Something New

This many prompts were read and many pictures were analyzed. However, one book stood out more than the rest. Into the Wild was my favorite literary piece that was discussed during this year. The actual writing of the book did not intrigue me, but the idea and the main character of the book excited me. It was astonishing g to talk about a person who has managed to go so far, and become a true nomad. The ideas that this book was based on compelled me and showed me some people really do have the ability to forget and move on. Some people are capable of living a life without the demands and unnecessary commentary of the rest of the world and society. 

 The book itself was not exciting; I did not like reading it. However, I did like discussing it. I liked how after we discussed a new chapter of the book I would come home and research about his travels and try to watch the movie. This book did not open my eyes to a new world, but it helped me see into the depths of one that had always intrigued me. The main characters ideas and words were compelling, they were different. Into the Wild was not a coming of age story or a fictional novel, it was real and raw. Real and raw is not something I see a lot in today’s society. It was refreshing to learn about a young boy who was once reprimanded to the rules and to conformity and managed to escape from it in the most permanent way possible.

escape

mimi, mwenyewe, na i

(me, myself, and I)

Money’s no object, school is out of the picture, my life is finally in my own hands. Now what. Now I make my way to Africa, now I venture out to see the world with my own eyes, I walk along the African plains, now I attempt to surf the African oceans. My once in a life time trip will always and forever be Africa. I would set out to see a land where man has not yet tampered with. I would visit the villages where man walks bear foot. Some of my journey will bring me to tears from its beauty and other aspects of my journey will make me fall to my knees from sorrow. Regardless of why I may fall or why I may cry this trip will my escape from the world. This would be my escape from discussions about the stability of the United States government, or the pointless argument that take places in classes. My once in a life time trip will be what i want it to be. I will walk side by side with the African wild, I will hold hands with a child who is not the least bit concerned with my social standing at school. I will learn new and incredible things from the people who will surround me and the nature that will capture my attention within seconds. My escape will give me peace, it will give me happiness, and I will give hope to those who I meat during my journey.

Now I get to chose.

GENOCIDE

“Turkey Objects to Pope Francis Use of the Word ‘Genocide’ to Describe Armenian Killing”

By: Desmond Butler, Ayse Wieting, Suzan Fraser

Source: HuggingtonPost

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/12/pope-francis-armenian-genocide_n_7049802.html

Pope Francis, a man with immense power, decided it was time to use the word ‘genocide’ while addressing the events that took place in the year 1915. He said, “Concealing or denying evil is like allowing a wound to keep bleeding without bandaging it.” (1) In response foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted, “The pope’s statement which is far from historic and legal truths is unacceptable, Religious positions are not places where unfounded claims are made and hatred is stirred.” (1)

The Turkish government and some of its people are stirred and do not know what to make of this situation. Seeing that the pope has an unimaginable power in some realms they fear the picture they have painted for the world is slowly losing its colors. Italy and the United States have both accepted that the event of 1915, the genocide, has occurred, however they refuse to use the word genocide, because they fear they will have to sever their ties with their supposed ally, Turkey.  

The head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Aram I, acknowledges and thanks Pope Francis for publicizing the centennial of the Armenian Genocide and for introducing this event on a world wide scale.   

This article not only establishes the legitimacy of the Armenian Genocide, but also helps other world leaders understand it is time to take a stand and do what is morally right.  The Armenian people respect and thank the pope for being able to come forth and use the only word that can actually define the occurrences of April 24, 1915.

Miracles Can Happen

  Pope Francis Credited with Performing 'Miracle' As St. Gennaro's Blood Liquefies 

By: Ed Mazza

Source: HuffingtonPost

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/6920624

     Pope Francis is now being praised for possibly being a miracle worker. It is being said that he is responsible for liquifying the blood of St. Gennro. It is said that his blood liquefies three times a year. However, it has never done so completely the last time his blood liquefied in front of a pope was 1848.   "Saturday marked the first time the blood has liquified in the papal presence since 1848, when it did so in front of Pope Pius IX, according to the Catholic Herald. The blood didn't liquify in front of Pope John Paul II when he visited in 1979, nor did it do so when Benedict XVI visited in 2007, according to the website." (Mazza,1) 

          However, people are speculating the validity of this miracle they believe that the St.'s blood liquefies due to differing weather conditions or the conditions the body is being kept in. "Skeptics believe there is another explanation for the phenomenon. One possibility is that the blood liquifies when there are certain changes in conditions, such as when the relic is moved from storage to display." ( Mazza, 1) It is clear that many people are dumbfounded by this event. 

           Regardless of what the reason may be for this miraculous event people from all around the world have come together because of this event. Pope Francis has from the beginning known to be one of the most honest and humble Popes, this event in time does not surprise those who are religiously involved. 

         This event does not only interest the people of the church but of people around the world. This can be a possible miracle that the world was able to witness first hand.    

keep. safe.

Brown Students Don't Trust The School To Fix Sexual Assault Policies
Tyler Kingkade

HuffingtonPost

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/12/brown-sexual-assault-protest_n_6859486.html?utm_hp_ref=breakingthesilence

             Brown University students are protesting against the school administration and the way the school is handling the sexual harassment issues. There is an issue with the date rape drug that has surfaced in Brown University. Students believe the school and the administration are not taking appropriate or serious enough actions to protect the students from this treachery. As a sign of protest students have taped dollar bills to their lips in order to symbolize what they believe the university and its leaders are prioritizing. Students believe that Brown University is more concerned with how this may affect their reputation and its financial standings over the safety and integrity of the students attending this institution. “The students wore dollar bills taped across their mouths to symbolize what they contend was a conflict of interest in a recent investigation into an alleged date rape drugging.” (1) Another protest also took place during the Brown University Community Council meeting. This one however, was a silent protest. The students are outraged and afraid and are convinced the administration and the committee are doing nothing to protect, and shield them from this life threatening situation.

              “Frustrated with repeated stories like these, one group of students took action where they could. Starting next year, anyone in a fraternity or sorority at Brown will have to cut all ties with Greek life if he or she is found responsible for sexual misconduct. The policy was drafted by the student-led Greek Sexual Misconduct Committee.” (1) Seeing that the Brown administration is lacking where they should be more than relevant the students have decided to take certain actions in ensuring that incidents involving any sort of sexual harassment are minimal to none.

Universities must understand that the safety of their students is vital and under no circumstances should their security be under compromise.

self deciding

From the beginning of time women and men have had different roles in society. Why? It is not because they choose to have those but because they up set upon them, they were given expectations. If one wanted to be given those responsibilities they had no choice but to comply with them.

Today is just the same. As medieval and ignorant as it may sound some men still expect women to stay home, clean, cook, and take of the kids. It might come as a surprise to people but women have brains, and brains that function just the same as a man’s would too. Society has labeled the woman as the nurturer and the man as the bread maker. Society not only discriminates against women in this way but also against men. There are women who choose to do a “man’s job” like become an engineer, or a construction worker, or a car body shop owner. However, people seem to forget there are men who may want to occupy a “woman’s job”, like becoming a nurse, a kindergarten teacher, or a florist. If a person in today’s society were top witness these role reversals they would automatically question the person’s sexuality. Today’s society not only labels and stamps women and men, but it has also decided what a heterosexual should be like and what a homosexual should be like.

Society has brain washed every person regardless of what they believe into the same mindset. Now, people are starting to stray from and question these characteristics that society has bestowed upon itself. Gender, sexuality, job occupation, clothing/ attire etc. are all self deciding factors that society should have zero control over.

What Response?

The Daily Show - Majority Retort

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKvZg2WZTDQ

Everyone knows of the infamous Jon Stewart and his Television broadcast, The Daily Show, where he presents the news and deliberately makes fun of almost every aspect of it. In the  short clip that was  watched he introduced the topic of the responses to the Presidents State of the Union speech. He used parody a few times in his video, first when he said “Is that you Siri?” (The Daily Show- Majority Retort) when making fun of the way Joni Ernst spoke in her reposes. Later he showed the audience a video of a female anchor saying how Ernst job was to humanize her party he managed to introduce another technique, incongruity. What the anchor was declaring and what Stewart compared her to were complete opposites. He later used parody, a kind of satirical technique, when making fun of the way Rep. Curt Clawson spoke. In a sense he also uses exaggeration, another satirical technique, when mentioning that having a response to the Presidents Sate of the Union speech has become an annual thing, and when explaining to the audience the number of responses were presented each year. He not only mocked the number of responses this year but also the people involved in the responses and there speeches as a whole. He was able to express his feelings and his take of the subject simply by demolishing any ones opposition to what he thought should be considered right. Jon Stewart not only muses and entertains, and at times offends, he also manages to clearly and completely introduce and present each nights news.