TOW #6 - Obama's "Legalization of Same Sex Marriage" Speech

                On June 26^th of 2015, America was moved forever; the definition of equality rang true with clarity. There over, speaking to the American public as a whole, Barack Obama, 44^th president of the United States, officially legalized same sex marriage. This meant that in all 50 states, couples consisting of two women or two men, could join in holy matrimony. In Obama’s speech addressing this issue, he presents a sincere diction and an inspiring simile in order to show that the United States is capable of achieving hope to make a positive change. An affirmative power that Obama references is the fact that in this day of age, children are becoming comfortable with their own sexual identity, causing them to come out to their parents. Obama states that those who have shown their true colors “slowly made an entire country realize that love is love” (Obama 7:42). The sincere diction further offers a push that some might need to share their sexual preference. However, Obama does not persuade the public into doing so, only mentioning it, so that the overall mood of his speech does not become assertive. The phrase “love is love”, yet simple, creates balance with the audience because it does not leave out any group of people. Going off the “straightforward” theme, Obama later recalls a quote from former American senator, Bobby Kennedy, stating, “small actions can be like pebbles thrown into a still lake; ripples of hope cascade outwards, and change the world” (Obama 8:25). Furthermore, the small actions are those dealing with embracing the LGBTQ+ community, all of which pertain to the lake, in this case being the United States. The use of a simile to compare these small actions to pebbles proves that no matter the size of a good deed, the effect will undoubtedly go far. Lastly, hope has the power to inspire not only a nation, but the world. The United States took its first leap into further developing the world into a place that is accepting of all people no matter whom they love.

 

Visual: http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/same-sex.jpg

Caption: #Lovewins

TOW #5 - "To Siri, With Love" by Judith Newman

                It is common for children to have imaginary friends while growing up because frankly, the process of developing a compatible relationship with another human being can be as hard as a bed of nails. This is the case for Gus, a 13-year-old boy with autism. In To Siri, With Love, Judith Newman, mother of Gus, recollects her experience of her son’s relationship with “the technological Apple assistant”, Siri. Specifically, she recalls how it helped him cope with his neurological disorder. Newman shares playful anecdotes, and the humorous dialogue between Gus and Siri in order to ease parents on the fact that there are solutions for autistic children. Furthermore, Newman describes Gus’ behaviors; her son does understand that Siri is not real, but is just worthy of consideration. While referring to an anecdote, Newman states “I got him an iPod when he was eight […] it always came with us on our visits to the Apple Store. Finally, I asked him why. “So it can visit its friends” he said” (Newman 2). Although Gus refers to his iPod as “its”, it is clear that he does prefer to give the iPod some human characteristics, and therefore, that he enjoys the company of an inanimate object as it is better than nothing. Likewise, Gus’ bond reigns through toward the end of the essay when Newman repeats the dialogue between Siri and her son. “Gus: Siri, will you marry me? […] Siri: My end user agreement does not include marriage” (Newman 4). Before Gus had this conversation with his future wife, Newman worried about the idea that her son may never find the desire for love, due to his condition. Luckily, Gus’ popped question relieved his mother as she realized that her son is capable of regular emotions. By proving the close relationship Gus has with Siri, as well as the fact that it has helped him show his true colors, Newman attempts to show her audience, the parents of autistic children, that stress is unnecessary. In other words, everyone has their own coping mechanism, and it is up to them to find it. Not only does To Siri, With Love describe the feelings of a child, it evokes readers to see the changing world through the eyes of a teenage autistic boy; a boy finding his way in the world with the help of a pocket-sized friend.

Visual: Credited to Louie Chin, photographer



Caption: "The Wonders of Siri"

TOW #4 - Dear Nobody: The True Diary of mary Rose edited by Gillian McCain & Legs McNeil

Life is a labyrinth of trouble and disaster for the late-90s teenager, Mary Rose, as told through her numerous personal journal entries. Dear Nobody: The True Diary of Mary Rose is an unaltered version of the teen’s struggles, put together by journalists, Gillian McCain & Legs McNeil. In the book, Rose describes her true feelings and dangerous daily encounters, such as drugs, bullying, and relationship abuse – all encapsulated in her diary. Rose’s issues at home with her mother’s abusive boyfriend lead to daily hard-drug use, and drinking, which cause her to end up in a rehabilitation center. For example, on Rose’s third night home from her 31-day stay at the Curon Rehabilitation Center, her mother’s boyfriend, Joe, calls, asking to speak to the mother. Rose is taken back by the nerve he has, and describes her worried feelings, comparing Joe’s request to the following: “It’s like telling her (Rose’s mother) to go ahead and dress yourself up as whore […] It’s like telling her to go ahead and hang out at some shitty bar while her daughter sits at home all alone” (McCain & McNeil 74). Rose goes on to list more juxtapositions, all of which retain to the risk that Joes poses on her mother. By doing so, Rose clarifies why she should not give her mother the message that Joe called. Furthermore, Rose’s choice in this particular situation supports the overall purpose, to do what is in her own best interest. By writing down her negative experiences and poor choices, the author is presumably trying to warn her adolescent audience not to make the same mistakes; the right decisions will end up benefitting their interest. So far, due to the numerous consequences that Rose faces, any attentive reader would understand that Rose is clearly in the wrong to harm herself in the ways that she does, but (current) Rose herself, has still yet to learn that.

Visual: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-03/science-psas-do-anti-drug-ads-keep-kids-drugs



Caption: "Pressure Leads to Poor Decisions"