Latino in America

Latino in America
Originally uploaded by commonreaders

Now that I am writing on this blog again, I have quite a back log of books I have read over the fall and winter that I haven't written about yet. I'll take this next week to catch up on those books.

A few months ago, I read Latino in America, by Soledad O'Brien and Rose Marie Acre. I had heard about the CNN special a few times, but never got to catch it. I watched the Black in America series last year and enjoyed it, so I was sad to have missed the Latino series. However, I was delighted to stumble across the book version and started reading it right away.

It starts with Soledad O'Brien's fascinating personal family history. Both of her parents were immigrants: her father an Australian of Irish ancestry, and her mother a Cuban of African descent. The stories of her family's rich and mixed cultural heritage had me hooked from the beginning.

Of course, the book's not about Soledad O'Brien. After the first chapter, she goes on to share the stories of many other Latinos living in this country. Some are citizens, others are immigrants (both legal and illegal). They are from Mexico, Central America, South America, and several different island nations. The book explores the how Cuban immigrants are treated differently (often better) than immigrants from other Latin countries. She interviewed Latinos from Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, and other countries. Some of the stories were inspiring, while others were deeply heart-breaking.

Growing up in south Texas, I felt like I already knew something about Latino Americans, but of course, realized my experience was limited. This book showed me just how limited my knowledge was and still is. It exposed biases and assumptions I never noticed in myself.

O'Brien's book is entertaining, informative, inspiring, gut-wrenching, eye-opening, and revealing. I'm certainly no expert on the subject as a result of reading her book, but I do feel as if a have a slightly better grasp on the issues thanks to her reporting. I'm glad I read it.

Reading Rainbow

Apparently I have been living under a rock, but I just found out that Reading Rainbow has ended!  I haven't watched it in a long time, but I do remember watching it as a child and really enjoying it.  I am sad about this development, but it leaves me wondering as well. 

In light of my recent readings about TV and kids, I have mixed feelings.  The general opinion of the book I read was that while educational programming (they focused on Sesame Street) is better than other types of shows, no TV is better than watching the educational stuff.  So where does that leave us?  Although to be honest, I preferred Sesame Street and Mister Rogers to Reading Rainbow, I still enjoyed it.  I can't help thinking that Reading Rainbow was important for kids who didn't have parents to model reading for them at home.  Is that plausible at all?  Thoughts?

Here is some additional reading for those who are interested:

Blog Post by The Book Whisperer

Article from NPR

The Plug-In Drug

I just finished reading The Plug-In Drug, by Marie Winn, and it was phenomenal. Its ultimate conclusion is that TV is not good for young children or ultimately, for families. This is perhaps not ground-breaking, but I blown away by her reasoning and examples. She effectively dispels the notion that the content of the TV children watch is what's most important. She concedes that watching violent programming is not good for children, but also asserts that simply switching the channel to wholesome children's shows is not significantly better.

I was fascinated by the anecdotes and studies she cites comparing children and families in the 'pre-TV' era to those after the advent of mainstream television. The differences are marked and powerful. In many ways, the book reads as a sociological study of American families in the last 60 years through the lens of television. It made me re-examine my own viewing habits (see previous post) and make plans for when I have my own children one day. Even if you don't have children, I would highly recommend this book. It may change your habits. Winn is not necessarily advocating for a complete end of TV viewing (although she doesn't suggest that that is a bad thing, either), but rather for mindful viewing, with parents in complete control over the families TV (and computer and video games) habits. At the end, she gives examples of families who have controlled, limited, and sometimes eliminated their own TV viewing (some permanently, some for a limited period of time). She also lists a number of methods for curtailing TV access for parents to choose from. They range from minor to revolutionary, so I am confident that we could all find something we would be willing to comply with.

The book was originally published in 1977, but I read the 25th Anniversary edition, published in 2002. It includes important "improvements" or advancements to the TV viewing and electronic media experience since the 1970s. She does not, however, address new developments such as DVRs, Tivo, On Demand, etc. She mentions VCRs in cars and vans, but not DVD players, which are becoming more and more common.

I am still considering how this book will affect my own habits regarding TV and the internet, but I hope there will be changes. Please think about reading this book! It is powerful. Has anyone else read it? What did you think? Any more thoughts on TV viewing?

TV

As I was thinking about my desire to be a well-read "literary woman" in my last post, I began to consider what is standing in my way.  I buy books all the time, but never seem to catch-up and feel as if I never read enough, despite how much I enjoy it.  In reality, I do read quite a bit, and am probably well-read by some standards.  However, I also spend a great deal of time in other, often less satisfying, endeavors. 

Although the internet is beginning to close in, television is still my primary distractor.  It's a big problem when I am feeling particularly lonely.  Books are fine companions, but sometimes I really want the added noise of voices on the TV.  Some days, like today, I'll hardly watch any TV, but others, I may get sucked in.  It was a bigger problem when I had a DVR in my old apartment in Atlanta, because there was always something ready to be watched.  Now that I don't have a constant supply of desirable programming, my viewing time has decreased, but it's still often more that I'd like.  I think about the piles of books that are constantly growing and I cringe at the wasted time.

Confession: The source of some of these thoughts can be found in the book that I am currently reading.  The Plug-In Drug by Marie Winn.  Although I am only about half-way through, I have already changed my attitude about television.  I have never thought it to be a great thing for small children in large quantities, but this book gives extensive scientific and anecdotal evidence of the damage caused by excessive (or even moderate, in some cases) television viewing by young people.  I will go into the book in greater detail when I have finished it, but I would like to share one rather obvious observation at this time.

According to Ms. Winn and others, a significant amount of the damage caused by television viewing is not necessarily the programming or the act of viewing itself, but rather by the lack of other activities which have been displaced.  Certainly, the author does discuss some damages caused by various aspects of TV itself, but many of the problems stem from less time spend reading, playing, thinking, and socializing.  This made me think.

What am I not doing when I watch TV?  Exercising?  Reading?  Writing?  Socializing?  Organizing?  Photographing?  Crafting?  Blogging?  Sleeping?  The list goes on and on.  I often watch when I am feeling extremely tired, so exercising may not always be the answer, there are plenty of other quiet, low-impact activities I could engage in instead of turning on the TV and plopping onto the couch.

These new thoughts have spurred a radical idea.  When I move to Austin, I might skip cable in my apartment.  Crazy?  Perhaps.  I've already decided to forgo a DVR, but why not take it another step?  I could certainly save money.  I'm not suggesting that all TV is bad, or that I'll give up on it entirely, but why not cut back?  Most of the shows I might really care about are available online if I must watch them and I might even find that I don't miss them at all.  I'll probably keep my Netflix subscription as well.  I'd like to get to a point to where I watch TV because there is something specific that I want to watch, and not simply because I want to be watching something.  

I am going to finish Winn's book and continue to monitor my own TV/reading balance.  I may even try to start keeping a TV log.  Perhaps I will post it on here for a bit of accountability.  Should I establish a guideline for weekly television viewing?  A maximum number of hours?  And if so, do movies count?  This will require some more thought.  In the meantime, do you have thoughts on the subject?

Ron Silver

a.k.a. Bruno Gianelli died :(  I think I'll have to watch one of his West Wing episodes soon.  Maybe the one where he calls Sam a freak.