS NOT FACTUAL! This is for a class assignment.)

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE"

March 21st, 2010

Contact:
Cass Kreitlow
Value Thrift, Maplewood
P:(612)867-5309
F:(612)898-8998
ckreitlow@verythrifty.com
www.valuthriftstoresrock.com

Valu Thrift's May Day Arts and Crafts Extravagana! FREE with donation of canned good or $5 per person.

Maplewood, Minnesota. Saturday, May 1st, 2010 - Valu Thrift in Maplewood has put together a fun filled day for anyone who loves to do arts and crafts. The day will start at 2:00pm and will go until 8:00pm. Materials and tools will be provided by Valu Thrift but feel free to bring your own. There will also be coffee and cookies throughout the day free of charge thanks to the employees of Valu Thrift in Maplewood who donated their time to bake and prepare the refreshments.

"Summer Fever" is going to be the theme. There will be some organized crafts such as a birdhouse station, and a knitting station, but we are looking for creativity! There will be an award that will go out to the participant whose art or craft best captures the "Summer Fever" theme as well as displays the most creativity in portraying the theme.

There will be age brackets and they are as follows:
0-5 years old
6-9 years old
10-13 years old
14 and up

Each age group will have a 1st place winner and a runner up. Each winner will receive $75 at Valu Thrift and each runner up will receive $25. All projects must be completed by 7:00pm. The panel of judges will be a group of employees from Valu Thrift and they will make their final decisions by 7:45pm. You need not be present to receive your award.

To participate in Valu Thrift's May Day Arts and Crafts Extravaganza, simply show up with either $5 or a canned food item. Remember that all projects must be completed by 7:00pm! Happy crafting!

For questions contact Cass Kreitlow. Contact Information above.


Cass Kreitlow
Hamline Undergraduate Student
Junior
1217 Van Buren
Saint Paul MN 55104

Saddam Hussein is addicted to weapons of mass destruction?!?!?!

The documentary film, "War Made Easy," discusses the many ways the United States government has spun the truth, particularly with the intent of getting the American public to support the country in times of war. With many examples from the Vietnam War to the Gulf War, and to the war in Iraq today, the film is definitely an eye-opener. The Film helped me to realize how easy it is to assume that what we hear from government officials and higher status public figures is true, where in reality that simply is not the case. With that said, the biggest question in my mind after watching "War Made Easy," was, who could I really believe? Naturally I believe the government who I have trusted without much question, but now this film is telling me the complete opposite, leaving me to feel like it can only be black or white, right or wrong. This film made me think that "truth" is more of an imaginary ideal than something that we can truly hope to expect.

Watching the movie makes the viewer question the government and people in positions of power. Several statements were made concerning the way that the United States pushes democracy onto the public because it is the right, moral, and just way to run a country, duh! Or so they argue. The movie makes many other very genuine and legitimate arguments against the way that our country is run in time of war, or in times of "freeing the people" of other countries.

What I would really like to see out of a movie is one that argues both sides. Obviously there is an incentive for the government to go to war, even if they are not necessarily justified. The main concept I took from the movie was that presidents that have taken us to war have done it for the American ego, or something to that effect, and I'd be curious to find out what lies between the black and the white. What I mean here, is that usually the other country is wrong, and the United States is right because we are a democracy. As much as we like dichotomous labeling, there is not a true right or wrong, but rather, most issues fall within a continuum between two extremes. I'm afraid "War Made Easy" only considers both extremes.

Because most of the American public has lived their lives truly believing what the government tells us to be true, it is going to be hard for an hour and a half film arguing the other side to be as convincing as it aims to be. Don't get me wrong, films like "War Made Easy" need to exist, but I also think it is fair to question the legitimacy of the claims it makes just as much as the film questions the morality and demeanor of the American government.


Cass Kreitlow
Hamline Undergraduate Student
Junior
1217 Van Buren
Saint Paul MN 55104

Comm. 3639: Cass Kreitlow

Hello anyone and everyone. I am Cass Kreitlow and am a Junior Communication Studies Major at Hamline University. I am a member of the Hamline University Baseball Program, as well as a member of the Hamline University Jazz Band. I am currently employed by the Hamline Payroll office as well as The Big League Baseball Camps and Clinics. I hope to graduate with a BA degree in Communication Studies and go on to get my masters in teaching. What I want to teach is to be determined, but I have always been interested in teaching at the junior high level. I am not naturally an organized person but have become an organized maniac in the last year which I take a lot of pride in. My favorite quote is from The Doors' Jim Morrison, "Where's your will to be weird?" I take that to heart and am also outgoing and driven. I'll keep you updated if I feel that you need to know anything else about me.

Have a great day!

Cass Kreitlow
Hamline Undergraduate Student
Junior
1217 Van Buren
Saint Paul MN 55104