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"

TOW #3 - "Too Fat" by Tierra Anne Meng

In the auto-biographical essay Too Fat, Tierra Anne Meng, a high-school student at Madison Area Memorial High School, begins by reminiscing on her childhood. Specifically, those moments spent staring at fashion magazines, wishing her waistband would someday be just as narrow as the girls on the page. Meng struggled with anorexia throughout her sophomore year of high school, which is why she chooses to organize her essay in a chronological order. She describes how this paralyzing disorder can take over the young human body – both physically and emotionally. For example, in multiple occasions, Meng uses the visual of weight dropping – “104…103…102…101…100… You keep getting compliments, but inside you know something is wrong” (Meng 46) – so that those who have not experienced the hardship of an eating disorder, are able to grasp the mental picture. Likewise, while recounting a near death experience, Meng uses grim imagery in order to convey the fact that if one keeps at anorexic behavior, a tragic ending is likely to proceed. She states “But here’s the kicker. Your body didn’t wake up. Your soul did. You look down at your lifeless body in the tub […] Your lips are a lifeless blue and your eyes are sunken to the point of no return” (Meng 47). This imagery creates a vivid scene, making it easy to visualize, and exposing pathos. A reader who has not experienced anything of this nature is more likely to pity the author, while a reader who has gone through a similar struggle, may unfortunately see themselves in the same boat as Meng. Therefore, the audience is presumed to be those who are currently battling an eating disorder as Meng wants to warn them about the dangers before it is too late. She decides to end her essay with a classic message, saying “You are beautiful just the way you are” (Meng 48). Reaching out to her audience, Meng clearly coveys her purpose that obsessing over body image will only bring out the demons; instead, focus on what counts: happiness.

Link: http://www.whatkidscando.org/new/pdf/Stirred_But_Not_Shaken.pdf

Visual Link: http://www.christianpost.com/news/the-distorted-mirror-of-anorexia-89700/



Caption: "Now you see me, now you don't (referring to mental demons)"

TOW #2 - (Visual) Ellen DeGeneres's Commencement Speech at Tulane University

                On May 11^th, 2009, Ellen DeGeneres, renowned television host and producer, gave her first Commencement Speech at Tulane University in New Orleans. The comedian immediately brought humor to the podium as she stated “When I was asked to make the Commencement speech, I immediately said ‘yes’; then I went to look up what commencement meant” (DeGeneres). A raging laughter feel over the crowd as DeGeneres continued on about how she had never gone to college herself. In this situation, verbal irony sneaks its way in due to the fact that DeGeneres is leading a college graduation, which, unlike most ironic settings, only causes the audience to support her more. After reciting another round of classic jokes, she continues on about the fact that she is at Tulane for her audience, for the students. This clarifies that DeGeneres’s intended audience is graduating students, specifically those looking for advice in their next stage of life. She proves this by sharing an anecdote from her life in the early 1990’s. After managing to pull together a decent career in standup comedy, DeGeneres decided to reveal her true self on national television, or in other words, come out as gay. Although this process would usually only have an effect on one family, for DeGeneres, it had an effect on how all of America viewed her. Unfortunately, her career suddenly came to halt after six strong years. It was only her leap of faith that eventually brought her back to the top. Despite her struggle, DeGeneres sates, “Looking back on it, I wouldn’t change a thing. It was so important for me to lose everything because I found out what the most important thing is is to be true to yourself” (DeGeneres). She is saying this to a group of individuals who most likely, and statistically, are figuring out their own path. The powerful words of Ellen DeGeneres shall ring in their minds the next that they feel down or unsure of themselves. If she can get through it, why can’t anyone else.   

Visual: http://www.makers.com/blog/throwback-thursday-ellen-degeneres-comes-out

Caption: "DeGeneres on Post-Coming Out"

TOW #1 - "Insert Flap "A" and Throw Away" by S.J. Perelman

As children, we anxiously await adulthood. That leap into the world of staying up late, driving a 2000-pound death trap, and best of all, caring for rascals of our own. To a child, these aspects can seem like a light-year away, but when that milestone is finally reached, there are nearly no steps leading back. S.J. Perelman, an American humorist well into his “light-year”, received an Academy Award for screenwriting in 1956 - twelve years after publishing a piece entitled Insert Flap “A” and Throw Away. This short essay focuses on a middle-aged Perelman fighting through the directions to a 1940’s “Self-Running 10-Inch Scale-Model Delivery-Truck Kit”, costing only 29-cents, and of course, his integrity. He begins by setting the scene on a late August day, using the rhetorical device of hyperbole to describe the “sharply sloping attic heated to 340 degrees F” (Perelman 186). Due to the immediate use of exaggeration, Perelman’s satirical tone is clear, and sets up the rest of the essay to be so. However, it is not the blazing heat that causes Perelman’s psychotic break, but the “Build-Your-Own Toy Truck” his son buys later that same year. In agony, Perelman manages to construct a minuscule amount of the Truck, only to realize that the surrounding children are already completing the task much faster. To everyone’s surprise, stress takes over Perelman as he plunges to the ground, and blacks out. In the final scene, Perelman wakes up to find his wife consulting a doctor about how to treat her tense husband. The doctor replies “Get him a detective story […] Or better still, a nice, soothing picture puzzle” (Perelman 189). In other words, ‘get him a simple activity, one a child would enjoy.’ As an author, Perelman wants to reach out to over-worked parents, needing a break; he needs to remind them to bring the “child-side” back into their life. His child was able to construct the toy truck due to his basic thinking process. Perelman uses this cute anecdote to express that not every idea needs to be over-thought to be understood, and he does a superb job at showing that.  

Source: "The Best American Essays of the Century"

Visual: https://www.pinterest.com/ysyw/1940s-memorabilia/

Caption: "A Slink (leap) Back in Time"

IRB #1 Intro Post

While in the teen non-fiction section of Barnes & Noble, the book titled "Dear Nobody: The True Diary of Mary Rose" by Gillian McCain and Legs McNeil, caught my attention. The bright photo of a teenage girl gazing at a sunset, along with the back cover summary, made me choose this book. The summary sets the book up to be a drama-filled diary of a high school girl trying her best to fit in. Her life includes realistic topics such as drug-use and bullying, both of which I find interesting to read about. From reading this book over marking period 1, I hope to gain a different perspective from how my teenage eyes see the world everyday.