Inland Empire: Interesting to say the least.

“In the future you will be dreaming.”
As I didn’t quite understand the movie, I understand this quote to be important but to whether or not I have the right connotation as to what the quote means is up to the experts or David Lynch himself. The whole movie deals with the old Polish lady, room 47 with the rabbits and the movie Blues of Tomorrow. The reoccurring themes in this movie deal with time and dreams. With what I put together, I think that the movie tells us to make good decisions and to be ourselves and face our fears or we will become someone else and live their life forever, like the Polish lady until she was saved. “In the future you will be dreaming” has to deal with what your dreams will be like in the future, depending upon the present and the future. If you aren’t yourself, your sense of time blurs and all seems forgotten but if you face your fear and find yourself, there will be No More Blue Tomorrows. In respect to the particular scene in which this quote is said by two prostitutes, I believe that it has something to do with the many lines in the movie that said something to the extent, In the future you will see us and ask if we’ve seen you before. The prostitutes ask this of Nikki because they know that she is will not be herself so when they ask her, they will not know her because she is hiding behind her character Sue. In regards to my own life, I think that this movie tells me to make wise decisions and to always be true to yourself because you never know what the future holds and you don’t want to dream about your past later.

Free-write: Racist Groups/Blee

I read an excerpt of a book called Inside Organized Racism by Kathleen Blee and was both shocked and appalled by how many racial groups still exist today. Blee discusses how fear was a main component in racial organizations and how these groups use fear, threats and intimidation to gain power over their opponents. It was fascinating to hear Blee say that the more relaxed she became around her interviewees from different groups actually gave her less results in her in fieldwork because the sense of fear that she originally had led her to take more precautions and to think harder. It takes a special person to go out and risk your life for research but without these courageous people to go outside boundaries and explore. The outcomes of not learning from and about racist groups and other such untouchable subjects is a much greater tragedy than leaving the topic alone.
Using participant observation Blee was able to gain insight into their racial beliefs, which helped her understand their descriptions of their racist identities. She was sympathetic and tried with all her might to understand the world through their eyes. Although joining a racist group may seem disturbing and in all ways wrong, there are some good aspects incorporated into them. They are a community with loyalty, honesty (how many people are willing to openly admit that they are racist?), friendship and teamwork. Disturbingly, racist groups seem to be ordinary, as they have picnics, play games and have social gatherings, other than their beliefs of course. But what is an ordinary belief anyway?
Every culture has their own identity and as scary as it may seem, racist groups, much to our dismay, are just another congregation of people with the same beliefs. To Americans, Bull Fighting seems inhumane, but to those who grew up in a Mexican culture, it is a sport of strength and great honor.

Local Issue: Capital Humane Society

I am deeply entrenched in all issues involving animals and when I read the article on the Capital Humane Society I was shocked at how the society was at one point in time thinking about splitting from the city. I do believe that the two systems, Animal Control and the Humane Society would do well to collaborate as one. I really connected with the article when the statement was said that Animal Control collects animals and the Humane Society deals with the outraged owners. I can understand why the Humane Society wanted to split because Lincoln was only paying $158,505 a year for sheltering and the society needed $253,080 for wages.
I am glad the Humane Society reconsidered because it would have made problems worse, having two non-profit organizations fighting for the same fundraising money. If both the Animal Control and Humane Society converge together, however, it would cut costs for both organizations. To get the program started may take time and money but in the log run it is in the best interest for our community and our animals.
Patterning our contract based on Omaha’s system is a great idea. Omaha has a very well organized and efficient system. As a city, we should take advantage of what we know works and apply the strategies here in Lincoln. Downey, the director for Capital Humane Society, says he would have his workers rotate shifts that way half of his staff would not get stuck with public confrontations. A problem the Humane Society was dealing with in the first place.
The Capital Humane Society wants to focus more on adoptions and the shelter capacity and divorcing city limits would’ve accomplished their wants but their new plan accommodates both parties. Although finalizations are yet to be made and ideas are still flowing to help and this battle, a new fresh start for both organizations seems to be coming around the corner and I’m glad. Just as people need and deserve homes, so do animals.