For some reason, my computer won’t let me see the clip, however, I have seen the Colbert Report, and I’ve found it very funny. I like the Colbert Report along with the Daily Show, because they both deal with important manners in a funny way. Every time I have seen either show, I find them extremely satirical. It is obvious, and funny how they pretend to act the way they do. Although the Colbert Report is funny, it generally touches on some important topics during the show. Normally, Stephen Colbert takes the position of what is blantantly wrong, or imoral etc., in order to expose the truth behind the segment. I really like the show because it’s a great example of satire, and probably reaches to a lot more people than the news does, yet somehow manages to convey some very serious points.

I thought that today’s discussion on Iraq really helped me to understand what the current status is of Bush, and of the conflicts in the Middle East. I found the article we read on the Iraq group’s plan on how to continue with the dilemma of Iraq really interesting. I payed special attention to it also, when I found out it was bi partisan. Today, concerning the huge issue of Iraq, I think both parties need to start to talk and work together. I was shocked when I found out about the oil prices and Dick Cheney’s company. It’s amazing what people will do for money. It ridiculous to think that an American company would intentially hurt the U.S. troops and economy just for personal gain. When I finished reading the article we were given, I thought the group had put together some great ideas. Hopefully Bush will consider, and adopt most of their proposals. I also liked today’s discussion, because I realized what other conflicts were going on in and around Iraq. I had no idea that the Arab-Israeli, and Sunnni Shiite problems were so big. If Iraq is going to end in a succesful way, Iraq is going to need all the help it can get from neighboring countries, and hopefully and decrease in religous tension.

The article I read was about the recent shooting that left a groom dead late of last month. I read this article at

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/27/nyregion/27fire.html?ex=1322283600&en=357cf73362b1de61&ei=5088&partner=rs

In case anyone would like to see it. The article explained that one of the main reasons for the shockingly high number of shots fired was “‘contagious shooting’ — gunfire that spreads among officers who believe that they, or their colleagues, are facing a threat.” I read the entire article, and came to understand a lot more about the incident. I found it a lot different than what I’ve been hearing. It seems that everytime a big incident happens, key facts get left out in the spoken recollections of it. According to the article, the police may have been right to start shooting, however, this is only one article. The thing that I found most shocking, and irritating, is the article only gave one side of the story. Other than the reference to Al Sharpton and the speech he made, the article never an explanation or feelings from the family or friends of the victim. Whether the police were wrong or right in the incident, I found it almost racist that the story would not publish an account from the other side. I feel that the reporter must have been somewhat racist to leave out the personal accounts. In an incident so controversial, how can a writer forget to include a explanation from the other side.      

I believe that satire is popular because it is funny. Although people might feel uncomfortable watching satire, they like it because it’s funny, and also because it’s probably the most easy way for people to realize social problems. I think many people an groups are interested in it, because it allows issues to be expressed with less public scrutiny. I like satire a lot because it is funny but also has a deeper meaning. Some of my favorite examples of satire are South Park and the Daily Show.