Joe

I’d say that this semester was pretty fresh overall. I liked the books we read, especially Macbeth. I really enjoyed acting it out. I thought the midterm was kind of fun. It was the first time I can remember actually enjoying doing creative writing.

Once again, another example of racism close to home was found at http://www.connpost.com/fastsearchresults/ci_4939493.

Mel Thompson, a black, active-retired member of the Derby fire department claims that he responded to a local fire on Monday morning and was “ostracized and ignored” by some firefighters on account of his race. He said that he asked other firefighters how he could help and was continuously ignored and that fire comissioner Kelly Curtis even took a picture of him, which Thompson says was “clearly an attempt at intimidation.”

Thompson became the first black member of the department when he joined 25 years ago. He admitted that it had been ”years” since he responded to a fire. Derby firefighters are given “active-retired” status when they don’t respond to a certain amount of fires per year. This is where the plot thickens. Curtis said “I haven’t seen him at a fire since I was chief in 1996 and wasn’t sure of his status.” He claims he took the picture because he wasn’t sure if Thompson was still an active fire department member and wanted to clarify his status with the department. He says Thompson’s race was never an issue.

So this is a very interesting issue. If Thompson was right and Curtis was in fact discriminating him on account of his race, then Curtis should definiately be punished. Not letting a legitimate member of the department participate in extingishing a fire, especially on account of race, is terrible. However, if Curtis actually took those actions against Thompson because he questioned his status in the department, I completely understand, especially if Thompson had not responded to a fire for many years. You don’t want strangers lurking around the scene of a fire.

Only Thompson and Curtis know who’s right and who’s wrong. I would hope they work it out.

I heard the interview with Sacha Baron Cohen when it was on the radio, and even though I have not seen Borat, I found the interview very interesting. What I didn’t know about the movie is that it was filmed “on the street” with real people, not actors. There was an excerpt from the scene where he sings “throw the Jew down the well” in a bar and everyone there joins in singing. The people at the bar weren’t actors, they just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I was surprised that people would sing along to a song like that. Cohen said that while he was doing that scene, he was surprised that people started singing along.

 Reading these definately enhanced my understanding of slavery. It especially woke me up to how important freedom was, and how they would do anything to gain it. I was especially impressed by Louis Hughes, who tried five times before actually gaining his freedom. It made me appreciate Jim’s journey to slavery and the way Huck helped him.

I thought it was interesting how Louis Hughes described meeting relatives of his old master at the hotel in Milwalkee. I wouldn’t have expected them to be so cordial to him.

It was interesting to read how fondly Annie Burton remembered her “happy, carefree, childhood days” and how the black kids and white kids played together and had lots of fun.

I have never really read that moch about slave auctions. Therefore, I found Louisa Picquet’s account of the auction in which her family was sold very interesting. It made me aware of what degrading experience it must have been to be stripped and examined by possible buyers, like animals. Also, what a heartbreaking experience it must have been to have your family split up. The way she described her mother kneeling down and praying for her daughter was very moving. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to be separated from your from you child of your parents forever.

The John Jacobs narrative was published in London as part of a book called “The Leisure Home”. Apparently people in England, as well as the United States found these narratives interesting.

It will be interesting to read these naratives because while I have read a lot about slavery, I have not read much from the point of view of actual slaves. I wonder if these peoples’ experiences are at all contrary to the information I have already read.

I found an article called “Racism in the Workplace” by Aaron Bernstein at http://www.keepmedia.com/pubs/BusinessWeek/2001/07/30/24759. Obviously, it is about racism in the workplace. It tells about two people in particular: a factory worker, Wayne Elliott, and a businesswoman, Linda Johnson, and the racial harassment and discrimination they experienced at work. I think it is rediculous that people would harass their co-workers on account of their race. There is no explanation for doing something like that. People should always treat one another with respect, no matter their race or position

I was kind of lost after watching that. I wasn’t really sure what Colbert was trying to say. However, it seemed like he was using a method similar to that of the Irish guy with the eating babies idea. He would say he was in favor of something, and then give a rediculous reason why he thought so. By doing that, he makes you think twice. I didn’t exactly understand some of the stuff, but I found some of the captions funny.

Today in class we discussed some the Iraq Study Group’s plans about what to do in Iraq. Many people think that the best thing to do would be to leave. I think that that would be a good idea, but it is not as easy as it sounds. We have kind of made a mess over there, and I think we are obligated to help them put things back to “normal” before we leave.

There has been quite a controversy regarding racism here in Greenwich for some time now. Three women who live in town claim that they were denied access to Tod’s Point over the summer because they are black. They have been trying to get the town to apologize and adapt racial acceptance policies and provide diversity training for town workers. I found some Greenwich Time articles regarding this issue at http://www.aboutweston.com/beachlaw.htm. (All except the 1st article and the last 2).

If, in fact, what the women say is right, that is a disgrace. There is absolutely no reason why people sholud be denied access to a public park on account of their race. The Greenwich Parks are supposed to provide enjoyment for all Greenwich residents. Actually, as a result of another controversy regarding the Greenwich Parks that happened a few years ago, they are public property. The only thing necessary for entrance is a beach card, which brings up another issue.

According to the man who was working the gatehouse at the time, none of the women were carrying beach cards. If that is true, then the women were wrong. Everyone knows you need a beach card to get into Tod’s Point, and to use your race as an excuse is terrible. Unfortunately, the only people who know what actually happened is the three women and the man who was at the gatehouse. Until then, it is impossible to decide who was right and who was wrong.

Before this lesson, I had heard of satire, but I never really understood what it was. Now it all makes sense. I think satire is a very clever way to get your point across, because people will understand what you are trying to say if they can relate to it. In my opinion, it is one of the most effective ways to get your opinions understood. Even though it is one of the easiest ways to get people to understand your ideas, it is one of the hardest things to create. I mean, if I was trying to persuade people to treat the Irish better, I never would have thought of writing that piece about eating babies. You have to be very clever to write satire.