Op-ed Piece

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203716204577016362277046348.html?mod=rss_opinion_main

This is a link to the op-ed piece that I have chosen. The article is called The Cain Bonfire and it discuses the recent sexual harassment scandal surrounding the presidential candidate. Recently, the media discovered that years ago, Herman Cain faced sexual harassment charges from two women. These women reached a settlement with the Restaurants Association. The article discusses the poor way that the Cain campaign has handled the recent situation, and how it is possible that it could have cost him the election.

Not only was the topic of this essay incredibly interesting, but also the writing was extremely strong. I loved the way he began the piece by comparing Herman Cain to Greek Mythology’s, Icarus. As the article continued, the author maintained a strong voice. His tone showed that he knew what he was talking about, but unlike so many political writers, he is able to create a readable piece that is going to make sense to the average American. The strongest point in the piece is the fact that he remains unbiased on the sharing of the facts and did not knock Cain’s campaign with any cheap or unnecessary shots.

Sound and Fury

I really enjoyed the film Sound of Fury. It tells the story of two families who are faced with the choice on whether or not to implant their deaf child so that they will be able to hear, and in response, talk. The entire movie describes the controversy of getting the cochlear implants. The deaf community is completely against it and they argue that these types of advances will destroy their group of people. The other people believe that giving the implant will only enhance the lie of the child and it will allow them to live a more normal life.

In the end, one family decides to give their child the implant, while the other veers away. To be honest, I think that it is very wrong to withhold this treatment from your deaf child. I don’t care what you say about the richness of the deaf community; the fact is that a child that is not deaf has a better chance of succeeding at whatever they want to than a child who remains deaf their entire life. Their decision to not give the implant truly angered me because clearly they were oblivious to the opportunities that they were withholding from their child by doing so.

My Biggest Fear

When I was little, I remember walking to the bus stop every day. Our bus picks us up down the road, so my siblings and I have to walk a couple of blocks to get there. It was not uncommon that we would see a passing jogger or a dog. Of course every time we saw a dog we just had to stop and pet it. I remember this story clear as day. It as a brisk August morning and my sister and I were nearing the end of my street when a big golden retriever came marching into view. My sister immediately ran over to it and started to rub its back. Unfortunately, this dog became a little too friendly. It began to lick my sister’s eye, which resulted in her having to wear an eye patch for a couple of weeks. Needless to say, dogs have not been my best friends since then.

Stemming off of just that one incident, my irrational fear of dogs has really stayed with me over the years. I find myself standing in the corner of friend’s houses to wait for their dogs to move before I can sit on a sofa or go downstairs. I can’t really explain why dogs freak me out, they just do. If a dog comes up and starts to rub against me, nine times out of ten I will shove that dog away.

It is very unfortunate to me that the one animal that I dislike so much happens to be considered “man’s best friend.” Haha, what a joke. If there is one thing I know, it is that dogs are evil, and I am one of the smart ones….maybe.

A Song for the Times

Looking for the perfect song to sum up the heart of America is virtually impossible. There are so many songs that discuss what America is, but the song I have chosen is focused upon making a change from the attitude that we have right now. I chose “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson. Looking at the lyrics made me really think about the attitude of most Americans and how if that attitude could change, than America could do so much good in the world.

“I see the kids on the street/With not enough to eat/Who am I, to be blind?/Pretending not to see their needs.” This quote from the song really personifies the selfish ideals of America. We don’t want to stop and help someone because we are so convinced that our own problems are the only ones in the world.

The main reason that I chose this song was because of the chorus. It is so simple, but it gives a message that everyone should here. “I’m starting with the man in the mirror/I’m asking him to change his ways/And no message could have been any clearer/If you wanna make the world a better place/Take a look at yourself and make a change.” This is the attitude that we need to adopt. Being born in America means that we are blessed beyond belief because of the opportunities that are given to us. It is our responsibility to take the prosperity and use it to help others. We have to start with the Man in the Mirror.

Writing Style

I have always loved to write, and for as long as I can remember I have been a strong writer. During my middle school years I took part in advanced writing classes known as WCATY, and these really molded me into the writer I am today. They taught me to be concise, but not too quick. Be relatable, but do not turn a serious matter into a joke. Look for ways to improve your writing, but remember that there are always strong points in whatever you churn out. These three points have really dictated a lot of my writing in the past.

I think the reason that I enjoy writing so much is because it has always come so naturally to me. I am one of those kids who can write a paper in an hour, skip proof reading, turn it in, and get an A. But that is why I am excited for this class. It is an opportunity to really put all I have in writing, and also learn new ways to grow and mature as a writer. I look forward to expanding my voice to become a more talented and enjoyable author.

Inagural Words Activity

This activity was incredibly interesting. I enjoyed reading through the presidents and their various speeches. After pondering for a while on who to choose, I settled upon Richard Nixon. While his first term speech was not all that interesting, his second term really intrigued me. Of course we all know of the infamous Watergate Scandal and the story of Nixon’s near impeachment, saved only through his resignation. With this in mind, I searched through his speech and discovered several ironic phrases. Nixon repeats the words responsibility and respect throughout his speech. Of course, this made me laugh because when the average American thinks of Nixon, they think of a scandal and his lawbreaking ways.

There was one other address that also made me pause. I thought that it was awesome that in George Washington’s second term of office, he used only one word twice. This shows what a unique and great president this country began with. Instead of wasting time on repeating things over and over again, he covered all of the issues in order to help keep the people of his new country well informed.