by Marie Huffman and Barbara Barnett
If you’re looking for a compassionate and heartwarming film dealing with a special cultural twist, “Children of a Lesser God “ is the one to see. The movie depicts what it’s like to live in the silence of a deaf world. James, the main character is a teacher, who is hired at a school for the deaf. He is hired to help the students use their speaking skills to communicate, instead of always depending on sign language.
During the course of the movie James must confront many difficult tasks, and overcome them. But he never realizes how rewarding his job could be until he meets Sarah, a young deaf woman who has built a wall around herself. Due to a fear of rejection from those who can hear, Sarah refuses to speak, hardening herself to the world around her. James sets out to help her conquer her fears and reach her full potential as a human being. Teacher and student spend much time together and in the process, they fall in love, merging their two worlds together.
Soon after they recognize these feelings, problems arise for the couple. Their differences become overwhelming. Sarah starts refusing to speak again, and James becomes frustrated when he can’t share his one passion with her: music. During a confrontation, Sarah reveals to James the true reason she is afraid to speak is because all through her life, She had been told how to act and what to do, and never given the opportunity to speak her mind. She was continually laughed at in her attempts to speak, making her resistant to ever try again. James pushes Sarah to her breaking point, and she finally speaks to him. The audience absorbs both characters’ pain as they go their separate ways. As the story comes to an end, the two realize that their love for each other overpowers their differences, uniting their worlds once again. The movie leaves the viewer feeling that even though two people who come from different backgrounds, they can relate to each other in a special way. Different doesn’t necessarily mean separate.
by Doug Lieux
Throughout history there exist stories about individuals, who through their own perseverance, triumph over overwhelming circumstances. The story of Harriet is just one of those stories; amongst the pale background of many others.
Harriet didn't know she was a slave until she was six; her father was a carpenter who worked for himself and made an honest living though he has to pay $200 a year for it. Her grandmother made fine danishes and sold them to the women of the community, so she was well off.
When Harriet moved to the home of a plantation owning doctor, only then did she discover the nightmare, that she was to be a slave. She was mistreated as most slaves were. She encounted abuse such as being raped repeatedly, kept from attending her father's wake when he died, and a variety of other atrocities.
The most appauling aspect of slavery and the slave trade was the way that slaves were looked at by white men. They were seen legally as three fifths of a man and as property. The white man never looked at them as sentient human beings capable of feeling. The physical separation must have been unbearable for them. I can't imagine what it would have been like if my family had been "sold" to a plantation owner in another state. I can't imagine what it would feel like to never see my family again.
The inspirational story of Harriet shows the triumph of the human spirit. During her escape she lived locked in the attic at her grandmother's house for seven years so that no one would be able to find her. There was not enough space for her to move around in and she only got food from the scraps her grandmother brought her when no one was looking. The will and desire she had to survive and escape was unbelievable. Harriet's sheer determination got her all the way to Philadelphia where she took part in the abolitionist movement and was eventually given her freedom.
We can never forget the atrocities of the past, or history might repeat itself. We must also remember to teach children of the great victims and heroes in history. I would classify Harriet as a hero. A shining example of determination against all odds.
Who am I? Where do I fit in? Why am I different? These are all questions asked by many people of a different race or ethnicity while they live here in the United States. Unfortunately, they may never find a definite answer because of the stereotypes and misconceptions that many Americans have. The video Japanese-American Women: A Sense of Place, describes the life of a multitude of Asian American individuals who have felt the hurt, the pain, and the sadness of prejudice and the hardship of not having a definite culture to identify with. Narrated by Rosanna Alfaro, the video takes an in depth look into why Japanese-Americans are at odds with which nationality to belong to. Many of the people interviewed said that in Japan they are not seen as Japanese and in America they are not seen as Americans. So they are left with the unanswered question of “where do I belong?”. The video also dealt with the stereotypes placed on Asians by Caucasian Americans. Too often, Asian Americans are grouped together as one race and on culture- collectively as a whole. The title of “honors” and “A” student are consistently placed upon these individuals along with idea that they are quiet in class. It was also stated that Japanese Americans are taught not to be aggressive and that individual needs are not as important as family needs. These ideas may not always be true but they do contradict the prominent American view of individuality and assertiveness. This is why they are not seen uniformly as Americans, because of what title is appointed to them by the rest of the American population. They do not look like everyone else, so why would they be considered full blooded Americans?
This video provided an enhanced view of the stereotypes that Asian Americans endure everyday of their lives. It showed why they have a hard time dealing with which culture or country to belong to. The ultimate effect that this thirty minute video will have on any American that watches it, is the reality that we all would be lost if we had no place to call home.
One of the smartest, most unbiased, most culturally aware statements in the video came from the mouth of a three year old girl. She is the daughter of a Japanese mother and an Colombian father. When asked by her mother who she was she said “ I am 50% Japanese, 50% Colombian, and 100 % American.” If only her thoughts could be seen through the eyes of those individuals who create the stereotypes and misconceptions, maybe then we would ass see that a Japanese -American could actually be one in the same.
By:
Kim Ward and Dina Prato
An Academy Award Winner, "My Left Foot" is the true story of Christy Brown, the renowned Irish author/artist who triumphed over cerebral palsy and alcoholism. Christy's character, played by Daniel-Day Lewis, portrays a vast array of emotions. Born in 1932, Christy was what the doctor's characterized as a vegetable. His early years of life were spent still and silent as he was unable to walk, speak, or write. Christy becomes educated beyond his own years and after saving his mother's life very early in his own, he lives to take care of her after the death of his father. Christy not only learns to speak and to write and paint but he also typed every word of his famous book My Left Foot with his own left foot. He did all of his painting and writing with his left foot. Although Christy never learns to walk, that is just a minor disappointment. Along with all he accomplished, Christy even falls in love with an extraordinary woman and marries her in 1972.
As is the case with many people who are disabled or "different"
in any way, Christy spent a lot of time being stared at and ridiculed in
every way imaginable. Who knew the respect he would earn and come to
demand? Whether you are a lover of action movies, dramas, love stories,
or comedies, after watching "My Left Foot" you will become a lover of
Christy Brown. It is a must see for everyone.
By Marissa Williamson and Stacey Lowe
"Dangerous Minds", starring Michele Pfieffer, is a portrayal of a real life teacher trying to teach a bunch of inner city troubled high school kids. This motion picture depicts a middle-upper class white female trying to relate to a group of lower class minority teenagers. In most people's minds, this situation would probably not turn out for the best. After a few failed attempts to get through to the students, Pfieffer's character uses, what some may consider unconventional, techniques to try to get the children to learn. Many of these students did not want to give her a chance, much like people did not want to give them a chance. Although they experienced some differences in view points, after a while the students began to see that they all deserved a chance including their teacher. She used techniques that the students could identify with, like incorporating drug dealers into a very famous poem. They discovered that all their interpretations of one poem could all be true, just as long as they thought about it.
Very strong issues were addressed in this film, such as teen pregnancy, drugs, and gang related violence. Michele Pfieffer's character did not let this interfere with her teaching of these students, as well she shouldn't. No matter what their race, creed, or economic background, she thought of all of her students as equal students who were all intellegent and who just needed a chance. All students should have teachers like this!
This film was based on a real life story, and this was very
apparent. It showed how one teacher can really make a difference
in these kids' lives and to start to make them believe in
themselves. No matter what their race, the students and teacher
made a point to relate to each other and communicate in their
own way.
Jennifer Keeton
This is a question that can be asked over and over, and yet a true answer is never
reached, and a real solution is never brought about. As I see it, these prejudices, have them
be of minorities, the handicapped, or of homosexuals, begin within the cultures and values
passed down through generations. These "records" however, have a profound effect when
brought into the mainstream of society. Why is it that we as people feel we have the right to
degrade those who are from another race or deviate from the norm, and how can these
"records," that have been passed down be stopped? I believe that the best place to begin is
within the school setting. It is within a school setting that you find the appropriate age group
and the diversity needed to begin dealing with these issues. As a future teacher and educator,
I feel that it is a responsibility of mine to show children that you should give everyone a fair
chance, without taking into consideration their race, or their sexual preference, etc. The
children of today must be taught to believe that "love is the answer," as put in the song "I
Believe," by Blessid Union Of Souls. I feel this song conveys a great message to children. It
teaches them that violence is not the answer, and that if you live your life loving instead of
hating, that in the end, if you believe enough, love will triumph. We must teach these
children to look beyond all of the prejudices of the world today, and to "open up their minds, and
to open up their hearts, and then they will see they aren't very far apart." All teachers
and educators of the world today should make this a personal goal, I know it's one of mine.
Walk blindly to the light,
And reach out for his hand,
Don't ask any questions and,
Don't try to understand,
Open up your mind,
And then open up your heart,
And you will see that you and me,
Aren't very far apart.
Refrain:
Cause' I believe that love is the answer,
I believe that love will find a way.
Violence is spread world wide,
And there's families on the street,
We sell drug's to children now,
Oh why can't we just see,
That all we do is eliminate our future,
With the things we do today,
Money is our incentive now,
So that makes it okay.
Refrain:
But I believe,
That love is the answer,
I believe that love will find a way.
I've been seeing Lisa now,
For a little over a year,
She says she's never been so happy,
But Lisa lives in fear,
That one day Daddy's gonna find out she's in love,
With a brother from the streets,
Oh how he would lose it then,
But she's still here with me,
Cause' she believes that love will see us through,
And one day he'll understand,
And he'll see me as a person,
Not just a black man.
Author Unknown
In the infamous"pyramid problem," Daniel Lowen successfully challenged the ETS and cause 240,000 SAT scores to be raised. The problem involved two pyramids: one with a square base and the other with a triangular base. The question asked:
If the two pyramids were placed together face-to-face with the vertices of the equilateral triangles coinciding, how many exposed faces would the resulting solid have? While ETS initially claimed the answer to be seven, Lowen correctly perceived five remaining sides (four of the sides combined to form two parallelograms) (Owen 27).
Works Cited Becker, John E. "Science and the Sacred: From Walden to Tinker Creek." Thought: A Review of Culture and Idea 62 (1987): 400-13. McIlroy, Gary. "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and the Social Legacy of Walden." South Atlantic Quarterly 85.2 (1986):111-12.