LGBTQ Community Has A Harder Life Then Others.

            The sexual preference of the LGBTQ community is unfortunately questioned. They are treated very differently from straight people. LGBTQ community members have more hoops to jump through in their life because of their sexuality, unlike those who are straight.

            On example is Carmen Carrera. She is a transgender model, and wanted to become a runway model at Victoria’s Secret. She offered herself to the lingerie company stating that they should be marketing to all types of women. Also, a petition was started to get her into the fashion show. This shows that the LGBTQ community has to work harder, because if a straight girl wanted to become runway model at Victoria’s Secret, she would go through the process like everyone else, and if she fits the requirements, she could be selected. Another example of a LGBTQ community having to work hard for something they want is gay marriage. Since the beginning of time, marriage between a man and a woman is legal. But, gay marriage has had a longer way to come. The LGBTQ community has to deal with people opposing their rights. In June of last year, two men set a box of Cheerios on fire, protesting General Mills for saying that they support gay marriage. This was a hurtful action and shows the homophobia makes it hard for the LGBTQ community to persist through. So, those are some reason why the LGBTQ community has more obstacles then those who are straight.

            When I went to get a better look at how gays are treated through fiction, I really didn’t enjoy the choices. I read a chapter in these books, and it felt as if every single bad thing that had happened to the LGBTQ community was happening to one kid. Personally, I know more then one gay individual, and the best way to understand how hard their lives are, is through non-fiction. I think real life problems are better at teaching a lesson then those that are tastefully made up. On a regular basis I read about gay rights, because in the world I am growing up in, it’s an important issue. I believe that the LGBTQ community shouldn’t have to work harder. They should be like everybody else. Just because someone loves somebody else or the same gender doesn’t mean they are a horrible person. We are all the same. As a worldwide community, we need to learn to accept someone because of who they are, not what they love.

            In conclusion, the LGBTQ community has to work harder for what they believe in unlike those who are straight. Hopefully, we can live in a world were no one has to be afraid of who they are, and we can all live in peace. But to be honest, is it really that hard?

Social Justice For The LGBTQ Community Is Coming Step By Step

           In class we have been talking about social justice and injustice. I see a lot of social justice themes popping up in my independent non-fiction reading life. One way is equality for gays. I read an article in the Huffington Post about a possible transgender model for Victoria’s Secret. Her name is Carmen Carrera and earlier this month Change.org petitioned her to be the first transgender model for the famous lingerie company. They gained over 35,000 signatures. This shows social justice, because people are standing up for what they believe in.

            In the article, Transgender Model Carmen Carrera Responds To Victoria’s Secret Petition, Carmen says, “ ‘As a brand, Victoria's Secret should feel comfortable marketing towards ALL types of women.’ ” I feel like this is social justice. I think that this is a smart thing to say because women are women no matter what they were in the past, or even what they are now. And Victoria’s Secret shouldn’t be prejudice. This is a really insightful quote showing social justice. Also in the article she states “ ‘I mean, in all honesty, let's keep it real. I know how these things work in the industry. I mean I understand the casting process and I understand that it's difficult to get into a show like this, but at the same time, I definitely feel that I meet all the requirements.’ ” This shows social justice as well because she’s saying she makes the cut so they should base it on what they want, and not what personal secrets Carmen has.

            Social justice is popping up in this article everywhere, mostly because of the fight for LGBTQ community has to win for equality. They don’t want just marriage equality, they want to be accepted and to be able to do everything that straight people can do and not have they’re sexuality be a problem. I think Chang.org was completely right when it came to this petition. Sexuality is an extreme social justice issue. Not only in politics but also in entertainment such as music, writing, and yes, even Victoria’s Secret fashion shows. Carmen is representing a giant step for the LGBTQ community because this is something new they are going to be allowed to do. This could lead up to other things, like transgender workers, even more transgender models and maybe a transgender line. Social justice is a very strong theme in this article, and this situation is a good way to show it.

            In conclusion, this article is a strong way to represent social justice. In my opinion I think there shouldn’t even be a petition. They should just look at Carmen as if she is a natural woman and decide based on her. But if Victoria’s Secret decides to say yes this could be a really big movement in social justice for LGBTQ community. I have very strong opinions about the rights for the LGBTQ community and it angers me that there is even a discussion. We are all human and it doesn't matter who we love. Especially when it comes to getting your dream job. I think it's horrible that they even have a petition! But all in all, Carmen will get through it and I wish her the best of luck. 

YA Literature: A Response To William Porter

In William Porter’s article, “Teen Fiction Plots are Darker and Starker” published in The Denver Post, it discusses the topic of banned books. In the article, it talks about the idea of children reading mature books is ok. Porter goes on to talk about how our world is evolving and if children are experiencing or witnessing this in real life, there’s no reason to hide it from them in a book. “Given what teenagers are exposed to these days, from war on TV to pornography on the Internet, the Blume brouhaha seems almost quaint,” the article states. He also talks about ways to protect, yet not steal, this content from getting on the hands of those who are not emotionally ready. He explains that some libraries are putting advisory labels on shelves with questionable books. As it goes on, he explains how dark books can be somewhat good. Porter says “Dark as these books can be, they tend to be leavened by redemptive endings.”

            Some of the craft moves William Porter makes that I enjoyed are when he used a lot of quotes from a lot of different people. He quoted a teacher at a college, an editorial director, and even a young adult literature specialist. This made me feel like his article was more a community, or a group of people giving their opinions, instead of just his, which authors sometimes do. I felt more as if the opinions and ideas are shared and have not just one but many people backing it up.  Another other craft moves he does is when he ended his article about a quote that kept me thinking which was perfect for a response. The quote left me persuaded and a little bit unsure about my prior opinions, as well as giving me closure to the article. I believe his craft moves really made the article worth reading.

            In response, I agree with this article. I believe that books are getting very adult and dark, but that’s no reason to stop reading.  I think this article displayed this opinion very well. A part in the article that really stood out to me was when Porter talked about how not only teenagers are getting their hands on young adult literature, but so a adults. I find this really interesting. I’ve always had the feeling that adult books never have edgy plots. It’s usually a soppy love story, or something about kids a childcare. Teen story seem to have a more realistic story. They also represent the hidden and forbidden sides of life that we would never want to be in the middle of, but deep down, we’re all pretty curious. So, when he said that adults tend to be attracted to these books, it made sense after a moment of thinking.

            I guess what I’m trying to say is “Teen Fiction Plots are Darker and Starker” by William Porter was a well thought out article with many depths of opinion. I’m thinking of investigating this topic further because this article really interested me. 

There Is No "Because" In I Love You

“ ‘ But everyone everyone was hopingand praying that is the elephants could survive only one or more day, the war might be over and the elephants would be save.’ ”

                        -Faithful Elephants

            In the evocative story Faithful Elephants by Yukio Tsuchiya, it tells a tale about a zoo in Tokyo during a war were bombs are being frequently dropped. Just in case the bombs dropped on the zoo, broke the cages, and have the animals rampage through the city, they would have to put large, harmful, animals down to protect the people of Tokyo. These animals included three beloved elephants named Tonky, Wanly and John. I feel that a strong theme in this story is love.

            Love can be found at any page of this book. It can be found when the zookeepers finally feed Tonky and Wanly after they have starved the elephant for a great amount of time. The zookeeper hugs their legs and tries to get them to eat. I think the only reason he did it was because he loved them. The author is saying that love means never giving up. Love can also be found when in the story it says, “…the elephant trainer loved them as if they were his only children.” When people say this, it truly means something special. When you have children, all you can do is love them, and it’s unconditional. So, putting them down must have been really hard. You can also find love at the end when the elephants are about to pass; the zookeepers end up staying away from their cages. See, when you love someone, you can’t see them in pain so clearly the zookeepers loved Tonky and Wanly because they couldn’t bear to see them suffer.

            I think this is important because I can relate to having a relationship with an animal that is unconditional. Recently my tortoise named Button, who was living at my dad’s house, fell on her back and stayed there for two days. Without food, water, range of motion or sleep, this posed a possible threat to her life. My dad, who is a truck driver, leaves her alone for days and sometimes weeks at a time. And after that, he finally told me he could no longer take care of her because Button was not getting the care she needed. I was shown two options. Give her back to the shelter she came from two and a half years earlier or bring her over to my mom’s house (where I live full time). My mother sat me down and told me that she would not take care of her. I begged and cried and fought with my mom about keeping her. Eventually, she allowed her to stay if I took care of her. For a lazy thirteen year old that was a lot of pressure. But I couldn’t let Button waist away, without daily kisses and weekly baths, in a shelter. So, she was now my problem. Even though I forgot to feed her a couple times and she might have pooped on my hands more then once I still loved her. This relates to the zookeepers and the elephants because like me and Button they loved the elephants like their own children and tried so hard to fight to keep them just like I did with Button.

            I guess what I’m trying to say is that love is the theme in Faithful Elephants because of the relationship between the elephants and the zookeepers. Just like me, I believe everyone’s life should be filled with love from animals just like me and Button and the zookeepers and Tanky and Wanly.  And I don’t believe anyone should live without that special, sweet, and beautiful feeling. Should they?

Reading Response Essay: Go Ask Alice

Over the summer I read “Go Ask Alice.” This book is a dairy kept by an unnamed girl who takes drugs in the early 70’s. I think that this book shows you the consequences of drugs.

            One way this book shows you the consequence of drugs is it describe what can go wrong when you are “high”. In the middle of the book, this girl and her friend run away to San Francisco. They want to open their own boutique and they seek employment in a small shop owned by a middle-aged woman. This woman invited them both to a cocktail party. They both agree. At the party, the two girls both have a few drinks. After the party, the women invites the two girls back to her apartment with her boyfriend. All four of them do heroin. After the girl and her friend fall asleep, the boutique owner and her boyfriend assault them. This shows that when you are under the influence of drugs, nobody is there to protect you. You can’t speak for yourself and your judgment is impaired. If they hadn’t drank the alcohol, they may have not gone with the women and her boyfriend. And then the assault would have never happened. So this shows what can go wrong when you are under the influence of drugs.

            Another way this book shoes you the consequence of drugs is it’s effects on life. For example when the pressure from her family and her neighborhood become too much for the girl, she runs away again. Then to make money to buy drugs she results to prostitution. Another example is when her friends treat the diarist wrong, she comes back, she has a bad “trip” and is sent to a mental hospital. Both of these situations are problems that nobody would like to be in the middle of. In the beginning of the book, the diarist was smart and on task, but as soon as she became involved with drugs, she ended up throwing her life away.  This is another way the book shows the consequences of drugs.

            These are a couple of examples for how the book “Go Ask Alice” shows it’s readers the consequences of drugs. When I was reading the book, it showed me how drugs have many different variables. The book was very intense but I do not regret reading it. This book really impacted my view of the world. And I would definitely recommend it to anyone.