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Friday, March 11, 2011
How to Get Around - a Table of Contents
Writer's Choice
For my writer's choice assignment, I chose my tradition paper entitled "The New Letter Writing". I will admit that it as been a long time since I sat down and hand wrote a letter. In all honesty, I cannot remember the last time I did. In this paper I described the diminished role of letters in the age of email and social networking.
I chose this paper because of the memories it stirred while I was writing it. In recruit training (boot camp), there is no email. Our only connection to family and friends back home were the letters we wrote and received. Mail call was a much needed morale boost in the evenings, and I can remember many nights where I saw the dim glow of a flashlight under someone's blanket as they read and re-read letters from their mom and girlfriend. When I deployed to Afghanistan I was able to keep in touch with my girlfriend (now wife) via email. Occasionally we were also able to talk via instant messenger. It was so easy to take for granted the fact that we did not have to wait weeks between letters. I couldn't imagine how much extra stress it would have been on her to not have semi-regular communications with me, ensuring her of my safety.
I chose this paper because of the memories it stirred while I was writing it. In recruit training (boot camp), there is no email. Our only connection to family and friends back home were the letters we wrote and received. Mail call was a much needed morale boost in the evenings, and I can remember many nights where I saw the dim glow of a flashlight under someone's blanket as they read and re-read letters from their mom and girlfriend. When I deployed to Afghanistan I was able to keep in touch with my girlfriend (now wife) via email. Occasionally we were also able to talk via instant messenger. It was so easy to take for granted the fact that we did not have to wait weeks between letters. I couldn't imagine how much extra stress it would have been on her to not have semi-regular communications with me, ensuring her of my safety.
The New Letter Writing
The New Letter Writing
When Alexander Graham Bell made the world's first phone call in 1876, he could not have imagined that one day it would be common, and perhaps even considered a necessity, to carry a phone in one's purse or pocket at all times. Although the date of the first letter ever written has been lost to history, it's not hard to draw a similar comparison to the inventor of the letter. Could he or she have imagined how his or her humble invention would influence the world? In the thousands of years since its creation, the letter has brought the reader immeasurable joy and sorrow and until 150 years ago, it was the only form of personal communication via written word. With the invention of the telegraph, a new manner of communicating was made available, but it did not replace the letter as the primary way of long distance conversation. However that changed in 1972 with the invention of electronic mail, or email. Although initially limited to military and businesses, the spread of home internet access brought this instant and convenient form of communication to the general public. It wasn't long before the traditional letter suffered the same fate as Betamax and the cassette tape. The tradition of letter writing has diminished with the innovation of email and social networking.
According to the United States Postal Service, "Mail volume dropped to 203 billion parcels in fiscal year 2008 from its peak of 213 billion in 2006. That was its last year of profit, when income totaled $900 million. Volume is expected to drop by more than 20 billion pieces [in 2009], followed by a further drop of 10 billion" in 2010 (Smith). For the ever-increasing pace of life in today's society, waiting two or three days for a message is unacceptable. Email has made it possible to exchange information in minutes and without the added cost of postage. Additionally, with the advancement of social networks such as Facebook, letter writing is increasingly seen as old fashioned and antiquated. There is less need to go to Hallmark and buy a card if one can post a birthday or holiday wish on someone's Facebook "wall". In fact, Hallmark has seen an 8% drop in revenue and has also had to lay off several hundred employees (Fisher, Stafford). As the nation's economic health remains questionable, consumers will be continuing to look for ways to save money whenever possible. Sending n message through email or social network at no cost will continue to be an attractive alternative to letter writing and postal mail, even with its modest cost.
Of course for every detractor of email and social networking, there is the supporter ready to point out how these innovations have added convenience to our lives. Whereas we once had to wait days or weeks after an event to even learn of its existence, we can now share news with our family and friends immediately after it happens. A quick update to the relationship status field on Facebook can alert others to an impending or new marriage. Women tweet while giving birth (Obert). Although the method of delivery has changed, the impact of a grateful thank you message or an apologetic letter can be just as heartfelt on the part of the writer, and just as appreciated by the recipient. The collection of six word autobiographies in “Not Quite What I was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure” shows how the power of the written word can still be moving, even when limited in its quantity. "Thank God the suicide attempt failed" was one of the memoirs included in the book (Miller 662). Undoubtedly others have written books using a hundred pages to express the same thankfulness that Miller did in six words. Similarly, the recipient of a postcard would feel just as excited to hear of their loved one’s vacation travel in a few sentences as they would to read a lengthy letter detailing each adventure on their itinerary.
With the spread of email and social networking as forms of communication, letter writing has seen a decrease in usage. Some would argue that with every new technological innovation, cultural traditions see a period of challenge and adaptation but not necessarily an end. Whereas families once gathered for an evening around the radio for entertainment, the television now provides the source of entertainment. The radio is still a supplier of news, music, and amusement but has found new life in the automobile instead of residing fireside. The tradition of letter writing might find itself in a similar position as interpersonal communications evolve. Even if it does not retain its position as the foremost way of communication, it is hard to imagine a time in the future without heartfelt words lovingly written on beautiful stationary.
When Alexander Graham Bell made the world's first phone call in 1876, he could not have imagined that one day it would be common, and perhaps even considered a necessity, to carry a phone in one's purse or pocket at all times. Although the date of the first letter ever written has been lost to history, it's not hard to draw a similar comparison to the inventor of the letter. Could he or she have imagined how his or her humble invention would influence the world? In the thousands of years since its creation, the letter has brought the reader immeasurable joy and sorrow and until 150 years ago, it was the only form of personal communication via written word. With the invention of the telegraph, a new manner of communicating was made available, but it did not replace the letter as the primary way of long distance conversation. However that changed in 1972 with the invention of electronic mail, or email. Although initially limited to military and businesses, the spread of home internet access brought this instant and convenient form of communication to the general public. It wasn't long before the traditional letter suffered the same fate as Betamax and the cassette tape. The tradition of letter writing has diminished with the innovation of email and social networking.
According to the United States Postal Service, "Mail volume dropped to 203 billion parcels in fiscal year 2008 from its peak of 213 billion in 2006. That was its last year of profit, when income totaled $900 million. Volume is expected to drop by more than 20 billion pieces [in 2009], followed by a further drop of 10 billion" in 2010 (Smith). For the ever-increasing pace of life in today's society, waiting two or three days for a message is unacceptable. Email has made it possible to exchange information in minutes and without the added cost of postage. Additionally, with the advancement of social networks such as Facebook, letter writing is increasingly seen as old fashioned and antiquated. There is less need to go to Hallmark and buy a card if one can post a birthday or holiday wish on someone's Facebook "wall". In fact, Hallmark has seen an 8% drop in revenue and has also had to lay off several hundred employees (Fisher, Stafford). As the nation's economic health remains questionable, consumers will be continuing to look for ways to save money whenever possible. Sending n message through email or social network at no cost will continue to be an attractive alternative to letter writing and postal mail, even with its modest cost.
Of course for every detractor of email and social networking, there is the supporter ready to point out how these innovations have added convenience to our lives. Whereas we once had to wait days or weeks after an event to even learn of its existence, we can now share news with our family and friends immediately after it happens. A quick update to the relationship status field on Facebook can alert others to an impending or new marriage. Women tweet while giving birth (Obert). Although the method of delivery has changed, the impact of a grateful thank you message or an apologetic letter can be just as heartfelt on the part of the writer, and just as appreciated by the recipient. The collection of six word autobiographies in “Not Quite What I was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure” shows how the power of the written word can still be moving, even when limited in its quantity. "Thank God the suicide attempt failed" was one of the memoirs included in the book (Miller 662). Undoubtedly others have written books using a hundred pages to express the same thankfulness that Miller did in six words. Similarly, the recipient of a postcard would feel just as excited to hear of their loved one’s vacation travel in a few sentences as they would to read a lengthy letter detailing each adventure on their itinerary.
With the spread of email and social networking as forms of communication, letter writing has seen a decrease in usage. Some would argue that with every new technological innovation, cultural traditions see a period of challenge and adaptation but not necessarily an end. Whereas families once gathered for an evening around the radio for entertainment, the television now provides the source of entertainment. The radio is still a supplier of news, music, and amusement but has found new life in the automobile instead of residing fireside. The tradition of letter writing might find itself in a similar position as interpersonal communications evolve. Even if it does not retain its position as the foremost way of communication, it is hard to imagine a time in the future without heartfelt words lovingly written on beautiful stationary.
An Audience of One
It was incredibly difficult to watch this film and think of it in the context of this assignment and separate my feelings as a parent. Without even thinking about it (for the most part), I help shape my sons' sense of identity and community through our family. I don't give much thought to the language we speak, but if our right to speak in the language of our choice was taken away, it would definitely affect our identity and culture. The same can be said for the clothes we wear or the food we eat - we pass down our values and our culture through choices that are made almost unconsciously. It is not until those choices are made by someone else that we really become aware of how important they are.
As I watched the film, several scenes reminded me of the current debate over illegal immigration. How many times have you heard someone say "we speak English here" or "learn our language"? Was that not one of the first lessons taught to the sisters at Moore River? I recently discussed pending legislation in New Mexico on Facebook and one of the responses I received was, "I'm a softie. I'd forgive them if they stopped waving foreign flags and could carry on a conversation in English." Comments such as these are similar to the ones described in Gloria Anzaldua's "How to Tame a Wild Tongue". She remembers a teacher telling her, "If you want to be American, speak 'American'. If you don't like it, go back to Mexico where you belong" (Anzaldua 78). I don't see much difference in the comment posted on Facebook and the one offered by Anzaldua's teacher. I'm a softie. I'd forgive them if they stopped waving foreign flags and could carry on a conversation in English. I'm a softie. I'd forgive them if they stopped waving foreign flags and could carry on a conversation in English." Comments such as these are similar to the ones described in Gloria Anzaldua's "How to Tame a Wild Tongue". She remembers a teacher telling her, "If you want to be American, speak 'American'. If you don't like it, go back to Mexico where you belong" (Anzaldua 78). I don't see much difference in the comment posted on Facebook and the one offered by Anzaldua's teacher.
As I watched the film, several scenes reminded me of the current debate over illegal immigration. How many times have you heard someone say "we speak English here" or "learn our language"? Was that not one of the first lessons taught to the sisters at Moore River? I recently discussed pending legislation in New Mexico on Facebook and one of the responses I received was, "I'm a softie. I'd forgive them if they stopped waving foreign flags and could carry on a conversation in English." Comments such as these are similar to the ones described in Gloria Anzaldua's "How to Tame a Wild Tongue". She remembers a teacher telling her, "If you want to be American, speak 'American'. If you don't like it, go back to Mexico where you belong" (Anzaldua 78). I don't see much difference in the comment posted on Facebook and the one offered by Anzaldua's teacher. I'm a softie. I'd forgive them if they stopped waving foreign flags and could carry on a conversation in English. I'm a softie. I'd forgive them if they stopped waving foreign flags and could carry on a conversation in English." Comments such as these are similar to the ones described in Gloria Anzaldua's "How to Tame a Wild Tongue". She remembers a teacher telling her, "If you want to be American, speak 'American'. If you don't like it, go back to Mexico where you belong" (Anzaldua 78). I don't see much difference in the comment posted on Facebook and the one offered by Anzaldua's teacher.
Is this thing on?
For my audience piece, I chose a discussion board post titled "Now that I'm thoroughly depressed". I wrote it after watching "Rabbitproof Fence" in our Intermission unit. In this post, I commented on some similarities I saw between the treatment of the Aboriginals in the film and the treatment of Mexicans in this country. I thought that since the topic of illegal immigration is frequently in the news, it would be a good one for discussion. I also considered the various ages and backgrounds of the discussion board members and how their varied life experiences would give each a unique perspective and opinion on my thoughts.
Discussing a topic such as immigration on a discussion board is tricky. Just as with other written communication, it can be easy to misinterpret someone's words because the face to face aspects of a coversation (body language and tone of voice) are missing. However, it can also be a good opportunity to gather one's thoughts and respond carefully and thoughtfully instead of being prone to emotional outbursts. I think the discussion that Trent and I had was just that - thoughtful and respectful. We might not have agreed, but that's not the point of a discussion. Rather the idea is to see a new point of view that challenges your own. You may be introduced to new information that will either confirm your original opinion or give you a chance to reconsider.
Discussing a topic such as immigration on a discussion board is tricky. Just as with other written communication, it can be easy to misinterpret someone's words because the face to face aspects of a coversation (body language and tone of voice) are missing. However, it can also be a good opportunity to gather one's thoughts and respond carefully and thoughtfully instead of being prone to emotional outbursts. I think the discussion that Trent and I had was just that - thoughtful and respectful. We might not have agreed, but that's not the point of a discussion. Rather the idea is to see a new point of view that challenges your own. You may be introduced to new information that will either confirm your original opinion or give you a chance to reconsider.
...try, try again
Gathering Support from the Community
No man is an island. This statement, first written in John Donne's book Devotions upon Emergent Occasions, has been dissected and reflected upon countless times since it was published in 1624. Humans are social beings. Peter Richerson of the University of California at Davis compares humans (more specifically, college students) with other primates and notes the ease with which they interact with each other, even without the benefit of having previously met. David Berreby quotes him describing humans' need to belong to a group by saying, "We want to live in tribes…[people] are looking to be told what group they belong to" (123). Surrounding his or herself with a group of people - a community - serves many purposes to each participant. Perhaps the greatest function of community in one's life is to support each other through the many stages of life.
Gladys Cason had recently moved to Virginia from her home in Puerto Rico when she met and married her husband. Five months later her daughter Andrea was born. Being new to the area, she did not have many solid friendships. She describes her pregnancy sadly: "No one threw me a baby shower. No one was excited for me. It was just me, my husband, and the baby in my stomach." In addition, as a stay at home mom, she did not have office colleagues with whom she could confide in or compare notes on parenting. The lack of support from a parent centric community made her transition into motherhood difficult. "It was hard because I had no one to talk to," she says. She frequently doubted herself and her confidence faltered. Without any family nearby, she felt isolated. In the days before Skype, cell phones and free nationwide long distance, calls to her mother in Puerto Rico were infrequent and brief. She longed for other mothers to sympathize and interact with. Her daughter Andrea described a very different experience when she had her first child. Andrea had a close group of friends whom she met through an online pregnancy forum. As the weeks passed, they bonded over shared pregnancy symptoms and parenting worries. By the time their babies were born, they had become a tight knit group whose reliance and support stretched far beyond pregnancy. "We aren't just a 'mommy group' ", Andrea says. "These women are my marriage counselors, my financial planners. My therapist while I'm waiting to get an appointment with my actual therapist." She went on to describe the backing that several mothers received from the community and how it helped them with their struggles through post partum depression. One member even went so far as to call the obstetrician of a mom that she felt was suffering in silence and needed help. Because of her outreach, she finally sought treatment. Not every mother in the group has needed such a drastic intervention, but each of them counts the community as a cornerstone of their successes in motherhood.
Like Andrea's experience with her "mommy group", the Amish find support within a community of like minded individuals. The support is even more essential as they find themselves separated from those who do not share their religious beliefs. The community must be as self sufficient as possible, as they are forbidden from entering into business relationships with a non-Amish person. By relying on themselves, their community, and their faith, the Amish find the support needed to resist temptations of the outside world. They also rely on a strict set of guidelines which cover every facet of life. These rules are directed at keeping the world out; not to punish outsiders but to protect the members of the community. The Amish believe that "it is the duty of a Christian to keep himself 'unspotted from the world' and separate from the desires, intent, and goals of the worldly person" (140). By removing temptation in the form of fashionable attire or modern farming equipment, the community is safeguarded from the sins of lust, sloth, jealousy, and greed. The community shows its support by protecting its members from excommunication and eternal damnation.
Not receiving the support of one's community can be devastating. Kumi Hodge talked about the lack of support from his friends due to his academic achievement. He writes, "From a young age, I noticed that being book smart can make you unpopular" (259). He didn't describe the bullying in detail other than to say he was stereotyped and the butt of many jokes, but it wouldn't be hard to imagine the teasing that he had to endure. While he ultimately chose to continue to pursue his education, one can only wonder how many children chose a different path. Undoubtedly there are thousands of children whose lives were negatively affected by teasing and bullying and who never realized their full potential because of a stunted education. Berreby says that once assigned to a group, its members want to know what the rules are for continued membership (123). In Hodge's case, the rules of his community stated that his performance in school should be limited to at most, average levels of achievement. How those rules were set is the subject of ongoing debate. It is perhaps a mix of institutionalized racism and oppression, combined with the destructive cycle of poverty in the Black community. Whatever the root, the emergent lesson of Hodge's community was that one's place in society had been assigned and to reach for an improved quality of life was not just frowned upon but vilified.
Support for its members is one of the most important roles of a community. With it, its members thrive. They are more confident, more hopeful, and more trustful of others. It is the knowledge that there is a reliable group of people on whom he or she can count on that allows a person to welcome new challenges and embrace opportunities as they present themselves. Without the support of a positive community, a group member can become withdrawn. They may even choose to sacrifice their own identity or beliefs in search of the support they require. Perhaps that is the greater lesson - that a person who does not receive the support they need from their community will either find a new group to join or change themselves in order to fit in to the group in which they are already a member.
Gathering Support from the Community
No man is an island. This statement, first written in John Donne's book Devotions upon Emergent Occasions, has been dissected and reflected upon countless times since it was published in 1624. Humans are social beings. Peter Richerson of the University of California at Davis compares humans (more specifically, college students) with other primates and notes the ease with which they interact with each other, even without the benefit of having previously met. David Berreby quotes him describing humans' need to belong to a group by saying, "We want to live in tribes…[people] are looking to be told what group they belong to" (Berreby 123). Surrounding his or herself with a group of people - a community - serves many purposes to each participant. Perhaps the greatest function of community in our life is to support each other through the many stages of life.
Gladys Cason had recently moved to Virginia from her home in Puerto Rico when she met and married her husband. Five months later her daughter Andrea was born. Being new to the area, she did not have many solid friendships. She describes her pregnancy sadly: "No one threw me a baby shower. No one was excited for me. It was just me, my husband, and the baby in my stomach." In addition, as a stay at home mom, she did not have office colleagues with whom she could confide in or compare notes on parenting. The lack of support from a parent-centric community made her transition into motherhood difficult. "It was hard because I had no one to talk to," she says. She frequently doubted herself and her confidence faltered. Without any family nearby, she felt isolated. In the days before Skype, cell phones and free nationwide long distance, calls to her mother in Puerto Rico were infrequent and brief. She longed for other mothers to sympathize and interact with.
Her daughter Andrea described a very different experience when she had her first child. Andrea had a close group of friends whom she met through an online pregnancy forum. As the weeks passed, they bonded over shared pregnancy symptoms and parenting worries. By the time their babies were born, they had become a tight knit group whose reliance and support stretched far beyond pregnancy. "We aren't just a 'mommy group' ", Andrea says. "These women are my marriage counselors, my financial planners. My therapist while I'm waiting to get an appointment with my actual therapist." She went on to describe the backing that several mothers received from the community and how it helped them with their struggles through post partum depression. One member even went so far as to call the obstetrician of a mom that she felt was suffering in silence and needed help. Because of her outreach, she finally sought treatment. Not every mother in the group has needed such a drastic intervention, but each of them counts the community as a cornerstone of their successes in motherhood. The support each woman receives has continued with time. Now that the children are toddlers, they turn to each other for advice on issues ranging from hitting to potty training. As their families have grown to include more children, the women of the mommy group have come to rely on each other for advice and reassurance to get them through the challenges of parenthood.
Like Andrea's experience with her "mommy group", the Amish find support within a community of like minded individuals. The support is even more essential as they find themselves separated from those who do not share their religious beliefs. The community must be as self sufficient as possible, as they are forbidden from entering into business relationships with a non-Amish person. By relying on themselves, their community, and their faith, the Amish find the support needed to resist temptations of the outside world. They also rely on a strict set of guidelines which cover every facet of life. These rules are directed at keeping the world out; not to punish outsiders but to protect the members of the community. The Amish believe that "it is the duty of a Christian to keep himself 'unspotted from the world' and separate from the desires, intent, and goals of the worldly person" (Hostetler 140). By removing temptation in the form of fashionable attire or modern farming equipment, the community is safeguarded from the sins of lust, sloth, jealousy, and greed. Additionally, rather than focus on converting nonbelievers, as other Christian faiths do, they concentrate their efforts within their own community to maintain a lifestyle of self-denial and strict obedience to their teachings. "It is their primary concern to keep their own baptized members from slipping into the outer world, or into other religious groups" (Hostetler 146). The community shows its support by protecting its members from excommunication and eternal damnation.
Not receiving the support of one's community can be devastating. Kumi Hodge talked about the lack of support from his friends due to his academic achievement. He writes, "From a young age, I noticed that being book smart can make you unpopular" (Hodge 259). He didn't describe the bullying in detail other than to say he was stereotyped and the butt of many jokes, but it wouldn't be hard to imagine the teasing that he had to endure. While he ultimately chose to continue to pursue his education, one can only wonder how many children chose a different path. Undoubtedly there are thousands of children whose lives were negatively affected by teasing and bullying and who never realized their full potential because of a stunted education. Berreby says that once assigned to a group, its members want to know what the rules are for continued membership (123). In Hodge's case, the rules of his community stated that his performance in school should be limited to at most, average levels of achievement. How those rules were set is the subject of ongoing debate. It is perhaps a mix of institutionalized racism and oppression, combined with the destructive cycle of poverty in the Black community. Whatever the root, the emergent lesson of Hodge's community was that one's place in society had been assigned and to reach for an improved quality of life was not just frowned upon but vilified. It is the fear of vilification that contributes to continued poverty in the Black community. Without an education, one can never reach a more financially comfortable position in society and so the lack of support causes the community to cannibalize and sabotage itself.
Support for its members is one of the most important roles of a community. With it, its members thrive. They are more confident, more hopeful, and more trustful of others. It is the knowledge that there is a reliable group of people on whom he or she can count on that allows a person to welcome new challenges and embrace opportunities as they present themselves. Without the support of a positive community, a group member can become withdrawn. They may even choose to sacrifice their own identity or beliefs in search of the support they require. Perhaps that is the greater lesson - that a person who does not receive the support they need from their community will either find a new group to join or change themselves in order to fit in to the group in which they are already a member.
No man is an island. This statement, first written in John Donne's book Devotions upon Emergent Occasions, has been dissected and reflected upon countless times since it was published in 1624. Humans are social beings. Peter Richerson of the University of California at Davis compares humans (more specifically, college students) with other primates and notes the ease with which they interact with each other, even without the benefit of having previously met. David Berreby quotes him describing humans' need to belong to a group by saying, "We want to live in tribes…[people] are looking to be told what group they belong to" (123). Surrounding his or herself with a group of people - a community - serves many purposes to each participant. Perhaps the greatest function of community in one's life is to support each other through the many stages of life.
Gladys Cason had recently moved to Virginia from her home in Puerto Rico when she met and married her husband. Five months later her daughter Andrea was born. Being new to the area, she did not have many solid friendships. She describes her pregnancy sadly: "No one threw me a baby shower. No one was excited for me. It was just me, my husband, and the baby in my stomach." In addition, as a stay at home mom, she did not have office colleagues with whom she could confide in or compare notes on parenting. The lack of support from a parent centric community made her transition into motherhood difficult. "It was hard because I had no one to talk to," she says. She frequently doubted herself and her confidence faltered. Without any family nearby, she felt isolated. In the days before Skype, cell phones and free nationwide long distance, calls to her mother in Puerto Rico were infrequent and brief. She longed for other mothers to sympathize and interact with. Her daughter Andrea described a very different experience when she had her first child. Andrea had a close group of friends whom she met through an online pregnancy forum. As the weeks passed, they bonded over shared pregnancy symptoms and parenting worries. By the time their babies were born, they had become a tight knit group whose reliance and support stretched far beyond pregnancy. "We aren't just a 'mommy group' ", Andrea says. "These women are my marriage counselors, my financial planners. My therapist while I'm waiting to get an appointment with my actual therapist." She went on to describe the backing that several mothers received from the community and how it helped them with their struggles through post partum depression. One member even went so far as to call the obstetrician of a mom that she felt was suffering in silence and needed help. Because of her outreach, she finally sought treatment. Not every mother in the group has needed such a drastic intervention, but each of them counts the community as a cornerstone of their successes in motherhood.
Like Andrea's experience with her "mommy group", the Amish find support within a community of like minded individuals. The support is even more essential as they find themselves separated from those who do not share their religious beliefs. The community must be as self sufficient as possible, as they are forbidden from entering into business relationships with a non-Amish person. By relying on themselves, their community, and their faith, the Amish find the support needed to resist temptations of the outside world. They also rely on a strict set of guidelines which cover every facet of life. These rules are directed at keeping the world out; not to punish outsiders but to protect the members of the community. The Amish believe that "it is the duty of a Christian to keep himself 'unspotted from the world' and separate from the desires, intent, and goals of the worldly person" (140). By removing temptation in the form of fashionable attire or modern farming equipment, the community is safeguarded from the sins of lust, sloth, jealousy, and greed. The community shows its support by protecting its members from excommunication and eternal damnation.
Not receiving the support of one's community can be devastating. Kumi Hodge talked about the lack of support from his friends due to his academic achievement. He writes, "From a young age, I noticed that being book smart can make you unpopular" (259). He didn't describe the bullying in detail other than to say he was stereotyped and the butt of many jokes, but it wouldn't be hard to imagine the teasing that he had to endure. While he ultimately chose to continue to pursue his education, one can only wonder how many children chose a different path. Undoubtedly there are thousands of children whose lives were negatively affected by teasing and bullying and who never realized their full potential because of a stunted education. Berreby says that once assigned to a group, its members want to know what the rules are for continued membership (123). In Hodge's case, the rules of his community stated that his performance in school should be limited to at most, average levels of achievement. How those rules were set is the subject of ongoing debate. It is perhaps a mix of institutionalized racism and oppression, combined with the destructive cycle of poverty in the Black community. Whatever the root, the emergent lesson of Hodge's community was that one's place in society had been assigned and to reach for an improved quality of life was not just frowned upon but vilified.
Support for its members is one of the most important roles of a community. With it, its members thrive. They are more confident, more hopeful, and more trustful of others. It is the knowledge that there is a reliable group of people on whom he or she can count on that allows a person to welcome new challenges and embrace opportunities as they present themselves. Without the support of a positive community, a group member can become withdrawn. They may even choose to sacrifice their own identity or beliefs in search of the support they require. Perhaps that is the greater lesson - that a person who does not receive the support they need from their community will either find a new group to join or change themselves in order to fit in to the group in which they are already a member.
Gathering Support from the Community
No man is an island. This statement, first written in John Donne's book Devotions upon Emergent Occasions, has been dissected and reflected upon countless times since it was published in 1624. Humans are social beings. Peter Richerson of the University of California at Davis compares humans (more specifically, college students) with other primates and notes the ease with which they interact with each other, even without the benefit of having previously met. David Berreby quotes him describing humans' need to belong to a group by saying, "We want to live in tribes…[people] are looking to be told what group they belong to" (Berreby 123). Surrounding his or herself with a group of people - a community - serves many purposes to each participant. Perhaps the greatest function of community in our life is to support each other through the many stages of life.
Gladys Cason had recently moved to Virginia from her home in Puerto Rico when she met and married her husband. Five months later her daughter Andrea was born. Being new to the area, she did not have many solid friendships. She describes her pregnancy sadly: "No one threw me a baby shower. No one was excited for me. It was just me, my husband, and the baby in my stomach." In addition, as a stay at home mom, she did not have office colleagues with whom she could confide in or compare notes on parenting. The lack of support from a parent-centric community made her transition into motherhood difficult. "It was hard because I had no one to talk to," she says. She frequently doubted herself and her confidence faltered. Without any family nearby, she felt isolated. In the days before Skype, cell phones and free nationwide long distance, calls to her mother in Puerto Rico were infrequent and brief. She longed for other mothers to sympathize and interact with.
Her daughter Andrea described a very different experience when she had her first child. Andrea had a close group of friends whom she met through an online pregnancy forum. As the weeks passed, they bonded over shared pregnancy symptoms and parenting worries. By the time their babies were born, they had become a tight knit group whose reliance and support stretched far beyond pregnancy. "We aren't just a 'mommy group' ", Andrea says. "These women are my marriage counselors, my financial planners. My therapist while I'm waiting to get an appointment with my actual therapist." She went on to describe the backing that several mothers received from the community and how it helped them with their struggles through post partum depression. One member even went so far as to call the obstetrician of a mom that she felt was suffering in silence and needed help. Because of her outreach, she finally sought treatment. Not every mother in the group has needed such a drastic intervention, but each of them counts the community as a cornerstone of their successes in motherhood. The support each woman receives has continued with time. Now that the children are toddlers, they turn to each other for advice on issues ranging from hitting to potty training. As their families have grown to include more children, the women of the mommy group have come to rely on each other for advice and reassurance to get them through the challenges of parenthood.
Like Andrea's experience with her "mommy group", the Amish find support within a community of like minded individuals. The support is even more essential as they find themselves separated from those who do not share their religious beliefs. The community must be as self sufficient as possible, as they are forbidden from entering into business relationships with a non-Amish person. By relying on themselves, their community, and their faith, the Amish find the support needed to resist temptations of the outside world. They also rely on a strict set of guidelines which cover every facet of life. These rules are directed at keeping the world out; not to punish outsiders but to protect the members of the community. The Amish believe that "it is the duty of a Christian to keep himself 'unspotted from the world' and separate from the desires, intent, and goals of the worldly person" (Hostetler 140). By removing temptation in the form of fashionable attire or modern farming equipment, the community is safeguarded from the sins of lust, sloth, jealousy, and greed. Additionally, rather than focus on converting nonbelievers, as other Christian faiths do, they concentrate their efforts within their own community to maintain a lifestyle of self-denial and strict obedience to their teachings. "It is their primary concern to keep their own baptized members from slipping into the outer world, or into other religious groups" (Hostetler 146). The community shows its support by protecting its members from excommunication and eternal damnation.
Not receiving the support of one's community can be devastating. Kumi Hodge talked about the lack of support from his friends due to his academic achievement. He writes, "From a young age, I noticed that being book smart can make you unpopular" (Hodge 259). He didn't describe the bullying in detail other than to say he was stereotyped and the butt of many jokes, but it wouldn't be hard to imagine the teasing that he had to endure. While he ultimately chose to continue to pursue his education, one can only wonder how many children chose a different path. Undoubtedly there are thousands of children whose lives were negatively affected by teasing and bullying and who never realized their full potential because of a stunted education. Berreby says that once assigned to a group, its members want to know what the rules are for continued membership (123). In Hodge's case, the rules of his community stated that his performance in school should be limited to at most, average levels of achievement. How those rules were set is the subject of ongoing debate. It is perhaps a mix of institutionalized racism and oppression, combined with the destructive cycle of poverty in the Black community. Whatever the root, the emergent lesson of Hodge's community was that one's place in society had been assigned and to reach for an improved quality of life was not just frowned upon but vilified. It is the fear of vilification that contributes to continued poverty in the Black community. Without an education, one can never reach a more financially comfortable position in society and so the lack of support causes the community to cannibalize and sabotage itself.
Support for its members is one of the most important roles of a community. With it, its members thrive. They are more confident, more hopeful, and more trustful of others. It is the knowledge that there is a reliable group of people on whom he or she can count on that allows a person to welcome new challenges and embrace opportunities as they present themselves. Without the support of a positive community, a group member can become withdrawn. They may even choose to sacrifice their own identity or beliefs in search of the support they require. Perhaps that is the greater lesson - that a person who does not receive the support they need from their community will either find a new group to join or change themselves in order to fit in to the group in which they are already a member.
If at first you don't succeed...
My revision piece is my community paper. In this paper, I examined the role of community as a support system. My expectations for this paper were to show an increase in critical thinking skills by connecting our reading assignments with my thesis. While I succeeded in using several sources to support my thesis, my analysis of the importance of communal support and my connections between the readings and my thesis were lacking. For example, when I discussed the importance of being surrounded by like-minded individuals in the Amish community, I discussed how they supported each other, but not why. By pointing out that "the community shows its support by protecting its members from excommunication and eternal damnation", I put my ideas to work and back them up with references to our class readings.
Later in the paper I discuss the effects that a lack of support can have on an individual and the community at large. I stated that, "Without an education, one can never reach a more financially comfortable position in society and so the lack of support causes the community to cannibalize and sabotage itself." By showing how a lack of education leads to continued poverty, I tied Kume Hodge's experience in with my thesis.
Continuing to improve my analytical writing skills has served me greatly in subsequent reading and writing assignments.
Later in the paper I discuss the effects that a lack of support can have on an individual and the community at large. I stated that, "Without an education, one can never reach a more financially comfortable position in society and so the lack of support causes the community to cannibalize and sabotage itself." By showing how a lack of education leads to continued poverty, I tied Kume Hodge's experience in with my thesis.
Continuing to improve my analytical writing skills has served me greatly in subsequent reading and writing assignments.
Identity - who am I?
Family as a Contributor to Self-Identity
Throughout a person’s life, there will be several times when he or she questions who he or she is and whether the answer is the person they want to be. How a person answers that question – who am I? – is their identity. Simply put, identity is how a person defines or describes themselves. That definition evolves over time as their interests and priorities change. A prepubescent child would not describe himself or herself in the same terms as someone in the early stages of adulthood, who in turn would see himself or herself differently as their neared retirement age. Although a person’s sense of identity changes with time, the foundation for a strong sense of self-identity is laid in childhood. During those brief but important years, a number of influences will work to help shape a person's identity. However, the single biggest contributor to a strong sense of self-identity is family.
The family is a person's first peer group so his or her initial sense of self-identity will be greatly influenced by them. Their identity may be defined in terms such as daughter, son, sister, or brother. With time his or her identity will move away from being connected to another person (i.e. Johnny's sister or Mary's son) to one that is solely reflective of themselves. It is during this time that the family is most influential in shaping a person's self-identity. In her book Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman, Queen Latifah describes how her mother challenged her to describe herself on her own terms. She writes, "I don't have to accept somebody else's moniker for me. I define who I am. My mom planted a seed in my head that day" (35). Her example of being teased and rejecting her peer's label for her in favor of defining herself is an example of the power of the family's influence. How would her sense of identity been different if her mother had instead told her that there was nothing wrong with being a tomboy? Perhaps the lesson learned would have been one of conformity or casual acceptance of another's judgment. Certainly that would have changed the trajectory of her life and her career. It would be hard to imagine a leader in women's rights or women's self-esteem who simply shrugged her shoulders if referred to as a bitch or a ho.
Similar lessons were taught to bell hooks by her grandmother, who she referred to as Baba. "Ya have the right to be yaself in ya own heart." "Stand up and speak up." Don't "give a [expletive] what folk...think" (375). Each of these lessons was passed on as Baba pressed the importance of listening to one's instincts and trusting in your sense of self. It was Baba's trust in herself and her identity as a woman and a wife that helped shaped bell's own self-identity.
Families also serve as a mirror to one's self. Seeing this "reflection" may shape a person's identity by either reinforcing their existing sense of self or by driving them to change the way they define themselves. bell hooks writes, "Families do that. They chart psychic genealogies that often overlook what is right before our eyes" (376). Those psychic genealogies may have been the underlying influence in her inter-familial relationships, but seeing those relationships play out on a day to day basis challenged her assumptions about herself and how she viewed the world. Seeing the contrast between her rebel grandparents and conformist mother presented two opposing views and ways of life for young bell. As she was able to compare and contrast these aspects of their identities, her own sense of self developed and matured. The same process happens similarly in other families. Whether raised in loving, support homes or ones plagued by abuse and addiction, people look to their families and see characteristics of themselves in each other. What they see will inevitably shape their evolving self-identity.
While there are a number of contributing factors, families are the largest (and some may argue the most important) factor in developing a strong self-identity. Their influence begins in a child's infancy and continues throughout life as their sense of self develops and matures. As a child’s first peer group, the family encourages a strong self-identity by laying the foundations of trust. By learning to trust one’s instincts, a person gains confidence in themselves and their decisions. Families also serve as a cultural influence and pass on traditions and values that act as fundamental ingredients in the shaping of a strong self-identity. As a mirror of one’s self, the family continues their influence in the development of identity by reflecting what can be seen as both positive and negative aspects of the way a person defines themselves. By seeing those aspects in others and also seeing how they influence familial relationships, a person is either strengthened in their defining characteristics or chooses to shift in a different direction. Later in life there will be other contributing factors, but the family will remain as the first and largest factor in the development of self-identity.
Thinking about Critical Thinking
A large portion of this course has been the refinement of critical thinking skills. For my analysis piece, I have chosen my identity paper which was titled "Family as a Contributor to Self-Identity". In this paper I argued that the largest contributor to a strong sense of self is a person's family. Reading the excerpt from Queen Latifah's book greatly shaped my thesis. In Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman, she described how her mother's response to her being teased influenced her. Instead of telling Latifah to turn the other cheek, so to speak, she encouraged her to stand up for herself. In my paper I considered how the trajectory of her life would have been changed had she instead acquiesced to the teasing and allowed others to define her and shape her sense of self and worth. I wrote, "It would be hard to imagine a leader in women's rights or women's self-esteem who simply shrugged her shoulders if referred to as a bitch or a ho."
Analysis is an important part of any idea or paper. It is easy to summarize someone else's point of view, but to analyze it and apply those lessons to different situations is the foundation and hallmark of a good education.
Analysis is an important part of any idea or paper. It is easy to summarize someone else's point of view, but to analyze it and apply those lessons to different situations is the foundation and hallmark of a good education.
Looking Back - A Reflection on Eng101
Father. Husband. Student. Coworker. I am many things to many people. First and foremost, I am father to the two most amazing little boys (and a third on the way) I have ever seen in my life. It's a cliché, but it's true - until you have kids, you could never understand how overwhelming your love is for them. It's the kind of love that will drive you to make every sacrifice for their benefit, like being a full time student while working two jobs in the hopes that it will provide a more financially secure future.
I was born on a farm in North Dakota and spent my first seven years there. My parents came to a family reunion on Whidbey Island and fell in love with the area. Upon our return home they sold the farm, packed everything into two trucks, and moved to Washington. We settled in Marysville and my parents joined a church which, in hindsight, was more like the movie "Mean Girls" than a support system.
I knew from an early age that I would join the military. After high school I served six years in the Marine Corps. Aside from my children, it is my greatest source of pride. I was honored to serve my country and to do so in the most elite branch of the armed services. The Marine Corps is also where I met my wife. On the surface it's hard to imagine what could make our marriage work. We come from very different cultural backgrounds and have very different views on everything from politics to the best day to open Christmas presents. But it is these differences that make our relationship strong. We balance each other.
After our service was up, she and I moved to Everett, got married, bought a house, and started a family. We were excited to be living the "American dream" when the Great Recession hit. Both of us found ourselves unemployed with a three month old baby to support. Luckily my wife was able to find a new job within a few months. I was not as fortunate. We decided that I should go back to school and finish my college education, which brings me to English 101...
I could use a lot of words to describe myself, but one I wouldn't choose is writer. I'm not particularly articulate and I rely on Thesaurus.com more than I probably should. Nonetheless, English is a required course so I signed up. I wasn't expecting to be so challenged by this class. Not only was I surprised by the amount of work, but also by how the unit themes are so easily relatable to my life. Because I think of most everything in terms of how it relates to my sons, I found that to be the easiest way to understand each theme and apply it to my own situation. Reading about bell hooks' relationship with her grandparents and how they influenced her sense of identity challenged me to think about how the behavior I model for my children will influence their identity. When she described the psychic genealogies that are the foundation for her talents and temperament, I am reminded of how my eldest son's obstinate streak so closely resembles his mother's stubbornness. Similarly the community unit provided me with a chance to connect with my mother in law. I interviewed her for my community paper and listened to her describe the loneliness of being a newlywed and first time expectant mother after moving to a new state. Contrasting this with my wife's experience of having the support of a "mommy group" was startling. Knowing how much it meant to my wife to have other women to talk to and compare notes with, I couldn't imagine what it felt like for my mother in law to be so alone. It gave me new respect for her. Finally, in the tradition unit, I reflected on how the traditions that were passed down to me from my parents are evolving with the growth of my family. In Discussion Board 1 I described traditions as recipes in that they are a good starting point for you to tweak and add your own flavors. As my wife and I meld our own familial and cultural traditions, we create new ones for our children who undoubtedly will add their own spices with their future families.
I reviewed our various assignments and chose the following four pieces for my e-portfolio. For my critical thinking piece I chose my identity paper. Although it was the first paper we wrote, I feel like it is a good example of taking a group of readings and relating them to a greater theme. My revision paper will be my community paper. I am excited to delve further into the analysis of how communities support their members and the importance of that support. The choice for my voice and audience piece is the discussion board post from the Movie Talk board entitled "Now that I'm thoroughly depressed". In the e-portfolio contents description, the voice and audience selection was described as one that "stimulate[d] others’ thinking on the topic and incite[d] discussion". That was certainly the case as another student and I discussed a comparison between "Rabbitproof Fence" and illegal immigration. My writer's choice piece is my tradition paper. It was the highest grade I received on a writing assignment and showed a great improvement in my analytical writing skills.
I hope that others enjoy my e-portfolio. As I mentioned earlier, this class was a greater challenge than I anticipated and I'm walking away with mixed feelings. I hope in the end it made me a better writer and in some ways a better father.
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