Sanctuary: For Everyone

Often when one comes to a new country or area, there are differences. Language, Customs, Traditions - all have different personalities based on the many different backgrounds. These marginalized people are always pushed into a dark, dusty corner, and never given a chance to flourish.

This weekend, my mother let me accompany her to a small dinner with one of her former student's family. This family was recently new to America: they had been here for only three years. Their story is opposite of this norm. When they arrived, they came with two other families, both of which are back in their native country. They could not handle the dark corner. My mother's student, however, was allowed 'sanctuary' in her classroom and thrived. From not speaking a word of English, he has morphed into a baseball all-star and a double-advanced math whiz. His English problem? Gone.

Similarly, Giovanni in her piece, Sanctuary: For Harry Potter the Movie, unites marginalized people of all backgrounds and provides them with sanctuary. She makes everyone equal in her temple and makes them feel accepted, nurturing them with similar experiences. They become pillars of support. She tears down the walls of differences and shines the light of strength.

I am not saying that all someone needs is nurturing. One also needs the inner strength to accept who they have left behind them in order to metamorphose; they need the strength to push past the dirt of past stereotypes and break into the open, endless world.

Even though roots can come from many different places, types, and traditions; they still need the same care and acceptance as others. They "[live], like all of us" (Giovanni, line 37). The only thing that is different: the way we blossom into who we are.

Evolution

Although immeasurable time has passed since the foundation of punctuation was laid down, the catalyst time has changed its relevance. The era of strict adherence to punctuation, marked by extensive usage and structure, has been dimmed by the oncoming new age. Less punctuation usage does not decrease the level of understanding within a piece, but merely evolves a writer's meaning through conciseness. Due to this, even the ever-changing world should acknowledge a subtle change in these ironclad rules.

 Many would refute that today's world requires the archaic and strict conformity punctuation offers. Have we really changed that much from the historical way of writing? Scrutiny of historical writings makes it easy to see why. Yet, Hitchings examines the change from "long-established rules" to "a break from tradition" (Source A). Even the renegade literary heroes of old - Austen and Dickinson - exemplify the individual meanings each punctuation mark has and the connotations they hold (Source B/C). Lewis Thomas' Notes On Punctuation also reflect on the characters of each individual symbol of punctuation (Source D), and Dolnik reminisces about his past relationship with semicolons and how they connotate "a mere matter of style" (Source E). Cosco examines the usefulness Twitter has dealt with in regards of concise writing and audience refinement (Source F). Assuredly, the world has changed, and punctuation is not necessary to the extent it has had in the past. Changes have occurred: technology is new and ever-changing, and society has the option to not conform to the conventional rules of punctuation any longer. Yes, the times have changed.

Punctuation focuses more on the grammatical and orderly side of written language - without any regards to the true message or style embedded within. Yet it seems "consistent communication" is at a continual stand off with today's "language [that] evolves in conjunction with culture"(Source A). Twitter and other social media sites have character limits forcing writers to be concise. With these limits, writers have to pick and choose words, phrases, and even punctuation (Source F). However, tweets and posts still proclaim their messages even with little or no punctuation. Society has evolved to the use of hash tags, a new punctuation, in order to convey feelings and tones or essence. Even text messaging has created shorthand language. Today's ever-advancing technology creates the need for conciseness and, in turn, less punctuation. Like evolution, punctuation has to evolve gradually and embrace the sui genesis of an ever-changing world.

Societal Expectations

Expectation. Expectation is an interesting word. A women’s acceptance is based not only on personal expectations but also on expectations of society. Women in particular, make an art of it in their behavior, their outlook, their sense of style and their overall presentation.

The question is, are these expectations necessary to be accepted by the opposite gender in society as equal, or as an aspect of competition of the same gender. 

Miley Cyrus is a prime example of this conflict. One wonders if her expectations were geared towards attaining male attention, or standing out as a woman. In either case, she left her mark on society. 

To some, such behavior is shocking; to others it could be nothing but a form of art. In any event, societal expectations were tampered with.  

In There Is No Unmarked Woman, by Deborah Tannen, there are expectations created by society for women such as the type of outer apparel – makeup and hairstyles – which are seldom used in evaluating males. Tannen details the various ways society has pressured females to bow towards societal expectations. For example, Tannen describes how women have many titles such as, ‘Mrs.’, ‘Ms.’, and ‘Miss,’ whereas men only have one: ‘Mr.’ Women mark themselves by applying different expectations of society in their outward persona.

Expectations dictate women’s lives and will continue to do so. Men can escape its clutches but women fall into deeply dug out historical crevices in which they are marked and scrutinized whether they like it, or not.

Visual Rhetoric in the Real World

Visual rhetoric is the language of images. It speaks for the images and converses with them, digging deeper into what exactly the image is trying to say.

This week we analyzed visual images associated with The Scarlet Letter.

We discussed how Dimmesdale was looking towards the light, how he was placed on the scaffold with Hester, how he held his heart, how he looked with fright. We analyzed the light and the darkness effect. We commented on how there was an A in the light of the heavens, and how it symbolized judgement from higher power - how Dimmesdale fears that judgement. We analyzed how the main color was scarlet, which represented the letter and its vividness.

Sad to say, I did not fully understand this concept. Until two days ago.

Gravity is a movie that follows the various measures taken to escape the writhing darkness of space. Without giving too much away, the story follows Sandra Bullock on her journey home to Earth. During the movie, one vivid scene stood out. I might have missed it, if I had not remembered the visual rhetoric. However, at a peaceful moment, I saw a picture that finally let me understand visual rhetoric. An image of a baby.


Her eyes are closed; she is floating peacefully; her arms are in fetal position; she is peaceful, maybe even sleeping. The light in the background indicates a peaceful tomorrow, where she will not be scared anymore. The only letters are Russian script, symbolizing a new beginning as the letters have the number one after them. She seems at stage one of her process. Her clothing is sparse and emphasizes her form, representing tightness as one would find in her mother's arms. This image symbolizes and conveys a message of safety and peace. She is out of danger in this one place. This capsule refers to the mother's womb where humans feel the safest. She is able to rest comfortably. The fetal position shows she is at her most vulnerable and needs the safety of a mothers' womb.

This image has let me understand how to interpret the language of images.

After the movie, a fellow classmate and I remarked about how we actually understood this. The movie was narrating a didactic story about being reborn.

Visual rhetoric helped me fully understand the underlying story under this one movie. Now I have to apply it to everything else I see and watch. Imagine the underlying stories of everything!

Simple Deduction

Fourth of July, was normally spent on Gross Ile at a family friends place. Dr. Wayne has no kids and so he would wait for us to excitedly climb on to his boat,and just as eagerly take us on a cruise along the Detroit River. With my sister and my older cousin, we were celebrating with many others, winding in and out among the many river-boats. It was beautiful sunny day and lots of people were out on the river.  Unknown to us, we had been spotted by the coast guards and were being followed. As soon as we got near the Gross Ile marina, we were stopped and detained for being illegal immigrants. For three hours, four-year old me was kept away from my family.

The government was just doing its job when it detained me, thinking I was an illegal immigrant or even arrested Thoreau for not paying his poll taxes.While reading Civil Disobedience, I disagreed with Thoreau's "that government is best which governs least" (Jefferson) ideas.  I have no issues against the government. In my case, illegal immigrants are a fair and right case that the government has to deal with. This is a problem because illegal immigrants take jobs and benefits that could go to the American people. Similarly with Thoreau's case, the government was trying to be fair. Everyone has to pay taxes whether they support something or not. Thoreau states that people contradict themselves when they condemn issues that the government supports yet pay taxes. I am an American citizen yet the government detained me as an illegal immigrant. Everybody makes mistakes, but I do not think that serves a call for anarchy or rebellion. The government we have allows both Thoreau and me the freedom to express ourselves and the freedom to support and condemn ideas, but we can not take it so far as to suggest rebellion. Government is our friend. One can blame things on it, have fights with it, threaten to cease our ties with it but ultimately it is our fault too sometimes.

The young man who detained me, sat alongside me for three hours on a hill overlooking the marina. While we were waiting, me, being the fidgety child tried to get closer to the water. He repeatedly advised, as a father would, to not move closer to the water otherwise I would fall in. Yet nearly a few minutes later, I slipped and he caught me before I could tumble into the murky water. The government safe-guarded me even though I did not want to listen. He was peaceable and honest with me, even though I was a child. I did not throw a fit or curse the government for its corruptibility. Thoreau needs to relax, the government has a job to do; it needs to protect its people so that we have the freedom to write essays like Civil Disobedience. 

Ironic Ignorance and the Ceiling

'They say behind every great man there's a woman" (Meryll Frost). As we discussed The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions in class, this quote kept nagging at me. This document assessed the  struggle of women against male oppressors. It replaces the roles of colonists and King, with women and men, like in the Declaration of Independence. I feel strongly for this subject, probably because I am an female and can relate, but because even today we, as women, still do not have the same rights as men.

The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, by Elizabeth Stanton and few others, elaborates on the conditions faced by women at the time of the Seneca Falls convention. Previously being cast out of a discussion in London about slavery, these women were able to congregate and express their opinions on women's rights. This document basically states the feelings of the women who, during this time period had no rights. Today, we have some of the basic rights that were listed but not all.

Some may argue that, women have the same rights everyone else. This is limited thinking. Expand your scope beyond America. Beyond the surface of first, second, and third world countries. Fact is, women hit what is known as a "Glass Ceiling." Although this applies mostly to the workplace, I believe it applies here too. The "Glass Ceiling" is basically what it says. Imagine a skyscraper. Women are able to see all the way to the top due to the glass ceiling. However, once we reach a certain level, the so called glass ceiling prevents us from going further. We can see, but not attain.

Several examples of this concept are highlighted in society. Take the sixteen-year-old Malala Yousafzai; a women's education activist. She posted a blog for BBC in a heavily Taliban populated area. For her outspoken voice on women's rights, males shot her in the head and neck, when she was getting off a bus. 

What disappoints me, more than our lack of social rising, is that recently, I was talking with my friend Pumba (he does not want his name disclosed) and we were discussing blog posts. So asked him if I could write about Malala. Sad to say, he did not even know who I was talking about. He had not even heard of the name. With such a ignorance, it seems odd that not only are women hitting the glass ceiling, but also are being forgotten by society. It disappoints me to see that even in a male dominated world they can't see. I digress.

This struggle is ironic. At first, our rights were in males' hands. They argued for us, they made statements like the one Meryll Frost made. Yet, note, they say but do not do. The world does not remember our fight. Society claims to listen but withholds decisions. The Declaration of Sentiments opens up the world to the on-going struggle women face.

'They say behind every great man there's a woman" Just how behind are we?

Reputation, Reputation, Reputation

Businesses: Location, location, location. But, is the road to a successful business really location? A dirty, shady business in prim location is not going to be the center of the business world. Similarly, The Crucible  relates the reputation of a person to their stature in the community. Reputation is how life surrounds John Proctor in the Crucible So in this case, as well as real life, reputation, reputation, reputation counts.

Reputation is everything, especially to high school students. Back in ninth grade, I was so hyped up about my reputation and everything. I used to make sure nothing was out of place on my person and everything was organized. I was literally the freak who made sure everything was perfect. My reputation could not take a small hit especially since, "no crack in a fortress may be accounted small"(Miller 169). Reputation is what everyone sees because no one can see what goes on in the inside. Everyone judges you based on your reputation.

John Proctor is similar. He is judged based on his reputation. A reputation of level-headedness, a reputation of calmness, a reputation of not going to church, a reputation of truthfulness, but no one can see that. No one realizes that his reputation reflects an intelligent man, who believes in god but is not a witch. No one believes this man who can't adhere to going to church. His reputation is in shambles because he didn't keep up with the rest of the Salem community. His reputation.

Reputation shapes you, it guides you. Reputation is your all. You can build up, and you can see it be torn down. Your name is your name. Of course you want to be situated in the center of attention, but remember location is not everything. Your reputation is.