TOW #24- Hollywood Preservation

        For such an affluent, populous area like Hollywood, California, it would seem like a no-brainer for money to be dedicated towards the building of new neighborhood plans. Fresh artists, actors, entertainers, and companies are reintroduced to the city on the regular, and new buildings are meant to take their place along with them. Written to New York Times editor William Bergmann, it is believed that "Hollywood suffers from too many people trying to keep it 'as is,' or as they wish it were," but the reality of the situation is that cities are designed to be continuously expanding, and this natural process of growth must never be hindered.
        In many cases, the dreaded "zoning areas" and other construction sites that many natives complain about have actually benefitted the city greatly- showing significant improvement from 25 years ago when traffic and building control seemed hopeless. It is rare that no one would ever find something to complain about in an area so vast and buy, but it is also important to be reminded of the positives, and to not let temporary aggravation overshadow them.
        These projects are created in order to serve the general public and better the lives of cities surrounding. Improvements are always appreciated in the end, for they not only improve the streets and towns but they also improve the status of individuals living within them, overall positively affecting the way they function on a day-to-day basis. To preserve "Old Hollywood" would be a grave mistake, it is much more of a necessity to channel the popular influences and patterns of the 21st century and alter the city to meet the needs of all these demands and concerns.

TOW #23- Stop Shaming Women into Voting for Hillary

        As Hillary Clinton, the nation's first female-running presidential candidate, steps into the spotlight, more and more women are advocating for her success. Hillary as our president, however, is not in the interest of all women in America, and certainly should not be forced upon them purely for the sake of supporting their own sex. This logic, expressed by Nancy Cohen in her article titled "Why Women Should Vote for Women," is nowhere representative of how society should function today. As great as it would be for the next president of America to be a woman, it is obvious that not all female politicians are good advocates for women- and because of this they should not necessarily receive the votes of females across the country just for the pure intent of a woman being elected.
        The truth is that the majority of women are more interested in candidate Bernie Sanders, but are shamefully being forced to conceal their admirations and direct them towards the female candidate, Clinton. Sanders has worked for civil rights, women's healthcare, and equal pay- doesn't this make him just as much as a feminist as any other woman who advocates for their own gender? Voting for Sanders doesn't mean women are betraying themselves or their dignity as a population, it simply means they support the same views and policies as him. Being a male politician should not take away from their credibility as a potential advocate for women's issues, unless there is a right to believe they are gender biased and do not support equality in the slightest sense.
        Voting for a candidate comes down to one decision and one decision only- whether he or she shares the same values as you. Nothing else must be influenced by this determination, especially gender or race, because if a candidate supports the same ideas as you then that is all that is necessary in order to ensure the potential leader of this nation has a good head on their shoulders. Supporting an individual just to support our own sex is not a correct way to base any decision, especially one that determines the future of the nation.

TOW #22- Why Slaves' Graves Matter

        What happens when connections with past relatives are taken away? Memories and names disappear and the only thing left is a label of their roles in society? Sandra A. Arnold, of the New York Times, is no stranger to this type of prejudice. As a descendant of slaves, Arnold has a direct tie to the immense strugglers of the 19th century. Born into the normalcy of referring to her great-grandparents simply by their names, as opposed to their status as slaves, it is shocking to see that by visiting a slave cemetery the names of these brave men and women are nowhere to be found. No longer is there a "Grandma" or "Papa" to the children of past slaves, instead it's simply just a mass label placed upon the burial ground: "born as slaves". 

         Cemeteries, graveyards, and memorials are visual areas erected for the purpose of honoring deceased loved ones- ones who lived fearlessly and honorably. They exist because the people buried within them have worth, and are never intended to be forgotten. But what happens when those you love are not given the proper respect in cases such as burial? And their lives are simply marked by the laying of a regular, gray rock, as opposed to a special gravestone with their names? This is what possessed Arnold to take a stand and create the National Burial Database of Enslaved Americans- a way to finally ensure that these men and women receive the recognition they deserve, and are in no way forgotten or "tossed aside." 

        In the ethical argument for preservation, there are countless reasons as to why burial grounds are valuable resources, both for family members and scholars or historians, using them as road maps for research and discovery. The implementation of these figures allow for a greater sense of understanding and appreciation, and a real grasp at the history of our nation. Slaves received little sense of humanity in the past, but today there is no reason as to why they do not deserve the same type of burial as any other American. Our country must explore the ways in which it can preserve the public memory of enslaves individuals, and never let their sweat and preservation dry from this earth. 

TOW #21- Raising the Smoking Age

        "Raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco products to 21 will deter many young people from becoming smokers, saving hundreds of thousands from dying prematurely from lung cancer, heart disease, stroke and emphysema, and their families the incomprehensible grief of losing loved ones to preventable diseases." As a leading cause of death for people all around the world, it seems reasonable to make tighter restrictions on smoking products. For Stephen A. Silver, professor at Emory University School of Law, this topic is very close to heart, and is certainly one he feels worth pushing for.
       Cigarette smoking kills more than 480,000 Americans each year, including more than 41,000 nonsmokers who die from secondhand exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a son of both mother and father who died of smoking-related diseases, the need for a heightened legal age is definitely preferred. In order to deter young adults from smoking, many steps need to be taken- raising the legal age being one of the most important. Other methods can include raising taxes on tobacco products and increasing funding for antismoking programs, but the biggest impact comes from restricting those under 21 from purchasing products.
        Many argue against this saying that is the legal age of an adult is 18, the ability to purchase tobacco products should remain at age 18. "Treat all adults equally" is the motto, and honestly a very good point. Raising the legal age takes away the privileges of people ages 18, 19, and 20 from purchasing tobacco products, which seems to almost go against the fact that they are "adults". All in all, when it comes to the general well-being of the country, if raising the legal age is what it takes to save the lives of even just a few, it is worth it.

TOW #20- Hidden Gold in College Applications

        With the competitiveness of today's high level universities, it seems nearly impossible for anyone without an A+ average or exceptional ACT/SAT scores to be accepted. Expectations are extremely high, however, as the time drags on more and more schools are beginning to peer deeper into student applications. No longer are grades becoming the most important factor, rather personalities and a combination of life skills and responsibilities are taken into greater consideration. Upon close inspection, New York Times opinionist Frank Bruni revealed some recent and highly promising changes in the admission processes of several universities. These included Davidson College and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, both of which are very prestigious schools and difficult to get into. He revealed their newly refined systems of admissions and the importance of adjusting the vision of admission officers on prospective students.
        An example of these change in admissions is shown through a young man that applied for early admission at UNC. Stephen Farmer, the admissions director, can attest to the fact that this man was not the smartest according to his grades, but by peeling back the letter grades and discovering the true issues that the student was going through, while still maintaining relatively stable grades, it was eye-opening to see his work ethic. Improvement over his four years in high school was another indicator of continued effort, as the young man revealed the fact that he was the son of immigrant parents who didn't speak fluent English, and that he has grown up constantly being relied on to translate for them and deal with all of their finances and banking. This alone proved the high responsibility and dedication of the student, which later was given the acknowledgement it needed all along when he was granted admission into the university.
        Because of stories like this, it is uplifting to see that colleges are starting to finally reconsider how they view applicants. The admissions process has only continued to become more and more competitive, and I for one am worried about just how more selective schools could possibly get before it all bubbles over into a disaster. "If we're viewing everybody through a single lens, we're not seeing most people clearly. So we need to get better at adjusting our vision, or we're going to miss a lot of talent." This goes for America as well, because the country certainly will not be able to flourish if all students are not given the chance to bridge themselves into a greater future, and prove to the world what they hold.

TOW #19- The Wrong Way to Teach Math

        Is America really as advanced as we think we are? In a recent New York Times article by Andrew Hacker, the mathematical skills of American adults were put to the test to discover whether or not the way schools teach this subject is the most effective and long-lasting. Hacker believes that although basic classes such as geometry and algebra are critical to everyday life, more advanced classes like calculus are not nearly as applicable. America has become more of a quantitative country, squeezing in as many possible areas of math as possible, not taking into account the qualitative side- the side that really determines the usefulness of the course. "What citizens do need is to be comfortable reading graphs and charts and adept at calculating simple figures in their heads... Decimals and ratios are now as crucial as nouns and verbs." Math is a language that must be mastered. However, even with the recent rise in advanced statistic courses this country is still not on the path towards creating a statistically sophisticated citizenry. The idea is certainly there, but the information that these classes focus on does not allow students to recognize how such formulas connect with the lives they'll be leading in the future.
        The assumption that all this advanced math will make America more numerically adept is certainly flawed, for the majority of the content focused on in these classes will never again appear in the students' lives once they enter the real world. "In the real world, we constantly settle for estimates, whereas mathematics- see the SAT- demands that you get the answer precisely right." I couldn't agree more with this statement, for I certainly can connect to feeling lost and confused when I am taught specific topics in my math classes. How is finding the asymptote of a exponential function ever going to help me in the life besides passing one test? As a prospective AP Stat student it worries me that the information I will be taught next year will not be as useful as I hoped it to be. If I wish to pursue business as my major in college, math is certainly something I need to be fluent in in order to be successful, however, success in areas that are not applicable to my life in the future is not going to allow me to be very prosperous. As Hacker clearly stated, maybe the one thing this country does need to do better is refocus our mathematical curriculum.

TOW #18- Why Do We Teach Girls It's Cute to Be Scared?

        "Shouldn't you be scared?" they would say. Coming from a prestigious, prominent background as the first woman in the San Francisco Fire Department, Caroline Paul, now a New York Times opinionist, surprisingly experienced a plethora of unnecessary comments, all directed towards her capabilities as a woman to handle the task at hand. Offended, as many would be, Paul synthesized that these remarks are too often directed towards young women, especially around adolescence. Parents tend to "baby" or protect their young daughters much more than they would with a son, since males have always been expected to be the more powerful and dominant gender, able to fend for themselves. Detailing several anecdotes from her childhood and experiences on the fire force, Paul can vividly remember many instances in which this attitude was directed towards her, whether it be from her elders or simply a friend. No matter where it came from, it left an impact on Paul and how she viewed herself.
         Naturally anyone would be terrified when faced with a disastrous and deadly situation, such as a fire, and of course Paul was, but so were the men too, and this is why it gives them no right to treat her any differently. Fear is no reason to quit, it is a motivation to strive to overcome. Paul "put her fear where it belonged, behind (her) feelings of focus, confidence and courage, and headed into the burning building with her crew," it didn't matter that she was a woman, she could still handle it. Issues over the roles of women have been around since the beginning of time, constantly pushing them into the shadows of society, struggling to have their voices heard and truly respected. Being a strong woman doesn't mean backing down from something that could possibly end in an injury or embarrassment, it means proving yourself in front of those who think you would never have the possibility to succeed.
        Risk taking is an important part of growing up, therefore I believe that parents should caution their children equally, not a daughter more than a son. Fear conditioning for females starts at a very young age, and must not be enforced any stricter than it would for males. Both races are capable of performing the same tasks, at the same pace, and at the same moment in time. Women have proven countless times, in past athletic events and academic competitions, that they can be smarter, stronger, and braver than men. So why should they be protected more? Who decided that women were weak? I think many would be surprised just how amazing and tenacious the female race can be.

Paul, Caroline. "Why Do We Teach Girls That It’s Cute to Be Scared?" The New York Times. The New York Times, 20 Feb. 2016. Web. 21 Feb. 2016. 

TOW #17- Against Headphones

        "Maybe the danger of digital culture to young people is not that they have hummingbird attention spans but that they are going deaf." In the recent New York Times Magazine article, Virginia Heffernan argues that the ongoing abuse of headphones is causing several problems for todays youth. Not only is the blasting of music through headphones detrimental to teenage health, but it also creates a sort of escapism that limits their ability to connect with others and their surroundings. Ultimately any real awareness to surrounding noises or movements is limited, making it harder for individuals to enjoy their private auditory experiences.
        Created more than a century ago, headphones served a much different purpose than they do today. Giving a detail account of this shift in purpose over time, by using sources of historical facts, Heffernan exemplifies how they are being utilized in a rather ironic way. Originally implemented during World War II, headphones were used in order to block out crowd noise and hear sermons. Workers and soldiers greatly favored the ability to mute noises of machinery/artillery while simultaneously receiving orders from another source through the wire. From this information it is clear that headphones have always been a "technology of submission (to commands) and denial (of commotion)" however nowadays they are solely used for entertainment, and are being maxed out to their highest volumes, tearing apart the eardrums of many.
        The inclusion of factual evidence on the history of headphones shows a much more drastic change in the invention than if Heffernan were to simply state how they are being utilized today. Headphones are packed with technology, changing the way music is heard and envisioned. The concept of actually "hearing" however is limited, as in exchange for the music the ability to truly be a part of the surrounding moment is constrained. It can be simply stated that "headphones work best for people who need or want to hear one sound story and no other."

IRB Intro #3

        For my third IRB of the year I have chosen to read Brain on Fire- My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan. This award-winning memoir and #1 New York Times Bestseller uncovers the medical mystery of twenty-four-year-old Cahalan, who loses her memory and wakes up on a hospital bed with no recollection of the past. Her busy, suburban lifestyle as a New York newspaper writer is thrown violently behind her, and she is left to mend all her past relationships and attempt to rebuild her life one step at a time. Doctor after doctor is placed upon the task of her diagnosis, but nothing seems to be accurate, and the madness only grows with each passing day. Through an exploration of her identity, faith, dreams, and desires, Cahalan tells her story of the scariest moments of her life and describes the true strength and perseverance it took to overcome them.

TOW #16- Truly Scary Halloween Costumes

        The cartoon titled, Nightmare Material, by A Zillion Dollars Comics, depicts the cruel reality of the world's current and most pressing issues- global warming, national debt, and overpopulation. Directly mocking the traditions of the popular holiday, Halloween, and the silly costumes that many people around the world wear, this cartoonist takes the title of "scary" to an entirely new level. Through the usage of comparison by mockery of human behaviors and supposed "fears", the actuality of the extremes of today's global issues is explored through a creative and humorous way.
        "Truly Scary Halloween Costumes", the title states, poking direct fun at the costumes that many wear on Halloween to either incite fear or laughs among their peers. No longer are zombies or skeletons the most frightening attire, instead they are replaced by much more serious concepts. Global warming, the cause for rapidly growing climate changes and ultimate destruction of natural beauty around the world, joined by the overpowering and ever increasing global debt, and the peaking of global population (now over 7 billion), are a greater means of fear than any dinky little store-bought costume. Many do not take into the consideration the severity of these issues, which is why cartoonists like A Zillion Dollars Comics, play a large role in spreading awareness.
        This image calls for a great amount of attention, and the mockery of human behavior and supposed "fears"in regards to Halloween sends a greater message towards the public, ultimately opening their eyes up to the greater issues of the world. Halloween is a holiday for both celebration and superstition- combined with loads of candy and hyper children, it is a favorite of many. But what is truly scarier... a little girl in a witch costume or the fact that our planet's resources will soon be unable to keep us all alive and well? The choice is yours.

TOW #15- First World Problems

        Left with a difficult realization damaging the creativity and willingness of his clients, New York Times writer Joseph Burgo is left with the task of digging beneath a recently popularized expression, "first world problems." This saying is often referred to mock problems of wealthy, industrialized nations that would cause extreme exasperation from third world countries, but it has become evident that deeper reasons are present underneath. Through the usage of numerous anecdotes from the workplace, and intense inspection of his client's behaviors, Burgo discovers that the reluctance behind suggesting article topics in lieu of recent, disastrous events in the media is actually due to overwhelming empathy.

        By observing the behaviors around the office and among his client's personal lives, it becomes clear to Burgo that the reason for this behavior has much to do with the fact that Americans are confronted with an overwhelming amount of terrible news in the media. One specific anecdote dates back to 2001 from a woman named Sana, who was scared to face the reality of her own personal issues in fear that she would be labeled as "selfish" or "ignorant" for not caring more about those injured during the 9/11 attacks. She became obsessed with expressing intense emotion over the attack, instead of resolving relationship issues with her husband that many of the other clients knew she was upset about. The usage of this anecdote proves the reason behind Burgo's desire to dig deeper behind the real cause of "first world problems", and why this saying is so shamefully used. 

        After understanding the behaviors of his client Sara, Burgo tries to find meaning behind them. He suggests multiple causes of narcissism among Americans, such as the "rise of social media, intensified celebrity culture, helicopter parenting, and the breakdown of traditional values," but none of these include the most important factor- empathy overload. By narrowing down the possible causes behind these behaviors, Burgo realizes that the overwhelming amount of pain and suffering discussed in the media has caused many to close their eyes to their own problems. Being open to such  immense distress is proven to have a toll on our own lives. Empathy has always been thought of as a good thing, but perhaps Burgo has discovered that TOO much empathy can cause many to end up having no empathy at all. 

       Citizens should not be ashamed of their own issues, no matter how big or how small. Yes there are going to be others around the world dealing with greater things, but in the face of individuals, these problems still exist and still have an impact over their lives. Burgo does a great job at delving deeper behind the empathy issues of Americans. Through usage of anecdotes and intense investigation of emotions among his clients, he has concluded an interesting theory that makes many reconsider how they view both themselves and the world around them. 

TOW #14- Obama on Gun Control

        In a recent speech given by President Barack Obama, the importance of controlling guns in a responsible way in order to better the future for the children of America was addressed. Through usage of anaphora and comparison of events, Obama is able to rally citizens from all different backgrounds towards one common concern- gun violence. He addresses all Americans, proving to them the significance they hold in this cause towards a safer, happier United States of America. As he grasps the reins on the country he places a responsibility on citizens and the government alike, enforcing the seriousness of guns and what needs to be done in order to save the lives of many.

          By appealing to the country as a whole, and not a specific and individual group of people, Obama is able to grab the attention of a much wider audience. By repeating the words "All of us" several times throughout the speech, it is clear that in order for gun violence to be stopped it will take the power of millions of hard-working Americans. Whether they are white, black, mixed, gun users, or gun manufacturers, it is going to take the cooperation of all in order for a change to be made.

        Additionally, Obama compares the issue of gun control to several other important events in American history in order to further appeal to different groups and gain their attention. He is aware of the fact that change is not going to happen overnight, just like how change didn't happen overnight for other events in our history. "The liberation of African-Americans didn't happen overnight. Advancing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans has taken decades' worth of work," and meeting the crisis of gun violence will require the same determination and focus. He highlights different key moments in history that represent American democracy, illustrating the need for everyone to come together once more and battle the issue on gun control.

         President Obama recognizes how heavily this issue relies on the support of the country; without their support nothing can possibly be done. Every single individual citizen has a role to play. It is their job to acknowledge their part in making the country a better place. In appealing to their passions and backgrounds through repetitious anaphora and comparison, Obama takes a strict stand against the unruly powers of guns.

Obama, Barack. "Barack Obama: Guns Are Our Shared Responsibility." The New York Times. The New York Times, 07 Jan. 2016. Web. 10 Jan. 2016. 

TOW #13- Uncle Sam

          In a political cartoon created by Jeff Parker of Florida Today, a unequal balance of power and wealth is represented through symbols, mockery, and juxtaposition of the United States and a third world country. Uncle Sam, a well-known symbol and representative of America, is placed directly next to an obviously poorer group of individuals, indicating a comparison of two distinctly different countries. The enormous size of Uncle Sam as compared to the frail, hungry others represents the significant gap of power between them. 

          The culturally recognizable figure of Uncle Sam, well-groomed and dressed in fancy clothing, stands out among the rest of the components in the cartoon. When paying closer attention to the words being spoken from each side, Parker addresses the problem of obesity in America, an issue that third world countries will never be faced with because they are less fortunate and face malnutrition on a daily basis. The juxtaposition of America's supreme wealth and power, and the state of the third world country, pokes fun at the fact that obesity is taking over a large population of Americans, while others around the world are struggling to stay alive. It appeals to pathos, causing the audience, especially Americans, to consider how silly it is that obesity is an issue in America. This encourages viewers to pay more attention to the state of third world countries, and opens them up to a more mature perspective that they otherwise might have been too self-consumed to recognize. 

          This metaphorical comparison, through the usage of symbols, mockery, and juxtaposition clearly expresses the differences between America and third world countries. These differences, unrecognizable by many Americans themselves, are extremely prevalent in the lives of impoverished minorities. Jeff Parker is able to cleverly expose the ignorant side of America in this cartoon, further exemplifying the fact that the United States has much less to worry about than they think. 

TOW #12- IRB #2 First Half

          In the first half of my IRB, She Said Yes, the deep sorrow and heartbreak of Misty Bernall, mother of slain Columbine shooting victim Cassie Bernall, is intensely expressed. Waiting anxiously for her daughter to return home after hearing of the devastating news at the school, Misty questions whether or not Cassie is alive. Her sad yet insightful tone allows the audience to peer into the story of Columbine from a first person subjective point-of-view, making Cassie's encounter with the gunmen and Misty's extreme regret evermore real. With access to Cassie's private notes and by connecting with several of her close friends, Misty is able to put together the story piece by piece, learning to cope with it as she goes. She quickly realizes the truth behind Cassie's strange and satanic behavior prior to the school massacre, and is left with nothing more than a sense of remorse for not being able to fix any of it. She continues to try to understand what caused the gunmen to target her daughter, and specifically what she said that triggered the gunshots. This search for all the answers becomes a major part of the story, on top of explaining the emotional effects of the event and major changes that occurred in Columbine, Colorado.
          Throughout the memoir so far, Misty's somber tone appeals largely to pathos, causing the audience to experience the devastating sequence of events side by side with the desperate mother. It causes every word to seem a hundred times more realistic; making each new update on the shooting super shocking, even though I already know what the end result of the attack was. Cassie's battle with religious identification plays a significant role in the direction that Misty focuses her writing, and leads the audience to assume that her struggle between belief in Satan or God is a large contributor towards her death. Misty is able to add suspense to the story and explain the Columbine massacre in an entirely new light; one that even the most knowledgable on the event were not able to discover. This ability changes the impression of Misty's writing, making me at times forget that I am reading a nonfictional piece. I hope to uncover more behind Cassie's story leading up to her death, and see if her mother is able to come to terms with the murder of her innocent, conflicted teenage daughter.

TOW #11- Immigration Policy

The issue over immigration policy in the United States had been a topic hotly debated for years. Some may have their arms wide open, while others do not hesitate for a second to shut out those in need. In Clay Bennett’s 2011 cartoon, featured in the Chattanooga Times Free Press, this ongoing argument is exemplified through the incorporation of a mixed message based on contrasting opinions within a doormat.
             Written on the doormat in plain English are the words “Immigration Policy,” and protruding from the top of it are nails that spell out “Welcome.” Due to the two different opinions being expressed through both English and the nails, the audience is left to perceive the true meaning behind this cartoon. While the English provides American viewers with the topic of the visual, the construction of the word “Welcome” influences them to consider whether or not the United States is truly a welcoming country. Depending on the speaker, whether it be agricultural industries that welcome immigrants, or labor unions that discourage immigrants, the mixed message can be interpreted either way.
             This ability to include both sides demonstrates the flexibility of Bennett’s cartoon, proving his ability to propose two different viewpoints while remaining neutral to the topic at hand. He is not trying to persuade his audience of anything, he is simply allowing them to compose their own opinion and decide which side they associate themselves with in regards to immigration policy. He discovers a way to include two different voices into a singular word, solely based on the way in which the word is presented. In the end, Bennett is still clearly able to expose the contrasting views on immigration policy in America.

   

TOW #10- Syrian Refugees

        Americans are constantly being swayed by their own fears. These fears are often at times over-exaggerated, in order for the country to shield themselves from any potential harm. Recently in America, Barack Obama has declared the acceptance of Syrian refugees fleeing from the Islamic States (ISIS), sparking the frantic and conflicting opinions of many. In Jay Inslee's article, Why My State Won't Close Its Door to Syrian Refugees, the Washington governor exposes that America's foundation as a beacon of hope for others in time of need is being threatened by probable terror. He achieves this through usage of historical allusions, expository language, and anecdotes.
        In order to show how the change of heart of many Americans is unjustified, Inslee provides several examples of instances in which America has opened their arms to struggling people in the past. "Today we welcome refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia. In 2014, more than 2,800 refugees from countless countries arrived in Washington, and no one demanded we send them back to where they came from" (par 9). For many years, allowing others to find safety in this country has been an honorable ability, and has provided positive outcomes, but now all of a sudden there are growing concerns among the public.
        Inslee addresses these concerns with expository language that appeals to pathos. "It is disheartening to see how easily people turn their backs on human suffering- even more so when the ones turning their backs are those who were chosen to lead" (10). This statement uncovers the negative and unprecedented actions of those who immediately turn against helping others, and causes the audience to feel anger towards these leaders and sorrow towards those who are suffering. The arousal of these emotions persuades citizens to take note of how rapidly this controversy is growing, and desire to prevent those that are against accepting the refugees. 
       Personal anecdotes also establish Inslee's credibility as a writer, making his claims against these recent behaviors even stronger. "My home is on Bainbridge Island...the first place in the nation where Japanese-Americans were subjected to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Civilian Exclusion Orders. These Washingtonians were marched to the docks by soldiers and sent to internment camps" (11). Clearly he holds a specific experience close to heart, which successfully expresses why he feels as though American citizens must not turn away.
        Americans look back on certain moments of their past and feel regret. This is why Inslee believes it is critical for the country to continue to be welcoming to all, and not jump to conclusions and shut the door on them without reason. Through the incorporation of historical allusions, expository language, and anecdotes, he reveals the disloyalty that is being expressed towards the iconic label as a "Land of Opportunity". "The blame for those acts should be with the radicals who committed them, not any religion, race or country of origin" (16). America must step away from these common assumptions and reconsider who the real threats are.

Inslee, Jay. "Why My State Won’t Close Its Doors to Syrian Refugees." The New York Times. The New York Times, 20 Nov. 2015. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.

TOW #9- The Undress Code

        In Bonnie Tsui's article, The Undress Code, she reveals her past experiences as a victim of the disturbing situation between the clothes that women wear and the resulting reactions of men. As a current New York Times opinionist and successful author, Tsui has formed a variety of different relationships with coworkers in her past professions. Among them all is one particular man, who after seeing Tsui in a sweater with holes, paid her an uncomfortable amount of attention. Even after graduating college, getting engaged, and stabilizing her writing career, this man continued to follow Tsui's work and desperately tried to stay in contact with her. It amounted to an extremely creepy level, and made Tsui question why she was haunted by this man, simply based on the clothes she used to wear when they worked together.
        She addresses these annoyances with several rhetorical questions in her article, clearly representing how the reoccurrences of this man negatively affected her life. In paragraph 3 she writes, "Did I do something to encourage these advances? Was I being too harsh, and was he actually offering to help me? Then why did it feel so unsettling and not quite right?" This clearly exemplifies the unease that she felt during this period of her life, and allows for the audience to put themselves in her shoes and attempt to answer these questions themselves.
        At the end of the article she comes to a startling conclusion that the man had actually taught her a life lesson; "What a women wears can be used as a weapon against her." Through the repetition of the phrase "Nothing happened" in the final paragraphs, the audience is left to consider whether or not something actually did happened. Although she wasn't physically harmed or disabled by him, he left her with invisible marks that altered the way she viewed herself and other women around her. He forever changed her state of mind, although he did not hinder her strength. This ongoing, difficult relationship made her realize how important it is for women to defend themselves and stand up against the dominating nature of men.


Tsui, Bonnie. "The Undress Code." Opinionator The Undress Code Comments. The New York Times, 12 Nov. 2015. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.

IRB #2 Intro

For my second IRB of the year, I have chosen to read She Said Yes. This memoir, written through the eyes of Misty Bernall, focuses around the death of her daughter Cassie Bernall, a student at Columbine High School. As a prominent event in American history, the Columbine shootings marked a major change in the ways in which society viewed teens and the protections that should be placed on weapons. This book attracted me based on the fact that I already have slide knowledge of this event, but I am interested in learning more about it from a closer source. I think that this story will be incredibly powerful and moving, since it revolves around the death of a very special girl and the courage that she had against two dangerous shooters. This book received the 2000 Christopher Award and several complimentary reviews from a variety of companies, such as New York Post and People Magazine. I am curious to begin this book and unravel more information on exactly what happened during the Columbine High School massacre.

TOW #8- IRB #1 Second Half

          In the second half of the memoir, Hole in my Life, written by Jack Gantos, his true passion for writing and a desire to turn his life around is finally revealed. Peering through the bars of his prison cell, Gantos witnesses countless acts of violence that alter his life forever. These experiences, recorded between the lines of a book found in the jail library, cause him to severely miss the way his life once was. Prior to his drug incident and admittance behind bars, Gantos constantly struggled to find inspiration for his writing. Sadly, it was not until he began living face to face with hardcore criminals that he realized he had been surrounded by positive influences his entire childhood, if only he had taken the time to recognize sooner. After the end of his sentence, Gantos is free to leave and explore ways to improve himself, but disastrously discovers that the journal he has written in for the past several years is unable to come along with him. Despite this setback he still manages to attend college, and never again does he face the temptations of returning back to dealing illegal marijuana. He now fully understands his importance and role in life, and from that moment forward focuses all of his heart and energy into writing stories of his past for young teens. Primarily in hopes that they will follow the right path in their lives, and if not, be able to recognize and recover from their mistakes.

         Present throughout this story is the inclusion of irony, in which Gantos compares two different versions of himself- pre-jail and post-jail. During transition into his new life, he is hired as a Christmas tree delivery guy. “The last job I had in New York was pushing a shopping cart full of drugs down the streets to people’s apartments. Now I was pushing a shopping cart with a Christmas tree on it” (Gantos 198). This ironic situation represents how contrasting Gantos’ new life is to his old one, and satisfies the audience by allowing them to see his improvement. Also, Gantos utilizes short and direct sentence structure in order to add emphasis to each individual word. For example he writes, “The receptionist shrugged. He couldn’t care less. I looked into the lobby. There were two agents. It was sentencing day, and they didn’t want to lose me” (Gantos 140). This causes the audience to add immediate pauses between sentences and pay closer attention to the events at hand, ultimately adding more support to his overall message. Gantos wants to make it clear to all young members of society that critical decision-making is a crucial part of leading a successful, prison-free life. 

TOW #7- Stressful Workplace, Shorter Lives

        Work can be extremely stressful and challenging, especially when it involves maintaining two or more jobs in order to sustain the lives of a growing family. According to a recent study conducted by researchers at Stanford and Harvard, work reduces life expectancy. This tragic result originates from the educational achievement of an individual, “because the lower someone’s level of education, the greater the exposure to work-related stress from unemployment, layoffs, job insecurity, and lack of health insurance” (par 2). Although longevity varies depending on gender, race, and background, this study calculated that between a “10 to 38 percent difference in life expectancy across demographic groups can be explained by differing levels of stress on the job” (5).  This is a growing and startling statistic for all American citizens, both employed and unemployed alike.  
        Teresa Tritch, a New York Times editor and blogger, believes that in order to rid of this threatening outcome, several necessary measures must be taken. These include the establishment of a higher minimum wage, fair and even scheduling laws, and healthier workplaces. Through the usage of two different rhetorical devices in the form of questions, Tritch accomplishes her purpose of announcing that more action must be taken against the rising level of stress among workers in order for them to maintain long and prosperous lives. Starting her essay off with hypophora, she addresses American citizens by asking them several questions and posing possible scenarios. For example she writes, “What if work-related stress is chronic, as is the case for working parents whose employers do not offer regular schedules, sick days or other company benefits?” (1).  Shortly following, she addresses this question by explaining the effects that work stress has on life spans, and the many contributing factors to this issue. Then, with a rhetorical question, Tritch concludes her essay by proposing one final thought to the audience. “A more important question is how many people will die too soon before policymakers take corrective action?” (7).
        Both the usage of hypophora and rhetorical questions allow for Tritch to interact with her audience, and give them the opportunity to consider what a large number of citizens experience on a daily basis. She also raises alarm within the country, by forcing people to wonder just how many more deaths will occur until the government finally takes notice. This is her way of spreading the alarming news to the public, because the only way a change will occur is if large amounts of people know and speak up about it.

Tritch, Teresa. "Stressful Workplaces, Shorter Lives." Taking Note Stressful Workplaces Shorter Lives Comments. New York Times, 22 Oct. 2015. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.