Powerful Imagery
The image found on a brochure given to us by OSPIRG
We were in the office yesterday, sifting through piles of random papers when out dropped a brochure from our recent trip to an OSPIRG meeting. On the front of this brochure was the image above, the windmill being one of OSPIRG’s main branding images.
Taking a page from PETA, OSPIRG obviously wants the viewer of the image to associate their cause with the greatness of those who raised the flag at Iwo Jima.
Let’s put this into perspective though, shall we?
At the Battle of Iwo Jima almost 7,000 American soldiers lost their lives. A massive part of the struggle in the Pacific during WWII, including wounded it was the only battle during the war in which American casualties outnumbered Japanese casualties. A sculpture of “Raising the Flag at Iwo Jima” stands at the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.
Conversely, OSPIRG is a lobbyist organization whose practices and transparency are shady at best.
Using the “Raising the Flag at Iwo Jima” imagery as promotional for anything, much less propaganda for a lobbyist organization, is absolutely shameful. The “raising the turbine” image shows disrespect for the Americans who fought and died at Iwo Jima (and possibly even for the entire war as the image is the most powerful and well known from WWII).
Disrespecting our veterans (and for many of us, our own kin) in this way shows OSPIRG’s true lack of taste. Whatever your opinion is on OSPIRG, there can be no disagreement that their use of this image for their own self-promotion is absolutely depraved, disgusting and immoral.
I will buy one from you if you do make one
If anyone wants to collaborate on a die ospigg t-shirt design let me know.
And betz if you want to get to know me, guzzle beer and see my knee jerk reactions I
a guy posting on the internet called me a loser
I think they have support groups for that sort of thing now, Drew. If you want/need to talk about this, just let me know. I know being called a loser on the internet can be really hurtful, but I just want you to know I’m here for you.
We’ll make it through this together.
Another reason to hate OSPIGGY
Well, it seems like a lot of people have their undies in a wrinkle! I think the OC does great things!!
Zach you are right clean energy now is not you or blanchard , check your email.
I’m not sure what your isp checks are telling you but CleanEnergyNow is not me or Jeremy. I’ve also asked around and as far as I can tell it is not someone associated with PowerShift West.
I / powershift does not agree with the viewpoints of CleanEnergyNow regarding the Oregon Commentator. I would never be so rude as to insult someone like that. They are WAY out of line.
I was trying to have a rational and respectful discussion with you guys about this important topic. Vincent and I were having great points back and forth. I recognize Vicent’s comments as rational, although I wouldn’t say he scooled me because I haven’t had a chance to respond yet. I would love to continue discussing with him.
Drew, I would love to come talk to you sometime and work this out, and properly introduce myself. When will you be in the office.
Vincent, I’d also like to continue our discussion. Would you like to meet in person sometime? I don’t think these comments are a good place.
People have told me to just not bother to comment on OC blog posts because things like this happen, but I thought we could all be grown ups and not resort to insults and name calling.
a guy posting on the internet called me a loser. If only i won that election. Then I would be a winner, but by definition I’m a failure. And betz if you want to get to know me, guzzle beer and see my knee jerk reactions I’m ready.
Sounds like some ASUO Senators are cranky and need a nap.
Funny … there has been so many comparisons and forced associations between the OC and the Republican party as of late. Last time I checked, the OC was just a “conservative” journal of opinion – conservative in the context of being preservative or moderate – not Capital-C ‘Conservatism’ that you associate with the “nutjob GOP”. But you know … whatever you need to make yourself think you’re right ….
You also seem to be confused about libertarianism. “Fiscal Responsibility”, which you so strongly associate with libertarianism, is more in step with Reagan-era Republican ideals. Almost … but yet, so far …
We see where that has gotten them, even with all of their payola. Only 20% of Americans self-identify as Republican, and Republican approval ratings are the lowest in decades
Ouch … that would really sting … if they were the college Republicans. Which they aren’t …
And how many votes did you get running for student government
I would just like to point out that wind power is operating and degrading at much poorer rates than anticipated. Combined with ridiculous resource requirements (turbines are huge, like 200′ tall huge, those people hoisting it would be utterly dwarfed by it; land use is a major issue because of noise, light interference and wind availability; large service roads and landscape alteration is required for construction), the fact that they have to be turned off in high wind, and the inability to properly roll them into the grid means the net gain on wind is probably in the negative.
Same with hydro power. Man made lakes result in the decomposition of organic material that releases incredible amounts of green house gases into the atmosphere that practically dwarf coal burning. I had a very surreal experience canoeing on these lakes once because it seemed like the water was boiling all around us.
The bottom line is that someone profits from testing and constructing these “alternative” energy sources. To assume they are altruistic or even decently viable is just plain naive and plays right into the scare-mongering perpetrated by those who seek gain from these emerging industries.
CleanEnergyTard: “Someone who knows that real fiscal conservatism involves an honest cost-benefit analysis.”
This is why the OC seems caustic to you. You make dumb blanket statements like “health care costs are eating our country alive” and then posit a solution without looking into the cost/benefit of that solution. Do you know that the Insurance Lobby is endorsing this new reform bill? Why would insurance companies endorse a bill meant to lower their profit? Because all they’re going to do is shift around the burden of cost until certain constituents get what they want and other people are screwed.
That’s the problem with most liberal ideologies, they champion band-aids as solutions and don’t listen to criticism because they cling to sound-bite morality.
The OC was way better back in the day.
Drink!
Your “leadership skills” are atrocious, Drew. You are nothing more than a knee-jerk, hypocritical, beer guzzling douchebag instigator. Don’t even try to take credit for the blog. Its obvious that douchebag Dane does all of the work on it and is the real brains behind the OC. Your attempts of “leadership” bear a striking resemblance to the tactics employed by the nutjob GOP these days. We see where that has gotten them, even with all of their payola. Only 20% of Americans self-identify as Republican, and Republican approval ratings are the lowest in decades. And how many votes did you get running for student government … 114 out of how many thousand? By definition, you are a failure and a reject. You couldn’t lead your way out of a paper bag! Once you subtract the hits on the blog caused by OC staffers and other commenters constantly hitting the refresh button, I’m sure even “your” blog readership is paltry. And as far as “your” 3 issues … there’s a guy slightly off-campus with a wheel barrel that manages to get out more issues than you and your whole defunct crew all by himself. So keep kidding yourself, Drew. While you may be a legend in your own mind, in the real world, your kind is a dime a dozen.
It would be great if a REAL libertarian would take over the OC and talk about REAL libertarian issues. Someone who knows that spending $1 trillion on a misguided war is not fiscal responsibility. Someone who knows that killing health care reform when health care costs are eating our country alive is not fiscal responsibility. Someone who knows that real fiscal conservatism involves an honest cost-benefit analysis. All you boys can come up with is narcissistically accusing your comic book rivals of having mancrushes on you and telling them you”don’t fuck losers.” WTF?
Drew: 1
Other people: 0
Overwhelmed Powershift guy said
There is a failure of leadership and civility at the OC. The OC is a destructive rather than creative force on campus. The OC can be libertarian, and even conservative without behaving like a bunch of power-hungry douchebags. The sooner the OC purges the douchebag mentality from its ranks, the better.
to these overwhelmed Powershifters,
Dudes I get it, your conference is stressful to put on, estimating hundreds will be there is a very overwhelming thing. When you add that you are just trying to have them sleep at random places to negate the hotel charges i realize that it is a hard thing to accomplish. I know that all these posts are either coming from sen. stark mcmillan and sen. blanchard, we can check your internet service providers guys. But you cannot come here and say I have failed at leadership. So far this year we have hit record highs on the blog printed 3 issues by week 4 and pissed off all those goddamn idiots we love to. Sooooooooooo, with that being said you’ve got to put your bigboy pants on and learn when people are making rational statements like vinces who schooled you or gsim’s who any one can tell is sarcasim. If you want to be a man and try to “fix” your problem why not visit the office and talk to me about my leadership skills.
From where did so many critics on the comments thread come from? Is it just me, or does it seem like there is an upsurge in argumentative squabbling from commenters? Oh well …
I am no fan of OSPIRG – I think their mission and purpose is noble, but they need to do better on their accounting homework before I trust them. But I don’t think that their new logo is disrespectful – rather, I think its pretty creative. I don’t understand what the big curfluffle is all about …
The OC is a destructive rather than creative force on campus
That might be one of the best compliments the OC ever receives …
“Vincent said:
Let
it
Luke warm on nuclear power. What sort of wine sipping dick munching commie are you?
I LOVE nuclear energy. Just think about Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Just a couple guys killed hundreds of thousands of people! How awesome is that?!
You can’t beat that kind of FIREPOWER!1!
The main concern with nuclear energy isn’t the disastrous events, it’s the high level nuclear waste that takes thousands of years to degrade. And the health effects that the radiation would have on workers.
I think that it is possible to go completely clean, with energy efficiency addressing the bulk of our current energy needs and renewables picking up the rest. However, if forced to choose between coal and nuclear I’d have to choose nuclear because we need to reduce our carbon emissions as soon as possible.
That, of course, is the choice we have, at least on a national scale. Here in Oregon, an awful lot of power comes from the BPA, the environmental effects of which are long since ingrained on the landscape and won’t be going away anytime soon.
Nationwide, though, wind almost certainly won’t be enough. So it’s coal or nuclear.
Let’s put it this way: with wind and solar being of varying utility in different parts of the country (and not without their own problems in any case), would you rather see the bulk of our energy being produced by coal, or would you acquiesce to the construction of modern nuclear facilities?
Keep in minds that modern nuclear technology has mitigated many (though not all) of the concerns about safety that anti-nuclear types have been screaming about for decades. Relatively minor mishaps like Three Mile Island are increasingly far from the realm of possibility, and that’s to say nothing of disasters like Chernobyl, the conditions for which simply do not exist in modern nuclear plants.
Clean energy fanatics vary widely on the nuclear energy issue. I will LOVE nuclear energy when we figure out how to neutralize the waste. There is promising research going on with various bacteria. Right now, I’m luke warm to nuclear energy. I don’t like the idea of trying to store radioactive waste for a thousand years. Too many things can go wrong that is our outside of our immediate control. Once we learn to neutralize nuclear waste, the pluses will far outweigh the minuses with regard to nuclear energy.
Yeah, “not to take anything away from our Marines”.
What do you “clean energy” fanatics think about nuclear energy, incidentally?
You do realize that air pollution contributes to hundreds of thousands of deaths per year don’t you? Not to take anything away from our Marines, but transforming our energy infrastructure to clean-energy will accomplish more than the Marines at Iwo Jima ever could.
I don’t think it’s depraved to use Disney characters on the cover. Disney’s iconic corporation has been littered with racism since it’s begining.
http://hrs103.wordpress.com/2009/02/08/racism-in-disney-movies/
also it’s scrooge McDuck calm down.
I can’t stand OSPIRG but I don’t see how that logo is disrespectful. It’s just another example of taking an iconic image and using its imagery to drive the point across, and to be perfectly honest I think it’s pretty well done. They could have done a hell of a lot worse in terms of making a logo that would both catch the viewer’s eye and relay the intended message.
So apparently the Oregon Commentator deletes posts that it doesn’t like.
As I said before:
15 million people died in World War II.
The most recent IPCC report shows that over 2 billion people will have their water supplies threatened by climate change. Lack of water is already causing conflicts across the globe and will lead to resource wars if we don’t act quickly to address the problem.
If you don’t believe me, listen to the veterans who have joined the climate movement at http://www.operationfree.net
They recognize the THREAT of climate change. So does EAC – thats why their image invokes the symbolism of Marines raising the flag over Iwo Jima. Climate change is the challenge of our generation, much like WWII was the challenge of the greatest generation.
I would go one step further than Walter. The Oregon Commentator is distributing propaganda intentionally misinforming students into believing that the Oregon Commentator IS a Disney publication!
Disrespecting such an iconic corporation shows the depths the commentator is willing to sink to for readers.
Whatever your opinion is on the Oregon Commentator, there can be no disagreement that their use of this image for their own self-promotion is absolutely depraved, disgusting and immoral.
Only the OC/idiots could defend its use.
Dane doesn’t speak for veterans and I hope in the future he is more thoughtful when invoking their collective conscience.
Guy is the best.
The anthropomorphic duck on the latest OC cover is, in fact, the UO mascot Donald Duck. Scrooge McDuck is Donald’s uncle which explains the close resemblance. Regardless, it is indeed Donald (wearing Scrooge’s top hat, glasses and petticoat) who is, on behalf of the athletic department, jamming his cane into a student’s anus whilst stealing heaps of student dollars.
I will state for the record that Disney has given its express permission for the University of Oregon and subsidiaries (such as the athletic department or the Oregon Commentator) to use Donald’s image. In short, the Oregon Commentator is a Disney endorsed publication.
Furthermore, I am certain that Disney would be impressed and pleased to see the cover of the latest Oregon Commentator. I am confident Disney would find the image in good taste. I imagine that the only way Disney would like it better is if we had depicted Donald murdering caricatures of Jews.
Dear Sirs,
I am curious as to your use of one ‘Scrooge McDuck’ on the cover of your ‘journal of opinion.’
I worry that University of Oregon students (of which Disney has a long and friendly relationship) might be deceived into believing that the Oregon Commentator is a Disney endorsed publication.
Yours,
Walt
To be clear:
PowerShift West IS an OSPIRG sponsored event and they have helped substantially. I am not trying to hide OSPIRG’s involvement. I am proud to have their support, without which the conference would not be as far along as it is. They will be credited on all future PowerShift West material as one of the four main sponsors of the conference.
While your point about “accuracy” is legitimate, what should be said is that Powershift West 2009 is an OSPIRG advertised event, especially to uninformed students that OSPIRG preys on. The point man from the UO OSPIRG chapter for Powershift West went on and on about it, which I am sure they do to all the other kids they speak with.
For the kids OSPIRG is recruiting, the distinction between the EAC and OSPIRG is minimal if even present. OSPIRG’s recruiting tools are propagandist in nature and intentionally misleading. Whether or not the EAC or OSPIRG is the “real” origin of Powershift/The Windmill doesn’t matter–unassuming students do not see a difference.
As far as the Windmill goes, only an OSPIRG/EAC/idiot could defend its use. Glad to see OSPIRG couples itself with other organizations like the EAC who use the same policy of theft with their literature. The “O” symbol… “Iwo Jima”… these are things that OSPIRG and apparently its constituents use to deceive students into thinking they are something they are not.
Also, while I do not agree that the logo is disrespecting our veterans (I think it’s more an homage to their courage and bravery), I do think that it is “better” to at least be accurate about the information you present.
I believe if you look at any of the printed PowerShift West advertisements around campus you’ll find no reference to OSPIRG in the least, only the Energy Action Coalition, as they are the ones who sent us the posters and fliers.
This is actually a matter of quite concern for us because OSPIRG’s help with PowerShift West has been invaluable, and they deserve recognition. Thank you OSPIRG for all your help, you truly provide excellent service to students.
And thanks to the commentator for bringing up this oversight on our part. Credit should be given where credit is due.
This is actually the logo of the Energy Action Coalition, a group that OSPIRG (and the national PIRGs) frequently works in partnership with. I
This is actually the logo of the Energy Action Coalition, a group that OSPIRG (and the national PIRGs) frequently works in partnership with. I’m not sure what you were handed, but it was probably something about PowerShift West, a youth climate conference put on by the Energy Action Coalition that OSPIRG is helping with.
Sometimes research is helpful.
http://local-energyactioncoalition.org/en/index/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Action_Coalition
There is no greater sacrifice that a man can give, than to involuntarily pay $1.16 to keep self-righteous busybodies employed.
A little dramatic saying it is “depraved, disgusting and immoral.” These are words that can describe OSPIRG but various groups have been co-opting parts of that image for ages.
It may be that they were trying to draw a connection between the great good the WWII veterans did with the possible good that university students could do if we banded together like our fore-fathers did when they shot the Japs off of a dirt pile in the middle of the Pacific.
The OSPIG is bad news, but demonizing them is silly and ridiculous.