Everytime I watch football on TV I think they’re cheating. How can a bunch of guys run around the field carrying the ball in their hands—you’re supposed to kick it. Or at least that’s what I was used to. I spent Super Bowl XLIII at a friend’s house and it seems like I’m picking up on it.
I made the comment that I watch the football as I do soccer, only when there’s something big going on like the FIFA World Cup or the Super Bowl. It was exciting to watch and it was the first time I had been introduced to the ‘Super Bowl’ ads. If you were watching the entire game, the funniest ad by far was the one about the magic crystal ball predicting free Doritos at the office. If you did not get to see it, I posted it below. This ad was part of a campaign by Doritos called ‘Crash the Super Bowl’ and it was for fans and consumers to submit Doritos ads, and the best one would be shown during the Super Bowl.
As the Steelers celebrate their 6th Super Bowl title, back home in Venezuela Pres. Chávez and his supporters celebrate his 10th year in power. February 2, is the 10th anniversary of Chávez’s inauguration as President of Venezuela. February 4 will be the 17th anniversary of his failed coup attempt in 1992. In the years I grew up in Venezuela, I knew of only one president. And it scares me to think that from now on we will be ‘celebrating’ decades of revolution rather than years.
There are two quotes I always invoke when speaking about Chavez; one comes from Sir Winston Churchill: “When I am abroad, I always make it a rule never to criticize or attack the government of my own country. I make up for lost time when I come home.” There is some truth in this and that is why I defend some of the actions Chavez because in some grounds he has really succeeded. But when I think about how long he has been in power a quote by Simón Bolívar (the liberator after whom the revolution has been named) comes to mind, “…nothing is more dangerous than to let a citizen remain in power for an indefinite period of time. The people get used to obeying him and he gets used to commanding; where usurpation and tyranny originate.”
Rollins provides a both institutional and financial support for political diversity on campus. This Thursday, the Society for a Just Peace in Palestine is hosting a panel discussion featuring a human rights professor and a former member of the Israeli Defense Force. I am expecting this to be largely attended and to spark some lively debate. Another even I am excited for is for the Model UN Conference in Boston next week. One of the most highly traveled and funded student organizations is the Model United Nations team, and this year we get to represent the Republic of Montenegro at the Harvard National MUN Conference. As part of our preparation, this week we will have an online video-conference with a representative from the Embassy of Montenegro in Washington. This will better prepare us in representing the recently-born republic at the conference.
If you have made up your mind about coming to Rollins in the fall and plan to join Model UN, do not hesitate to contact me. I have had a few ‘13ers already from Florida, Boston, Venezuela and Pakistan contact me about joining Model UN in the fall.
In his second year as an R-Journalist, Omar has enjoyed exposing the life of a student at Rollins College. As an Economics and International Relations double major, he has combined his passion for global affairs and economic policy. On campus he is involved on the exec board of the JUMP committee, vice-president of the International Student Organization, and founding co-president of Rollins Model United Nations.
Omar is the first international Cornell Scholar and as such has helped bring a different perspective on campus, that of a Muslim follower born and raised in Venezuela. His diverse background has helped him gain a more empathetic view of the world.
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