In one area we mean diversity in the workplace and our communities, free of prejudice and supportive of human concord. This can also be meant in the area of media where roles are taken up by actors to add a color spalsh to the big screen.

Then there is the other area that takes up culture and socioeconomics. This is an area of much passion as it discusses the hearts of people and many times when we say diversity in the media it is meant more than seeing mirror images of ourselves, but our stories.

Consider this the next time the topic of diversity comes up.

Things have changed as schools recognize it in their classrooms now, and companies often advertise their names and products in association with the month long hat tip.

In many way a whole generation was lost. Some pockets of younger generations rebelled against their parent’s ignorance and reclaimed their heritage through music, and the arts among other outlets. Yet still, others have marched off toward assimilation and acknowledge Hispanic Heritage month either by raising a glass or watching last night’s Alma Awards show.

There is a lot of negative sentiment on the internet against the movie Colombiana starring Zoe Saldana.

The non-profit group PorColombia has launched a campaign called “Colombia is beautiful” on Facebook and Twitter speaking out their dissatisfaction “After watching the trailer of this movie and doing some basic research on the Internet, we decide that we could not give “Colombiana” a free pass. We are disappointed and disgusted that Sony Pictures chose a common stereotype as the title of their movie.”

Holding off on any further thoughts, and I have a lot I’m going to go see the movie and hold off on any further thoughts.  I was going to play devil’s advocate and say:  I’m sure there was some of the same sentiment against The Godfather from some Italians and Scarface from Cubans, but they are hailed as great movies, even epic.  While that is true my position changed after watching the trailer.

Here are some thoughts:

1. If this was a movie about a Colombian woman who fought for a national cause then I can see the title.  But, it’s not.
2. Hollywood knows all about stereotypes and that’s why in Colombia the movie is called Dulce Venganza, which means “Sweet Revenge;” in Asia, movie fans will watch “Black Beauty Evil.”  Being that it is called “Colombiana” it is playing on negative North American sentiments about Colombians.
3. I wonder if the protests from PorColombia will act as a counter-effect to their efforts and instill curiosity about the movie and prompt some to see it

To the last point, I did see the movie trailer and before seeing it I was curious to see if it may actually be a good movie like The Godfather (which I’m sure may have met similar resistance from Italians).  However, after seeing the trailer I decided the movie was MEH, and looked to be a just another movie about revenge that may or may not be entertaining to watch.

I’ll wait for the DVD, if I see it at all.

Thanks to movies, travel, and a few clicks of a mouse we are more worldly citizens than ever before.  America is no longer a melting pot – it’s an ‘idea’ pot.

A cultural melting pot takes different cultures and makes a common culture less the acknowledgement of individuals. We’ve used this analogy for generations – even appended it by replacing the “melting pot” with a “salad bowl.”

Here’s a great analogy:

“The silent generation that fought WWII basically got burnt on the international stage. They came back to the U.S. and said: ‘I’m done with the rest of the world, I’m going to retreat to my suburbs and live around people that look like me.’

Their kids, the Baby Boomers, were born and said: ‘No, Dad, it’s about tolerance. You have to tolerate people that are different than you.’ Then their kids were born, Gen X, and they said: ‘Tolerance, my butt, Dad; it’s about acceptance. You have to accept them into your circle.’ And then Gen Y came along and they are saying: ‘No, no, no, it’s about attraction. I’m attracted to that, I like the fact that she’s from India and that’s why I want to date her, because she’s fascinating.’”

On some levels, we may have already started to surpass culture and are looking at one another straight in the eyes.  An ‘idea’ pot combines “like” ideas less the benefit of culture; we are beginning to see the individuals from the culture…acknowledging the trees from the forest.

If that’s good or bad, I don’t know…but it is happening.

Yesterday, I had an “Aha!” moment and figured to give the domain(s) away to an individual or group that best conceives on how to utilize and develop it on the web.

More details on this to be announced.  If you have any thoughts or comments, let me have ‘em.

Mobile is great and gives limited internet access to challenged communities. Even without a smart phone, SMS can still represent communities in participatory government and services, but it comes nowhere near broadband.

Mr. JASON LLORENZ (Executive Director, Hispanic Technology and Telecommunications Partnership), puts this in a disturbingly perspective: If we don’t get everyone online and meaningfully adopting broadband – that’s via mobile, via home use – we will have a pernicious and continuing digital underclass.

People often ask us what they should be blogging about or tweeting about. Of course, you should be be posting about yourself and what you do. But just as important as what you post is why and how you post. Remember that what makes Social Media so effective is that it is a dialogue. Are you actively engaging in an exchange of ideas with your readers/followers? What about the people you follow? Do you leave comments on their blogs and tweet them questions? If not, then you may be missing out on what Social Media has to offer you and your business.

And another benefit to enaging people online becomes perfectly clear when you have the opportunity to meet your followers in person. They feel like they already know you and trust you. Are you participating in tweet-ups and blogger meetups? Meeting fellow bloggers and tweeters face to face can bring so much to your SM efforts. There are so many points of view to consider, so many ideas to exchange, and the feedback you can get about your SM activity can be priceless.

Remember the “Social” aspect of Social Media and don’t pass up the opportunity to really get to know the people you are meeting online! And let them get to know you. Strong relationships build successful businesses

Great study over at comScore today:

Highlights:

* China’s users have surged past the U.S.
* Social networking sites have surpassed email sites
* Women 45+ are driving the growth social networking sites
* 85% of users viewed an online video, for an average of 14.6 hours in July
* Humor is biggest category gainer
* Community category has most unique users

Here’s the download (pdf).

Via Ginger at Zumgi.

To my knowledge a standardized best rules and practices does not exist, and may never exist when it comes to social media.  Why?  Because social media is fairly a new and evolving field.  For this reason,  I can understand why maybe just over half of businesses are not engaged in social media for reasons of speculation to impracticality.

Imagine now, someone (and there are a handful) coming into the space and stating that you can be certified in social media. Now, there are many levels of truth.  Meaning that yes, maybe you can get a certification stating you have completed some course in social media and you have a grasp on what’s going on because some company says so, but it’s next to worthless because academia will not back it up, so it’s as good as the paper it’s printed on.

In the video below,  I cringe when I hear statements like:  “If you’re here it’s because your interested in becoming certified in…social media marketing…,” and goes on to say that there are thousands of social media community manger jobs.  I’d say 100′s maybe, only because it’s a new field and the development of the idea for a Community Manager is just gaining tracking very recently.  So, I can’t believe that.

Are you catching the body language?  Notice how she stutters when she promises you that the courses will exceed your expectations, and the excessive eye blinking before pertinent points.

Besides the certification, here are other problems I have with what’s said:

1. There are thousands of Community Manger jobs. Again, maybe hundreds.  It’s just too new.
2. Community Manager is ranks 3 in top 2010 hot jobs. Maybe in internet jobs, but not the entire spectrum of careers.
3. Narrow the digital divide.  Really???
   
4. More social media jobs, than social media people.  There are less social media experts – true experts, than there are jobs.

If you’re a professional, or a company please research your candidates when you consider them.  Let’s not degrade or allow the social media sphere to harbor much hyperbole and shenanigans.  Unless of course you want to be taken for a ride.  Wheee!

This actually is for Dec. 4 2010, but I don’t want to go back and forth and left the title the same. Click on logo above for deets.