Social Justice Project

Reading and Writing for Social Justice: Looking at the World Through a Lens of Justice and Fairness

ELA Project

By Kate Pamplin 802

       

* An article that deals with injustice

My Article- “Protests Flare After Ferguson Police Office is Not Indicted” By Monica Davey and Julie Bosman from The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/25/us/ferguson-darren-wilson-shooting-michael-brown-grand-jury.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar%2C%7B%222%22%3A%22RI%3A13%22%7D&_r=0

        This issue that arose is the killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed young man, who was African-American, who was shot and killed by a police officer. The case of the police officer, Darren Wilson, who was white, recently was presented to a Grand Jury, which decided not to indict him. This is unfair because it has been reported that when Michael was shot, his hands were up! This means he was surrendering and did not want to fight. Wilson shot him anyway, which was uncalled for and totally unfair.

This case seems very similar to the Travon Martin incident, which appeared to be very much related to the victim’s race. If Michael had been a white boy who just robbed a liquor store, and who was roaming the streets, I believe the officer would have either just said to get out and go home, or would have taken him into the station, not killed him. This incident seems to be one in which the officer reacted violently because of the race of the person in question.

Everyone needs to be treated equally, and when it comes to encounters with black unarmed boys and an armed white man, the answer is not to kill.

* Make a list of scenes or situations that you see in your everyday life that you think are unfair to human rights.

-a kid being called a fag for being gay

-the word “gay” being used as a derogatory term (“that’s so gay man”)

-unarmed African Americans being shot for no reason

-girls being told its gross when they don’t shave their legs

-there is only one biracial kid in my class (basically of all of my class is white)

        The word ‘gay’ being used as a derogatory term really bugs me. Even if someone is doing something like going to the bathroom, people think it’s funny to say,  “Ha ha, that’s so gay, man.” They say this in a mocking tone, and probably do not mean anything truly harmful by it, but it’s still annoying.

The question is, how are gay people different than the rest of us? They like the same sex, that’s it. They still have basic human rights like everyone else. Having their identity used as a joke isn’t okay. First of all, how is saying, “That’s so gay” funny? Secondly, does anyone have the right to make fun of someone’s sexuality? Finally, why is that used in a bad term? Another meaning for gay is happy, so why has it turned into an insult? That whole issue bugs me so much and it needs to stop.

*  Interview someone you know.

I’m interviewing my mom, Claire.

All of these are the words of Claire Pamplin!

Q1-What do you think is good about our world?

A1- I believe that many people are good people, and that they want to help others. So, when disaster strikes, such as a hurricane, a tornado, a house fire, some sort of accident, a horrible event such as 9/11, or some other catastrophe, most people really rise to the occasion and lend their friends and even total strangers a helping hand.

I also think that people sometimes start out with hate or misunderstanding in their hearts, but when they truly get to know other people, when they begin to see them as friends, neighbors, or as people with whom they share some kind of common ground, they open their hearts and begin to love them. This is why it is so important to create situations where people see others as familiar, with common traits.

Q2- What about the world do you think is unfair?

A2-While I do believe that racism, sexism, and homophobia are unfair, beyond all these is economic inequality. It seems unfair, and really a form of cruelty and even madness, that some people have more money, more food, more comfort and luxury than they can ever use in a lifetime, while others struggle daily to get enough to eat, or to pay their bills and to buy necessities.

In fact, the extreme situations are unfair -- the super wealthy family in America or Russia or China, versus the children digging in the garbage heaps for food in Africa or India. But the more subtle situations are also unfair: why should a so-called middle-class family struggle to pay bills, to provide adequate medical care for their children and so on? Why should anyone in American, to begin with, one of the richest countries in the world, ever be without any of the basic comforts and necessities of life? And then, to think on global terms, why should any human being anywhere suffer materially, when others have more than they need? We put too much emphasis on individual effort and striving, rather than on sharing with our brothers and sisters.

        I totally agree with my mom. We have very similar views on things, so this response is something similar to what I would say myself. The whole issue with economy in this country is ridiculous, and I think everyone should be more generous and less greedy. Added on to some of the issues she thought were unfair like racism, sexism, and homophobia are also other big issues that need to be dealt with. Even if we aren’t segregated anymore doesn’t mean racism doesn’t exist, and people need to realize that, and treat everyone the same. Also the sexism in this country is unbelievable. Still women are getting paid less than men for the same job is absurd. Also the way men treat women as some sort of toy they can make rude and inappropriate remarks to is disgusting. And homophobia, can people just get over the fact that sometimes two men or two women like each other, geez, it’s not like its affecting them in any way. People just need to treat others the way they want to be treated.

        But, there is some good in the world. The community sense when disaster strikes. Like my mom said after something like 9/11 happens, it brings people together. Also the fact that when people are hungry, or in trouble, people do come out and help. Another thing that is good in the world is the fact we are realizing these problems and trying to fix them. For example organizations such as ASPCA, AFC, etc. But to be honest, right now in the world there is more bad than good.

* Watch the news and put yourself in the shoes of the person the newscaster is reporting about.

I watched a news segment on the Taliban and how they invaded a foreign guesthouse in Afghanistan. If I were being attacked, I would be asking myself so many questions: “Why me?  What did I do to them?” These were just people on vacation; we don’t know much but they were foreign, so this was probably a racial thing. More racism. But in the shoes of the people being attacked, I would try to make peace, and just do what the Taliban says. It would be so scary, and just a stressful situation. I think a lot of people don’t really understand with this whole situation, so I would be confused, too. Overall, I would think I was attacked because of my race.

  

   * Find a true story about someone who changes the world every day.

My Mom, Cathy Holladay

        My mom Cathy Holladay has been working in the mental health field for a long time and at her current job for about 20 years. She has come so far and helped so many people. The thing I love most about my mom’s job is her helping the people that are most in need. The mentally ill are stigmatized and often frowned upon, and her line of work is helping them go out and live a normal life. Also the basic principal of helping people in need, because it’s the right thing (since it is a non for profit) is something good for the world. I’ve met some of the members at her work and they are all so nice and smart. What my mom does it great and it really impacts the community for the better.

Q1-What do you do?

A1- I am an administrator of a mental health program, basically I’m in charge.

Q2-Where do you work, and what do they do?

A2- I work at Skylight Center, in Staten Island. It’s a non for profit clubhouse where we help mentally ill people get jobs, live in the community, stay out of the hospital, and just help improve everyday life.

Q3-Why do you do this?

A3- Because there is a great need for programs like this, because the mentally ill stigmatized. And a lot of people are afraid to help because they are scared of these people. This job is fulfilling to me. I like helping others, and making a social impact.

Q4- How long have you been in this field?

A4-Since 1985-29 years!

Q5-What do you do outside of your job to help others?

A5-I volunteer at my church’s soup kitchen, and helping some members there with housing issues, social security issues, and other things. I am also a part of the local community garden, and work at the land trust in Becket MA.

Beautiful

By Christina Aguilera

Every day is so wonderful
Suddenly it's hard to breathe
Now and then I get insecure
From all the pain, I'm so ashamed

I am beautiful no matter what they say
Words can't bring me down
I am beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring me down, oh no
So don't you bring me down today

To all your friends you're delirious
So consumed in all your doom
Trying hard to fill the emptiness, the piece is gone
Left the puzzle undone, ain't that the way it is?

You are beautiful no matter what they say
Words can't bring you down, oh no
You are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring you down, oh no
So don't you bring me down today

No matter what we do
(No matter what we do)
No matter what we say
(No matter what we say)
We're the song inside the tune
Full of beautiful mistakes

And everywhere we go
(Everywhere we go)
The sun will always shine
(Sun will always shine)
But tomorrow we might awake on the other side

'Cause we are beautiful no matter what they say
Yes, words won't bring us down, oh no
We are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring us down, oh no
So don't you bring me down today

Don't you bring me down today,
Don't you bring me down today

*  A song that expresses a significant issue about social issues.

Song- “Beautiful” by Christian Aguilera

This song and video are very inspiring. The song is about finding your inner beauty. The video shows us many different aspects of people being judged for who they are. For example ,there is a girl with anorexia, a gay couple, a transvestite, an emo kid, etc. The song is saying how everyone is beautiful in his or her own way.

       

This song is very important because it’s reaching out to everyone, telling them it’s okay to be different. In this day and age being different is frowned upon, because everyone has to be cool, and have the new clothes, and be the same as everyone else.

The song says,  “Every day is so wonderful/ Suddenly it's hard to breathe/ Now and then I get insecure /From all the pain, I'm so ashamed. I take this as when the speaker tries try to be different, she gets a lot of hate, then begins to dislike who she is, and becomes ashamed. This song is definitely a good role model for kids who are anorexic, gay, emo, etc. because it does show its okay to be who they are. And coming from such a big pop star like Christina Aguilera, they can really see her as a role model and think, If she says its okay and cool, then it must be okay.  In this day, everyone is influenced by celebrities, and people like Christina are trying to get messages into their songs to get kids’ attention.

*  TV show analysis

Show-Freaks and Geeks

I just re watched the popular TV show Freaks and Geeks. Personally, I love it, but I saw many socially interesting and significant things that caught my eye. The supposed “freaks” on the show, the ones who were supposed to be different weren’t really different at all. And the “geeks” to be all dorks who liked Dungeons and Dragons. They all were middle class white kids. The whole show doesn’t really doesn’t have any diversity. The only different thing as when Ken, one of the freaks, was dating a girl who was born with a penis and a vagina and chooses to be a girl. The concept of the show is to show the difference between the freaks and geeks, and the rest of the school, but since it was released in 1999 and was set in the 80’s I guess times were different then. But really if they wanted the freaks to be different they could have added in some diversity.

        The general family lives in this show however were very different. For example there was a cheating scandal, a mother who didn’t really care, a single mom dating a teacher, and just an average conservative family. This shows diversity in the real world, because not everyone’s families are perfect. But all of these kids could basically do what they wanted, they went where they wanted, and if they weren’t allowed, they would sneak out. In addition, they had cool clothes, and their lives were pretty. This makes me think that Hollywood should have a more accurate portrayal of teens -- or of everyone in general, for that matter. For example, having a kid with strict parents who weren’t allowed to do anything, or a poor kid who had nothing. But this whole concept of stereotyping makes me feel that Hollywood is only giving viewers what they want to see, a good life that they could aspire to have. But I know that is true, and I know in present day things are becoming more diverse, for example the show Modern Family has a gay couple and a biracial couple. So times are changing as television writers and producers are realizing they must show more accurate aspects of real life.