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volume 104 issue 12 • november 21, 2012 • santa monica college letter from the editor
E D I T O R I A L S TA F F Nathan Gawronsky······ Editor-in-Chief c o rs a i r. e d i t o r i n c h i e f @ g m a i l . c o m Amber Antonopoulos···Managing Editor c o rs a i r. m a n a g i n g @ g m a i l . c o m Amber Antonopoulos·· Health & Lifestyle c o rs a i r. l i f e s t y l e p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Allie Silvas···················· News Editor c o rs a i r. n e w s p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Samantha Perez··· Arts & Entertainment c o rs a i r. c a l e n d a r p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Muna Cosic················Opinion Editor c o rs a i r. o p i n i o n p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m David Yapkowitz············ Sports Editor c o rs a i r. s p o r t s p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Ian Kagihara··········Multimedia Editor c o rs a i r. m u l t i m e d i a @ g m a i l . c o m Paul Alvarez··················Photo Editor Marine Gaste················ Photo Editor c o rs a i r p h o t o e d i t o r @ g m a i l . c o m Nathalyd Meza··············Design Editor c o rs a i r. d e s i g n t e a m @ g m a i l . c o m c o r s a i r s ta f f Fernando Baltazar, Nathan Berookhim, Tiffany Bingham, Kou Collins, Samantha Conn, Henry Crumblish, William Duggan, Rachel Duron, Tina Eady, Skya Eiland, Alberto Fernandez, Amy Gaskin, Ryonn Gloster, Jennifer Gomez, David J. Hawkins, Sam Herron, Annjelicia Houston, Zach Johnson, Eugene Jones, David Madrid, Juan C. Martinez, Ruth Mavangira, Raphael Mawrence, LeAura McClain, Elizabeth Moss, Wayne Neal, Mikaela Oesterlund, Daniella Palm, Molly Philbin, Andy Riesmeyer, Rachel Spurr, Alex Vejar, Anilec Vita, Merissa Weiland, Livia Wippich, Michael Yanow, Arezou Zakaria FA C U LT Y A D V I S O R S S a u l Ru b i n & Gerard Burkhart
An issue of faith nathan gawronsky Editor-In-Chief This special issue of The Corsair will examine the role of faith in all of its myriad forms in today’s rapidly changing world. Whether you go to a church, mosque or synagogue, frequent a fan chat room, or worship a certain genre of music, television show or cartoon, or believe in nothing at all—faith, or lack of faith, continues to play a very important role in our world today. We all find ways of channeling our passions and beliefs in different ways. For some people, prayer is still a powerful medium through which to make sense of the world. Others find comfort in fandom circles, science, music, and art. Interestingly too, a great many people also find comfort in the conviction that there is no God or higher power at all, and that while
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life and the universe may not have a creator or grand purpose, life is still not devoid of a personal meaning. Personally, I grew up in a religious Jewish household. We kept kosher, observed Shabbat and all the holidays, and every Saturday, I remember my father and I would go to synagogue and learn the weekly Torah portion. Religion didn’t stick though—at least not for me. I appreciate the experience though, because I still retain a unique Jewish identity, and I suppose I came away from religion with a deeper appreciation for thought, philosophy, compassion, and living in an ethical manner towards other people, with an emphasis on empathy and truth. I’ve since learned to channel my energy in different ways. Music, particularly jazz, has recently become a sort of quasi-religion for me, Charlie Parker my patron saint. Every daily practice session is like
a practice in prayer. I find myself thinking of nothing in particular—just notes, chords, rhythms, articulations, and suddenly find myself, eventually, in harmony with my true self. Call it what you will, a rush of dopamine to the brain, an obsession with perfection, but I find myself sometimes focusing for literally hours on end, doing this thing that I love to do. Religion can sometimes seem silly. Religion can also sometimes bring out the worst in people, causing us to divide ourselves from our fellow man. But that’s not the whole story. Faith can bring out the best, highest qualities of humanity. Loving kindness, charity, and devotion come to mind. Whether you’re praying to God, or drawing fan portraits of characters from the Twilight series, or practicing jazz scales, faith in a higher purpose illustrates the love people feel for life.
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news 3
volume 104 issue 12 • november 21, 2012 • santa monica college
Cancellation of winter is cancelled molly philbin Staff Writer Santa Monica College cancelled the cancellation of winter session — issued approximately one month ago—on Tuesday. Classes will begin Jan. 2 with a full offering of general education classes and programs for the intersession. Although winter session typically offers 800 courses, as a result of Proposition 30 passing, SMC expects to offer at least 250 state-funded credit classes for the winter session. The classes offered will focus on high demand transfer, career technical and basic skill level courses, according to the SMC website. Class listings will be available online Nov. 27, and registration for these classes will begin Dec. 3, according to a statement issued by SMC president Chui L. Tsang. “We expect to help over 10,000 students make progress towards completion of their degrees or certificates,” said Tsang.
The $1.5 million cost of teachers and counseling services needed to offer courses will be funded through a combination of the college and private donors who believe in public education, according to Don Girard, senior director of government relations and institutional communications. According to AS president Parker Jean, the AS is willing to contribute money from it reserves to the winter session fund. Jean and Tsang have a joint president’s account with $50,000 that Parker says he would be willing to put forward. Winter session was initially cut because of the uncertainty surrounding the passage of Prop. 30, Girard said. “The winter session is back because Prop. 30 passed,” said Cecile Parcelier, AS budget management director. Although the proposition does not provide the $1.5 million cost, it provided the optimism needed to bring back the intersession, Girard said. “It’s sort of a reward [to have winter session,]”
said Jean. If approved, the AS will contribute ten percent of it’s reserve budget, according to Yacob Zuriaw, AS financial support and student advocacy director. Zuriaw was excited about the renewed session. “I didn’t expect it this quickly. The president [Tsang] did this last minute,” he said. “We were on step two and he took it to step five.” Although the California Community Colleges chancellor Brice Harris said in a press briefing on Nov. 7 that the gained funding would only stabilize the community college system, the passage of Prop. 30 and the recent Legislative Analyst’s forecast have introduced a level of future stability for the college with regard to state funding, according to Tsang’s statement. According to Tsang’s statement, donations are welcome in support of the class offerings and can be made online at http://www.foundation.smc. edu/.
Six decades of Christmas spirit come to an end tina eady Staff Writer After 60 years of tradition, there will not be a Christmas Nativity Display in Santa Monica this year. Monday, Judge Audrey Collins refused the request to allow the return of the nativity scenes. A lawsuit filed by the Nativity Scene Committee contends that the Santa Monica ban on unattended park displays, “billed as content neutral,” poses an unconstitutional infringement on the church group’s freedom of speech and expression of religion, according to The Los Angeles Times. Several years ago, an atheist, Damon Vix, set up his anti-religious displays alongside the Christmas diorama. Vix decided to take it further and encourage more groups to apply for space. According to Hunter Jameson, head of the Nativity Committee, “the city allowed each applicant to apply for up to nine spaces and were saturated with applications.” The secular groups received 18 of the 21 spaces and displayed signs that showed pictures of some anti-religious and secular exhibits. The San Diego News reported that these signs showed pictures of Jesus, Poseidon, Santa Claus and the devil. The sign said: “37 million Americans know myths when they see them. What myths do you see?” The signs were vandalized and tempers flared. The controversy ensued and the city decided it would be too costly. The San Diego News reported the lottery doubled its booth spaces, doubled its staff, and spent 245 hours annually running the system and reviewing applications. Then, in June, the city council voted to ban all unattended displays. “The City had the right refuse any unattended displays at the park” said William Becker, attorney for Nativity Scenes Committee “The birth of Jesus is a linchpin in our society. We set our calendar to it and it’s just not right to have a classic depiction of this nativity event denied, shunted or put aside,” Jameson said. On Monday, Court Deputy City Attorney Yiben Shen reportedly said “the ban was under consideration for four years, but was too costly after the number of applicants spiked in recent years, “ according to the San Diego News. Judge Collins banned the displays, reportedly, not to squash religious speech, but
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because it drained on the city’s resources, destroying turf and obstructing ocean views, according to the San Diego News. Collins reportedly said all the evidence that is admissible is about the “aesthetic impacts and administrative burdens” showing this is a reasonable alternative. “I don’t know if appeal will make it after December 3. We won’t be seeking an emergency order from the ninth circuit. The displays won’t go up this year because it probably won’t be enough time,” Becker said, “A few people created the controversy and the city decided to sweep it aside.” “It’s a sad day for Santa Monica, freedom of religion and free speech,” Jameson said.
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4 Opinion
volume 104 issue 12 • november 21, 2012 • santa monica college
Keep religion out of politics tina eady Staff Writer They say you shouldn’t bring religion into politics; to always separate religion from politics. However, they are constantly intertwined, making it hard to separate political views from religious beliefs. Just look at the candidates every election season. Their political views are mostly influenced by their religious beliefs. However, there shouldn’t be a crossover between the two; there should be a separation of the two powers that rule our way of life. Religion and politics should not be allowed to marry, for they could produce children like the Irish government. Religion can greatly affect how a government functions, no matter which part of the world. Savita Halappanavar, a 31-year-old married dentist from India, was pregnant and, after 17 weeks of pregnancy, went into a local Irish hospital for back pain problems. Tests revealed that her dilated cervix would cause the loss of her baby, according to The Telegraph Newspaper, She asked to terminate her pregnancy, but was denied because doctors could hear “fetal heartbeat,” therefore denying her an abortion. The hospital consultant reportedly said, “this is a Catholic country and it’s the law,” referring to why Halappanavar couldn’t get the needed abortion. She reportedly argued back, saying, “I am neither Catholic nor Irish,” while shaking, shivering and vomiting, according to The Telegraph. She collapsed, and her baby tragically died days later. Halappanavar was rushed to intensive care four days later where her heart, liver and kidneys stopped functioning and she passed away. This tragic story is a great example why religious beliefs shouldn’t be mixed with politics. This woman
lost her life because she was denied an abortion, since religious beliefs were far more important to follow than saving her life. But this wouldn’t happen in America, right? According to the Pew Research Center, in 2004, conservative Republicans were polled and 30 percent said religion should stay out of politics, while 50 percent of Democrats said the same. In 2008, those same conservative Republicans and Democrats were polled and 48 percent of conservative Republicans said to keep religion separate from politics, and 52 percent of Democrats stated the same. However, in 2010, the percentage of conservative Republicans wanting to keep religion out of politics decreased to 40 percent, while Democrats increased to 56 percent. The Democrats’ views didn’t have any major changes, but the Republican views--specifically White Evangelists views--showed a rise in support of mixing religion with politics. These statistics show that America is, in a way, divided up when it comes to religion being included in politics. It’s hard to say that people want religion out of politics when polls show otherwise. In 2010, the general public has consistently been against any church or religion that favors any candidate over another by 70 percent, according to the Pew research Center, while 24 percent would endorse a candidate. The public was divided over political leaders expressing their religious faith with 37 percent of the public having said that there was too little expression, while 29 percent said there was too much, and 24 percent saying that political leaders expressed the right amount of their religious faith. During the recent presidential campaign, Republican candidate Rick Santorum ran on a platform tied to his
religious beliefs. His position is pro-life, which includes anti-abortion legislation supporting a federal ban on abortion and the de-funding of Planned Parenthood. In an interview on Meet The Press, Santorum said, “I believe that any doctor who performs an abortion should be charged criminally for doing so,” and went on to say, “I wouldn’t support criminalization of abortion for mothers but, only for the doctors that perform these abortions.” If doctors are criminals for performing abortions, then it would only be a matter of time to criminalize the mothers, as well. Perhaps Santorum thinks women are not capable of making up their own minds about reproduction. They should not be responsible or accountable for their decisions, so their choices are taken away. This private matter should be decided between the woman, her family, and her doctor, rather than an elected official. This was already decided on by the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. Santorum went on to talk about Planned Parenthood’s “hidden agenda,” saying on Meet The Press, “I didn’t imagine any other organization with its roots that poisonous, receiving federal funding of any kind.” The problem is that many women depend on that organization for other much needed services like breast exams, pap smears, birth control, HIV and STD testing and family planning. Santorum’s religion and his own personal beliefs shouldn't be part of his discourse when running for public office. He wanted to change something vital to a woman’s life and her choice, simply because his religious beliefs matter more to him. Something as personal as religion evokes highly intense emotion that
historically has ignited many wars. Prolife groups picketed doctors’ offices and blocked the entrance of women trying to get abortions. Religious fanatics came out and some were mentally unstable and the outcome turned tragic. Santorum's religious views energized his political base and stimulated conversation among others, but the focus should have been on the more public issues, like the economy, jobs and education; not what a woman chooses to do to her body. According to Repro Health Watch, states impose laws that restrict abortion, through waiting periods, unnecessary ultra sounds and vaginal probes, which shame women who consider abortions. The personhood law bans abortion in 41 states after a certain point during pregnancy, because religious groups consider the fetus a person. Although religion is a part of your belief system, and the temptation to bring these beliefs into your every day life is important to you, especially in the realm of politics--there is a greater need to separate church from state, because decisions made in public office affects society as a whole. Even though abortion is legal in the U.S.A., religious organizations donate tremendous amounts of money to advance their social principles. This influences the creation of state laws that make it increasingly difficult to get an abortion, because pleasing those who fund the big bucks is more important than human rights. Religion plays a big role in a government’s functioning by injecting legislation on social issues, such as abortion into political life that ultimately affects society. In doing so, America may transform into a country like Ireland, where women's rights of free choice do not exist.
to find out where my local priest lived, write down the location, and find out some general information about that priest. It was at that moment that I wondered what that question had to do with religion and being closer to God, which is why I was putting myself through confirmation in the first place. The entire assignment was bogus, causing me to stop going to confirmation class altogether. Then, in my senior year, I went to Kairos, a retreat that was supposed to bring those who attended closer to God. For me, God was never a part of it. All the retreat did was give me a chance to connect with classmates I wouldn’t have associated with otherwise. After I graduated high school, religion came to be less and less important in my life. I made it a point to question everything about religion and to do research--not only on Catholicism--but the Judeo-Christian movement as a whole. The more I searched, the less I felt that I needed it as a part of my life, and I disconnected myself from it. My main issues with religion were all the rules and restrictions that seemed to be inescapable. Does God really care if you have sex before marriage? Or keep kosher? Or if you’re attracted to members of the same sex? There has to be more important things for God to worry about than these trivialities. These are aspects of life that we should be deciding on by ourselves, without the aid of religion. I have friends who are gay and they’re some of the greatest people I know. I love me
some bacon, which is the furthest thing from kosher. And as far as I’m concerned, falling in love with that special someone can’t happen until you’ve had sex. I hope to be married someday and that can’t happen if I’m not in love with the person. So, something’s got to give, and these decisions should be only ours to make. These issues are not based on faith, nor are they conducive to strengthening one’s personal relationship with God or Jesus. They are merely traditional practices and attitudes that should be treated more as harmless personal preferences, rather than damning life choices that will land someone in “Hell.” The other misnomer is the notion that morality and values are formed because of a religious foundation. The most classic example of this is the “Ten Commandments,” which teach you not to steal, kill, commit adultery and so on. I used to follow the Commandments, and while I wasn’t perfect, I genuinely did my best. But when you think about it--with the exception of the commandments specifically mentioning God--they’re all common sense things, practices we should know as we grow up. “Thou shall not kill; thou shall not steal.” This is a common sense thing any moral , decent person easily understands. A person doesn’t need to go to church, pray, or even believe in a higher power to understand that it’s morally wrong to do those things. A person can learn to be moral and virtuous without the aid of religion.
Even the comprehension of gray-area commandments such as, “honor your father and mother,” or “thou shall not commit adultery,” come with experience more than anything else. How are you supposed to know that it’s wrong to cheat on someone unless you have actually cheated or been cheated on, and experienced the immense feeling of guilt that leads you to never do it again? Real life lessons come through making mistakes, not by reading religious books. Don’t get me wrong. Religion definitely has all the right intentions. It gives people a sense of direction in their lives, helps them feel better about the concept of death, and it’s a genuine opportunity to relate to those with the same belief structures. But when you start letting all the little rules and restrictions take away your inherent right to learn from your mistakes, that’s where the problems arise. If it wasn’t for me deciding to experience my life on my own terms, without the constraints of religion, I wouldn’t have had the experiences that made me who I am today. Some experiences were difficult, and I made many mistakes along the way, but they are my experiences that I will remember for life. I would rather go through life learning from my own mistakes, instead of constantly worrying about what God, Jesus and the rest of my religious community might think of me when I make a mistake. Life is too short for that kind of rationale.
, What s God got to do with it? Alex vejar Staff Writer
Religion can define and affect a person in so many ways, as it did for me; but there came a point when I stopped and pondered on how far I can let religion rule my everyday life. My Catholic education began when I was four years old. While going through elementary and high school, I went to church once a week, taking some sort of religionbased class every year. My religious education included knowing about morality, values and what being a “good person” meant in the eyes of God and Jesus Christ. This was ongoing for 13 years--almost half of my life--until I ended the religious aspects subjected towards my lifestyle. Now, at the age of 27, I can confidently say that all those years of religious education and guidance were completely unnecessary in helping me become the person that I am today. However, I used to enjoy being religious. When I did go to church, I was an active participant in every aspect of the proceedings, including singing in the church choir. Prayer was also a regular part of my life. I asked God to protect my family, friends, and myself--as well as everyone else in the world who needed a helping hand. But something happened in my second year of confirmation class at St. Monica High School, and the enjoyment vanished. We were given a homework assignment that consisted of over 100 questions that was due in a few months. One of the questions was
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Opinion 5
volume 104 issue 12 • november 21, 2012 • santa monica college
Practicing religion through social media nathan Berookhim Staff Writer Religion is defined as a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices. A social network is defined as the “forms of electronic communication through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages.” Given the qualities these two concepts share, it should come as no revelation that many have taken to social networking sites to find their way to God. Religion and social media are quite compatible, and the practice of religion can benefit greatly from the use of social media. According to the Pew Research Center Forum on Religion and Public Life, only 16 percent of adults in the United States do not affiliate with a major religious tradition. With close to a billion people on Facebook, believers are finding their religious path through the use of social media. According to a Huffington Post article by Rabbi Jason Miller, “thirty-one percent of Facebook users in the United States list a religion in their profile, and more than 43 million people on Facebook are fans of at least one page categorized as religious.” However, “God” is not a member of any religious pages. “God,” who identifies himself as a public figure, has only 3,392,139 “likes” on his Facebook page, which doesn’t really say much considering the amount of Facebook users. “God” posts his thoughts daily on Facebook, messages such as; “tell your loved ones how you feel,” and “forgive, even if you don’t ever think
you’ll be able to forget.” “God” also asks questions, like, “who are you praying for today?” With questions regarding faith being posted on “God’s” Facebook page, followers actually respond to them, giving them a chance to confide to “God.” Prophets and other religious figures also have their own Facebook pages, which give their followers a sense of closeness to their religious figures. Quotes of the Dalai Lama are posted daily on his Facebook page, which has over 4.5 million likes, more than “God.” In addition to using online public forums for expressing their faith, many turn to social networking sites for guidance. Santa Monica College’s Chabad Rabbi, Rabbi Eli Levitansky, has his own Facebook page. It serves as a good way for him to send out information to a lot of people, like when he will hold learning sessions at SMC. People have the opportunity to ask Levitansky questions at any time through his Facebook page. Rebbitzen Mirel Levitansky, his wife, claims that social media has had a tremendous effect on outreach. “It allows us to connect with students who would otherwise not connect with us, if they would feel uncomfortable asking a Rabbi directly,” said Levitansky. They constantly have people messaging on Facebook with questions and concerns about Judaism. In the past, those desiring to delve and discuss the many layers of scripture would typically turn to their local place of worship or seminary. With the advent of the Internet, these aspiring scholars don’t even need to step outside their house. There are tons of websites and
internet groups where religious students can keep up with and deliberate their respective Quranic Surah, daily page of Talmud, or verses of the New Testament. People aren’t just looking to social media to find their way to God, but rather to find God in others. Many would rather rely on sites that are guarded for indecent images and language, than surf through the sex starved profiles of half naked men and women on more conventional “dating” sites. Dating sites, like JDate, the premier Jewish singles community online, or Christianmingle.com, a Christian dating site, and naseeb.com, an online site where the world’s most eligible Muslim singles can meet, are becoming more popular with a growing number of users joining the sites to find a partner of the same religion. These forums add an aspect of ease and comfort when looking for a soul mate of the same religion through a computer screen. Users feel they can discuss certain things they would otherwise feel uneasy or vulnerable putting on non-religiously affiliated dating sites. Sites like Godsfaithbook.com serve to bring those of the same religion to get together as a religious group for Bible study. These forums add an aspect of ease and comfort to looking for your soul mate through a computer screen, and users feel they can discuss certain things they would otherwise feel uneasy or vulnerable putting on non-religiously affiliated dating sites. Social Media is even trying its hand at world peace. There are many pages that promote cross religious cooperation and friendship. The group called Coexist states that
it exists for “promoting the coexistence of all religions and ways of life in the hope of bringing about world peace.” According to the Coexist Foundation website, “since 2006, Coexist has been working to promote better understanding between Jews, Christians and Muslims, and between these communities and others, through education, dialogue and research.” Aside from fostering a sort of cultural cohesion, these sites that try to bring peace amongst the different religions do not allow anti-religious sentiments of any sort. This feature is quite important, as many religious pages preaching togetherness merely serve as forums for hateful hellions to totally ruin the mood by blowing up the wall with unnecessary racist statements. The message of togetherness--regardless of which religion a person belongs to--should be respected and appreciated, considering how much hatred is always involved in the crossover of religions. However, many pages have been created online denouncing and mocking religious believers. The profile photo for the Facebook page, “Religion Poisons Everything,” is that of a man vomiting out various religious symbols. The page serves to circulate the idea that religion is a menace to civilization and a threat to human survival. The extension of religious knowledge has exponentially increased through the use of social media, because it allows those, who either see religion in a positive or negative light, to share information quickly and consistently. It is with this promising attribute that we should see the firewalls of xenophobia and religio-centrism crumble, hopefully.
My brother in arms
nathan gawronsky Editor-In-Chief
Life lately has been worrisome for me. My younger brother Myles Gawronsky, who is about to turn 20, is an American volunteer soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces. He’s in an elite combat unit called Palsar Golani. So when I heard that Israel assassinated Ahmed Al-Jabari, Hamas’ military commander who led the rocket attacks against Israel, I knew this would be the beginning of something bad. It’s very difficult to see what’s happening, and it’s difficult trying to explain to people why I support Israel. Beyond this being a personal issue which causes me a great deal of distress at times, beyond my brother being in the IDF and my constant concern for his and the rest of Israel’s safety, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to explain to people why I support Israel, and why it should be supported. When all you see are bombed buildings, dead women and children in Gaza, and a media blitz that is lopsided and biased to a hijacked Palestinian cause, supporting Israel is a hard sell. I used to live in Israel, and I’ve seen this conflict firsthand. The first time I was there, in the summer of 2006,
I volunteered on a kibbutz in the north of Israel, during the war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, a terrorist organization bent on destroying Israel. I was five kilometers from the border of Lebanon. The steady rhythm of Katyusha rockets and F16 fighter jets flying over in droves to Lebanon and back became a regular part of life. The rumble of Merkava tanks slogging through the distant orchards could be felt in your feet. One time, a few years later while I was living in Jerusalem, I was on a busy boulevard in the city center. While sitting and having lunch, I noticed an abandoned bag. A couple of questions and a few phone calls later, a bomb squad came in, and the huge crowds in the street were pushed away, mesmerized by the threat. A loud thud an hour later, a controlled detonation, let us know how close we came to a very sudden and meaningless death. When I hear people tell me that Israel is committing war crimes, genocide, and ethnic cleansing, I find myself nearly speechless. I think of my brother. He’s not a criminal—he’s a kid who grew up in Los Angeles, enjoyed paintballing and hanging out with his friends. He’s not a murderer, so what is everyone talking about? Israel is engaged in a war with
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Hamas right now, yet another terrorist organization sworn to destroying Israel. They’re not interested in peace treaties, recognizing Israel, or giving an inch of mercy. They deliberately fire rockets from civilian centers in Gaza into civilian centers in Israel, with the intent of killing as many Jewish people as they can. They make no distinction between men, women or children. So when people accuse Israel of killing children—babies—what are they saying exactly? Are they truly aware of how Hamas has made Gaza numb to death, or is it just easy to look away and blame Israel? Are they aware of Hamas’ charter, which states: “The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.” Are they aware of the culture of suicide and martyrdom that is rampant in Gaza? If you’ve never been to memritv.org, I think you owe it to yourself to enlighten yourself on the difference between Israel and Hamas. The essential difference is this: Israel is trying to defend itself, and is forced to fight a war against an insurgency that makes a regular practice of using women and children as human @t h e _ c o r s a i r •
shields. Hamas is on a religious mission to destroy Israel, to kill as many Jews as possible, and to finish Adolf Hitler’s final solution—all in the name of a religion that they’ve hijacked. They don’t represent Palestinian interests, based off of the the simple fact that they treat their own people as cannon fodder. The more Palestinians they can get killed by Israel’s self defense, the easier it is to spread the great lie of Israeli aggression. These lies have to stop. Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda minister, famously used to say that if you tell a lie often enough, it will begin to resemble truth. And I see that happening in this situation. Israel at this moment is not at war with Palestine. They are at war with Hamas. Palestinians don’t want this (at least I hope they don’t). Consider for a moment how you don’t see rockets being shot into Israel from the West Bank. The last time I saw my brother was a few months ago, in September. He told me as he left about how before he joined the IDF, he thought he would not be afraid of war, how he felt fearless. Now, as he called me on the phone Tuesday evening to update me, I could hear the strain in his voice. He’s 20, but much older now. “If there is a war, I’d be scared,” Myles told me.
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6 photostory
volume 104 issue 12 • november 21, 2012 • santa monica college
Fernando Chacon leads the service in prayer at the Iglesia Canaan during their morning service last Sunday in Los Angeles.
Come S
This a photo essay o church in South Los of Iglesia Canaan, Defenders of the Chri believe in one God an the Father, the Son,
Members walk in for Sunday morning services.
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volume 104 issue 12 • november 21, 2012 • santa monica college
photostory 7
A woman prays during the morning service.
A young boy walks to church.
Photos By Michael Yanow
Sunday
of a family-oriented Angeles. Congregants , a member of the istian Faith Movement, nd the Holy Trinity-and the Holy Spirit.
Lidia Castañeda (center) peeks her head into the kitchen to check in with Vilma Pineda (right) and Maria Ramirez (left) as they prepare food for an after service meal. Pineda and Ramirez have been cooking for the church for over 50 years.
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+ lifestyle 8 health
volume 104 issue 12 • november 21, 2012 • santa monica college
Can religion and science coexist? Alex vejar Staff Writer Science and religion have been at odds since the dawn of time, as people have searched for answers about the existence of a higher power, the origins of the universe and evolution. For many, it is not always an easy topic to talk about or understand. Sometimes it is taboo. But in a world that is constantly changing, the debate continues to develop as well. When discussing this controversial subject, one might perceive that the terms “science” and “religion” are very broad, and bogging them down may lead to confusion. “We’ll say something is scientific as a way of basically saying reasonable, and we’ll use the term religion as being something that is not reasonable,” said Joe Sanzo, a professor of the history of the study of religion at UCLA. “The terms themselves carry very much a rhetorical flavor to them, and that makes it very difficult to use them as descriptive categories.” According to Sanzo, the age-old question of “science versus religion” should not include all of science and all of religion, but the argument should instead focus on more specific subjects. These subjects often include the evolution of humans and animals and the creation of the universe. A theologist may reference the Bible and say that God created humans, animals and the rest of the universe in
six days. A scientist, however, could start talking about the Big Bang Theory and how humans evolved from single-celled organisms over many millions of years. These two disciplines reach their conclusions in very different ways. Scientists use the scientific method, which involves forming a hypothesis and then continuing to experiment with it until an answer is reached. Theologists, on the other hand, mainly use the God of the Bible and the Torah as evidence. Jason Roberts, a non-denominational Christian, believes that the Bible is inerrant, meaning that it can never be disproven, even by scientific discoveries. “Scripture is truth; anything that comes against it is a lie,” Roberts says. Not all religious people think this way, however. Pastor Fred Masted of Westchester Lutheran Church feels that it is a mistake to take the Bible literally. “When you try to take all these things literally, you just end up with nonsense,” Masted says. Rabbi Zach Shapiro of Temple Akiba in Culver City agrees with Masted. “We’re not supposed to look at these things as exactitudes, but rather as an overarching story,” Shapiro says. So it seems that even people who believe in the same higher power and read from the same holy book have different views on how to interpret what they are taught to believe. Similarly, the views of scientists are not universal either. According to a 2009 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Pubic Life, 51 percent of scientists
either believe in God or some other higher power. But even scientists who believe in a deity can have their doubts. “I would say that I believe in God, but exactly what that means, I’m not entirely sure,” Sanzo says. Edward Tarvyd, a marine biology and zoology instructor at Santa Monica College, also has his reservations about the existence of God, calling himself a “Catholic on sabbatical.” “There might be something there, there might not be, but I concern myself with other things,” Tarvyd says. While questioning the existence of God is a popular subject among those who debate religion as a whole, Tarvyd feels that it is not an issue that scientists should tackle. “There is absolutely no scientific experiment that has ever been devised, or probably can be devised, that can either prove or disprove the existence of God,” Tarvyd says. “It is completely incompatible as far as the rules of science.” So where does that leave someone trying to decide whether to take a scientific or faith-based view on life? According to Shapiro, the two views should have nothing to do with one another. “I don’t look at religion to teach me about science and I don’t look at science to teach me about religion,” Shapiro says. “My theology is not based on what’s black and white in the Bible.” Masted has a similar view.
“Scientists should study their discipline; religionists should study their discipline,” Masted says. “Where the problems get in is when the scientists try to be religionists and the religionists try to be scientists.” Armando Castillo, a 23-year-old SMC student with Christian parents, admits to being an atheist since the age of eight. When it comes to deciding which argument explains the origins of humans and the universe best, his viewpoint is clear. “I’ve always been a person of logic, so if it makes sense, then I’d probably go with science,” Castillo says. With religion and science often being at odds, one may wonder if there can ever be an agreement between the two. Castillo doesn’t think so. “As humans, we always want a definitive answer,” Castillo says. “It’s human nature to prove each other wrong, so it’s just going to keep going.” But others believe that religion still has a place in society. Sanzo points to civil rights movements and many other “positive things” within the last 50 or 60 years as having been rooted by some sort of belief in a religion. “Having something beyond human beliefs, practices, et cetera, that can point to something larger can serve a very positive function, and has done so in the recent past,” Sanzo says. Tarvyd takes this line of thought a step further. “[Religion] gives people hope that there is something at the end; it gives them a path to follow,” he says.
The basis of morality elizabeth moss Staff Writer After traveling 8,000 miles to see his family, Santa Monica College student Tanakrit Sermsuksan enters his Thailand home. As a converted Christian among a household of Buddhists, the 19-year-old finds difficulty in expressing his faith. “Sometimes I think, maybe I am wrong; maybe I should stop being a Christian,” he says. But it is the basic principles and way of living associated with his newfound religion that keeps Sermsuksan steady. “I understand the world more now,” he says. “I was able to connect with more people.” In Sermsuksan’s case, the difficulties in expressing his religious beliefs lie in the home. For others, remaining true to faith is a matter of overcoming adversity through friends, the media and the general swing of society. The motivations to stick with religion can become slim with the regulations and restrictions they can impose upon everyday life. For Merlin Muhammad, a converted Muslim of 25 years, it was Christianity that brought him to the Muslim faith. “[Christianity] had me in a judgmental state of mind; it just didn’t add up,” he says, explaining his feelings that faith did not provide all the answers. Sermsuksan, who is also club president of the International Youth Fellowship, had similar misgivings about Buddhism. He eventually warmed to the Christian ideal of forgiveness, versus the Buddhist rule that if you disobey a law once, you will have to repeat life on earth. Sermsuksan says that he was prompted by a desire to be a better person, not by what other people had
to say. “If you use society as the law, there’s so many conflicting [ideas],” he says. From what Sermsuksan has seen, potential club members who have visited meetings often seem influenced by what their classmates say. “They listen to their friends; they listen to their family,” he says. Many strict religions, however, exist in communities. “There tends to be a very insular community,” says SMC philosophy instructor Steven Kaufman, in reference to members of the Jewish faith, who often worship together, work together and attend school together. “They are comfortable this way, just like us, who are not as religious,” Kaufman says, indicating that religion is often highly associated with a particular way of life. According to Muhammad, in the Muslim religion, “every day is considered a holy day.” Members of the faith must recite prayers five times a day. This prayer and the diet of the Muslim faith are part of Muhammad’s lifestyle, and he says he believes it leads to a healthier existence. “Islam is a way of life; there’s a sort of peace behind us,” he says. “If you look at human nature, there are two things that motivate: pleasure and pain. Same thing in religion. Some people actually get pleasure being obedient to God.” But Muhammad acknowledges that people are human, and there are pitfalls. “We all have temptations,” he says. “The hardest thing to do is to overcome the natural inclinations.” Kaufman sees the media as a source of influence over religious practice. “It has such a subtle deep influence that we don’t
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even recognize,” Kaufman says. According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, 50 percent of Evangelical churches believe that the government should do more to “protect morality.” Comparatively, 59 percent of Muslims say the same thing. However, only 26 percent of Buddhists agree, leaving 67 percent to think that the government is too involved in morality. “For many people, religion is the basis of one’s morality,” Kaufman says. “The reasons behind their moral decisions may be different between a religious and non-religious person.” Mark Koral, a member of the Buddhist faith, says that Buddhism “respects the individual to the utmost.” This self-awareness correlates to the percentage of Buddhists who disagree with government intervention in morality, as Buddhists value beliefs in themselves over external forces. The religious inclinations of younger generations have been trending down in recent years, according to a WIN-Gallup International poll. In the United States today, 60 percent of people claim being religious versus the 73 percent that claimed religiosity in 2005. Muhammad agrees that young people are not as well-versed in their respective religions as he feels they should be. “Religion is so casual now,” he says. But even with religion declining, most agree that non-believers can lead truly moral and virtuous lives. “Anyone can be virtuous, as long as they’re not doing anything wrong,” Sermsuksan says. Overall, nothing has deterred Muhammad’s religious lifestyle. “As I’ve grown into the faith, I actually feel more liberated.”
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health + lifestyle 9
volume 104 issue 12 • november 21, 2012 • santa monica college
The narrow path between religion and spirituality
Amy Gaskin Corsair
Professor Sage Bennet teaches her philosophy class “Knowledge and Reality” at Santa Monica College on Tuesday.
Ruth mavangira Staff Writer When examining the differences between spirituality and religion, one might encounter either a barrage of words, or silence. “Spirituality transcends religion, but could still also be found in the context of religion,” says Sage Bennet, a professor of philosophy at Santa Monica College. Bennet says that religion involves a set of beliefs, practices, and sometimes doctrines, originally designed to help people find a way to a good life. “Spirituality allows people the freedom to take from the practices of different religions without necessarily joining an organized religious group,” Bennet says. An East Los Angeles voodoo priestess who wishes to remain anonymous says that her group’s practices cannot be revealed or categorized. “You might have better luck talking to an American psychic or a tarot card reader; we operate in secret,” she says. “Voodoo is neither a religion or a spirituality. It is my culture.” However, according to the Oxford Dictionary, voodoo is defined as a black religious cult practiced in the Caribbean and southern United States, which combines elements of Roman Catholic ritual with traditional African magical and religious rites, and is characterized by sorcery and spirit possession. Similar aspects characterize the religion of Santeria, detailed in author Menyone Deveaux’s autobiography “Journey to the Red Carpet.” “He sits up in bed in a trancelike state in the middle of the night,” Deveaux says
about her book. “He opens his mouth, and the voice of a woman comes out of him.” Allegedly, the female voice claims to own her boyfriend’s soul, threatening her safety if she does not go away. In his book “Santeria: The Religion,” Migene Gonzalez-Wippler describes one of the central beliefs of Santeria as the worship of Olodumare, who corresponds to the concept of God. In his discourse, Migene explains that every individual’s life is overseen by one of his orishas. It is these spirits that Deveaux alleges to have encountered in her memoir. “I consider myself spiritual because even though I was raised Christian, I incorporated my belief of energy chakras, spiritual laws of prosperity, and laws of attraction,” says Deveaux. “I have also experienced very negative spirituality as in the practice of Santeria.” Bennet explains the freedom of spirituality over religion. Enycourse Ziira, an engineering student in Zimbabwe, agrees. “Religion is a narrow, self-centered approach to seeking fulfillment and a major cause of wars, polarized ideologies and extremism,” Ziira says. “Spirituality does not follow set guidelines but is more of an individualistic ideology as one seeks fulfillment.” Reverend Kodani of Pure Land Buddhism, however, is not as certain of the real distinction between religion and spirituality. “I never understood what spirituality meant,” Kodani says. “By Western definition, religion is a belief in God. And we don’t believe in God. But we are a religion because we believe in the ultimate reality.” According to Buddhist teachings, self-
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realization is the highest goal, not the afterlife promised in Christianity. “The only qualifying factor is for one to wake up,” Kodani says. “We have no rituals we follow.” Amber Cole, an SMC student, says that her Christianity was purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. “Religion is following a bunch of traditions,” Cole says. “Spirituality is just loving God.” “Religion is more about how you look on the outside; spirituality is who you are inside,” says SMC student Christian Cordoba, who meets with Cole and other Christian peers on campus for prayer meetings. The Satanic Bible describes the religion of Satanism as supporting an individual’s rights to life, liberty, acquired property, and the pursuit of truth and happiness. In a membership form to join a Satanic church in East Los Angeles, applicants are asked how long they want to stay alive, what three things they would wish for, and whether they would rather influence others or be influenced. While Christianity has commandments as spiritual laws that govern it, Satanism has the seven deadly sins. According to the website of a Satanic chapel, the seven deadly sins of the Christian church include greed, pride, envy, anger, gluttony, lust, and sloth. Satanism advocates indulging in each of these sins as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification, according to the Satanic Bible. On the wall near the door of the Santa Monica home of a woman who practices witchcraft hangs a poster with the words “there is no tomorrow, only now.” “You must not walk in the way you came
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in; please go backward,” she says. Inside her home, she keeps a glass case containing a miniature representation of people she has put curses on. According to her acquaintance Betty Stuart, the woman practices a new age spirituality affiliated with the devil. Bennet believes that spirituality is the awareness about something as in meditation, yoga, connectivity with the universe, and nature. “To me, spirituality is people living as good people and showing love for others, but there is no God,” says Gregg Edwards, a Hollywood acting instructor. “I have a problem with organized religions like Christianity saying that you will literally burn in hell if you don’t believe in their God,” he says. Discussing the philosophy of naturalism, Edwards says that all things can be described by natural laws and not by the supernatural. Bennet says she does not think it is fair to say that all organized religion has a measure of control as an ulterior motive. Ziira, however, says he has experienced his Apostolic Christian religion frown upon the traditional witchdoctors in Zimbabwe, even though they are the country’s indigenous religion. “Before Westernization, ancestral spirit worship was the main religion,” he says. “They believed in the influential powers of the dead, and that these spirits possessed the living, creating portals that allowed for dialogue between the dead and living.” According to Bennet, the challenge lies in appreciating all religions, as she believes that doing so would breed tolerance. “I like to see the thread of wisdom that runs through all religion,” she says.
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+ entertainment 10 Arts
volume 104 issue 12 • november 21, 2012 • santa monica college
Blasphemy on the airwaves annjelicia houston Staff Writer “Jesus called and said he’s sick of the disses, I told him to quit bitching, this isn’t a [explicit] hotline” are lyrics by the popular and controversial rap artist Tyler, the Creator, in his song “Yonkers.” This is the music that today’s youth is listening to. The question is: Are these lyrics meant to arouse deep thought and conversation about religion, or are they simply an unprovoked attack? There is a fine line between shocking an audience into discussion like Lady Gaga’s “Judas,” and shocking someone out of poor taste by casting a negative light on a religion or religious icon—much like the lyrics in the Tyler, the Creator song, “Sandwitches.” Both artists use religion in their music, but it is clear that they have very different purposes in mind. When Lady Gaga, an artist known for her bold and outrageous gestures in fashion and in music, released her video “Judas,”, there was a lot of backlash and controversy surrounding the music video that depicted risqué versions of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. The music video ends with Lady Gaga as the Virgin Mary being stoned to death in a wedding
dress for loving Judas. Gaga did not make any assertions that Judas was anything other than what the Bible says he was. However, she does say that she loves him. Though the video and subject matter are contentious, what is said and depicted about the Christian faith or its idols is quite vanilla—at least for Lady Gaga— yet many find the video to be either blatantly offensive or a direct attack on religion. “There is an assault on religion by pop music,” Santa Monica College Communications professor Kevin Coleman states. “She’s [Lady Gaga] a perfect example of that.” Coleman adds. But Lady Gaga was not the first (or the last) artist to depict Jesus Christ in a more sensual light on camera. Madonna’s “Like A Prayer,” released in 1989, was also deemed very controversial. In the video for “Like A Prayer,” we’re shown a wax figure of an AfricanAmerican Jesus brought to life and freed from both a figurative and literal prison by Madonna. The video also shows Madonna experiencing stigmata as she sings in a church with a choir, wearing a provocative dress. While it is clear that both Lady Gaga and Madonna made controversial
videos, neither of the videos or songs was a “direct attack” on any religious figure or religion. “I think they’re trying to shock their audiences into thinking and questioning,” SMC music professor Shanon Zusman says. “It’s not purely entertainment or purely about money—they have plenty of it.” What of artists like Tyler, the Creator, whose lyrics can be interpreted as clear, provocative assaults on religious figures? Are those lyrics meant to incite thought and discussion? “My concern would be that his music would make listeners callous toward religion, versus opening it up to talk about.” Zusman says. “No one cares about real music anymore, it’s all about who can get retweeted the most, who has the most shocking video or whatever. And people like Tyler, the Creator are just trying to gain fame the wrong way; he wants infamy, not fame, and so far it seems like it’s working,” said SMC student Anna Litvenko. “I don’t listen to his music, but I have some friends who do, and they don’t even seem to like what he’s saying that much, they just like that he’s what’s cool right now,” Litvenko continued. . Is receiving fame and notoriety the reason behind such secular and somewhat offensive music? Has insulting
religion become the golden ticket to stardom? Professor Coleman says that he doesn’t think that religion is respected anymore. He believes that the musicians are now so concerned about record sales, that religious music has gone the way of the dodo, and secular music is what’s popular. “I believe it’s done to make their music more appealing to people—to reach a younger demographic.” Coleman says. “Even Gospel music is less traditional sounding now,” Coleman adds. There isn’t much room for praise or positive mention of a religion in popular music, which could be because artists are afraid it would repel audiences. In the song “Jesus Walks” by Kanye West, he states that if he raps about Jesus, his songs will not get played on the radio. Religion is both a delicate and serious topic, and when taken to the airwaves, it seems that you can’t have it both ways as a musician. You either use religion as the lightning rod to propel your journey toward controversy like Tyler, the Creator, Lady Gaga and others, or you use religion as a tool to provoke thought and discussion. There is a place for religion in music; it just seems to hide out in a very grey and “controversial” area.
Super faith henry crumblish Staff Writer He’s saved millions of lives, thousands have read his word, and he’s even been resurrected from the dead. I’m talking about Superman of course. The Man of Steel may be a miracle worker, but he’s no Messiah. However, this doesn’t stop some individuals from worshipping his likeness. Working in Hollywood, Christopher Dennis always aspired to be an actor. Between being unsatisfied with roles offered to him in auditions and being unable to take time off from work, Dennis’ frustration began mounting. One day Dennis decided to don a Superman costume and strut his stuff on Hollywood Blvd., making $500 in his first outing as Krypton’s last son. Dennis, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Christopher Reeve, has reprised his role as Superman for the past 21 years. “Comic book fans read their comic books like it’s the Bible,” said Dennis. “Each character has been given a background and a story. Some people are into it for the alter ego, like Clark Kent, and some people like the Superman side.” The line between religious parable and comic book story has been blurred significantly as more and more Americans look to superheroes as role models; but are students really worshipping superpowers? Gabriela Melara, a Kinesiology major, tries to make equal time for going to church and watching her favorite Batman television show in her free time. “I like the fact that he has no superpowers; he’s an ordinary man doing amazing things,” said Melara. However, caped crusaders are not what Melara entrusts her faith to. Being a devout Christian on campus isn’t always easy. Melara has trouble relating to her fellow students when trying to comprehend their religious beliefs. “You are going to find out it’s real, even if you try to search for it,” she said. “It’s all about faith.”
Brandon Jackson, an Advertising major, was raised Catholic and uses faith to keep a positive outlook on life. Jackson, who models in his spare time, thanks his church and religion for sheltering him from evil. “At the end of the day I know God is watching me, looking down on me,” said Jackson. “If I’m having a bad day, it makes it better; it keeps me motivated to keep faith that something good will happen.” “I always tell people to keep their faith,” said Jackson. Claudia Fuentes is a Photography major who has struggled with faith her entire life. Throughout the course of her life she, at one time or another, considered herself a Catholic, a born again Christian, a Mormon, and even gave being a Jehovah’s Witness a shot. “A lot of the values are the same; it’s all about family, respect, and doing good.” Fuentes – a woman who questioned what lies beyond this life – committed to faith after tragedy. “At one time, I had a hard time believing in God—I had some faith issues,” said Fuentes. “I lost my faith, and I got it back when I lost two nieces, one in 2005 when she was 15, and one last year; she was 26. Those two people were so important to me—it changed me.” “When you lose someone you love, it does change your thoughts about religion,” said Fuentes. There was no divine intervention or a man in a mask to save either of Fuentes’ nieces, so she turned to spirituality. “You’re either a cold-hearted believer or you’re confused and you don’t know. I’m thankful, I’m a lot happier now,” said Fuentes. “I’m more forgiving.” While some students discover newfound faith, others reject the faith they previously placed in religion. “I feel like if I was in massive trouble, it’s more likely I’d be saved by a man in a Spiderman costume than Jesus,” said Santa Monica College student, Roxanne Friedmann. “I grew up in a very religious house. I never missed any church. I went to church
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Amy Gaskin Corsair Action character Superman holds a young fan on Sunday. Christopher Dennis has been playing Superman for 21 years on Hollywood Boulevard. He says comic book superheroes are “taken like a religion almost.”
at five in the morning on top of going to school for four years,” said Friedmann. Friedmann, a reformed Mormon, who attended Brigham Young University briefly after finishing high school, began doubting her faith as a teenager. “I’m an atheist and have been since I was 16. High school was funny because, although I had decided I didn’t want to be Mormon, everyone already knew,” said Friedmann. “God is all powerful, and there are consequences for not following him,” said Friedmann. “You can’t make other people follow your religion.” “The difference between someone who reads comics, and someone who believes in God, is the person going to church hasn’t figured out it’s not real,” said Friedmann. “Sometimes people get so caught up in worshipping, and their soul, that they forget to live.”
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Religion and superheroes teach us about camaraderie and bravery in the face of crises and disaster. “The only thing I’ve seen positive in a church setting is you have a community to rely on for the elderly, new families and the downtrodden,” said Friedmann. Whether you place your faith in superheroes, religion, or neither, if you find improvements in your life, inner peace and strength, then your faith is well placed. “I think, because we live in such a liberal area, people are less likely to judge you for your beliefs,” said Friedmann. Human beings are fragile creatures. We age, we break, we worry and we die. Whether it’s a spiritual deity overseeing our day-to-day activities, the government, or the Watchmen, as a species we like to hope that something is protecting us, and our loved ones, from harm. *Amy Gaskin contributed to this report.
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volume 104 issue 12 • november 21, 2012 • santa monica college
Arts + entertainment 11
The fandom society Merissa Weiland Staff Writer
They came from all over the world. They took time off from work and from school. Some left their families behind. They planned months ahead of time. Just for this day. This is what many of the 2,500 fans who had been camping out in downtown Los Angeles had to do for a chance to see their favorite stars at the world premiere of the last installment of the “Twilight” series, “Breaking Dawn: Part 2.” “Twilight” is one of innumerable fandoms that have brought legions of fans together for years to celebrate their favorite movie, book, TV show, comic book, superhero, or character. Fandoms consist of various forms of media and entertainment whose fan bases passionately promote and sympathize with their subject. These fans feel a sense of camaraderie among their fellow fans, aided by access to social media, allowing fans from all over the world to connect with one another. Holland native Laura deLeeuw met Tracy Cappocia for the first time in person when she flew to meet Cappocia in her hometown of Boston. They flew together to L.A. for the chance to be there for the final “Twilight” film. “I met her on Twitter,” said deLeeuw. “It’s the last movie, the last chance to do this.” “I think the best thing for a lot of us is, even if we haven’t met already, a lot of us talk to each other through Twitter and social networking sites,” said fellow fan Shannon Carlton, who flew in from Washington for the premiere. “It’s being able to meet up with everybody you’ve already talked to for years, that have the same passion and love you have.” Another fandom with a passionate following is the Batman franchise. The Dark Knight has been around for well over 50 years, yet has maintained a very passionate and devoted fan base. “I swear there’s not a day that goes by that somebody comes in and tries to have a conversation [about Batman],” said Santa Monica College student and Dreamworld Comics employee Ronald Williams. “I think everybody can connect with him because he’s still human,” said Williams. “He doesn’t have any superpowers or anything. I think everyone can relate to him on that level.” Fellow Batman fan and founder of the website Batman on Film, Bill Ramey, agrees. “Batman is the most ‘real’ superhero. He has no powers,” said Ramey. “One can always think, ‘You know, if I train real hard, maybe I could be Batman.’ You can’t say that about Superman, Spider-Man, etc.” John Bierly, a comic book reviewer for Batman on Film said “This is our modern mythology. I think that’s why the character is so popular today.” Like Twilight fans, Bierly echoes the sentiment of camaraderie that comes with being part of a fandom. “Movies and comics and all these things are great, but when you make life-long friendships with great people, and you see those people succeed because they worked hard and believed in something, that’s incredible,” he said. Anime has an equally large, united fan base. According to MerriamWebster Dictionary, Anime is a style of animation originating in Japan that is characterized by stark colorful graphics depicting vibrant characters in action-filled plots often with fantastic or futuristic themes. Shirley Jalmaani, current Cal State Northridge student and SMC alum, has been a fan of anime since she was a child living in the Philippines. “Most cartoons over there were anime,” she says. Jalmaani recalls watching the popular 90’s anime cartoon “Sailor Moon” and the effect it had on her childhood. “The girls were independent, strong, intelligent, and so different yet very similar,” she said. “It also helped that they showed that they were equals to males. It helped keep me from that mindset that girls had to have a guy protecting them and that we were always ‘the damsel in distress.’” Now a young woman in college, Jalmaani appreciates the variety of the genre. “It’s not just the strong, independent women that have kept me interested, it’s the fact that anime is starting to show more strong women in male dominant anime’s,” she explained. Jalmaani mirrors the sentiments of other fandoms and the sense of community with fellow fans. “I do enjoy the whole bonding experience with other anime fanatics when I go to big conventions,” she said. “[The conventions] allow fans to meet others that are just as interested as them.” The universal appeal of these fandoms is not lost on those in the educational community. “It is clear that the variety of media forms and social media in particular have enabled fandoms to proliferate and cross geographic and national boundaries,” said SMC Communications professor Bobby Simmons. “I guess you could say the demand among fans to connect and interact is helping various media industries by giving them consistent audiences and users,” he said. Professor Simmons says the societal influences of fandoms are apparent. “At some level, fandoms remind us of our need for community, especially as traditional institutions like family, church, school, military, government are either in flux, or have failed, or seem insufficient to our needs,” “Connecting with other people who have a shared passion for something gives us additional communities--additional alliances, however specific or partial--that augment or sometimes take the place of the historical institutions like family, school, etc,” he said. “In that sense, it can be good, but it can also indicate the failure of those traditional communities.” In the end, each individual member decides what their fandom means to them. Many devote their lives to their passion, embracing the sense of community that’s included in a fandom, while others aren’t as zealous in their devotion. The fandom community is just that — a community, united in one universal thought. “We just have a love for a story,” saidCarlton.
Rachel Spurr Corsair Lina Landreville (R) was emotional as Stephenie Meyer (L), author of the Twilight series, autographs her poster. “She saved my life. I was on the brink of suicide when I started reading; I needed something positive,” said Landreville last Tuesday outside the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.
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12 sports
volume 104 issue 12 • november 21, 2012 • santa monica college
Riding faith to victory kou collins Staff Writer Last year, a sports phenomenon swept through the nation. Tim Tebow became a household name to even those who did not follow the NFL. It wasn’t just because of his ability as a quarterback, but because of how open he was with letting everyone know how much he loved Jesus Christ. He would start off every post game interview thanking Jesus, and would get on one knee, put his fist to his head and say a prayer every time the Broncos scored. His practice became known as “Tebowing.” Tebow is not the first athlete to show his love for his religion through sports. Many athletes before him in various sports have attributed their success to faith in their religion. It is common to see athletes thank God when winning ESPY’s or in postgame interviews following a win., Professional athletes are not the only ones who use religion as a way to influence their game performances. Santa Monica College athletes also attribute their success with their faith. The football team holds a group prayer before each game. “You’ll see a lot of teams do a prayer before a game,” wide receiver Alex Cureau said. “A lot of guys think the prayers power them through the game; you’ll see them score and they’ll pound their heart and point at the sky. There were a few games this year where I was praying for sure. In the Pierce game, I know there were a lot of times where the players dropped to their knees and were praying to God to score points.” Athletes pray not only for a good game, but also for good health. The Nov. 4 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Giants game saw punt returner, Chris Rainey go down with a head injury. Rainey remained motionless on the field while medical personnel came running towards him. Players on both teams all got down on one knee and prayed for the health of Rainey, who would return the following week. “I feel that the prayers come true, especially with just keeping our guys safe,” SMC quarterback Alfonso Medina said.
Sometimes prayers do not get answered, as athletes sustain injuries that are career threatening. However, they regain their faith by the prayers from themselves and those around them. On Sept. 11, 2009, then junior Cody Williams of Santa Monica High School’s football team, sustained a devastating neck injury. “I went in for a tackle and my head hit the guy’s hip, and I broke the C5 vertebrae in my neck,” Williams said. “I do pray all the time. I’ve never been too religious but my mom and I pray and read the bible to keep positive vibes around us. It has helped give me a good spirit and made me realize this is just a minor setback God put in my life.” Williams has had prayers going out to him from friends and family and explains that those prayers have motivated him to make a full recovery. Many athletes do not say a formal prayer before games like SMC’s football team, but rather have rituals instead. LeBron James of the Miami Heat is known for putting baby powder onto his hands and throwing it in the air before every game, for luck, Michael Jordan would always have his lucky pair of North Carolina shorts with him before each game. In baseball, players often spit on their hands before they bat to bring good luck. The SMC men’s soccer team has a different ritual they do before every game, they give a moment of silence. “We all huddle up in a circle, we all take a knee, and appreciate what we have,” forward Christian Marcial said. “It impacts the way we play, because if we start with doubting ourselves I feel like we wouldn’t be prepared mentally.” Forward Eric Fakhourian personally prays before he gets on the field, and thanks God after the game win or lose. He explains that the knee and moment of silence makes the team unique and unifies the team and helps them focus on the game. While some do not specifically pray or pay tribute to a religion, they have little good luck rituals and truly believe this will bring them success from game to game.
The immortals among us rachel duron Staff Writer Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, Wayne Gretzky, Jim Brown, Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt; these are just a few of some of the greatest athletes in modern history. Diehard sports fanatics tend to worship athletes like these, often elevating them to God-like figures whether they’re on the court, the field, the ice, or in the pool. The skills they possess give them “immortal” status among mere fans. Not only are they captivating to watch, they are an inspiration to young athletes everywhere. The hard work and dedication required to succeed as a professional athlete is rigorous and life consuming. Playgrounds, gyms, and colleges across the nation are littered with countless hopefuls trying to achieve their ultimate dream. It’s a relatively small few who to go on to the next level. Those that make it to the top are the best of the best, those whose skills matched their obsessive dedication. Since it is a select few who do make it, those on the outside often revere professional athletes as if they were religious icons. They become role models and are idolized by young children and aspiring athletes everywhere. These sports figures are put on a pedestal, and there are people who do everything short of literally worshipping them. For some aspiring athletes, they don’t necessarily worship pro sports figures, but they do look to them for inspiration
and hope to eventually reach that level. One such athlete is Rico Wright, a defensive back for the Santa Monica College football team. “I wouldn’t say I worship any sports figure, but being a football player and just an athlete in general, it’s in my competitive nature to strive and be where a pro athlete is,” said Wright. Wright also says student athletes shouldn’t worship pro athletes per se, but instead place importance on their accomplishments and hold them with high regard. “It’s become very common. We marvel at pro athletes and put them on a high pedestal,” said Wright. Wright’s sentiment is shared among other student athletes on campus. While not being offensive to worship them as a type of demigod, they say a professional athlete’s high status and incredible accomplishments are a reminder of what they, as aspiring athletes, can achieve if they put in the required dedication. Briana Mackey, a sophomore and current captain for the SMC women’s soccer team, is not bothered with fans that worship professional athletes. “I think having a favorite player, or team is a natural part of sports; you see people who play the fantasy leagues online, they build their team with all the people who they think are the best. It’s not offensive, it’s sports,” she said. She does not personally have a certain team or athlete she idolizes. “I just play my sport. I respect a lot of players.” Los Angeles is perhaps one of the best places to visualize
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Amy Gaskin Corsair Santa Monica College basketball point guard, Jiovanni Romano, tattooed his shoulder with an angel’s praying hands and a basketball. “My guardian angel watching over me while I use my gift of basketball.”
this worship of professional athletes. Teams like the Lakers, Dodgers, and Kings reside in the city and have gigantic fan bases. Taking a walk outside the Staples Center, home to the Lakers and Kings, is a reminder of how important sports figures are to the citizens of Los Angeles. Six statues stand tall and proud, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Chick Hearn, Oscar De La Hoya, and Wayne Gretzky. These athletes are heroes and idolized by many. The statues serve as a sort of means for fans and followers to come and pay homage to some of their top idols. While athletes have a certain point of view on sports figure worship, there is also the religious side of things. Santa Monica College is home to many students who do not participate in sports, but are affiliated with religious and faith based clubs and organizations. Sophomore Herminia Mazariegos is a member of the SMC Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She doesn’t have a favorite sports team or athlete she admires. “I personally think it’s not offensive for someone to have a hero or someone to look up to, but it becomes offensive if a person becomes too clingy to the point where they forget about who they are. I don’t think its offensive to religion; it’s not something that’s relevant to religion,” she said. Garrett Haynes, also a member of the same church as Mazariegos, has a similar point of view. Aside from being an active member of his church, Haynes is an avid Lakers fan who uses his spare time to play basketball at the small court set up behind the church center. He doesn't idolize any particular player though as a deity type figure. "It’s just how sports are.”
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