History in Split Seconds

Susan Sontag argues that photography is extremely misleading and “hides more information than it discloses.” According to Sontag, pictures do not tell time or narrate full stories, and the limited knowledge that can be conveyed through images always contains “some kind of sentimentalism.” Though Sontag believes photography is an addicting “aesthetic consumerism” that restricts understanding, I disagree. Images are vital for learning and reflecting.

Though a photograph only captures one moment in time, it can still tell many details about that particular moment—the place, event, people, emotions etc. It can even tell time (unlike what Sontag thinks). For example, in my photo, I can tell that I was at Disney many years ago, as a four year old, happily visiting Goofy. I do not view this photo as misleading “mental pollution.” Even though it might not show my full Disney adventure, it still captures the good memories that I want to be able to look back to in the future. Without this picture, I might not have ever known/recalled anything about this event. It is the sentimentalism of photos that make them so precious—they have the amazing ability to preserve raw emotion. Because of this people continue to document history with photography; photography possesses the special ability to both show change and preserve time in a split second.

Unshared Mutual Memories

In “Remembering My Childhood on the Continent of Africa,” David Sedaris compares his normal, but boring, childhood to Hugh’s exciting and exotic childhood. Sedaris describes his average American youth experiences, exploring preserved “colonial villages” and living with his grandmother in New York for ten days. Meanwhile, Hugh is exploring palaces of deceased dictators and slaughterhouses and living with strangers in foreign countries like Ethiopia. Sedaris explains how “the verbs are the same, but (Hugh) definitely wins the prize when it comes to nouns and objects.” Hugh’s pet monkey is a symbol for his exotic and unusual life, where dead men are normal but Herbie is incredible, and Sedaris wishes he had come home “into the awaiting arms of my monkey” despite the other struggles that Hugh had encountered in his life. However, Sedaris says, “I have learned to take satisfaction in the life that Hugh has led” and finishes by reminiscing about Hugh’s memories as if they were his own.

Sedaris’s adoption of Hugh’s stories as his own reminded me of a recent episode of How I Met Your Mother where Ted realizes that he has told all of his memories to his wife and that they have no more to learn about each other. It seems that if you know someone well enough, it is as if all of his or her memories become yours, too.

Nature's Balance

Raymo raises valid concerns when he states, “The unexamined quest for knowledge is hemmed with peril.” He argues that science is not only beautiful, but also powerful and dangerous; he describes the multifaceted and “piercing horns of the dilemma of science” and cites radium, cesium, and autoluminescent tobacco as examples of scientific breakthroughs with positive and negative powers. Raymo illustrates how both radium and cesium cure and cause cancer, and how radium is also a potent energy source and a “weapon of destruction.” He continues to explain that the feat of genetically engineering a glowing tobacco plant also has its downsides. Though biotechnology produces helpful things like vaccines, it is also extremely dangerous since “gene(s) reproduce and copy (themselves) into the fabric of life,” making them potentially indestructible.

Recently, in biology, we also learned about biotechnology and gene splicing. It has many possible benefits, like fixing genetic mistakes and keeping organisms healthy, but it potentially enables eugenics as well. Antibiotics, too, have their downsides; they have cured sicknesses, but they have also led to the rise of resistant bacteria strains. Science clearly brings  “mixed blessings.” Therefore, people must exercise “a measure of restraint” when pursuing their scientific quests so as not to upset the delicate balance of nature.

Little Pink Elephants

Once upon a time, on July 22, 1905, Florence Kelley delivered a moving speech about establishing child labor laws and improving work conditions. The purpose of her speech was this: the only way to bring about reform is to gain enfranchisement for women. Kelley supports her claim with her powerful rhetoric; it elicits everyone’s empathy and makes him or her want to help bring about these necessary changes. Her pathos is created by striking catalogues of abominable child labor statistics and makes her audience feel guilty for their own part in supporting the industry because these children “work for us” and “will do so tonight, while we sleep.” The children are “beasts of burden,” like little pink elephants, still young and innocent, but powerless and forced to labor through the harsh savanna “by day or by night.” However, Kelley interjects, there is a way to alleviate them of this “pitiful privilege.” It is not just Jesus who has the power to bring about change for the better, everyone has this power—through “the right of petition” and, hopefully, “the right to the ballot” as well. Today, thanks to the determination of people like Florence Kelley, women have the right to vote, work conditions have improved, and child labor laws are effective.

Asian People and Public Space

In “Black Men and Public Space,” Brent Staples discusses how his presence as an African American male unnerves people in public areas. Due to the racial stereotype of black males being violent criminals, Staples is often assumed to be “a mugger, rapist, or worse” (Staples 205). His presence creates fear and people scramble to protect themselves. They call security, bring out dogs, lock doors, and run without a second thought. Staples description of his ability to alter public spaces reminded me of my own experiences while teaching at elementary schools where I am considered a minority.

            I teach golf at after school programs and summer camps in the Metro Detroit area. At almost every school where I teach, there is at least one kid who asks me, “Are you Chinese??” In Troy this does not happen as often since many of the students are accustomed to seeing and associating with Asians. However, in areas like Southfield, about half the class will ask this question; when I am teaching with my friend, Jennifer, who is also Asian (disclaimer: we do not look alike), we are even asked if we are sisters! Once when a little girl asked me where I am from, I replied that I am from Florida and no matter how much I insisted that I was not lying, she would not believe me—“You CAN’T be from Florida. You’re ASIAN.” This was mind boggling for her. Instead of focusing on golf, she attempted to understand this but failed because of her inability to look beyond my race.

            Though I am not stereotyped and treated as a criminal, I, too, have experienced the ability to alter public space. People seem to place a lot of importance on race and unfortunately sometimes cannot comprehend how a person doesn’t necessarily fit into their designated labels. Just because Staples is a black male doesn’t mean he is dangerous. Just because Jennifer and I are Asian does not mean that we are from China...or that we are sisters.

...Shout out to Miss Valentino for making great soup at the buildOn benefit dinner!! 

Understanding Parents

            Everyone has conflicts and misunderstanding with their parents. Brad Manning and Sarah Vowell’s stories clearly portray this. Though both initially cannot get along properly or communicate well with a parent, they eventually realize that there is love in their relationships and that they are more similar than they had originally thought; Manning assumes his father’s role in their family and faces responsibility while Vowell honors her father and his hobbies. Through their competition, Manning and Vowell mature and learn to accept their parents; both also discover a profound respect for each parent in the process of reconciliation.

            These stories are extremely relatable and prompt one to analyze one’s own relationship with a parent. Like Manning and his father, my own dad and I have trouble communicating with each other. I find his nagging and questioning annoying and often yell at him to stop and “go away.” However, my mom tells me that his questions are his attempts to talk to me and express love/concern; he has my best interests at heart, but he just does not know how to communicate this effectively. I hope to one day be able to understand my father and express my appreciation for him as well.