Kevin TOW #24 - What’s Worse Than a Girl Being Kidnapped?- ADAOBI TRICIA NWAUBANI

Two years ago, more than 200 girls were kidnapped from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok by Boko Haram. A few dozen have since escaped, but a vast majority remain prisoners of the Islamist insurgents. Chibok is a Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria, located in the south of the state. The kidnappings of the more than 200 girls in Chibok made global news a couple years ago, shocking the world. In an article, written by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, giving accounts of the interviews she held with families of the kidnapped girls, it was apparent that the road to getting their girls back was a lengthy and complicated one, as the problems are not limited to the missing girls.

The people in Chibok, are plagued with a hopeless mindset as a result of the abysmal living conditions in the region as Nwaubani states “What I was not prepared for was the realization that what had seemed, from the outside, like one of the greatest horrors to befall a people appeared from the inside as just another great misfortune in a land where tragedy is an everyday occurrence,” (2). These are people in the forgotten backyard of the country.  At 76.3 percent, that region has an astoundingly high poverty rate. At 109 deaths per 1,000 births, it has the highest infant mortality rate in the country. The literacy rate of men is 18.1 percent and that of women is 15.4 percent — again, by far the worst in the country. (12) The people of Chibok want their girls back, however they are faced with an insurmountable amount of poverty among other issues. Many families of the region have as many children as possible to account for the high mortality rates. With these issues in mind the notion of tragedy being an everyday occurrence reigns supreme. It is not that the people of Chibok do not care for their missing daughters, the people, living amongst monumental poverty and illiteracy, have sadly grown numb to the tragedies that occur daily.

Organizations like Bring Back Our Girls did a lot of good by making people care about the girls’ plights, however little light has been shed on the many other problems of the community. The region must overcome its day to day tragedies, overcoming the numbness that comes with these tragedies. Overcoming the poverty would mean less worry about infant mortality rates, less worry about whether their children will survive, and result in a better situation for the people of Chibok and the kidnapped girls. “Without a doubt, the abducted girls need to be rescued. But deliverance is equally needed for all the people of northeast Nigeria, a region where death has cast its long shadow.” (13)

TOW #22: Nonfiction Text- The Dirty Old Men of Pakistan - Mohammed Hanif

The goal of gender equality is a goal that, for Americans, is still a long way from being achieved. Meanwhile, in countries where Shariah is the law of the land, the equality that we find in the United States would be otherwise unfathomable for many years to come.  In countries where Shariah law reigns, it is imperative that in order for gender equality to have grounds to grow, the government, its laws, and the ideologies and morals of men must all be reformed. A satirical article written by Mohammed Hanif discusses how In spite of this unfathomable goal of gender equality ahead “Pakistan’s largest province passed a new law called the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act. The law institutes radical measures that say a husband can’t beat his wife, and if he does he will face criminal charges and possibly even eviction from his home. It proposes setting up a hotline women can call to report abuse. In some cases, offenders will be required to wear a bracelet with a GPS monitor and will not be allowed to buy guns,” (2). This law expresses the need for reform in countries where Shariah reigns supreme. The very idea that this law was written up, and especially the heavy backlash received in order to protect “a man’s God-given right to give a woman a little thrashing,” (1) is exemplary of the length of the journey to gender equality, provided by a much needed reform in the government, legal system, and overall the moral standard of these pious old men.

The law was quickly deemed un-islamic by a coalition of more than 30 religious and political parties on the grounds that it is “an attempt to secularize Pakistan and a clear and present threat to our most sacred institution: the family,” (3), as well as from the government itself. The government-appointed Council of Islamic Ideology declared it “repugnant to our religion and culture.” (5). This council’s main purpose is to ensure the laws passed follow Shariah. The council has also defended a man’s right to marry a minor, dispensed him from asking for permission from his first wife before taking a second or a third, and made it impossible for women to prove rape.

As an American, while the task of gender equality still seems daunting despite the progress that has been made, it is overwhelming and infuriating, to see the monumental imbalance between genders. Before women can make any attempts at equality, this notion must be instilled within the men of the community, especially those in power to reform. If those men are unwilling to change themselves, which is likely considering how long these ideals have been in place, pressure from the outside is a must. And it is only with this change that the rest of the nation may follow suit.

TOW #20: Nonfiction Text- Raise the Legal Age for Cigarette Sales to 21 - The NY Times Editorial Board

      In the past century American’s attitude towards smoking has changed dramatically. In the 1950s brands like, Lucky Strike, Camel, Newport, Spud, and many other brands, advertised their cigarettes with the help of cheerful spokesmen, catchy jingles, and testimonies that would lead a viewer to believe cigarettes were healthy. However, as time progressed and advancements in medicine proved a link between smoking and lung cancer, American’s attitudes began to change for the better. With medical advancements, laws preventing smoking indoors, as well as other public places, and anti-smoking ad campaigns, smoking has declined in popularity significantly. Despite smoking having decreased in popularity, the issue still remains. In an editorial by the New York Times Editorial Board exclaims that in California the age requirement for smoking could be changed from 18 to 21. This is an action that would be beneficial to the citizens of California and the United States as a whole if the rest of the nation follows, as it would make it more difficult for kids under the age of 21 to get cigarettes, in turn protecting them from becoming addicted and increasing their risk for lung cancer.
Age does matter in terms of preventing addiction to smoking, therefore increasing the age limit of smoking to 21 could have a significant impact on reducing the amount of smokers in the United States. The human brain does not fully develop until around 25. Raising the age limit to 21 is meant “to reduce young people’s access to tobacco when they are more likely to become addicted and when their brains are still developing,” (5). And according to an Institute of Medicine study published last year, “About 90 percent of adult smokers first use cigarettes before turning 19, and almost all smokers start before age 26,” (5). Overall, the study concluded that changing the age to 21 should prevent 223,000 premature deaths and collectively add 4.2 million years to the lives of those born between 2000 and 2019 (6). The benefits are self evident. With the age limit raised, more lives can be saved, and America and the world can kick a disgusting habit.
        Raising the age limit would be beneficial to Californians, in that with the increased difficulty to acquire cigarettes under the age of 21, it could also prevent a lifetime of addiction along with an increased risk to lung cancer. With lung cancer being the #1 killer of all cancers worldwide, this law could change that. It could also, hopefully, act as a catalyst to enact more legislation against smoking, in turn saving more lives, not just limited to those in California, but nationwide.

TOW #18: Nonfiction Text- Why Do We Teach Girls That It’s Cute to Be Scared? CAROLINE PAUL

Throughout history women have been forced into a second class role in society, and only recently, relative to the rest of history, have begun to gain equality in society. This inequality begins from the moment the child is born, carries throughout childhood, and follows into adulthood. Caroline Paul discusses the idea of  “fear conditioning” in her article “Why Do We Teach Girls That It’s Cute to Be Scared?” The idea being that, statistically, “parents caution their daughters about the dangers ... significantly more than they did their sons” In her article she uses scientific data as well as person anecdotes to show the wrongful fear conditioning that girls experience during childhood that prevents them from taking more risks and doing things like their male counterparts, and argue that parents should not condition this fear into their children. Parents should encourage their daughters rather than cautioning them with everything that presents a potential risk.
The issue of fear conditioning has been documented on several occasions in scientific studies, and as a result girls grow up conditioned by their parents to not take risks. In Paul’s article she states that “ According to a study in The Journal of Pediatric Psychology last year, parents are “four times more likely to tell girls than boys to be more careful” and that “Girls may be less likely than boys to try challenging physical activities, which are important for developing new skills.” This study points to an uncomfortable truth: We think our daughters are more fragile, both physically and emotionally, than our sons.” (Paul). This image parents create of their children continues the inequality between genders that society continues to face. To take another step towards gender equality, it is imperative that parents encourage their children to try things, rather than cautioning them and holding them back.
By their daughters back, cautioning them at every potential risk, parents are not properly preparing their daughters for life. Paul states that “ risk taking is important. Gever Tulley, the author of “50 Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do),” encourages girls and boys to own pocketknives, light fires and throw spears, arguing that dangerous activities under supervision can teach kids responsibility, problem-solving and confidence. It follows that by cautioning girls away from these experiences, we are not protecting them. We are failing to prepare them for life.” (Paul). This is a perspective overlooked by many parents when raising their daughters. While things may seem dangerous, it can be a good experience to prepare their daughter for the real world.
Though progress has been made in the fight for gender equality, more action needs to be taken. This includes the ways in which we raise our children. The way to resolve this issue is to encourage girls to try things, not caution them. U.S.A. Hockey is an organization that has started to encourage girls to play hockey. Striving to encourage everyone, including girls to try hockey, U.S.A. Hockey has held events, as well as promoting women's professional hockey. Hopefully more organizations will continue this trend so that the daughters of the world are not held back, unable to try the things they want.

TOW #17: Nonfiction Text- Beyoncé’s Radical Halftime Statement by Spencer Kornhaber

This past Super Bowl was one of reflection. To reflect on the past fifty Super Bowls as well as the halftime shows that accompanied them. This year’s halftime show featured Coldplay, Bruno Mars, and of course Queen B herself. As Coldplay blandly strained for the universal, Yoncé and Bruno Mars pulled off something more specific and more daring. The author of Beyoncé’s Radical Halftime Statement sought to explore their specific and daring act, by stating it was an act rooted in their history, contrasting Coldplay’s act which sought to be universal. “But as an artist, she has a specific message, born of a specific experience, meaningful to specific people. Rather than pretend otherwise, she’s going to make art about the tension implied by this dynamic. She’s going to show up to Super Bowl with a phalanx of women dressed as Black Panthers.” Beyoncé’s  decision to dress in a Black Panther-esque uniform was not one with a racial subtext  but rather “channeling black radical movements and Michael Jackson in 1993. These were displays of cultural power coming from specific places, with specific meanings. They were rooted in history, but obviously spoke to the present.” Kornhaber’s point about speaking to the present is meant to connect those issues from the Civil Rights era shown through the Black Panther uniforms, and connect them to today’s continuing issues with race and discrimination. Beyoncé, through her performance at the halftime show sought to get people to look back at the past, not just past Super Bowls, but also past history as well in order to raise awareness for the issues that are still prevalent today.

TOW #15: Nonfiction Text- "Is Warefare in Our Bones?" by The Editorial Board of the New York Times

The age old question of whether humans are inherently good or not is one that to this day we struggle to find an answer to. In the biblical tale of Adam and Eve, humans are seen as inherently pure and good until struggles for dominance arose with the knowledge of the forbidden fruit. This article written by the Editorial Board of the New York Times focuses on a recent discovery in Africa of a brutal clash between two groups of prehistoric hunter-gatherers on the shore of an African lake, providing facts regarding the incident, as well as to provoke thought in the reader to question the nature of human-kind itself, through the use of data, compare and contrast, as well as rhetorical questioning.

The author uses compare and contrast to open up a realm of possible answers to the recent discovery in Africa. The author presents information regarding the biblical tale of Adam and Eve, and their struggles as a result of the forbidden fruit, and only as a result of the acquisition of knowledge. As well as a statement regarding a notion held by archaeologists “A corollary advanced by one school of archaeologists and anthropologists holds that our Stone Age ancestors were not inherently violent, and, apart from the odd murder, did not wage organized war until they started to coalesce into societies.” The following paragraph is meant to refute the information preceding it, as well as to introduce the “unmistakeable evidence of violent deaths”. The purpose of comparing the old and new beliefs regarding human nature is to provoke the reader to question these old beliefs and be open to the new information being presented.

In the concluding paragraph the author wraps the essay up by asking rhetorical questions. “But are they testimony to the inevitability of war? If warfare is indeed common from the dawn of human history, does that suggest that we will never cease fighting? Not necessarily. A propensity for violence, even if it is innate, has been more than matched throughout our existence by a preference for peace — a fact the bones of the victims of the battle of Nataruk cannot show.” These questions serve the purpose of provoking thought in the reader to question the nature of mankind that was previously thought to be figured out. The author leaves ambiguity in his/her answer to leave a burning question for all mankind.

TOW #14: Visual Text:

The most powerful nation on the earth, the United States, has been entrenched in a war in the Middle East for the past fifteen years. This political cartoon is meant to criticize the attitudes towards troops heading off to war through the use of juxtaposition, and the polar diction of both the family and the soldier. In this cartoon a soldier is depicted, heading off to war, unable to recall what tour of duty he is going on. His family is watching television, and preoccupied with other things to notice the gravity of what is happening. The juxtaposition in the tone and emotion of the people depicted in this political cartoon shows the issue that soldiers going off to as well as coming home from war face. This is meant to raise awareness for the troops of the U.S.