05.28.07
Posted in English. at 5:14 pm by csnite
Hey there! Welcome to my blog! If you would like to read about this blog click the "Blogging" link in my sidebar. If you would like to read my pieces of work click the "Literature" link. If you would like to know more about me click the "More About Me" link. Below this post are posts that I have written during my 11th grade year in English class for my teacher Mr. Franek. Most of these posts are responses to articles that he has posted on his blog (click "Mr.Franek" to see his blog). You're welcome to read, view, or listen to anything you would like, please enjoy!
[NOTE: You are also welcome to comment on any of my posts below. However, please bear in mind that I am represented by this blog and any disrespectful words could poorly reflect me or my opinions. Also, the content on this blog could be viewed as offensive to some readers. If I have offended you, I had no intention of doing so and I am sorely sorry.]
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05.03.07
Posted in English. at 8:03 pm by csnite
[Below are my thoughts about Peggy McIntosh's writing on white vs. black privileges.]
I think rule #46 is rather amusing: "I can choose blemish cover or bandages in 'flesh' color and have them more or less match my skin." This is actually a topic of conversation that has been brought up with my friends during lunchtime conversation. I find this issue amusing because I’m assuming that the makers of band-aid had no intention of excluding races when they invented their product. It does seem ignorant that their idea of creating a flesh-toned bandage only came in one color, a relatively light one, and that they seemed to neglect the fact that there is no universal skin tone. I’ve concluded that this isn’t an issue of race nor of natural privilege, I just think this is an issue of ignorance. I unfortunately have witnessed rule #5 being violated one time when I was shopping in the city. This rule states “I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed.” There was somewhat of a difference in this situation, but it was an issue of racism in the story. I was shopping with some friends, and two black teenage girls walked into the story. One of the store clerks was standing near my friends and me, so we were able over hear her tell one of the other people who worked there to keep an eye on them. Throughout the time that the girls were in the store they were being shadowed. After we left the store my friends and I all were shocked at how the store clerks felt the need to baby sit these girls to make sure they didn’t try anything. It was blatantly an incident of race and it was wrong.
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05.02.07
Posted in English. at 10:39 am by csnite
[Below are my thoughts on Ellison's Invisible Man]
“It took me a long time and much painful boomeranging of my expectations to achieve a realization everyone else appears to have been born with: That I am nobody but myself. But first I had to discover that I am an invisible man!” (15). This is the quote from the opening paragraph of chapter one. I really enjoy it because it addresses the issue of personal labels, and how it is hard to truly recognize your own identity. This is key to this story due to the time period during which it was written, when blacks were so challenged with making a place for themselves in a society that so strongly neglected them.
I think that the Invisible Man is undoubtedly the most racially concerned book that I’ve ever read. By “racially concerned” I mean that this book brings up very controversial interactions betweens people of different races. This book isn’t necessarily an easy read but it certainly is one that strikes up a good analysis. The opening of the book, during which the narrator was treated so savagely by a stranger and practically abused by multiple whites, was very eye-catching. I think it’s very amusing that the white man who rudely bumped into the narrator later called the instance which he instigated an incidence of mugging. This seems absurd because he, the white man, was clearly not the original victim of the situation. Also, the scene where the high school students were so wrongly abused by the whites and were forced to pick up coins off the electric carpet was completely horrifying. This was a good scene to demonstrate the injustice and abuse that blacks underwent during this time when race was such a large conflict
Another scene which I enjoyed was the scene where the narrator is driving Mr. Norton around the campus. This whole scene is intriguing because it shows you what conditions must occur in order for some Caucasians to notice those of another race:
Except that my wife an’ daughter won’t speak to me, I’m better off than I ever been before. …But what I don’t understand is how I done the worse thing a man can do in his own family and ‘stead of things gittin’ bad they got better. The n*****s up at the school don’t like me, but the white folks treats me fine. (67-68)
This scene is extremely disturbing, but I think it sends an important message to the readers that sometimes people notice you for the wrong things, and especially how white people seemed to neglect blacks until something big and dramatic happens.
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04.25.07
Posted in English. at 1:20 pm by csnite
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Posted in English. at 1:18 pm by csnite
[Below are my thoughts about the N.Y.C police shooting that resulted in the death of a young innocent bachelor. This was originally posted on Mr. Franek's website.]
This tragedy is something that I find as a challenge to analyze. It’s totally heartbreaking to hear that young Bell’s life unnecessarily came to an end the morning of his wedding to his High School sweet heart, leaving his wife-to-be and two children fatherless. I feel as if the cops actions weren’t entirely unacceptable but they were indeed unnecessary. Although Bell and his friends had been previously engaged in a verbal dispute with some other club-goers, and there was a simple allusion that one of Bell’s comrades had a gun, Bell and his friends seem to have posed zero threat to the undercover cops. At the same time it’s understood that the cops do have an obligation to protect other citizens, but there was no definite evidence that Bell and friends indeed possessed a gun.
It’s understandable as to why Bell immediately tried to flee the scene, when a man approached the car, gun in hand, at four o’clock in the morning. Although that man was a cop, he was undercover and apparently there was no obvious indication that he was indeed a police man. Even considering Bell accidentally hitting the man, the cop had no right to begin shooting, for it is a rule as a cop that you may only shoot at a vehicle if there is an obvious weapon within that could harm you. I find it ridiculous that a cop would shoot into the car, than reload and begin shooting again–ignoring the fact that he himself was not being shot at. I think this event was an unfortunate event of poor judgment. I understand that the cop felt endangered, but you would think that he’d attempt to resolve the situation in a more “professional” manner and adhere to the rules which he is supposed to abide.
I’m not entirely sure if there is a way that this type of situation could be prevented. It is unfortunate that the result of this scenario is death, but if someone’s feeling threatened it’s a natural instinct to do what you can to protect yourself.
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Posted in English. at 1:17 pm by csnite
[Below are my thoughts about Michael Richards racist outbreak during a comedy show.]
I personally find this whole incident very upsetting. As a fan of Seinfeld, I am quite frankly disturbed, that someone in the media who is (or at least in my mind was at one point) greatly respected to speak out so inappropriately. Despite Richards claim that this wasn’t an outburst encouraged by racism, I believe that his attack on Kyle Doss was fueled by his issues with race.
In general, I am someone who is against the usage of the n-word. I think that it is vulgar and truly unnecessary. I find it disturbing when it is used, regardless of who is saying it or how it is being said. When friends of mine or kids that I associate with use the word (which is rarely), I simply tell them that my sister is black and that I would prefer if they refrained from using that word around me. I think it’s disgusting that Richards would dare shout out such a vulgar term, in public, directly to a person of color.
I feel as if his apologies aren’t genuine and that they should not be accepted. Someone doesn’t just say something so harsh without having any feelings behind it to back up their words. I think apologies matter, but only if they are credible and are being made if you are truly sorry for your actions.
I think this event demonstrates how there is a lot of “closet racism” in America.
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Posted in English. at 1:15 pm by csnite
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Posted in English. at 1:13 pm by csnite
[Below are my thoughts on the Imus "attack" on the Rutgers women's basketball team.]
There appear to be too many race and gender issues going on in America. I think that the 3-second rule (when one thinks of a thought or something they’d like to say, they must count to three before stating it) should be enforced all over the world. If this unrealistic suggestion where to be put into action, I’d hope to see less offensive things being said or published. I do firmly believe in race and gender equality but I’m sick of hearing about all of this non-stop controversy with these issues. I think it’s unfortunate that our nation doesn’t appear to be on the same page as to what is acceptable or unacceptable in terms or statements or accusations made about other people. I don’t at all think there should be an end to freedom of speech, however there should be limitations if your choice of words can be found offensive to anyone who may hear them. I think Imus deserves being released from his job. I don’t feel bad for him at all, I think it’s ridiculous that someone can be so ignorant as to call a group of people a bunch of “nappy-headed hoes”. I think that’s so far beyond unacceptable and feel so sorry for the Rutgers women’s basketball team. That comment doesn’t only portray him as sexist because he addressed a group of females as “hoes” but it also makes him look racist for calling them “nappy-headed”. It’s so unfortunate for those women, who are obviously successful and hardworking athletes to undergo such offensive name calling.
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04.20.07
Posted in English. at 8:28 am by csnite
[This is my response to my English teachers op-ed written after the Virginia Tech shooting. His original piece can be found on his blog.]
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04.13.07
Posted in English. at 9:30 am by csnite
[Below are my thoughts about themes in Fitgerald's The Great Gatsby.]
The novel, The Great Gatsby, is characterized by many different themes, one of which is Gatsby's decadence. His decadence is shown in many ways. His actions constantly demonstrate how wealthy he is, his lavish parties and uncut books. His whole presentation of himself is also rather flashy for he acts as if money is not an object. He also shows his wealth through things as simple as clothing. The clothing that Gatsby wears on a regular basis are either very bright colors or gold and silvers, rather uncommon colors of suits back then, it's almost as if his clothes were literally made out of his money.
Another theme that can be seen throughout this book is more of a dichotomy but can also be viewed as a theme is Illusion versus Reality. This is shown throughout the book by Gatsby himself. He seems to have a split personality which can be seen when he is either alone or just with Nick and when he is with all of the other rich folk from East Egg. Gatsby also is constantly trying to magnify his image to attract the attention of dear Daisy. It is even shown in their interactions how important pleasing Daisy was to Gatsby: "He hadn't once ceased looking at Daisy and I think he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes." (The Great Gatsby, 96-7) It's obvious that his actions are really just for show.
Daisy herself demonstrates this theme of Illusion v. Reality. Her relationship with her husband Tom and her lover Gatsby so thoroughly depicts the false image which she tries to live through. Her marriage with Tom seems to be lacking true interest and love, however she stays with him to create the illusion that she is happy and satisfied when in reality she would much rather be with sir Gatsby.
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[Below is my response to the issue of the banning of The Higher Power of Lucky in many Elementary Schools. This was originally posted on Mr. Franek's website.]
I really agree with you, I feel as if this book should not be banned from these libraries. Although the word “scrotum” appears, this book seems to be appropriate. I would feel uncomfortable about allowing children to read or hear the word “scrotum” if it were used in a context that alluded to inappropriate behavior; however hearing about a dog having his scrotum bitten is not something that I view as unacceptable for a child’s ears. Even if a teacher was asked to define a scrotum I think it would be acceptable for a child to be told that it is a “private part” and leave the child with that simple explanation.
I understand that parents feel the need to shelter their children, and censoring everything their children are exposed to is a top priority. However, when it comes to education I don’t think children should be limited to anything. Bad things exist in the world and there’s no sheltering anyone from that harsh reality. It also seems impossible to create a G rated world for all children with the media’s heightened obsession with being sexy and provocative. Commercials have been “sexified” on T.V. and the radio, I’ve found it extremely difficult to watch a simple deodorant commercial without a sexual reference or two these days, or even go through a car ride with my parents without having to turn off a grossly animated and mental-image creating condom commercial.
My favorite line of the piece would be the last: “There is a powerful connection between loving language and developing the mind—a relationship that takes a lifetime to cultivate, but surely isn’t helped by squeamish librarians and a few foolish parents who know how to rattle their pots and pans over a scrotum, a snake, and one very unfortunate dog.” I think it is witty and it really summarizes and concludes the op-ed well.