Power of the People

We have all seen outrageous YouTube videos, some of the popular ones such as "Ouch Charlie" and "David Goes to the Dentist". They are entertaining, funny, and the next day we find ourselves quoting them. The number of views these videos are incredible, millions of people around the world see the same video and we are connected to each other. Imagine what we could do with the support of the viewers of "Ouch Charlie" alone, which happens to be over 121 millions people. Thats only 10 millions less than the voter turnout for the 2008 election (census.gov).
Well a group of guys called "Dude Perfect" thought of the power of the people. They started out as six college roommates and one day decided to film themselves making outrageous basketball shots and putting them up on YouTube. Amazing basketball shots such as the video included have been drawing in viewers.

 What started out as a funny pass time turned into a charitable hobby. They have a series of seven different videos and for every 100,000 views they sponsor one impoverished child through and organization called Compassion International. This group of average guys have only begun to use the power of the people to give back. Whether they are successful in their endeavors or if the videos are fake ti doesn't matter. Imagine if individually or even combined their videos reach 121 million views. That is 1210 children who are now sponsored, all by people watching a video for  a few minutes.

Apparently Appearance Matters

          Caster Semenya is a world class runner. She recently won the 800-meter at World Championships by a landslide. Her physical appearance led to speculation about whether or not she is in fact a female. Her family insists that she is a female and all tests that have been taken so far have proven her to be female. But should the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) have to right to question a person's gender?
          Caster has clearly led a life as a female, she was raised this way, her birth certificate supports this, she competes as a female, so why should there be doubt. Every athletes has some sort of genetic advantage over the ones they are competing against. A volleyball player may be an inch taller, a swimmer may have longer fingertips, Lance Armstrong has above average aerobic capacity, so why should Caster's muscular build be any different. The world has seen extraordinary athletes before so why should one be criticized for looking more masculine than other females.

          Caster's family insists that the controversy doesn't bother them or Caster. Her grandmother is quoted as saying that it "doesn't bother me that much because I know she's a woman." (Sports Illustrated) Caster's cousin has said, "That's how God made her...We brought her up in a way that when people start making fun of her, she shouldn't get upset." (Sports Illustrated) 


          Recently Caster underwent a make over for a South African magazine to help prove that she is in fact a woman.  In the article she says that she is proud of who she is and really does enjoy wearing dresses. (BBC) If Caster were to walk out onto the track looking like she does on the front of the magazine I doubt there would have been any controversy over whether she was actually a female, so why is her gender questioned when she displays her talent as an extraordinary athlete?