image from NIH News in Health

For my advocacy project, I want to advocate for spreading awareness about thyroid diseases and their symptoms and effects on people. I’ve struggled with several thyroid-related diseases since I was about 6 years old, and I feel as though many young people are not very familiar with these diseases. While they are very common among the general population, especially as people grow older, it’s important to recognize its presence in a younger population and what it may look like. If left untreated, thyroid diseases cause a plethora of issues in both physical health and mental health. My main goal is to build awareness about these diseases so that we can work towards a healthier population.

I envision the topic audience as young adults and parents of young children. Because the topic is so unfamiliar to people until they get diagnosed with it, it’s important to watch out for symptoms earlier so that treatment is more effective. I also want to target women as an audience, since the likelihood of women being affected by thyroid diseases is much higher than men. Especially during and after pregnancy, the body undergoes many changes that can impact thyroid function, causing further issues. While thyroid diseases are rather uncommon in young children, it is always a possibility, especially if it runs in a family’s genetics. The children are the most critical to treat, as the disease will likely develop as they grow. By becoming more aware of the thyroid’s function and what happens when it is impaired, the audience will have a better understanding of what thyroid disease looks like and how it may limit one’s abilities.

A value that the audience likely possesses is physical health, which is critically important in our everyday lives. Thyroid disease can severely impact one’s physical health if not treated, so I suspect that the audience will be interested in learning more upon this fact. An overactive thyroid can cause severe weight loss and muscle weakening while an underactive thyroid can cause severe weight gain and hair loss. These side effects severely impair physical health; however, they also align with the value of beauty and confidence. Such side effects may cause image issues among those impacted, and without knowledge of why, can cause further mental health issues. It’s important to note that these side effects may not even be present at all in some people and that blood tests are the most effective way in determining whether thyroid issues are severe enough to require treatment.

Another value the audience may possess is knowledge and understanding. By spreading awareness about the potentials of thyroid disease, members of the audience may feel more comfortable after learning more about certain medical information that not everyone is aware of. The importance of education to the general population is emphasized in the medical world as it makes the average person more aware of their own bodily function. It also encourages the audience to be aware of others, especially in the case of parents and children, since parents are likely to notice such changes before a child.

Awareness about thyroid diseases is important in creating a better educated, understanding, and healthy population. By advocating for awareness, I hope to help allow for the audience to become better acquainted in the topic so that those struggling with the disease can receive necessary treatment and live healthier lives.

image from CNN.com

The CPAC, otherwise known as conservative.org, is a conservative advocacy sight that works on spreading conservative sentiments and reflecting those within American policies. Unlike most advocacy sites, though, this site seems to devote more attention to countering other perspectives than fighting for unique and new policies. This can likely be explained from the general perspective of the conservative political battle, resting in traditions and the rights of the individual. It is clear that the modern conservative party has strayed further from these intentions, as this site and many others have begun to use conservatism as a way to mask hate and ignorance.

As an established organization, the site contains an About Us page, where they state the values of the group. More in-depth is the “What We Believe” page, where the CPAC states several of its core values that shape their perspectives on social issues. However, these We Believe statements become confusing as they relate to each other. While the first statement emphasizes the individuality and power of the Constitution, the second statement adds a religious sentiment that contradicts the individualism so valued by the group. It is within the Constitution that individuals may practice their religion without persecution, but it is also noted that there will not a single religion that will work into legislation. The opening page of the site contains a variety of recent articles and Twitter threads, where journalists and politicians will argue against certain legislation or values of opposing lawmakers due to their Un-Christian nature.

It is also interesting to note that the site claims to advocate for new conservative ideas, but the front page contains mostly opposition and hate to current events. For example, host and leader Mercedes Schlapp is shown expressing her own opinion against transgender individuals, with no further reasoning as to why she sees an issue or her proposed solution. The original message congratulates Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender American actress, on her recent collaboration with Kate Spade. Schlapp’s response is posted on the site, where she says only the phrase “this is an embarrassment.” The simple hate that is evoked in the message is clear, and the CPAC adds no further reasoning as to why they believe such hateful opinions. The value of individuals’ rights seems to fade once these advocates see someone who don’t fit their perspective, causing a split in the truth value of the CPAC’s beliefs.

Another popular subject in conservative forums is the necessity of vaccination, with the CPAC supporting individuals’ rights, typical to their central claim. There is an entire tab dedicated to standing up against the CDC, titled “Stop the CDC Mandates!” This comes as a result to the possibility of requiring COVID-19 vaccinations to the childhood immunization schedule as a means of protection once children begin school. While regarding the CDC, the site makes no mention of any other medical professionals with differing opinions and only uses individual freedoms as their reasoning behind such an opinion. It is consistent with their central beliefs, but in order to establish a stronger argument against such a recognized organization in the medical field, it would make sense to include actual facts and data to support anti-vaccination beliefs.

It is undeniable that this site can easily catch the attention of viewers. The large text, bright colors, and many pictures of conservative politicians all strike the eye. However, it is important to look into the truth value of the site and to consider it in context of the events. Without much use of evidence or reasoning, this site merely gives atrocious and hateful opinions that appeal to a specific audience. The CPAC was intended for conservative advocacy purposes, but it provides little logical value and attempts to appeal to the emotion of viewers by emphasizing individuality.

Image from The Federalist Society

Prayer practiced in legislative settings is unjust on the basis of the Establishment Clause.

This issue first came to my attention this past summer, where I participated in an appellate court judicial competition concerning the issue of legislative prayer. For this competition, a scenario was made where two constituents argued against their county, which practiced Druid prayers and rituals prior to legislative sessions. Druidism was the majority religion of the county by far, and the two petitioners were of various Christian faiths. In forming arguments and determining a decision, we were provided with related prior landmark cases, such as Town of Greece vs. Galloway and Marsh v. Chambers. While reading these, I found myself disagreeing with the majority opinion, which found legislative prayer to be permissible under the tradition of the United States.

After writing about this issue in my Civic Issues blog, I found myself again interested in this topic and wanting a different ruling out of the Supreme Court. Obviously, it is important to consider these prior rulings, but I believe it is also worthwhile to look into the dissenting opinions, which provide opinions more similar to my own with support from a legal standpoint. Because the issue of legislative prayer is very specific and unique, the variety of opinions is more limited than for related issues, such as prayer in school settings. For my argument, I find that comparing the similarities and differences between these two settings will paint a clearer picture as to how the concept of legislative prayer falls beyond the bounds of the First Amendment.

In establishing these arguments, Edward Keynes’s book The Court vs. Congress: Prayer, Busing, and Abortion from 1989 can provide insight regarding prayer in both school and legislative sessions, building that connection and establishing the values of the United States. The book was a work of former Penn State Professor of Political Science, Edward Keynes, and his former student, Randall K. Miller. While the book itself is very large and covers a spread of different topics, the individual sections regarding prayer will aid my judgment of value in opposition of legislative prayer.

I also believe that it is important to recognize the social and psychological powers of legislative prayers and how the practice serves very little probative value in today’s legislature. The Supreme Court upheld the practices on basis of tradition, and I would like to combat the importance placed on tradition by describing the changing diversity and landscape of the country and its regions. Many believe that legislative prayer is in use for only specific persons; however, it is reasonable to conclude that the act of prayer effects more than just those who elect to participate in the practice. The rotation of religion in the practice does little to benefit the act, yet chambers have attempted this practice in hopes of appeasing opposers of legislative prayer.

The tradition of legislative prayer in the United States is undeniably unique and complex, and that is what makes the issue so hard to definitively rule on.

Image from nihaokailan.wikia.com

I grew up watching little cartoon songs in Chinese from CDs and VHS tapes my parents got from China. Characters were all drawn in the same style, and it wasn’t until I started watching American shows when I grew older did I realize a difference. Now, granted, that jump was just to Nick Jr. shows like Dora, Kai-Lan, and The Backyardigans, but it was enough for me to recognize different cultural practices among people. While commonly thought as a joke, Dora actually was a very strategic and beautiful representation of Latinx culture that educated kids. Even though they’re all animated animals, each Backyardigan adventure showed a new aspect of the world, crossing different cultures and practices. And in Kai-Lan, I saw a girl who came from a background like me thrive and have fun in the big world.

As I grew older, my connection to characters faded. The movies and shows I watched rarely starred other Chinese girls, and if they were present, they were just a side character. Stereotypes became more common in adolescent shows, with different races, genders, and backgrounds always behaving in a certain manner. While it may not seem generally important, representation in the films we watch has a serious impact on self identity and confidence, and a lack of that representation can be very hurtful to developing minds and perceptions of self.

An NBC News article, “Almost half of all Asian roles serve as a punchline, study finds,” looks at data and responses from the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment and Gold House to draw conclusions on Asian representation in the media. The articles discusses how Asian characters within shows are often added just for comedic value, with their Asian identity often being the punchline of the joke. Filmmakers have a responsibility here: their decisions in representation shape how society reacts to those identities. These poor representations can cause insecurities in those being shown and prejudices to those who take inspiration from the shows.

In questioning good representation and bad representation, we also come across the question of forced representation. In other words, forcing representation of identities into the media without those identities adding much value. It’s much more opinion orientated than the mere question of representation itself, as many don’t see it as a necessarily harmful addition.

An opinion article from The State Press titled “Forced diversity is ruining your favorite forms of entertainment” provides new perspectives on representation within filmmaking. While a shocking title, the article actually discusses greater issues within forcing identities upon to characters, specifically tokenism. The author argues that the tokenism of minority characters (regarding race, economic status, disabilities, sexuality, gender, etc.) is more harmful than beneficial, as it shows that identity often in a stereotypical, foul fashion.

The article also advocates for greater diversity behind the scenes, arguing that filmmaker and production diversity is just as important as what is shown on the screen. Representation in film isn’t just an insignificant social annoyance that many perceive it to be; it’s a very important development to the growth of society and incredibly influential in seeing a self identity.

As we go in to deliberation, consider, what issues could the film industry face when deciding to diversify its screen representation? And in connection to that, how can the viewers in turn influence the production and what results regarding representation may appear from that?

NBC article: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/almost-half-all-asian-roles-serve-punchline-study-finds-n1276103

The State Press article: https://www.statepress.com/article/2021/11/opinion-forced-diversity-ruining-characters-entertainment

Image from https://www.nevermanagealone.com/2020/11/15/21559079/messi-vs-ronaldo-lets-try-to-settle-the-debate

It’s been one of the most argued subjects in the world of soccer (or should we say, “football”) for the past few decades. It’s being constantly revised and rediscussed as time goes on and awards change. It’s the simple yet complex question of Messi or Ronaldo that has fans pulling out career details to advocate for their own G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) and argue against the other.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have long been considered rivals, having played on rival teams during their time in the Spanish League, La Liga. The FC Barcelona versus Real Madrid CF rivalry has calmed in the past few years since both Messi and Ronaldo’s departures, but in the past, their games — referred to as  “El Clásico” (The Classic) — would constantly spark both debate and deliberation among fans.

Every meeting the two have is exaggerated and glamorized by fans. The two are rather friendly towards each other, but their status and competition in the soccer world have caused this tension. Now being in post-World Cup era, there’s plenty more to compare: Messi fans showing his World Cup and Ronaldo fans attempting to undermine it.

A social media post on the video platform TikTok reflects this interaction of fans on a public forum. The post itself is rather unbiased, claiming the two stars are head-to-head in terms of stats. It shows a picture of each with the stats being listed below. The stats include number of games, goals and assists, Ballon D’ors, Golden Boots, trophies, FIFA Bests, and Playmakers. Minus the games and goals/assists, these are essentially all different awards given by different groups and organizations that recognize a “best player.”

While user @hakimi_footy7 may not have intended for this post to become a deliberation forum, it amassed 5.9 million views since November 26 and sparked some argument between both Messi and Ronaldo fans. The top comment from private user @emmettsteen says “Messi is just better it’s just the truth,” and was quickly met with responses from Ronaldo fans. Private user @bl4s3rr replied saying in short that Messi has natural talent while Ronaldo is a far harder worker, proving Ronaldo’s greater skill within the soccer field. This comment in particular is rather deliberative, providing new information regarding the two stars and responding to another opinion. This user was generally respectful to the original commenter and recognized his opinion in addition to providing another perspective of measurement.

The responses to that reply however were not quite as deliberative. User @edwin_g28 attempted to argue that both are naturally talented and work hard, but he started the response to @bl4s3rr with the phrase “this is the worst argument I’ve heard,” setting aside the deliberative tone and creating a more debate/argument style discussion. Had the user taken out this beginning phrase, perhaps the comments following could be more deliberative, in which both Messi and Ronaldo fans share different perspectives on athleticism. Instead, it caused for more users to reach out with deeply opinionated and close-minded responses, combined with insults to both the commenters and players.

Deliberation between fans on a social media platform is tricky, especially when those fans are so deeply opinionated towards one player over the other, sometimes refusing to consider other options. But Messi or Ronaldo will be a debate that continues to live on, even after both players retire from the captivating world of soccer.

link to Tiktok video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRGv6sBR/

Classical music has surrounded me since childhood. Though often subtle, it’s so prevalent in society. The melody of strings in the background of our movies is slight, but it’s there. Without it, our movies would seem so empty. I live my life that same way. Without classical music serving as my ground, I would seem empty. Just as with any other genre, for me, there’s a special composer whose music has helped me through difficult times. He’s taught me technique, but more importantly, he’s shown me who I am.

I believe in Beethoven.

Now, I’ve  always loved music. When I was five years old, I picked out my own piano and immediately started lessons. When I was nine, I started playing tuba. As much as I enjoyed piano, it couldn’t even compare to how much I adored playing the tuba. I loved the deep, bellowing sound. I loved the look and feel of the brass. Most of all, I loved the power and confidence I would get whenever I played it. 

I accelerated quickly playing in the elementary and middle school bands. I would play in local festivals and honors ensembles. It was at one of those auditions that I first met my high school band director. He complimented my playing, saying it was far above the level of other 12 year olds. We talked some more–about my future in the band, what high school would be like, and what I had the power to accomplish with my tuba. Although I still had two more years to wait, after that conversation I was so excited for high school to start and to be able to play in his band.

And when that moment finally came, I played my tuba with all the passion I could. The first piece he gave us was called “The Beethoven Machine,” a fun accumulation of different Beethoven melodies and techniques. I looked forward to band rehearsals every morning. Just like the delightness of the piece, I started high school with the energy and spirit of Beethoven, music being my guide. 

But one day, two months into that school year, my band director was gone. A week later, I learned that he was charged with corruption of minors. 

I was shocked. I never imagined that someone so close to me could do such horrible things. He was someone I trusted and looked up to, and suddenly, my whole life took a turn. I lost my confidence, as a musician and a person, and started to give up on the activities I had once loved. I stopped playing the tuba soon after, and I used any excuse possible to justify my quitting. I said it was a time management issue; I said it was necessary in my surgery recovery. Yet I knew the whole time, it was because I was too hurt from the knowledge of his crimes, and I had no idea how to process my own emotions.

At the start of my second year in high school, I wanted to restore myself. I knew that way was through music, but I wasn’t ready to play in the band again. Instead, I wanted change. I decided to join the orchestra, as I had played the violin as a side hobby for several years. The orchestra also had a new director, who just happened to be brothers with the new band director, so I was lucky to not be the only newcomer there. 

I quickly found a new home and community in the orchestra, and with the help and support of my new director, I gained back my musical confidence and strived to achieve more. I started challenging myself, learning new orchestral repertoire and auditioning for higher-level ensembles. I grew happier being in the orchestra, and for my senior year I prepared a final recital piece, Beethoven’s Romance Opus 50. 

I felt accomplished whenever I performed it. It gave me the power I had once felt when I played the tuba. Although I’m not the most talented at violin, it was able to bring out the best of me and revive my musician I had lost from quitting the tuba. Having now played in my first college orchestra concert, it’s strange to think how much has changed for me musically these past four years. Our concert soloist plays a section from Beethoven’s Concerto in D Major, and I feel a special connection to the trying spirit of the sound. 

Working with Beethoven’s pieces throughout my life has shown me confidence, power, and resilience. My life spans in sections like his writing, with high and low moments. Music has an influence over people, and it’s enough to shape an entire character.

Intro Music: Charlie Siem and the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61: II. Larghetto

Outro Music: Charlie Siem and the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61: III. Rondo

One topic that interests me in the sense of a public controversy are the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during WW2, and in a more general sense, the use of weapons of mass destruction. Produced through the scientific revolutions of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, scientists were able to chemically and physically create weapons that easily wipe out entire cities. The atomic bomb’s ethicality was questioned from the start, but it remained a secret from the general population through most of its development. When it was used against Japan in WW2, impacting first Hiroshima then Nagasaki, it was thought of as both a militaristic win and loss. Even to this day, the question of whether the atomic bomb should have been used is still argued. Within the next few decades, nuclear warfare was increasing around the globe, and the use of these weapons were highly debated among the population. Is it ethical? Is it necessary? Is it moral? These are all questions to consider while looking at the controversies created by weapons of mass destruction.

Another topic that interests me is drug legalization. Throughout American history, drug and alcohol laws have been historically strict, with the 18th Amendment being something most people can’t even imagine these days. Now, the question of controversy is whether currently illegal drugs should be legalized for recreational purposes. Most spoken about these days is marijuana, which medical use has been approved for in many states. Several states have also legalized the recreational use of marijuana, with calls to legalize it throughout the country. However, it faces a huge opposition for being a dangerous substance and many still call for it to be illegal. There then comes the question of punishment for having amounts of marijuana, as many people agree that the punishment for having the drug is far too strong for the crime. Drug legalization and punishment go hand in hand, and in this project, it will be fascinating to see the changes over time regarding the substance and the multiple perspectives on the issue.

Code of Hammurabi: https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/hammurabi

Medieval British Capital Punishment: https://www.medievalists.net/2017/11/medieval-executions-view-scaffold/

Colonial America: https://www.history.com/news/death-penalty-jamestown-virginia-colony

The Transition from Public to Correctional Facility: https://www.arjalaw.com/blog/2018/11/05/pennsylvania-and-the-death-penalty/

Modern Capital Punishment Methods: https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/execution-death-penalty-capital-punishment-modern-vector-24078031

Exoneration and Arguments against Death Penalty: https://time.com/wrongly-convicted/

Protests:

https://sojo.net/articles/death-penalty-protesters-want-break-cycle-violence

https://wwmt.com/news/nation-world/big-challenge-biden-is-pressed-to-end-federal-death-penalty-1

Changes over time regarding legality:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/death-penalty-us-states-map-b1932960.html  https://theappeal.org/political-report/death-penalty-spotlight-on-states/

My elevator pitch on VoiceThread.

Through this pitch, I introduced the timeline I want to look at regarding the death penalty practice. If feasible, I want to begin in the Medieval times, where torture and punishment was commonly seen within societies. I then want to look into the ideas behind public punishment in more recent histories, such as 18th and 19th centuries, and end with arguments presented in present day and what future implications they may have. Without forming an argument, I hope to look into the changes in philosophies and practices regarding the death penalty and how those changes may have come to be. I hope to extract evidence from statistics about popularity and support of the act and connect it to various testimony and primary resources from historical eras. In my research, I want to use sources of the time periods and discover their opinions on the death penalty and how the philosophies behind the practice evolved over time.

http://https://youtu.be/r9LCwI5iErE

I was first shown this TEDTalk in my orchestra class, probably three years ago. That year, my teacher was new to the school district, and wanted to establish greater goals and community within the orchestra (and he was very successful in doing so after a couple years). Having been so heavily involved in my orchestra, I remember this TEDTalk and the aspects of music and human interaction that it opened me to. Being 20 minutes long, it was certainly very content heavy, but the presentation was so well performed that I couldn’t divert attention from it. Regarding the importance of classical music, the speaker was supported by a piano prop, which he occasionally played. Throughout his presentation, he also made several jokes, which the audience found entertaining. By even including audience response into the layout of the speech, he keeps them attentive and curious about the subject. He gave examples through the playing, showing the differences and developments one can make over time through practice, and influences the audience through his own playing. In establishing the message that classical music is for everyone, he counterpoints statistics and studies of population preferences, and instead gives testimonies of people, from all different backgrounds, that have enjoyed and been impacted by classical music and performance. He speaks on the transformative power of classical music; how it brings out emotion and influence over people in all different scenarios.

In my own TEDTalk project, one topic I am considering researching is different viewpoints over time and across demographics of the practice of the death penalty. This was originally a topic I had wanted to explore more in one of my middle school projects, but due to its controversy and more difficult subject, I was told to save it for later. With this project, I feel that the prompt aligns very well with this topic, and I am curious to explore and analyze reasons why there has been such changes over time. The morality of this punishment has been questioned for very long, but in recent years, it has sparked greater political and ethical debates regarding the prison system. I think that in pursuing this research, I should look into documents and opinion pieces regarding the death penalty throughout the past decades. I feel it is also worthwhile to look at punishment practices from even earlier and form comparisons to the issue at hand. In obtaining opinions, I hope to find resources from various demographics, time periods, and areas of expertise. There is so much to explore regarding the changes over time in death penalty practice, and this project can allow for me to look both legally and ethically into this argument.

video from youtube.com