Monthly Archives: September 2017

RCL

Pride Amongst Hate

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Introduction: When you see this flag what is your first thought? For most people it’s probably pride right, hence the name “Pride Flag.”. Whether this symbol means anything to you personally or not, most people can generally agree that it emanates a positive presence in society.

 

Transition 1:Let me take you back to 1977, with Gilbert Baker sewing away the rainbow stripes and creating this infamous icon.

 

-urged by Harvey Milk (an influential gay leader), to create a pride symbol for the LGBT+ community

 

-inspired by Judy Garland’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and the stonewall riots that occurred a few days later

 

– the timing of the emergence of the flag was opportunistic; it was time to take civic action and create a symbol of pride, peace and unity

 

-this new symbol was first displayed at the San Francisco pride parade a year later in 1978

 

Transition 2: Almost 40 years later and we can now see the rainbow stripes almost anywhere and everywhere.

 

-used most commonly during pride parades, it can be seen worn as various clothing, found on your phones keyboard as an emoji, or even draped in the windows in this very building

 

-As we know, it’s main purpose was to represent pride and unity for a suppressed community.

 

-But it means so much more than that. For people in the LGBTQ community, seeing the flag can exude a sense of comfort and acceptance wherein people can feel free to truly be themselves.

 

-it also promotes the ideas of inclusiveness and acceptance of all peoples- something that seems so elementary yet is still so foreign in our country

 

-it also advocates for diversity; for example, in Philidelphia this past June, brown and black stripes were added to shed light on LGBTQ people of color

 

-Most importantly, it serves as a mechanism to endorse change and reform for equality such as when the white house lit up with the colors of the rainbow on June 26, 2015 when gay marriage was finally legalized in all 50 states

 

-you could say it is our civic duty to allow the exhibition of this flag in order to demonstrate all of these aspects which encompass an ideal society

 

Transition 3: While it has become a commonly accepted and positive emblem, many still oppose it’s existence.

 

-About a little bit over a month ago, parents at Auburn High School in Alabama petitioned to have a teacher’s personal pride flag displayed outside their room, taken down

 

-claiming that it “creates a hostile and provocative learning environment for students not comfortable to openly supporting LGBTQ+ community in a public school where students come from diverse political and religious backgrounds.” (FOX News 2017)

 

-with a ridiculous 810 signatures the petition wants people to “Consider the uproar and chaos that would ensue were a teacher to hang for example a Confederate, Christian or Heterosexual Flag in their classroom.” (FOX News 2017)

 

-so now it is being compared to as a hate symbol as if it were the confederate flag which represents the racist slave ridden confederacy

 

-teacher has the right to free speech, and even the duty to promote inclusivity. Not only that but this teacher is the advisor for the EDUCATE club which “focuses on and promotes diversity

 

-the teacher is only spreading positivity, and is no way pushing anyone to change their beliefs by simply displaying the flag

 

Conclusion: While it may seem that our modern day is super progressive and that equality has become balanced for everyone, this is still far from the truth. Many people still have very antiquated thoughts and ideals hindering the necessary reforms in order for everyone in this country to truly be equal, and feel equal. While it is our duty as citizens of this country to voice our opinions, it is also our duty to promote positivity and equality. This flag is nothing more than a beacon of inspiration allowing people to realize that their identity is important. So, whether you identify as LGBTQ+, as an ally, or even as neither, I ask of you to let these pride flags fly high and allow people of all gender, race, religion and orientations, to be free in this country.

Bibliography:

“Petition Calls for Removal of LGBT Flag from School, Makes Comparison to Confederate Flag.” Fox News, FOX News Network, www.foxnews.com/us/2017/08/25/petition-calls-for-removal-lgbt-flag-from-school-makes-comparison-to-confederate-flag.html.

“Rainbow Flag (LGBT Movement).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Sept. 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_flag_(LGBT_movement).

It's What I Do

Written Illustrations

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A picture may paint a thousand words, but sometimes only a few words is needed to create a masterpiece.

Being able to incorporate vivid images solely through the power of words says a lot, especially for someone who’s speciality is in photography. You’d think that an environment buried in war and despair would take a thousand sophisticated words to depict clearly, but Addario proves that it’s in fact quite unnecessary.

Part two of It’s What I Do is indubitably the most captivating portion of the novel. And while Addario seamlessly portrays the horror and the intense emotions she experiences directly in the war zone, it’s also the little details she’s able to express that tie in the entire journey. On pages ninety-six and ninety-seven, she provides her perception and impression of the circumstance of Paul’s death and how it was clear that the war was in full effect. By recollecting her memory in a precise manner, without the use of an over-cultivated or flowery diction, Addario is able to illustrate the scene clearly while still retaining the heavy emotion.

Another valuable technique is her ability to smoothy add rhetorical questions as well as her other internal thoughts to appeal to the personal connection the reader can make. By being placed in Addario’s mind, not only can we visualize her environment, but we can feel her emotions as well. Her lengthy syntax indicates the anxiety she was feeling at the time and how her mind went through a million thoughts a minute. Followed then by her epiphany and internal resolution in a short and abrupt four words; the anxiety turns to fear when she realizes “the war had begun.”

It’s easy to write in a casual tone, but to be able to maintain that intimate sense of familiarity while still being able to convey extensive emotions is something I hope I can achieve in my own blog. It’s important that the reader isn’t lost in ornate words, especially when they’re reading on a topic they may not know much about, such as theatre. I know that to be able to excite my audience into wanting more, like Addario does, I need to keep my descriptions clear, while still impassioned.  So, in that case, I need not ramble on much further about my efforts to become a captivating writer, it’s time to put my skills to the test. Head over to my passion blog to see these techniques (hopefully) in full effect!

 

 

It's What I Do

No Room for Regrets

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Passions are meant to be indulged.  Though there are boundless possibilities, there is still no capacity for holding back. As cliche as it sounds, life is short, time will end, and so each opportunity must be taken advantage of before it’s too late. Lynsey Addario portrays her take on this through the narration of her grandmother’s lost love, Sal.

Nana missed out on a life full of true love because she feared the possible challenges; instead she settled for mediocrity and comfort. Looking back upon her grandmother’s lost chance, Addario relishes the ability to learn from the past and be able to live without regrets.

“What she told me would stay with me for life”

As we look at a wider scope of life, or Addario’s life rather, this story allows her to view her interests with a greater appreciation. Not many people have the ability to follow their dreams and pursue their passions – Addario does. The wise words of her grandmother grants her an enlightened perspective, a life without regrets is one worth living.

Considering kairos, Addario unlike many other people actually takes advantage of her opportunities. One opportunity being that of using her experience and knowledge to influence others. This anecdote wasn’t meant as just a source of entertainment for the hopeless romantics who love a good story. She’s deconstructing her own thought process, resolved to an epiphany, as a mode of inspiration to others.

Although I can’t say I’ve fully lived life with no regrets, one thing I do not regret is auditioning for the school musical in sixth grade. It was not necessarily the thing a three-sport athlete would do. But I don’t regret it for one second.

Why?

The shy little girl I once knew, was gone. Getting up on stage and preforming a monologue and singing was a huge step for me. And while I didn’t land a role, it didn’t stop me from pursuing my interest in musical theatre in other ways. View my Passion Blog to hear more about the ways a little jock like me indulges in musical theatre.