Barbie

Barbie. Barbie serves as the unattainable standard. Barbie creates an illusion "as if we're all trapped in Barbie's world and can never escape." However, let's be honest. Barbie is not the only unachievable standard. In this world, there are hundreds of Barbies whether it be academics, arts, or anything ambitious. In school, we are expected to never forget a piece of paper, listen constantly, and reciprocate whatever is taught every second. Being the standard: having a 4.0, 1550+, 100% on each test, 36, studying 24/7, all 5s on APs. Ugh. It is exhausting to type out all of the expectations, forget actually fulfilling all of them. This is only one aspect.

I grew up playing with barbies. Popping off their heads, styling their hair, and dressing them up...it was all good fun. Looking back, I see no wish to be an actual Barbie. She is too perfect...perhaps a perfect that is just plastic and inhumane. After realizing the stereotypical image Barbie provides, people are advocating for a positive body image and acceptance of yourself. The perfect image is no longer barbie, buts it just loving yourself.

Perhaps there are millions of standards in the world, but slowly, each standard will mend into something new and something acceptable. Barbie will eventually be accepted as some delusional man's invention and accepted as a plastic toy, nothing more. It will not serve as a symbol for women. It will not serve as a standard for women. It will not be something women strive for. It will be a dumb toy.

The unexamined life is not worth living

Socrates, on his trial to die rather than head off to exile, said: "The unexamined life is not worth living." For him, death was a better option than to be separated from the philosophy-the love of wisdom. For Socrates and many scientists alike, asking questions and critically thinking about the undiscovered is the most important pursuit in life above any other alternatives. For some, logical thinking and an individual "examination" of life is the beginning and end of their day. Knowing we all will die one day, a life without adventure and discovery is one without a purpose. While Marie Curie may have died to discover radium, her wish to find something out of the world and bring an element to her life unknown to mankind before was successful. Radium is now the base of radon which is used to treat many cancers. This is not an argument to justify the lives lost or the horrifying effects of radium. However, the element of discovery in life is something that is used to date. What if man chose to sit still with not wish to discover? What is all scientific research was stopped? What if every element to understand more stopped? The earth would become its own grave. What we have to plainly understand is that discovery leads to bad and good things. While radium was discovered, the fact that we started the "radium craze" is what caused deaths. So while we discover more and venture into the roots of the earth, the implementation of what is found is in our hands as well.

ARTifice

While it may seem that the standard we hold political leaders to is acceptable and achievable to the extent that the hundreds of workers in the government are classified as loyal and honest, the use of artifice employed by politicians is used to create an effective pretense of being ordinary and regular. Artifice not only masks political candidates and workers but also reduces the effects of scandals and day-to-day obstacles. For example, Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton's use of artifice to hide scandals resulted in the outcome. Despite the daily accusations against Donald Trump, his use of artifice created a stronger intimacy with citizens. Although Clinton did attempt to cover up the deletion of emails, she was unable to master the art of artifice, hence her loss. Alike Hilary, her husband, Bill Clinton was another victim of failed artifice. His inability to bury the story of his affair and prove himself a common man proceeded to his impeachment. To be portrayed sincere and honest and personal as a political candidate is one of the most effective strategies to relate to citizens and be relatable to the public in general. Artifice is what differentiates a political candidate that wins to the one that loses. While all political candidates may not have a clean slate, how each fact of their life is displayed to the public is one of the most important factors in a successful political career. Artifice is truly an art that each person must master to have close relations and success.

Officially English

In Times Magazine (2006), the essay "In Plain English: Let's Make it Official," Charles Krauthammer analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of bilingualism. He starts off by stating he was from Canada, where he "had no choice about bilingualism." The United States, which is composed of many diversities, cultures, and religions has only one language officially: English. By explaining and referencing his experience in a country founded by bilingualism, Krauthammer wonders why America and its citizens are choosing to lose an opportunity to be bound by one language. Logically and ethically, he explains that it is acceptable to practice different languages, but it is NOT acceptable for the United States to establish every language as official: "No immigrant presumes to make the demand that the state grant special status to his language." While each person may continue spreading the use of their language, they should accept English "as the gateway to American life." By comparing the French-speaking people in Quebec and the rapidly growing Spanish communities in America, Krauthammer predicts that the acceptance of Spanish as an official language may be widely protested, as America is "a world far more complicated and fraught with division." With every document in English, it only makes sense to maintain the norm of English as the "U.S.'s national and common language." While America grants every individual the power to act upon their own opinions and practice their own practices, it is important to establish regularity and unity throughout the country. Which is in english. Branching off of his credibility, the reader understands the perspective and point Krauthammer displays. 

Words Mean What They Mean

While Steven Pinker argued that several times in life words are used to define relationships and create boundaries, words can be used to express true feelings and reciprocate strong relationships. While I may mention "Do you think you can pass the salt," it doesn't necessarily label our relationship. I may have asked her a question instead of a command like "Gimme the salt" to be polite because being polite is my personality. Words can be spouted out based on moods and feelings, and the fact that Pinker represents words as an influential power that constantly affects a person life can be untrue. Human nature doesn't always have to entail being 'intentional' or 'upright.' Sometimes words can be used to express feelings at the time, without a second-handed thought. Not all words have to have a reason or purpose. Although I don't necessarily agree with Pinker, I definitely have a newfound appreciation for the complexities of language; his piece created a new insight into how our minds work in the world, about ourselves and affect those around us. 

After reading the piece, my interest in what Pinker's book, "The Stuff of Thought," increased. He analyzes human nature and negotiates the relationship between the reader and audience. As a psychologist, Pinker contemplates the meaning of the word "f***" in "f*** you." Do you know? I don't. Pinker paints human nature as having "distinct and universal properties, some of which are innate – determined at birth by genes rather than shaped primarily by the environment."

                                                 https://youtu.be/LjQM8PzCEY0

This is a TED talk by Pinker. He talks about language habits and grammatical structure, and the in-depth meaning of what we say on a daily basis. Highly recommend it.

Troy High

Not a magnet school, not a charter school, but the 397th best school in the United States. With 110 full-time teachers and 2,018 students enrolled, the school has been dictated as the 6th best in Michigan. Each student in this school strives for a strong and successful future proven by the fact that 98% of the students attend college. Although the total minority enrollment is 44%, each student sustains a high proficiency in core subjects such as math and english. This school preserves a 60% college-readiness level, preparing students for the next step in their lives. Given the fact that there is a 18 student to 1 teacher ratio, aspiring young adults are given the opportunity to learn more. With math and english being above the district, state, and national standards, Troy high places as one of the best schools to attend.

As a public school, Troy high school is definitely an overachiever. Placed in the top 3 of the public schools in the state, winning a gold medal for ranking extremely high nationally, and having 90% of its student pass AP tests, are just a few of Troy High's achievements. Many students deem Troy High as the ultimate school to be admitted at. It is perfect, exemplary, and the best combination of sports and academics. It is "unfathomable" to understand the greatness of the school, without attending it. Although it is an area filled with stressed students, heavy books, and pressurizing parents, the numbers speak for themselves. The rest is inapplicable. It remains as an area that fulfills student's dreams.

Flip Again

"Long before I began to gain" wealth and fame "I was impressed with" Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton "enough that I wrote" books about them "to discover" what it takes to be wealthy." I learned from them that to be wealthy, I not only needed to be stinkin' rich but have a faithful attitude towards expensive items and pricey clothes. Although I am a millionaire now, I started off as a girl that sat on the streets, shifting from person to person...mugging them. I prefer the term "mugging" rather than stealing because I am providing safety to the individual from other stealers. One day, I sat next to my best friend, Vera. Vera-now a proficient dumpster diver- was fishing through the dumpster for the hundredth time. This was no random dumpster. It was the dumpster behind the 5500 square foot, high-end Prada store. Vera pulled out one of the most amazing, silver, cross-body, flat-bottomed with round sides, elongated purse. It was love at first site till I saw the next purse. And the next one. And the one after that. I became proficient in not only mugging people, but mugging people with rich purses. People disdain muggers like me; however, I'm not one that sits on my couch after 8 hours of a computer job cutting life day by day. It's an art. It should be viewed as an art that allows people to coordinate for the betterment of a life- if that makes sense. Now, I search for the most high-end purses and clothes to keep my passion satisfied. I'm just another Kardashian on the street.

Consider the Audience

In Consider The Lobster, David Foster Wallace argues that animals- specifically, lobsters- suffer through complex issues due to humans. Although people may believe that they are superior to animals, cooking lobsters are considered to be a moral decision that is disrespectful and unethical. Using the Maine Lobster Festival as the setting, Wallace uses descriptive language to describe the chefs that toss the alive lobsters-their "claws are pegged or banded to keep them from tearing right one another under the stresses of captivity"-in a boiling pot. In describing the process of killing and cooking the lobster, Wallace brings up two main ethical questions. Can lobsters feel pain? If lobsters can feel pain, can they display behavior to express pain? While Wallace does express the fact that lobsters don't have a similar nervous system, the lobster's scrabbling against the pot is an expression of pain and will to survive. Throughout the piece, Wallace describes the pain of a lobster in human-like terms. The idea that a lobster can shed tears and support one another in "captivity" highlights Wallace's point.
Along with certain rhetorical devices Wallace used, his setting was advantageous. In August for five days, people-especially tourists-feast upon thousands of lobsters. As a non-profit organization, volunteers and fisherman gather to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to fundraise for local stations or other organizations. With a start in 1947, the festival offered a lobster for a $1, feeding many people in need. However, this barely passed the money spent to hold the festival, and so the price increased over time. Now, it can bring in "1 million dollars of "outside" money." This has proved the transfer of worth of the festival and the lobsters that it sells, in conjunction with what Wallace proves.

I DONT want a CHILD

"I belong to a classification of people known as" children. "I am" A Child. "And, not altogether incidentally, I am a" disappointment. 

I am a living organism that exploits food, clothing, and space. In return, I create messes and a hub of sadness for my parents. Let me start from the beginning...

I wake up at 8 am when I could've woken up at 6 am. I eat breakfast and put away the dishes and milk, but I forget to put the cereal away. Oops. I walk upstairs silently to maintain the silence for my baby brother, but I stepped on one of the many toys scattered across the house. The baby wakes up. Oops. I head to my room to complete my homework, practice my project for the science fair, and submit my papers for extracurriculars. But, the neighbor next door made it to Harvard. Oops. I start the vacuum to clean the entire house, but I didn't unload the dishwasher. Oops. I look at my phone, staring at the girls that went to a restaurant to have fun with their friends, but my mom walked by and I wasn't studying. Oops. I open my ACT score. I got a 35. But, my best friend got a 36. Oops. I play tennis for two hours and return to eat food, but I wasted 3 hours, and have only studied for 6 hours today. Where will I get in life? Oops. I head downstairs to talk to my parents, but I'm only wasting time. Oops. At 2 am, I finished writing the essay due next month, but I forgot to turn the lights off. My dad mumbles, "How useless of a child. Should've never had children. She can't do one thing right. It must've been my bad fate or horrible deeds of my previous life..."

Then, I start the next day. The goal of each day is to not shed one more tear. Only, 355 days till I move out on my own money. I can wait. I have to wait. 

LET me cry

I wanted to cry. I wanted to cry so bad. I wanted to cry my eyes out so there are no tears left. I wanted to leave my eyes dried out. So I did. So I accomplished in erasing one of my markers, or so I thought. So I melted the one thing that people might have once remembered me by.

Crying. Emotional tears. Emotional tears form in the cerebrum where sadness is registered leading the endocrine system to release hormones to the ocular area, therefore presenting the final result: tears. Charles Darwin once declared emotional tears to be “purposeless.”

That’s the definition of crying. The ONLY definition of crying.

Then why do I see every parent saying to their baby –not any baby, a baby boy- “boys don’t cry. REAL boys don’t cry. Real boys are strong.”

Either these parents research the statistics of each gender of crying or they’re marking every other girl out there. The stereotype that boys should be rough, tough, and non-crybabies simultaneously shames girls.

Perhaps a boy crying is a marker for men; however, a girl crying is representative of dependency and a sensitive nature, which is preferable. A girl not crying is representative of independence and strength, which may make a male feel less helpful and valuable. In each and every way, we are marked. Marked in ways that are unexpected and unprecedented.

Why am I being marked for my endocrine system’s ability to release hormones to the ocular area? Why am I being marked for wanting to express my discontent? Why am I being pushed to not produce emotional tears?

Let me cry. Let me not cry. Let me do what I want without being...marked. 

Switch

Angelou’s piece in a different perspective:

The Domaine Leroy Richebourg Grand Cru 1949 was being passed around. In case you are not aware, that’s a hell of a wine. The dad’s sat at the bar in my house and passing around the wine glasses and prosciutto-wrapped pears. The mothers sat on the other side of the 4000 square foot home, sipping Chateau Lafite 1787 and gossiping about the rise of the new black fighter: Joe Lob. I think it’s Joe Lob anyways. Most people in my family called him by another name: charcoal. The kids and I sat in front of the television in wait for the boxing to fight.

I was ten at that time. I had absolutely no idea of what this fight meant.

As the fight started, the men strode across the hallway to the Onyx Sofa by Peugeot, while the ladies stuffed the sleeping children into strollers and gossiped further. We breathed. We hoped. We waited.

I heard one uncle start saying “That black boy is gonna cause some problems if he succeeds in-“

Before he could finish, my bearded uncle interrupted saying ‘Ain’t no black going to succeed. God don’t love um. If he did, he would’ve never bestowed them in chains at our feet. They are “stupid and ugly and lazy and dirty, and unlucky…” (Angelou)’

However, that uncle knew very little. As the game progressed, the wine bottles emptied and the food vanished, but the game didn’t end. As Lobs penetrated each part of our pride and soul, we sat in silence knowing that this was the end.

My dad muttered under his breath “I don’t think this is the end of something, but the start of something more. Something more important. Something imminent. Something we fear so very much.”

Disability

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwW6mYdJ7Xc

This video is about a group of people that fight the world each day. They fight in ways we can’t imagine. The attempt to change the perspective of society. They are an inspiration for us. They battle each fight bravely to face the next.

 Its not “now you see me.” Its how you see me. Am I strong? Am I weak? Am I ugly? Am I beautiful? Does what you think matter? Yes. It would be a lie to say that ignoring other’s thoughts and perspectives is easy. In fact, its close to impossible. So, I’m going to convince myself first. I am strong. I am beautiful. I am the best-disabled me.

Isn’t absolutely ridiculous that I not only have to face my problems but also other’s problems with me? Why? Do my problems make me any less of a human? I can eat chipotle, I can drive a car, I can sleep for 12 hours. I’m the same as you. In the future, when you are affected, you’ll understand.

This video is all about enjoying being disabled after you accept it. They all agree that “it [disability] doesn’t devour me wholly" (Mairs). In fact once you embrace the fact that you are disabled, you realize that its okay to be a bit different. You eventually realize that a disability makes you unique and inspirational to others. Eventually you make even say “One of my favorite things is when I’m out in public and I have all my girls in their chairs and we love it when we see heads turn” (video).