Christian Boehm/ CAPS 3

American financier Bernard Baruchnotes, “We didn’t all come over on the same ship, but we’re all in the same boat.” Those words have significant meaning in that we are all different, but we’re in the same boat in the methods on how we communicate our thoughts. This has special meaning when communicating with different cultural groups, dominant or non-dominate.  How many times have we sent an email or text to someone and they interpret your message a different way than what we meant it to be. Body language and facial expressions play a role in the communication process and one can identify more of what is being said.  This has been lost because of social media.  According to Martin and Nakayama, psychologist Paul Eckman through research discovered six basic facial expressions: happiness, sadness, disgust, surprise, anger and fear.”  These elements can show clear lines of how one feels through the Intercultural Communication Process, much more than writing a text to someone. This is what Michael Sam did when he went public on February 9, 2014 to announce to the world that he’s gay.  Michael is the first openly gay NFL player.  Instead of writing a press release, he went to the podium to communicate his non-dominant situation.

            For centuries, heterosexual marriages has and will always be the dominant group worldwide, rightfully so because it’s the only way to produce another human being.  As we head into the twenty first century, it has become the norm for more and more people coming out saying their gay. This non-dominant group has become more vocal and proud of whom they are.  According to Politico.com, a 2011 study was done by the UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute that the number of Americans who are gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgender is about 9 million, which is 3.8% of the American population.   Although, more Americans are accepting to this lifestyle, there still is a high percentage of Americans who label those who are gay. A recent event that outlines this statement is when Michael Sam, who aims to be the first openly gay NFL player, has now been labeled by many that he will not make it into the NFL because of its masculinity within the sport. Although most NFL players and public are very supportive that he came out, there is a dominant group that is concerned.  Just this past week Washington D.C. lobbyist Jack Burkman said he is preparing legislation that would ban gay athletes from joining the NFL. This is targeted at Michael Sam.  As noted by Yahoo Sports Burkman stated, “We are losing our decency as a nation.  Imagine your son being forced to shower with a gay man.  That’s a horrifying prospect for every mom in the country.  What in the world has this nation come to?"  Mr. Burkman is using his dominant power position to label gays and how gays act in a social setting.  Mr. Burkman’s aggressive co-cultural communication, stereotypes his personal life, but not Michael Sam the football player.

            In terms of language and intercultural communication it is important to be aware of social positions because it can influence social status. People can use their social position to drive their own agenda or perceptions to benefit their own beliefs.  Some groups and/or people are really good at doing this.  For example, Mr. Burkman used his political position of power to drive his own beliefs against Michael Sam and other gays within sport.  He labeled Michael Smith to derail his future hopes to play in the NFL in order to set his own agenda against gays.     

References:

Walder, Seth, (2014). Michael Sam, who aims to be first openly gay NFL player, says he’s surprised by all the support. New York Daily News; http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/michael-sam-suprised-support-article-1.1698597

Curtis, Charles (2014) Michael Sam responds to Jack Burkman, to trying to ban gay players from NFL. http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2014/02/michael_sam_responds_to_jack_burkman_the_lobbyist_trying_to_ban_gay_players_from_nfl.html

Gordon, Ian (2014) A GOP Lobbyist’s Plan to Save America’s Sons From Scary Gay Football Players. http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2014/02/jack-burkman-lobbyist-nfl-gay-ban

Martin, J.N., & Nakayama, T.K. (2013). Intercultural communication in contexts (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw

Associated Press (2013) Gay Marriage Facts and Statistics. Politico. http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/gay-marriage-facts-and-statistics-2013-89376.html.