Idiot Nation -- By Michael Moore

Q: "After reading 'Idiot Nation,' what are your first reactions to Moore's indictments? Choose one aspect of the essay’s claims against education in the US and respond in detail to it."

After reading just the first two pages of Michael Moore's "Idiot Nation," I was a bit turned off by his forthright tone; his language was tremendously opinionated. I happened to agree with a lot of what he said, though I'm sure some people found it offensive. I can only imagine the way the public reacted to his first few opening lines:

Do you feel like you live in a nation of idiots? I used to console myself about the state of stupidity in this country by repeating this to myself: "Even if there are two hundred million stone-cold idiots in this country, that leaves at least eighty million who'll get what I'm saying..."

Though Michael Moore's speech is incredibly blunt, I agree with many of the points that he made. For one thing, education is an incredibly valuable. It is truly what advances a civilization and allows for it to function. Without it, the future is somewhat bleak. Moore brilliantly puts himself into the mindset of a parents and pretends to write a letter to teachers across the nation. He states:

"Not only will you be largely responsible for her ability to make a living, but your influence will greatly affect how she views the world, what she knows about other people in this world, and how she will feel about herself."

And it's true! The education we are provided can determine the development and the achievements of our future. Without basic knowledge, how can we make positive, sensible changes for ourselves and for the world?

Moore and I both, also, share a disliking for ex-president George W. Bush. I am not very well-informed when it comes to politics, but what I do know I have learned from my father. He has never trusted or approved of any of Bush's decision's while in office. He, like Moore, found it ironic that many of the politicians who are angry about the fact that American education systems rank below those in Japan and Germany are also the people who refuse to fund better schooling systems in the U.S.

Michael Moore ended "Idiot Nation" with four suggestions to fight back at the education systems respectfully ("Mock the Vote," "Start a School Club," Launch Your Own Newspaper," and "Get Involved in Your Community"), and I thought all of his suggestions were really great and effective. I know this because when I was a sophomore in high school, my friends and I were interested in starting up a club to raise money for local animal shelters and educate people on the evils of animal cruelty. It was very successful and I think we really made positive contributions to the community and to our student body by raising a great deal of money and enlightening people.

I was fascinated by many of the statistics he incorporated into his work! I had no idea that during the 2000-2001 school year, 163 schools in New York City began the school year without a principal! I cannot even imagine attending a school without an authoritative figure in charge. It must have been so chaotic for the students and faculty. I also was intrigued by the fact that an experiment was conducted using five-hundred-and-fifty-six senior students from various prestigious American universities/colleges; the students were asked to complete a high school level multiple-choice test. According to the results, even the top students answered only 53% of the questions right. And 40% of the people used were unaware of when the Civil War occurred. Without a simple, basic knowledge of history, how are we sure that we aren't doomed to repeat it? This just goes to prove that American education is being put aside when it should be a top priority.

Links for Personal Narrative

http://www.historiann.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/belle.jpg

http://diabetesinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/knowledgeofdiabetes_2.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_teuCqfdq8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7JlLt03F6c

Personal Narrative

To me, a personal narrative is a factual story of an individual's personal experience. It involves recalling, retelling and reliving an experience. It is a way for a person to express their deepest, most truthful thoughts. Personal narratives can be communicated through...

*Writing [in a "first person narrative" perspective:] (i.e., essay, letter, article, poem, email, story...)

*Visual arts (i.e., movie, play/musical, television show...)

*Audio methods (i.e., song, speech, presentation...)

I think the purpose of a personal narrative is to share and revisit a moment of the past. Sometimes, people construct personal narratives to vent; others, to convey to others how it felt to go through what they did. The intention is to show, not tell, an experience.

The first step to telling a personal narrative is to brainstorm. I don't usually find brainstorming to be difficult; I enjoy collecting, organizing and formatting my ideas. I tend to find the writing process more difficult.

So far, I've come up with the following ideas to write my Personal Narrative paper on:
*Beauty and the Beast- I auditioned for this show at a local community theatre and was not cast as the part I wanted. This was an emotional struggle for me.
*Fiddler on the Roof- I was in this show 8-years ago, when I was in the 5th grade. I auditioned for the part of "Hodel" but was not cast because over the course of rehearsal time, I was going to miss a few days to do Diabetic-pump training.
*Diabetes (general)- This disease has changed me in so many ways; however, it will never take away my love for theatre.

I'm not quite sure which of these I am planning to write about; I remember them all quite vividly and have an emotional relationship with each story.

Introduction

I am a tea-drinking, dream-wishing, soul-singing, laughter-loving, friend-hugging, health-seeking young woman.


I am also a Type-1 Juvenile Diabetic--since age 10. My diagnosis was one of the most traumatic and memorable incidents I have ever encountered:

My physical and emotional strength were tested on February 1st, 2003, the moment I went to Nyack Hospital. The doctors claimed that I had “sweet breath” and proceeded to take actions that eventually saved my life. It was an unexpected diagnosis, thankfully determined before things could not be turned around for me. A pediatrician missed it, telling me that the stomach virus, the intense thirst, the fatigue and the loss of thirteen-pounds in just five days, was all just a coincidence. I remember feeling nauseous, tired, achy, parched and lethargic. I was rushed to the hospital, and after five days, I was well-educated on my new diagnosis: Juvenile Type-One Diabetes. It turns out my blood sugar was an implausible 960mg/dl! (An ideal range is anywhere from 80mg/dl-135mg/dl). I was simply hours away from being put into a coma. Luckily, this disease was caught before it pervaded my body. Though today, my blood sugars are more under control, I still struggle to keep myself healthy. It is quite a struggle.

This year, I left UHa on medical leave. I was situated in a hospital in New York, working to improve my physical and emotional health. This break from school was necessary but very difficult for me; I missed my friends, my classes and my freedom. I was able to pull myself together and return after nine days.


It's interesting; looking back, I've always fallen victim to my body. My lack of salubrious stability has made me much more cautious and uncertain individual. I set incredibly high standards for myself and sometimes get down on myself if I am unable to achieve them. Since my diagnosis, I've striven for perfection. I can tell you, honestly, that it is an unrealistic dream.

I've always felt as though my medical issues have taken "the voice" out of me. I find it difficult to stand up to my body and mind. I think that's why sometimes writing is so difficult for me; I judge it too much. I try to hard. I want to make it perfect. I am learning to let go of the pressure and be positively proactive. I'm working towards attaining my goals for the future (i.e., finding happiness, making a career out of theater, being a good friend/family member, living mindfully...). I am working on not defining myself based on my health issues.

I know, deep down, that I am...

"One
Who loves.
Who admires but fears.
Who dreams,
Aspires.
A teenager, yet a child.
A thinker. A creator.
Observe.

Recalling family travels.
Italy, where the wind stroked my
Hair, and the sun willingly unearthed.
Blinking at her
Reflection, within the accruing
Chilled pools. Waterfalls. Lakes.
From the dancing butterflies of the stream.

The long hallway presses two palms
Against the delicate faces of my
Two favorite rooms:


Collections of my life are
Distributed, displayed, scattered
Amongst the crevices of my
bedroom. My youth,
Painted on the smiles of each
teddy bear, and inscribed in
“Bedtime books” on top my shelf.
They slumber beside recent
Photographs and memories.
Existing Forever, creating permanent
Imprints in my mind, of beautiful moments
Captured.
From growth.

The kitchen.
Tiles, cool beneath
My bare toes.
Home sweet home
To conversation
that brews and bubbles beneath
Tears and laughter. A bedroom for
Concocting with companions.
Years ago, snacking and sneaking
Packets of sugar, sweet candies.

Treats.
The kitchen. My own
Performance space. An area to
Sing. Oh, and to dance!
From freedom.

Arms drenched in goosebumps.
Eyes in awe. Ears flirtatious with
The drifting melodies.

“Memory, all
Alone in
the moonlight,”
Sways and purrs in my mind.
A show-tune enthusiast.
From the stage.

An apple in hand,
A celery stick
in the other,

So sheltering a snug cup of
Drained herbs, tea.
From moments of peace.

I am
One
Jovial face in the crowd.
A daughter and sister.
Ally, a student.
“Jenz” the health-nut, and
Lover of animals,
Sunsets, photography, and
Old movies. Poetry,
Friendships and
Family.
From the heart.

I am
One…
But one
from several
Extraordinary
Memories. From
A focused present.
A miraculous
And beautiful
Future."

I am complex. I am unique.
I am me.

A Boy's Life-- Hanna Rosin

Before even reading this article, I knew I would enjoy it. I love psychology a great deal, and even more so, I know a child who actually has gender-identity disorder. This article not only helped me to better understand the young boy that I know, but it also gave me more insight into how exactly it must feel to raise a transgender child.
I really liked the way Rosin began this article. She opens with, "The local newspaper recorded that Brandon Simms was the first millennium baby born in his tiny southern town, at 12:50 a.m. He weighed eight pounds, two ounces..." She sets up the story by having Brandon appear like every other child in this world. She does not begin by saying he was strange or looking particularly feminine. She begins the story, setting Brandon as a human being, just like everyone else. He never deserves to be treated with any less respect.
Rosin went on to say, "The blockers put teens in a state of suspended development. They prevent boys from growing facial and body hair and an Adam’s apple, or developing a deep voice or any of the other physical characteristics that a male-to-female transsexual would later spend tens of thousands of dollars to reverse. They allow girls to grow taller, and prevent them from getting breasts or a period." I found this to be incredible! I didn't really know that children/adolescents could be injected with "blockers" to sway them to develop into the opposite gender. Blockers sounds a bit like steroids to me. I wondered if this was at all unhealthy. However, blockers seem to be a sensible decision because it most likely helps children with gender-identity disorder feel more secure in their own skin. And luckily, for those who are unhappy, "blockers are entirely reversible; should a child change his or her mind about becoming the other gender, a doctor can stop the drugs and normal puberty will begin."
I read on and liked Tina Simms' interaction with Jill, a homosexual mother who also was at the conference for transgender children. Jill said, "I already legally changed [my daughter's] name and called all the parents at the school. Then, when he’s in eighth grade, we’ll take him to the [endocrinologist] and get the blockers, and no one will ever know. He’ll just sail right through.” I found this to be really interesting. First of all, I felt such relief knowing that this young transgender child had such a supportive parent. I know my parents would be able to tolerate it if my sister or I happened to be transgendered, but not all parents are as understanding. Secondly, I loved that I could pick up a sense of hope and acceptance in Jill. She sounded completely confident and self-assured in the fact that her daughter will be able to live somewhat comfortably as a male.
I then tried to picture how difficult it must be to keep a secret from society, and how much more difficult it might be if society slowly began to know about it and critique it. I couldn't even imagine life in Tina's shoes, trying to raise a child confidently, knowing that society did not approve of his lifestyle or behaviors: "In Brandon’s case, for example, doubt would force Tina to consider that if she began letting him dress as a girl, she would be defying the conventions of her small town, and the majority of psychiatric experts, who advise strongly against the practice." But as the story concludes, we see Tina accept her son's gender-identity disorder with incredible strength: "That morning, Tina was meeting with Bridget’s principal, and the principal of a nearby school, to see if she could transfer. “I want her to be known as Bridget, not Bridget-who-used-to-be-Brandon.”
Rosin provided me with some statistics and a bit of history on the subject, which engrossed me tremendously. I had no idea that gender-identity disorder is rapidly becoming more common. I wondered what might have caused the significant statistical increase. But as I read on, I learned that the media actually has a great influence over children and their gender. I also was suprised to learn that as time progresses, gender-identity disorder is becoming more and more prevalent in younger children: "Dr. Peggy Cohen-Kettenis, who runs the main clinic in the Netherlands, has seen the average age of her patients plummet since 2002." I was intrigued by the fact that the endocriologist plays such a large role in this, as opposed to a psychologist. As a Diabetic, I am very familiar with the support of an endocrinoloist.
Rosin goes on to describe the two male twins, "one of whom had suffered a botched circumcision that had burned off most of his penis." I remember learning about that in my psychology course in high school. The "nature vs. nuture" controversy" really plays a role here. Rosin says that, "Money reported on Reimer’s fabulous progress, writing that “she” showed an avid interest in dolls and dollhouses, that she preferred dresses, hair ribbons, and frilly blouses." This supports the "nurture-side" of the theory. However, as David Reimer grew up, it was said that he hadn't ever really "adjusted to being a girl at all. He wanted only to build forts and play with his brother’s dump trucks, and insisted that he should pee standing up. He was a social disaster at school, beating up other kids and misbehaving in class." This supports the "nature-side" of the theory. Reimer was informed of his unknown gender change at age 14. And at age 38, after battling years of confusion and depression, he took his own life. This entire situation was very sad and complex; it clearly shows how significant and life-changing gender-identity truly is.
Rosin continues and references a quote by Dr. Milton Diamond, an expert on human sexuality at the University of Hawaii. He said, "Maybe we really have to think … that we don’t come to this world neutral; that we come to this world with some degree of maleness and femaleness which will transcend whatever the society wants to put into [us]...To him, these cases are a 'confirmation' that 'the biggest sex organ is not between the legs but between the ears.'" I found this statement to be incredibly interesting and I happen to really agree with it. I believe that our sex determines our "maleness" and/or "femaleness" to a certain extent, and that society and care shape the rest. It really is a pure combination of "nature" and "nuture." Gender isn't so much decided by our sex organs, but instead by our mindset. And interestingly enough, studies have shown that “'we can’t [definitely] tell a pre-gay from a pre-transsexual at 8.'" The stories that Rosin includes in this article--about John and about Chris--really illustrated that nothing is definite, certain or permanent in children. Discoveries take time.
The topic of this article reminded me of a young boy that I used to know. I used to be a part of a children's theater called Stage Left Children's Theater--one of the most incredible groups I have ever been a part of. I remember the director's friend came in with her son and her daughter, one evening. Her son was as sweet as could be, but I could tell there was something extra special about him. I found out that he struggled with gender-identity disorder. I considered this to be a pretty sensible diagnosis, seeing as how he would come to the theater decked out in his sister's princess shoes, party dresses and jewelry. We all were so glad to have him there and even more so, we were thrilled that he was comfortable enough to express himself. When I saw the picture of Brandon Simms within this article, I immediately thought of that young boy from Stage Left. I think about him often, and from what I hear, he is doing well.
Overall, I found this to be a captivating article. I thought it was well-written, relatable (because I know a transgender child) and jam-packed with fascinating information.

Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender-- Aaron H. Devor

     Out of all of the RPW articles we've read thus far, this was my most favorite article. I find psychology to be fascinating because it logically and sensibly explains the human persona. I thoroughly enjoy learning about why people do the things they do, and how that influences their growth and success in the world.
      I thought this article was really well-written and on a very interesting subject: the social meanings of gender. My senior year of high school, I took a class where I learned all about the psychological and biological development of children. So, when I heard this article was going to be about the psychology behind gender, I was eager to apply my knowledge.
     I did some research on gender to better understand what I was reading. I wasn't quite sure what "gender" was.  According to the "World Health Organization: Online", gender can be defined as, "the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women." An individual's gender is different from individual's sex, which can be defined as, "the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women" (WHO). And, according to answers.com, "Gender identity is a person's sense of identification with either the male or female sex, as manifested in appearance, behavior, and other aspects of a person's life" (answers.com). These definitions helped me to better understand Dover's analysis: "Gender identities act as cognitive filtering devices guiding people to attend to and learn gender role behaviors appropriate to their statuses. Learning to behave in accordance with one's gender identity is a lifelong process" (527). 
      Just like I had learned in class, Devor discusses the idea that "Gender is the most transparent of all social categories: we acquire gender roles early in life and so thoroughly that it's hard to see them as the result of lessons taught and learned. Maleness and femaleness seem 'natural,' not the product of socialization" (527). And it's true. In society today, if we are born female, we are expected to like the color pink and play with dolls and tea sets. The same goes for males, who are expected to love the color blue, sports and race-cars. It seems to us that liking those things are naturally inbred, not what social situations evoke from us as children.
     Devor goes on to say that "Very young children learn their culture's social definitions of gender and gender identity at the same time that they learn what gender behaviors are appropriate  for them" (529). I thought this was not only well-stated, but also incredibly interesting. If you think about it, young children really get their perceptions, as well as their "shoulds" and "should-nots," from the adults and people that shape their worlds and minds. A child's mind/perception is very flexible, so their view of what a boy should like or how a girl must act really does influence them. 
     The child psychology class that I took in high school actually had a preschool program within it. On certain days, we would learn about child development (on a biological level, on a cognitive level, on a behavioral level etc.); on other days, the preschool met during class, and we would be able to interact with the preschoolers and observe all of the new things we learned in the children. I remember, one time, I watched one of the young preschool boys play with a pink pony. This was somewhat out of character for him, seeing as how he usually was aggressive and violent. His father was a hunter and so, it would have been more in character of this young boy to pretend to shoot the pony, as he typically did. But this time, he just played nicely with it. Another preschool student confronted him and teased him for playing with a "girl toy." The preschool boy got very upset. He threw the pony violently and hid in embarrassment. This is a prime example of gender-related expectations. It didn't make sense to the young child that a boy be playing with a "girl" toy. As Devor says, "...children's individualistic impulses are shaped into a socially acceptable form both by particular individuals and by a more generalized pressure to conformity exerted by innumerable faceless members of society. Gender identity is one of the most central portions of that developing sense of self..." (530). Interestingly enough, the young boy, within a few days, picked up a Barbie hairdryer and used it as a gun.
     I was intrigued by Dover's realization: "Persons who perform the activities considered appropriate for another gender will be expected to perform them poorly; if they succeed adequately, or even well, at their endeavors, they may be rewarded with ridicule or scorn for blurring the gender dividing line" (531). This is quite true. I thought back to high school; one of my closest friends, a track-runner, was titled "gay" for deciding to partake in the school's spring musical. He isn't gay, but the fact that he runs track and sings quite well for a male, crowned him "gay." Dover, later, says, "A heterosexual orientation requires women to dress, move speak and act in way that men find attractive." This immediately reminded me of the five reported suicides--related to intolerance of homosexuality--that have occurred over the past three weeks in the United States. It is ridiculously sad and unfair. Gender-choices should be tolerated. Males that come across more feminine and females that come across more masculine are human, and do not deserve to be discriminated against. They are expressing their gender identities.
     I really liked Dover's paragraph on body language. As an actress-in-training, I am learning all about how body language and posture says a great deal about a person and their character. "They demonstrate subordination through a minimizing of spatial use: people appear feminine when they keep their arms closer to their bodies, their legs closer together, and their torsos and heads less vertical then do masculine-looking individuals...Perhaps as an outgrowth of subordinate status and the need to avoid conflict with more socially powerful people, women tend to excel over men at the ability to correctly interpret, and effectively display, nonverbal communication cues" (533). I found this to be quite interesting. A woman's body language says a lot about the character she plays. A character can be defined as incredibly feminine by the way the actor carries herself. For example, Elle Woods from the movie and musical, Legally Blonde (http://images.broadwayworld.com/columnpic/legallyblonde05big.jpg) sits with her legs together, her toes pointed and her eyes up. She clearly fits this gender role.
     I think my love for psychology feeds my love for theater. As a theater major, I get the opportunity to emulate and get into the minds of other characters. If I wasn't going to be a musical theater major, I most certainly would have majored in child psychology. I really enjoyed this article.

Serving in Florida -- Barbara Ehrenreich

     I found this story to be good, although it wasn't my favorite. While I liked the plot very much--the story of a young woman, searching for a job that suited her socially and economically--I was a bit distracted by the lengthy sentences and the side comments. At times, I felt myself starting, stopping and rereading to make sure that I digested enough information to understand the story. Nonetheless, this story was, overall, entertaining.
     When I first noticed the title of this work, I thought it was going to tell the tale of a soldier (because often times, "serving" refers to serving in the military). However, I was taken by surprise when I read that it was actually the story of a lady dedicating herself to some very undesirable occupations. After reading just the first paragraph, I was able to pick up the author's voice. Her tone was comedic and refreshingly genuine. I giggled aloud as I read, "Picture a fat person's hell, and I don't mean a place with no food. Instead there is everything you might eat if eating had no bodily consequences--the cheese fries, the chicken-fried steaks, the fudge-laden desserts--only here every bite must be paid for, one way or another, in human discomfort (291)." A handful of authors would describe it differently, possibly in a more beautiful, poetic way. But the negative connotation of the words "hell," "fat," and "no" really were used honestly to paint the picture of the restaurant. I thought this was an intriguing way to open the story. Her word-choices made me laugh.
      Ehrenreich's style of writing really stood out to me. The first thing I noticed was the fact that she tells this entire story in present tense: "I complain to one of my fellow servers that I don't understand how she can go so long without food" (292). I thought that was quite interesting. Most narrative stories are set in the past tense. Also, Ehrenreich's reference to "catsup" made me wonder where exactly she was from and how old she was. I wasn't sure if this story was coming from the perspective of a teenager, looking for work, or from an adult struggling in a crumbling economy. However, while I was reading, I came across the following: "When I request permission to leave at about 3:30, another housekeeper warns me that no one has so far succeeded in combining housekeeping with serving at Jerry's: 'Some kid did it once for five days, and you're no kid'" (300). She obviously was not a kid looking for work.  I also wondered when exactly this story takes place. Was this a story written in the early 1950's? 1970's? 2000's? Luckily, Ehrenreich referenced the approximate time period in her footnotes and clarified my query: "In 1996 the number of persons holding two or more jobs averaged 7.8 million, or 6.2 percent of the workforce" (301). I assume this statistic references information relevant to the time period in which the story is set.
     This story reminded me of my first job at Dairy Queen. I was asked to work there, my sophomore year of high school by my friend, whose mother just took up the franchise. I delightedly said yes, incredibly eager to earn money and to work beside my close friends. I met new people--like Ehrenreich did--on "slow days," we got along and discussed moments of our personal lives (i.e., school friends, futures, foods, significant others). Some aspects were fun, some were tedious, others overwhelming. I remember it being a lot of work. I had to learn how to make the standard DQ cone, cup, blizzard, frostee and sundae, along with refill low supplies, work the cash register and cook hot meals.
Ehrenreich seemed to understand and put it...tastefully?:

"...the fudge-laden desserts...The floor is slick with spills, forcing us to walk through the kitchen with tiny steps...Put your hand down on any counter and you risk being stuck to it by the film of ancient syrup spills...The regulation poster in the single unisex restroom admonishes us to wash our hands thoroughly, and even offers instructions for doing so, but there is always some vital substance missing--soap, paper towels, toilet paper--and I've never found all three at once" (291).

    As for some of the lengthy sentences: "I'm on a 2:00-10:00pm shift now, and a male server from the morning tells me about the time he "pulled a triple" -- three shifts in a row, all the way around the clock -- and then got off and had a drink and met this girl, and maybe he shouldn't tell me this, but they had sex right then and there and it was like beautiful" (293). Though these sentences were filled with excessive details at times, I felt myself getting lost in their length, especially towards the end of the story. 

   Overall, though, I did enjoy this story!