I'm Not a Bum, I am a Human Being

"There is a cure for homelessness,
It shouldn't be a death sentence"

A quote from Providence Journal

A picture of a homeless man

 In Providence, Rhode Island, there are homeless people young and old that have died. Some from disease, sleeping out in the cold, and overall living in a dirty environment. Others have died because they were unable to go to the doctors for their sickness mentally or physically. Some even died from suicide, unable to cope living outside like an animal.

"I have people sayin' 'Get a job Bum', but hold on wait a minute I'm still human not a bum"

Acts of violence has been a common trend with homeless people. Many teens and other individuals go out and have "bum fights" on YouTube. Aside from making homeless people do immoral acts such as murder, defecation of on the streets; even many people are also the culprit of randomly harassing and punching the homeless according to Philly. Homeless people are not for our entertainment. They are not your pet or toy that you can boss around.

Numerous times I have heard, even from the kindest people, that homeless people are lazy and need to find a job. However, one must look at it through their perspective.

"I go in with my resume, not looking presentable. They [employees] leave me with 'leave a number and maybe we'll call you back.' But how am I going to leave a number if I don't have a phone?"

That quote was from the homeless man in the video above. Much of these people are war veterans, and even educated people.

"I have a masters degree in mechanical engineering and physics from Dartmouth. I moved here to accept a job offer; but apparently, they gave it to someone else. Now I'm here sleeping in a homeless shelter and on the streets."  Maurice Johnson, a homeless man stated.

I have also heard that some people deserve it, they set up this lifestyle for not taking initiative in their life. Although it may be true that some were reckless, do they deserve to be dehumanized, and forced to simply become objects of entertainment or even someone negatively looked down upon? Would you want to be looked on with such pity, full of humility, and even judged for something that isn't necessarily your fault? We don't know their story, but many just want recognition that they are human beings, not simply a bum with a sign and  a cup.

Using Mass Media: Age of Reason Vs. Now

Age of Reason

Mail was often used, but was really slow

Any mail to and from Britain took about two months to get across Atlantic. This caused the delay of news to America from King George III according to the Revolutionary Betrayal 12. This also is one of the reasons why King George, would find it difficult to settle affairs. Letter writing was very common with individuals in the colony. Colonist such as Abigail and John Adams often wrote letters to each other discussing their personal interest and tactics in war. Additionally during the war letters were often the main way of communicating, they were often victims of espionage.

Printing presses and Newspapers

Documents such as the Declaration of independence were printed out to the colonies. This often led to a topic of discussion in the colonies according to the  Assumption College. The Pamphlet Common Sense by Thomas Paine provided colonists with the  motivation to rebel. Because of the lack of fast communication often newspapers  had limited topics of discussion and less world news.

A printed newspaper from the pre-revolutionary era

Have specific meetings and Meeting in Person

People often talked to each other in person.  An example was having delegates from almost each colony to form the Continental Congress. There they discussed what to do about the British especially with the Intolerable Acts, Sugar Acts, and Stamp Acts

Use of Images to attract attention

Pictures were truly worth a thousand words. After the Boston Massacre, images showed up which depicted white colonists as being innocently killed by Red soldiers. This in turn angered the colonist. 

Using religion to get the attention of colonist

Back then religion was common and a large part of the colonists' life. During the rebellion they had resistance flags that said "Resistance to Tyrants is Obedience to God." They Used Religion as an excuse to fight because colonist felt suppressed. 

Contemporary Era

Many options to communication it's much faster now

Any important information between countries can be told within minutes. This is because of the numerous forms of communication including: e-mail, mail, the internet and social media. However, people often say there is less privacy because of hacking, identity theft and being able to go through people's conversation history.

Online newspapers, printed newspapers, and articles are available

They can be accessed anywhere with internet. There is also a variety of topics such as health, economy, politics etc to appeal to the audience. Compared to the Era of Reason, the audience has lost the commonality of all believing in God. It also describes more foreign relations and world news, making the once small community larger. Additionally transportation such as cars, planes, helicopters and much more have connected the world together.

Possibility to have meetings anywhere at any time through the use of internet

It's possible to use the internet and see each other through the use of webcams and mics. Many meetings are held and  officials can meet with each other within a day or hours by taking the plane. 

Both

Propaganda

The use of media to establish propaganda is very common now and during the time of the  Age of Reason. During the age of reason many patriots and loyalists published papers that were in favor or against the crown. Documents published by the patriots included the Declaration of Independence which stated the issues of U.S. and how King George, ignored them. A document published by a Loyalist was "The True Interest of America Impartially Stated," which stated reason as to why United States should stay with British and refuting another Patriot document Common Sense.   

The use of media for propaganda is very common in the Contemporary Era. Topics in news on the television or newspapers are often over exaggerated or biased. For examples complaining commercials are very biased and derogatory to the opposition This is to attempt to persuade the voters to vote on their side. Additionally, topics such as Ebola, is kinda like propaganda There is  so much information everywhere about Ebola, from the symptoms and virulence of the disease. This fear is so common that many American citizens are afraid they will get it. In fact, many people are misinformed believing that they have Ebola, but really don't. This has caused for an Ebola Hysteria according to the CNN. To add on in countries such as North Korea, residents at such a young age are taught  propaganda in going against United States. 

Mass protest

Mass protesting is another example of mass media. Protesting not only provides awareness, but now it is often on the local news. During the Age of Reason there was a lot of mass protest. For example, was the Boston Tea Party. This protest was to show the Son's of Liberty's distaste is the King. This also helped established public attention as it was in many newspapers. Additionally, the burning of British effigies was common to show a sign of rebellion. This also got public attention.

In the Contemporary Era, there are still a lot of protests. People in United States often have labor union protesting because of a lack of pay. 

Interpretation: The Meaning Behind America's Documents

"We the people of the United States...secure the blessings of liberty...for the United States of America" 

The Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and the Preamble to the Constitution are very important documents in America. These passages resonate the founding ideals of the Founding Fathers in order to compose the American Dream. Embedded between the lines of these documents, it quietly reiterates the precedents that helped form the ideals of the U.S. government. These ideals are very evident in the tone and the rhetoric of the three records.

Tone

Throughout the passages, there are numerous tones that the authors wanted to express. However, the main tone that correlates with all the documents was to show that United States at that time was logical and prepared in planning out their independence. The founding ideal was America's freedom. These documents are important to the American citizens, to know their basic human rights and to be more connected to their government in comparison to the time of the British rule. The freedom and equality of the citizens was such a big thing that it was stated throughout the documents, specifically the Declaration of Independence states “all men are created equal...with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” They address the precedents that occurred by making laws, according to the Bill of Rights "no cruel and unusual punishments" are allowed. This was based on the precedent of being charged for going to jail for not paying off debt. This also included the tar and feathering which was common in the pre-revolutionary era. The ideal was to not have this happen anymore. Additionally, these documents provided proof to foreign countries that as "newbies" they know what they are doing and the reasons for it. Aside from stating the rights of individuals the passages, specifically the Declaration of Independence, states reasons as to why they made their decision of independence for“ the present king of Great Britain [King George III had] a history of repeated injuries and usurpations.”  It also shows a lot of precedent to show the beneficial change after the independence from Britain. The government wanted to show that the founding ideal was to not replicate King George's crude action's towards the citizen. In addition, United States' goal was to open up trade and allies with foreign countries, by writing these passages it established more credibility for us. 

Rhetoric 

The rhetoric of these documents are very important for the establishment of United States. The outline and diction of them are very professional and organized. The Bill of Rights is organized by limiting pronouns, being more formal and stating each article in ordinal numbers. The Preamble is organized by being the intro of a larger document; therefore, being the outline of the constitution. The Declaration of Independence follows a classical argument format. It's so easy to label each paragraph and decipher the intro, background, thesis, refutations etc. This shows a very educated composer and improves credibility to help persuade the audience of foreign countries and the people of United States to follow the documents. To further persuade the citizens of United States, both the Preamble and the Declaration both used pronouns that connected to the audience such as "our" and "we." This is important because it shows that the government acknowledges the people of the country, unlike during the times of the British rule. In a way it shows more of democratic nation, which the Founding Fathers aimed for. To further persuade other countries, the Declaration of Independence uses anaphora to state the fault of Britain, by supporting each repeated "he has" with a fault that the King has done. For example the Declaration of Independence states "He has constrained our fellow citizens to take captive on the high seas to bear against their country." Another important ideal was to state a person's right and not limit them; in the passages the right is stated and then it states how the government can "not" hurt it. An example of this was in the Bill of Rights it states "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated." Overall the diction and syntax of these documents are important to help resonate the founding ideals of America. 

 Sources: Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Preamble

 

The Gift of Hearing

"3 out of 1,000 children each year are born with hearing loss" 

This fact is according to NIH. How would you get around if you have never heard the sound of music, or even your own mother's loving voice. Imagine living in a society where hearing is so important, yet you are unable to hear the joyous sounds of the day.  Being born deaf is a difficult thing to experience, however science has provided us with the opportunity to fix that. There are so many remedies to improve or even fix hearing loss. 

There are a variety of treatments to improve the situation. There is your usual hearing aids and there are ones that connect to FM transmitters. However, sometimes implants are needed. Some people get cochlear implants or even brain stem implants. 

Grayson Clamp 

In the video below, watch how a young boy Grayson hears his father's voice for the first time. His reaction was truly priceless, as he was awestruck and caught in the moment. Grayson received a brain stem implant because he was born without any auditory nerves, that would carry sound to the brain. In his most recent video update given to CBS, he is now able to enunciate and say words. Grayson is one of the first children to have these types of transplants. 

You can just watch the first thirty seconds of the video:

Deaf Boy Grayson Clamp, Hears for the First Time

It truly is amazing what science can do, and it can only get better. The children are now able to hear the sweet sounds of their mother's voice. They can also learn as well as the other students. Additionally, these videos are really uplifting because of their reactions when they first hear sound. More and more procedures are starting to be used on children. With this, they wouldn't be as behind compared to normal people; the sooner they are treated, the less their learning is impeded. Science is truly amazing and a real life changer for individuals. 

Here is one more video of a young child hearing for the first time and their reaction: 

Two Year Old Cooper Hears for the First Time

Sources: CBS, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Cooper Hears, Grayson Hears

Child, Where do you sleep?

My bedroom, the one place I called my own as a child. A place where each item symbolized who I was as a person. 

A blanket, my friend that was there for me when I was cold, scared and sad. The warmth of my sheets welcomed me on a cold, winter day.  After watching the video, I have realized that I took these basic items for granted.  

The Room in the Cabinets

In the Philippines a young child, not much older than the age of five, showed me where she slept since she was four. We were outside in an open market and I watched as she went inside the cabinets of the table, like in the picture below. In this stall her mother sold vegetables and herbs outdoors. Her tiny plot had no sheets, no pillows, just  little ants for company.  I was bewildered and felt such pity. Having no where to go, she is frightened and forced to sleep there, cowering from security officers at night. However, to my amazement she was still thankful, saying that without this stall she would've been sleeping on the street, where it's more dangerous. For me, warmth and comfort was always there when I grew up. Although it is a basic human  right to have a bed and shelter to stay in, many children do not have this. 

Picture of a Market Stall

Children's rights 

When one thinks about Children's rights, they usually do not think about bedrooms. However, children should be able to know that they can peacefully and safely sleep in a place without being scared. Multiple times we provide food, toys, games, etc.  But we never think about giving children a bed or a room they can stay in. Which is ironic because I felt that as a child, decorating my bedroom was the only way to express myself. 

Roathy, 8, Phnom Penh, Cambodia: A young boy in poverty

Where Children Sleep

The video and pictures are all from a book called Where Children Sleep by James Mollison, who wanted to show the different ranges of Children's rights through bedrooms. Mollison took pictures of their rooms from all around the world. Although I would love to know their stories, these pictures do not need their descriptions, they tell a story on it's own.  From looking at their bedrooms their personality resonates because people are able to change the contents of their room to show own interests, aspirations and identity.  In multiple pictures, the social class is also evident; clearly showing which children are in poverty. Although this video doesn't focus on children who are in poverty, I felt that those pictures struck me the most. It was definitely surprising seeing the sharp contrasts of these images. It makes me want to do something about it. I have learned to appreciate the little things because of these images.It has taught me that a picture is truly worth a thousand words.  

Rhiannon, 14, Darvel, Scotland:  Her bedroom shows so much of her personality

Sources: James Mollison

Acid Attacks: Domestic Violence

three young women learn that acid attacks don't define them

"He warned me that if I left him, he would hunt me down. He was going to shoot me. He was going to paralyze me. He was going to throw acid on my face."

This woman, Nicole Beverly, was interviewed by the Huffington Post about her abusive husband. Unlike thousands of other women in the world, she was able to escape her partner before the abuse got out of hand. According to the BBC, about 1,500 acid attacks occur every year worldwide. However, much more go undetected. Attacks range from disputes between relatives and other close people, to just being too beautiful or handsome. 

"It's not a knife attack, it's not a gun attack, it's an acid attack-- we don't                    want to kill you, but we want to humiliate you."

This is what a former gang member, Jermaine Lawlor said. There has been an increase in acid attacks in numerous gangs across the United States. Not only is it painful physically, it is humiliation. Imagine our society, the one where teenage girls aspire to be magazine models. Models with perfect figures, thick hair, and a beautiful face. Now imagine being in this society, with a face that is melted off, you can only see through one eye, there are remnants of the trails of acid that has seared through your flesh forever, like a tattoo. Your pride and confidence gone as people stare,  knowing that once you were "normal." According to multiple articles, including this CNN article, Young teenagers are hit with acid, making them the victims of depression and often suicide. 

Albeit, these victims should not be humiliated. The criminals who have done these immoral acts should be the ones embarrassed. Yes, there are laws against these attacks; however, what's the use when criminals still do it and get away with it? In many places you can easily purchase acid in local markets. Something needs to be done to enforce the rules to stop these horrendous attacks.

Sources: Huffington Post, CNN, BBC, International Business Times, Safe Horizon

The Heretic's Daughter

  Witches were thought to be close allies with the devil

                                    

The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent was an overall great book. It took a while to get into the plot; however, once the the turning point occurred, it was difficult to put it down. The book was about the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. At that time, religion was  a large part of their lives. Witches were people convicted of heresy, inflicting pain on others; often they were affiliated with the devil. 

       Everything bad was associated with the devil. The people of the 1600s believed that "he [came] with disease, pestilence,...in spells and incantations (154)."

The witch hysteria was caused by:

• Disease: In the book, Heretic's Daughter, Martha Carrier's family were the ones who brought smallpox into Andover.
  
  
•  Blackmail or Gossip: Hatred fueled the victims or witnesses of the witchcraft.  Mercy called Martha Carrier a witch, because she was mad that she would no longer live with the Carriers.
  
  
• Calling someone else a witch, to save themselves and loved ones: Mary and Margaret were arrested in order to make "Uncle confess... and cry out against others for practicing witchcraft (177)." The use of a scapegoat was common. This was apparent in the novel, where the children of Martha blamed their mother of being a witch in order to save their own lives.

      New England Witch Trials is like modern profiling

Whether it is racial or name profiling, all searches start out as guilty without a trial; therefore, needing evidence to prove innocence. To prevent the dangers of terrorism,  the airports do many "random" security checks. These random checks, are often done to Muslims, Hispanics, and African Americans. Most non Caucasian authors who's articles I've read, say that these checks happen to them often; therefore, I question how random these searches are. In a New York Times article, minorities are often being the ones targeted. Automatically, they are being  suspected  for a  fault, because they look suspicious. 

The No Fly List

This government list contains a lot of secrecy from the public. People don't know if their name is on the list until they arrive at the airport; if their name is on it they are held back for additional screening, or even not allowed to fly. Many people have the same name as a person on the list; so therefore, they are punished for something they did not do. The process of clearing your name is very long and often doesn't work. Like the Salem Witch Trials, there isn't any clear evidence as to why the person is proven guilty, and it is difficult to get out the situation.

Overall, these instances may not lead to the the deaths of innocent people; but like the trials, it has provided the opportunity of giving people the power to blame human beings who aren't at fault.

Sources: Huffington Post, American Civil Liberties Union, New York Times, University of Texas at Austin, The Heretic's Daughter