Sodexo Protest

Walking back to my dorm friday afternoon, I heard people screaming in mega phones, pounding drums, and chanting words. Then I saw a flood of purple. The Sodexo workers at Loyola and students were rallying around campus that day, protesting against the workers' under payment. I've never really seen a group of people protesting before like that, and never realized how it affects surrounding people. Everyone paused in their tracks to see what the uproar was about, thus leading to the spread of the group's message. It got so out of hand that police officers had to stand out of the Danna center and Marquette hall denying anyone, including students, that were a part of the protest. It satisfies me that a group of people are so passionate about an injustice that they can orginize a rally. It also satisfies me that they are allowed to do so. Seeing the rally made me think twice about my rights, and be extra thankful that I'm allowed to speak up if I'm not happy with something. Seeing groups of people chanting around campus, wearing t-shirts, and marching around showed how passionate these people felt about what they were protesting. Many were shocked to see what was going on, but then soon realized that what they were doing was OKAY. The only thing that upset me about the whole thing was the denial of Loyola students into certain halls due to their affiliation with the protest...aren't we a Jesuit school?

Music Censorship

The topic of censorship has a strong grip on my attention, and it should on yours too. Imagine a world with no music. Or imagine a world where you are told what to play, sing, and listen to in the privacy of your own home. No need to imagine. This is the world we live in. Some of us are unaware that we are part of the on-going cycle ran by the government. Through music censorship we are forced to listen to and hear music that is chosen for us. Do we really have freedom of choice? The answer is no. As talked about previously in class, we only have the freedom to chose between options that are provided to us. Music censorship lays a huge threat to musicians and composer, and this threat is growing. South African musician Johnny Clegg has said: “Censorship is based on fear.” Music is a free expression of ideas. Therefore, musicians express their hopes, aspirations, joys, and sorrows through music. These expressions may conflict with those of people who are in power. The ideas may be disrupting the idealistic cycle, sparking thoughts in listeners' minds. The answer to diminish this threat is censorship.

GET UP, STAND UP.

So, one afternoon I was hanging out at a local college bar near campus, and the song by Bob Marley 'Get Up, Stand Up' came on. I recognized the tune because I wrote about it in a previous blog. Little did I know that it was a song that was still listened to today and known. I saw numerous college students mouthing the words, and, to me, this was a shock. It's astounds me that a not so popular protest song written years ago is now a popular song that college kids jam to. While listening to the song that afternoon, it occurred to me that the song's powerful message can still be applied to today to many different groups of people. Whether it be an ethnic group, religious group, or age group, the song's message is timeless. It pleased me to see that people today are still familiar with this tune. I think we underestimate the power and life-span of protest songs such as this. The tune's ability to still apply to this day interests me, forcing me to ask myself how far we have actually come. I also find it interesting that this tune was being played at a bar where its customers are mainly made up of college students. What do you think?