SPRING 2024

BLAS 100

Discussions

What is Black Studies?

Some factors that led to the development and institutionalization of Black Studies are the 1960's Black Power Movement made popular by people like Malcom X, some world events; such as the fear of black students joining the communist party during Cold War Era America. Also idealisms such as Black Nationalism, led to the introduction of Black Studies at the institutional level. As Mario Alberto Viveros Espinoza-Kulick & Teresa Hodges point out in Section 3.2 Black Power and Black Studies, "Black Power is a movement and political belief system that emphasizes building Black-serving institutions and leaders."

I believe that the biggest challenges that Black Studies faces as a discipline is creating a narrative that empowers critical thinking about history and not a systematic reinterpretation of information that still perpetuates the same type of oppressions that euro-centric institutionalization of information has created.

Black Studies in Liberal Arts Education

Black Studies theories and methodologies have contributed a more community based approach to learning. Rather than the more test-based, standardized curriculum of a euro-centric institutionalized learning process, Black Studies offers a more centralized point in group learning and the needs of the class/student as a whole. Black Studies is a direct challenge to the formal understanding of education, and the regained control of reeducation after years of Miseducation and diseducation in terms of our collective view of history and the information it regards. "The story centers on a history of student protest traditions that are raced in ways not always acknowledged, and covers a time when violence and militancy, wrapped in the rhetoric of Black nationalism, were embraced as a viable strategy to effect social change." (Rooks Pg.2) This quote from White Money, Black Power epitomizes the very depths we will go to ensure social change, violence and militancy become embraced, and rhetoric determines the purview.

Black Studies are significant for all peoples to educate themselves on, as it directly reflects the state that our nation has arisen to out of malice and contempt for "other" races. Non-Black students should pursue Black Studies as a means to understand a more diverse perspective on history and to embrace a more inclusive understanding of all our peers. The need for Black Studies is in direct correlation with social justice, as both are quite literally required to understand the advantages and disadvantages of society and the means to reach homeostasis.

Why Become an Intellectual?

I must preface: this is the first I have ever heard and read from Dr. Michael Eric Dyson. The following is not a well educated analysis about his breadth of work; it is a glance through the peep-hole towards understanding my ignorant perception of this man's possible deification simply for being a beacon of possibility by a marginalized and otherwise oppressed community.

“It was Jesse Jackson who once remarked to me, ‘If you say something I can't understand, that's a failure of your education, not mine,’ and he was right…Jackson knows the intellectual effort it takes to understand an idea so well that one can explain it to the learned and the layman alike. To paraphrase Ecclesiastes, there is a time and place for every academic language under the sun-and for the jargons, obscurantisms, esoterica, dialects, glosses, and inside meanings that attend their path. But there is also the need to write and speak clearly about important matters for the masses of folk who will never make it to class.” (Dyson Pg. xxvii)

Collins Dictionary defines intellectual: involving a person's ability to think and to understand ideas and information. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson defines intellectual multiple ways within this week's reading, "...an engaged and politically active scholar devoted to changing the world as best [as possible] with the gifts at hand.”(Dyson Pg. xvii) ”...a person with great passion to think and study and to distribute the fruits of [their] labor in useful form.” (Dyson Pg. xiv) “...in higher education [as] an academic or scholar who swims beyond [their] specialty and embraces the surging waves of knowledge as they wash against entrenched disciplines." (Dyson Pg. xiv) These definitions and most of the text created more confusion for me rather than clarity. Confused as to whether or not Dr. Dyson is a deified intellectual, and if so, does his position truly represent a marginalized & oppressed community? The text overall (and the Democracy Now interview, which I do not cite within this response) felt as if someone had a 350 word (minimum) discussion post to make, with 30 minutes left to submit it, and they strung a bunch of extravagant words together in an apparent conglomerate of information so as to create an educated tone around the information provided (this assignment has lead me to do that with all of my homework this week so in this I am speaking from experience.)

I am intentionally being the ‘linguistic cop’ now (because I know what he is attempting to say) but the following quote from the reading that aims to explain “why he is an intellectual,” simply falls short because of a misunderstanding of syntax & the extenuating use of elaborate vocabulary, which can be argued for much of the text (much like this discussion ‘essay’ I am formulating.) Dyson states, "My religious background has a lot to do with how I see the life of the mind: not as career but vocation, and not as a pursuit isolated from the joy and grief of ordinary folk, but as a calling to help hurting humanity." (Dyson Pg. xx) In any context why would we want to "help hurting humanity" (which is the error in syntax I spoke of)? Aren’t we here to "empower healing humanity"? Also, ‘ordinary folk’ can not be intellectuals? I would argue they (whatever ordinary means) are some of the most intellectual individuals in their respective fields, and it’s for another discussion.

In question 5 of the pre-discussion quiz it asks, "What is Dyson’s view on the accessibility of intellectual work?" and the answer given is, "It should be understandable to both the learned and layman." Meanwhile, Why I Am an Intellectual utilizes inconsistent prose and a jumble of highly educated vocabulary, mixed with street & scholarly jargon to feel more relevant, only to fall short of reaching the target audience by using too many anecdotal afterthoughts and the types of words any english academic would have to look up in a dictionary. Here is one example of this claim from the text (there are plenty more):

“...For me they spring from the same soil. The intellectuals I admire most are just as eager to preach resistance to ignorance, pain, and yes, evil, as evangelists are to promulgate spiritual salvation. I haven't the slightest interest in using my academic perch to proselytize students or colleagues to my way of thinking about God. (Get me in a pulpit, and it's a different matter altogether, although I am now far less interested in saving men's souls from the hell to come as I am in inspiring my listeners to relieve the suffering of victims who live in hell in Detroit or Delhi.) In fact, some of the thinkers and activists I am in lockstep with about the way the world should go share nothing of my church or the Bible on which it rests. And, by turn, some of the same folk who share communion with me would just as soon see my way of thinking about race and politics perish in holy flames.” (Dyson Pg. xx)

All of this can be summarized to something like:

Intellectuals & Evangelists alike preach understanding & comprehension of ignorance, pain, and yes, evil. I haven’t the slightest interest in spreading my religion to my work place (take me to church and it’s a different story). In fact, some of my ‘intellectual’ peers, thinkers and activists, don’t believe in the same religion that I do. Whilst those at the church would crucify me for my ideas on race and politics.

Now, I am being an overtly layman, and I’m making a point. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson believes ‘intellectual work’ should be, "understandable to both the learned and layman." Meanwhile his writing, Why I Am an Intellectual is more complex than most scientific research extracts, and nearly as much is explained. He follows the whole quote I previously shared with this parenthesis (or anecdotal afterthought):

“(If I had to choose, I'd rather sink with atheists who say they don't believe in God, yet love God's children, and show it with the work they do and in their compassion for the vulnerable, than rise with believers whose view of God is shriveled and vicious, and who punish others, and themselves, ultimately, with hard-hearted moralizing, and a cruel indifference to the suffering of the unwashed that grows from the despotic ill-temperedness of the self-righteous.)” (Dyson Pg. xxi)

Which is all a long winded way of saying something like:

I care more about the action people take with intentions of love than I do about those ill-intentioned with a dogmatic view.

My point being, after 5 days of dissecting this text and nearly 12 hours working on this discussion ‘essay’, I found one direct quote from the text that shed little light into Dr. Dysons’ use of Black Studies methodologies & theories of social justice to "talk back to suffering” (which he mentions explicitly once at the beginning of the text on Page xx) with no explicit dive, deeper into the methodologies & theories of Black Studies for social justice. To be frank, the quote is more representative of the methodologies & theories for social justice from being an “intellectual” rather than from Black Studies. The quote being the entire final paragraph of the writing, which again has syntax errors, and I have extracted from here, “...the American intellectual, the black intellectual, the engaged intellectual, the public intellectual (and in a way aren't all of [Us] intellectuals in the academy, public intellectuals, since universities are among the biggest public spheres in the country?). Relieving suffering, reinforcing struggle, and rendering service are [the] ways to live the life of the mind.” (Dyson Pg. xxviii) To extrapolate further and off-topic, why are we ‘reinforcing struggle’? Shouldn’t we be resisting struggle, especially placed upon Us by any apparent oppressor? Which now brings Us to my original claim: my ignorant perception of this man's possible deification simply for being a beacon of possibility by a marginalized and otherwise oppressed community. I traced the word intellectual back to its Latin, French and Greek roots (these being google search results, not from linguistic translation dictionaries, which is ultimately not the best practice) because I do not agree with many of the what-I-believe-to-be loose fitting definitions for intellectual that can be found in ‘world-renowned’ dictionaries, such as Merriam-Webster, which defines it multiple ways:

• Of or relating to the intellect or its use.

• Developed or chiefly guided by the intellect rather than an emotion or experience.

• Required use of the intellect.

• Given to study, reflection and speculation.

• Engaged in activity requiring the creative use of intellect.

The closest of which, I personally find, (d.) comes to defining the word intellectual in this context after investigating its “roots” further, which are:

• intel (Latin/French) - ability to comprehend

• lect (Latin/Greek) - choose, gather

• ual (Latin) - action or process

Leading me to define:

Intellectual - anyone with the ability to comprehend collected [data] with reasoning and understanding, objectively. While [data] I am defining here as; all received input from any field, physical & abstract.

I am not denying that Dr. Michael Eric Dyson is an intellectual or that he comes from a culture plagued with plight & oppression. I am questioning whether or not his message has been deified as a Black man representing a marginalized & oppressed community, simply because he may be one of the ‘first’ Black men to enter the Ivy League arena and ‘succeed’ on a public stage. This is again all being claimed with a huge dose of ignorance on my part in regards to the life and times of Dr. Dyson. I am not attempting to defame him or “cancel” the beliefs and ideas he is rooted in, I am posing a question towards the legitimacy of his presentation and reception.

Barack Obama is a well-mannered, well-spoken, Columbia/Harvard University “educated” Black man. Did his campaign and presidency truly represent the voice of the oppressed & marginalized? Or was it more from the dog-and-pony show known as The U.S. Government? Is Donald Trump making a mockery of The White House? Or is his mere presence within The White House a sign of what it represents? Is Dr. Dyson an intellectual? Or is he a hypocrite? Whom apparently does not, “write and speak clearly about important matters for the masses of folk who will never make it to class.” (Dyson Pg. xxviii) Did his pursuit of knowledge & education create a separation between the man and that which he represents? These are not my beliefs (as I am not informed enough to believe anything on any of these matters.) I am simply taking an opportunity to present questions & perceptions that are difficult to face, much less weigh out objectively.

To end this on a lighter note and to answer at least one of the prompts simply. One should become an intellectual because [the ability to reason & understand, objectively] is a key needed by All for social justice to prevail. Otherwise, like me reading Why I Am an Intellectual by Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, we get caught up in the semantics of legislation and social justice is lost in translation.

What is African-centered Education?

Definition: An educational approach that roots learning in African cultural heritage & values. Aim: To empower students by reflecting African perspectives in curriculum & teaching methods. Importance: Addresses educational disparities and promotes a positive self-image among African & African-descendant students.

Based on African cultural heritage & values, African-centered Education creates an environment where everyone has a function & a purpose. Very collaborative & group oriented learning. Every individual has a direct impact on the collective.

Core Principles of African-centered Education: Nguzo Saba: The Seven Principles

1. Umoja (unity)

2. Kujichagulia (self-determination)

3. Ujima (collective work & responsibility)

4. Ujamaa (cooperative economics)

5. Nia (purpose)

6. Kuumba (creativity)

7. Imani (faith)

Emphasis on Community: Learning as a communal activity centered on collective responsibility. Cultural Relevance: Curriculum that is reflective of African heritage & contemporary African issues.

Early Africa in Historical Context

When discussing the history of African Americans it is necessary to begin on the African continent to understand the root of the culture that a people were removed from when brought to America through the slave trade. As the reading states, "In 1713, Spain sold the monopoly on the Spanish colonial slave trade to the Royal African Company for 200,000 crowns plus a duty of 33 crowns per slave imported. The plan required the importation of at least 144,000 African slaves over a thirty-year period, with profits to be split between the Royal African Company and the Crowns of England and Spain." (Outterson Page 137) Knowing the deeper history behind the ancestry and diaspora of a people is a key to understanding the culture they bring. This is also from a large scale perspective, their are some nuisances to the idea; some individuals are detached from a historical culture that they may be tied to through ancestry, and have adopted a culture more relevant to their experience. Which is why it is important to reframe the mainstream narrative. People being educated in general about history and worldly cultural settings is important to learn new ways to live amongst and with each other, and for some to learn a forgotten (or even stolen) past.

It is important to understand how the African culture is different depending on many factors. As Professor Spearman said in the African Element Video, "Culture is the beliefs, practices and modes of being of a particular people in a particular setting adopted as a means of survival." (1:05) Knowing this helps us to understand that African American culture is very diverse and has a history involved with many practices that are different than an Eastern European view of living. There are 4 main Regional Climatic Settings that weigh heavily on African Culture. The Sharan Zone, where cities and civilizations gather around water sources for key survival opportunities. Savannah Grasslands the peoples are more migratory with their food source. Kalahari Desert region with many language differences involving clicks and other sounds to blend in with the wildlife for hunting and survival techniques. Or the West African Rain Belt where specific agriculture is required, and foods with deep roots are grown; they are more communalistic based with large family units, which along with lacking certain resources for more written documents led to many oral traditions also for cultural legacy. Again these are just the regional climatic settings that impact the cultures of Africa, this doesn't include anything about the beliefs, practices and modes of being that create even more diversity of culture on the continent of Africa.

The Shaping of Black America

Black slaves adopted many strategies to survive the institution of slavery including; living habits, communication techniques, and spiritual practices. Between folk tales and African lore, the children were taught lessons, "on the value of avoiding trouble by using their wits and remaining calm to cleverly escape punishment." (Spearman, 7:20) A variety of settings from planetary location to work tasks created a different set of cultural strategies for every community you may find yourself in from 1790-1860. Black slaves learned to watch what they said to White people, not to talk back, to put on false appearances, and to withhold info about other Blacks. They often preferred 'semi-secret' churches that focused on Moses and deliverance from bondage rather than the Theology of Christian meekness. They also incorporated music and cadence into their working strategies which aligned with just enough work to avoid the lash, and increased quotas, with no more or no less. The extreme conditions that Black slaves were forced to live within created resilience & ingenuity amongst them that was sparked by fear and terror.

Assessment of Reconstruction

The Post-Civil War Reconstruction is an "Unfinished Revolution" because every step forward included three steps back, regarding civil rights, in this country. Meaning the emancipation proclamation may have freed slaves, but a poll tax kept them from exercising their right to vote. In the video for this week, Professor Spearman sums it up simply, "The 13th amendment of the Constitution brought about the abolition of slavery. However, sharecropping, domestic service and the convict lease system replaced slavery with other forms of involuntary servitude. The 14th amendment guaranteed citizenship and equal protection under the law. Black Codes and Jim Crow segregation relegated African Americans to second class citizenship at best. The 15th amendment prohibited disenfranchisement on account of race. Nevertheless, illiteracy, poverty and felony conviction denied many African American the vote through the end of the civil rights period & beyond." (Spearman 11:24) These are all prime examples of how constitutional law has been loop-holed and people are still being affected by pre civil war era slavery.

We today are still feeling the effects of the shortcomings of the Reconstruction Era. Through tactics like redlining, whereas someone is considered a poor financial risk because the area they live in has been deemed as such. But the shortcomings feel deeper rooted than that. From the reading, And the Earth Moved: Stealing Black Land in the United State, Raymond Winbush claims, "I believe it is because the history of Black/white relations in this country is so long and sordid that reparations for damages done to Africans in America would call for an enormous upheaval of the social fabric of the United States unmatched even by Brown v. Board." (Winbush pg. 47) This, to me, sums up the African American experience today. Basically, "we went through this event in our past, and who can be bothered to reflect on it much less take responsibility." Point being we still haven't settled the dispute of the Civil War.

Healing as Resistance

It was necessary for enslaved Africans to combine West African & European traditions into an alternative mode of healing as a means of survival. Ancestor worship and many other West African religious/spiritual practices were crucified by white slave owners. In the African Elements Video Yoruba Medicine, Roman Catholicism & the Birth of Santeria Professor Spearman explains, "European attempts to stamp out elements of African culture in the Americas simply made those elements stronger and more deeply entrenched." (6:31) These attempts to "stamp out" African culture led to acculturation, which was the means by which African people in the Americas could continue to practice their rituals with concealment from their oppressors, Professor Spearman goes on to share, "Santeria evolved as the Yoruba deities, which numbered near 400 in West Africa were reduced down to several dozen relevant entities in the Americas and juxtaposed on top of Roman Catholic symbols & rituals...and could continue a mode of traditional worship now disguised as Roman Catholic practices to honor their own gods. Now concealed by the names of Roman Catholic Saints." (7:05) This act of acculturation was a necessary means for enslaved Africans to continue practicing their cultural beliefs with no repercussions for their oppressors.

African centered healing is relevant to Africans in the Americas for many reasons, two of them are nativism and the alternative was otherwise European. Professor Spearman describes nativism as, "a tendency to revert to one's native cultural traditions in the face of cultural imperialism and oppression." (5:48) In other words, maintaining a practice of African centered healing was a means of "sticking it to the man" and not letting cultural oppressions be the dictator of their reality, also it allowed them a means to connect with each other by way of something more relevant to their experience, rather than a European practice of religion & spirituality. This being said, the Yoruba-Dahomey practices spread through many African Slave communities as another means to connect with their African roots. In the excerpt African Medicine and Magic in the Americas by Robert Voeks, he explains, "Although elements of various African healing traditions survive, wherever Yoruba & Dahomeyan slaves were present in sizable numbers their cosmology and ethnomedical system came to predominate. It was successful because it offered an attractive alternative to a European social order to which slaves and their descendants had little or no access (Ribeiro 1958)." (Voeks Pg. 69) It was important to have access to some form of native expression for the people that were enslaved and brought to the Americas during The Middle Passage. It was a form of rebellion and connection to each other during a time of great oppression.

Cultural Nationalism

One of the largest obstacles to "Operational Unity" is the fundamental differences between integrationists & nationalists beliefs. Before Operational Unity is achieved, the organizations representing these opposing beliefs (integrationists & nationalists) must learn to communicate and integrate principles from one another's foundations, or to accept the differences between them. On February 18th, 1968, Black Congress sponsored a rally in LA to support Huey Newton; whom had been arrested and charged with murdering a police officer. During this event, "in-fighting" created further tension and distance between the US Organization & The Black Panther Party which elevated the "distrust & suspicion" they had of each other. In his book, Fighting for US Scot Brown states, "The rift between the congress's two most powerful member organizations disrupted any sense of 'operational unity'." (Brown Pg.88) This event and the proceeding tear that was metaphorically picked at, from this distrust & suspicion, is a major obstacle to operational unity.

Karenga's Seven Principles of Blackness represent the core values of the US Organization. Despite his efforts to reject Europeanization we can still see some infusion of these ideas within them. Mainly the very blurred line between socialism/communism & Karengas lens of black nationalism, specifically Communalism. In the video by African Elements: Civil Rights & Black Nationalism, Professor Darius Spearman explains Karenga's lens further, "To be communalistic, Karenga stated, is to share willingly, but to be collectivistic is to force to share, which is a European Model." (10:42) I will challenge this as idea as a manipulation tactic that can be considered very European. I will create a thought experiment for us below to showcase what I mean.

Imagine, we live within a socialist society and we are "forced to share." Now imagine we have decided to join a community that has established seven principles (requirements) that represent their beliefs & actions. As a new member of the community we appreciate that everyone is communalistic (shares willingly.) However we decide not to share. Does this mean we are no longer aloud to partake in the community? Are we not then still being "forced to share"? If we are not required to share, to partake in the community, then my argument is invalid. The implication of representing a principle (or requirement) to partake in a community is very European, and within this context, I believe it to be slightly manipulative.

The Politics of Culture

Although the Black Power movement paved the way for many changes within the American Institution, there were some weaknesses within its culmination of violence & freedom that led to many dilemmas within its tumultuous history. The many groups, organizations, committees, gangs & individuals that partook in the actions of the Black Power movement instigated infighting amongst themselves rather than a pure “operational unity”. An example of this was displayed when the US organization joined the Temporary Alliance of Local Organizations (TALO) in the summer of 1966 and left the coalition that same fall; their leader Karenga, “criticized the alliance for its ineffective decision-making procedures.” (Brown Pg. 82) Rather than figuring out ways to maintain collaboration or implement better decision-making procedures, they pulled-out entirely.

Alprentice “Bunchy” Carter, unified people within his community, however he perceived other organizations (like US) to be armchair activists while maintaining his own confrontational style of organization & activism. As Cle “Bone” Sloan speaking of LA communities in general stated, and can be extrapolated from, “Everybody was boxed in on top of each other, and I think that led to tensions & rivalries.” (!8:20) There seems to have been an inability of the movement's leadership to reason & moderate between different organizations ideals & motives.

I would also say many other factors such as racism, prejudice & systemic corruption created many of the dilemmas, and on a large scale; today I am choosing to focus on the portions of the debate that individual control & decision-making can be made on. We can choose to listen to each other and reason through our differences to achieve operational unity. Unfortunately, racism and other factors will continue to be inherent blockades for the foreseeable future.

DN! Amiri Baraka on the Black Arts Movement

Art can be used to create or add/enhance a political movement in many ways. The immediate thoughts I had about this prompt were about political cartoons, being as these are direct artistic caricatures (often satirical) of political perspectives. The video describes many African-American artists from different mediums who had a direct impact on the Black Arts Movement. In the video Professor Spearman explains about Amiri Baraka, "born, LeRoi Jones, [who] stands as a central pillar of this movement. His journey from a beat poet to a radical voice of African American culture represents a metamorphosis driven by the Civil Rights Movement." (Spearman 2:45) Baraka's works in theatre & poetry, "offer raw, unfiltered insights into social issues." (Spearman 3:12) Baraka is one of many public figures that rose of the Black Arts Movement due to political views & support rallied. Sonia Sanchez shared themes of social injustice, while Maya Angelou utilized literature to maintain the stories & history of the Civil Rights Movement. Betye Saar & Faith Ringgold created visual arts depicting the African American Experience. All of these artists utilized their perspectives, experiences, and mediums to enhance Civil Rights as a political Movement.

Although, artists can become political, I do not necessarily think they have an obligation to be political. Even when they arise out of a political movement, such as the Taifa Dance Troupe created by the US Organization which the book explains, "exposed African Americans in Los Angeles to colorful African-style clothing, festive folk songs, and traditional South African dances. From 1967 until 1969, the dance troupe operated during the high point of US’s prestige and effectiveness. As such, these years encapsulated the organization’s 'peacetime' ethos..." (Brown Pg. 132) This dance troupe, the group of dancers specifically, that shared their expression of art with no direct political agenda and rather as a means to exposed the public to culture, were in fact artists. Albeit their creation may have revolved around the political agenda that was carried out by the US organization their specific purpose was not political, it was more educational in nature.

Sidebar

I chose the article titled Negro Art and America by Albert C. Barnes (a white man) who was an American chemist, businessman, art collector, writer & educator to relate to this weeks discussion about Black Art & more specifically the era of the Harlem Renaissance. Being that Survey Graphic, the publication that this article was printed in, was a White owned organization with a mostly White audience, you can see how this dynamic plays out in this article.

The article written by Mr. Barnes comes from a perspective that Black Art must be argued for, by a White man, as to its relevance to the worlds culture & artistic movement. Although throughout this article he is reasoning for the "acceptance" of Black Art by the "White Mainstream" it has an undertone of "we [White people] have no choice, so learn to live with it." This is true, to an extent, but the inflection of tone shows some predisposed beliefs White people had of the subordination of other races, rather than appreciating the innate beauty of Black art for arts sake. Mr. Barnes claims, "He [the Black Man] is still a slave to the ignorance, the prejudice, the cruelty which were the fate of his forefathers. Today he has not yet found a place of equality in the social, educational or industrial world of the white man." (Barnes Pg. 668) This is a direct reflection of the times and the battles being waged when this publication was produced. These battles are still being waged as people from every race, culture and creed decide to be heard by the global consensus.

As the video by African Elements discusses, bringing Black Art to White Venues created a dilemma for the artists creating and the people it represented. Professor Darius Spearman asks vital questions to this dilemma in the video for this weeks discussion, asking, "For whom should Black Art be produced? Should Black artists produce their work for a White audience, or should Black Art be produced by Blacks for Blacks?" (4:00) Along with many other questions that create the vital decisions in how Black Art will be shared with the world. We are still feeling the tension of this dilemma today as "the industry" tends to focus on specific topics and harnessing talents that are willing to conform to regulations & standards.

What is Reparations?

In the African Elements Video California's Reparations Task Force: An Unapologetic Call for Racial Justice Professor Spearman defines reparations as, "the restoration of a person or people to a wholeness after a systemic act of injustice." There are many ways in which the impact of racial injustice can be represented in fact driven studies & historical documentation. Redlining is a way in which the Black Community has been forced to live in certain areas and then the devaluation of the area by a systemic process. There has been less opportunity for health services, leading to higher mortality rates in specific categories. Imprisonment is another way in which the Black Community has been marginalized, being arrested & jailed for the same things that White people are fined or let go entirely for.

Reparative Justice is one way in which the system can begin to repair the harm the past racial injustice has created. In the book Long Overdue: The Politics of Racial Reparations, Charles P. Henry writes about the Kerner Commission and a 600-page report they produced that, "contained dozens of recommendations, ranging from education and employment policy to news media coverage and police actions. In light of today’s views on taxation, perhaps the most remarkable recommendation is the commission’s suggestion to raise taxes: 'The major need is to generate new will—the will to tax ourselves to the extent necessary to meet the vital needs of the nation.'” (Henry Pg. 11) This document was created at the end of the 1960's and we are still discussing how to complete the task today. This process in-and-of itself is a symbol of the systemic injustice that this country operates upon.

The South African Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was created in response to the ending of apartheid in South Africa, where systemic racial injustice was utilized to create disparities for one racial group, depriving them political & civil rights. In an article on beyondintractability.org titled Reconciliation Through Restorative Justice: Analyzing South Africa's Truth & Reconciliation Process, Laura McLeod explains, "The TRC sought to provide a clear picture of the past, to promote reintegration and reconciliation, to establish a human rights culture, as well as to facilitate a peaceful political transition. To fulfill these goals it adopted a restorative approach rather than a retributive one." It seems we have implemented many of these tactics already over the years and we still face the issues that were created by America's tumultuous uprising. One thing that I recognize from this example of South African Reparative Justice is, "establishing a human rights culture." This seems like the best step we as a people can take on an individual & communal level to begin repairing the damage done by systemic racial injustice.

Randall Robinson on DN! "Bush Was Responsible for Destroying Haitian Democracy"

There are many lessons to be taken from successful reparations claims, a specific example that I would like to point out, which is actually a compensation claim, is involving Rosewood, Florida and the Rosewood Compensation Act. I won't go into details of the events here, but the successful claims for compensation in this circumstance bear lessons to be learned. Richard Hixon, the "special master" for the Rosewood case was the man left to manage these claims. In Long Overdue: The Politics of Racial Reparations written by Charles P. Henry, he explains, "Hixson distinguished between a legal proceeding and a claims bill on the basis of the 'moral obligations of the state,' which are within the legislature's prerogative...." (Pg. 78) This moral obligation is a key factor that must be focused upon if repentance is going to occur. Furthermore Henry goes on to say, "The amount he offered was based on the equitable claim bills redressing the “moral obligations” that the legislature had earlier enacted, especially for the case of Gamble v. Wells..." (Pg. 78) It seems that the Gamble v. Wells case itself may be a strong argument for reparations, and a means to leverage existing laws.

These lessons that we have learned from successful reparations claims in the past, whether foreign or domestic, can be applied by leveraging the arguments that have already been won into strengthening the reasonings for further reparations.

African Americans do have an interest in linking reparations to issues of global justice as, "not one of us is free until we all are." As the video shares about the Crisis in Haiti and the history of injustice involved with the country, seeing such things as sanctions and embargo taxes bankrupting their government, empowers African Americans with further reasonings for global justice. The US history involved with such places like Haiti go back as far back as 1915 and Woodrow Wilson, which (____) describes further in the Democracy Now! interview, stating, "with a force of American Marines, invaded and occupied Haiti until 1934. They seized land, redistributed it to American Corporations, took control of the country, ran the country, collected customs duties for that period of time and ran the country as if it were an American possession." (11:51) This example gives more evidence to the atrocities that the American Government has partaken in global injustices.

MisREPRESENTed

“I am apt to suspect the negroes… to be naturally inferior to the white. There never was a civilized nation of any other complexion than white, nor even any individual eminent either in action or speculation. No ingenious manufacturers amongst them, no arts, no sciences.” (Spearman 2:28) This is a footnote from David Hume’s Essays and Treatises, written in 1768, explaining a biased fallacy and a fully disingenuous belief. The American General Education System is built upon racism, America is built upon racism; this is not merely an opinion, rather it is a factual perspective of a destructive past. This past includes an elitist and Eurocentric position of higher education; a systemic misrepresentation of the experience of people of African descent, along with the reframing of the world through a European lens. The impact of silencing these oppressed voices in the general & higher education curriculum culminated into what we now know as the Civil Rights Era and “affirmative action”; the influence ALL-OF-WHICH is still presently being felt, as we continue the de-tanglement of inherent racism through the institutionalization of this country. Black History has been silenced through the systemic misrepresentation of it, by its reframing through a European lens and an elitist position of higher education; which ultimately led to student protests and political tension during the “affirmative action”/Civil Rights Era America.

The systemic misrepresentation of the experience of African people and their descendants within the general education system has put a European lens on Black History. In the Lesson 1 Video, African Elements: What is Africana Studies? The Origins And Development Of A Discipline, Professor Darius clarifies, “The reframing of the world through a European lens has confronted people of African descent…with an identity crisis…being stripped of their cultural heritage, history and language. Black Studies then has become a way of reshaping and reframing the experience of Black people; as opposed to having their experience…reframed and viewed through the lens of their colonial oppressors.” (Spearman 1:40) To be clear, this is an intentional miseducation, educating people in a way that is not correct and diseducation or removing previously learned knowledge, by the Institution of general & higher education. Although they focus on different areas; Black Studies, African American Studies and Africana Studies share similar purposes in their development. Prof. Spearman says in the same video from Lesson 1, “...[the department's creation was] largely in response to a systemic misrepresentation of the experience of persons of African descent, in such a way as to popularize the notion that they are inferior.” (Spearman 8:38) This elitist and Eurocentric outlook creates a disparaging view of Black History that must be reclaimed and re-educated. This conversation met its pinnacle during the Civil Rights Era in America.

The impact of silencing these oppressed voices in the general curriculum, and Black History, ultimately led to the student protests and political tensions of the United States in the 1960’s and 70’s Civil Rights Movement. Noliwe Rooks in the book, White Money Black Power explains, “Two things stand out from [Civil Rights Era America]...First, during the period, students offered a profound critique of the society’s handling of racial exclusion, and second, the broad participation of white and brown college students in demands for an end to elitist and Eurocentric higher education was widespread.” (Rooks Pg. 3) The silencing and oppression of a people can only occur for so long before it is brought to a head of violence & savagery; this is what was experienced during the Black Power & Civil Rights Movement. The quote also gives us insight into what brought about some of the motions towards change back then; the clear and concise language of explaining inherent racism on an institutional level and the inclusion of all races, in the protest against it, were required to see any kind of change occur.

Through a European lens and an elitist perspective regarding the general education system, the systemic misrepresentation of Black History, has attempted to silence the oppressed voices of a people. The impact of this Eurocentric view climaxed in the political tension and student protests of the 1960’s & 70’s, which the ripple of is still being ridden today.

COMM 104

Election Discussion

Elmo grew up on Sesame Street, same as you and I. We grew up with him, as he is constantly in the public eye, we know him for his strengths and shortcomings. We know he is a puppet; he doesn’t mind us saying. He has little to no professional experience as a political figure, and he has the attention span of a 3 and a-half-year-old. However, he is an active public servant on Sesame Street, willing to work with anyone, whenever the opportunity arises. On most days you can find him helping everyone, even firemen, policemen and a garbage man (Oscar is his Secretary of State.) Charactour.com states his personality is, “...peppy and personable. Though he’s young, Elmo has developed strong relationships with the people around him, who all think of him fondly. From babies to Big Bird to even antisocial Oscar the Grouch, Elmo's kind, friendly nature makes it hard for others not to like him. Curious and adventurous, Elmo enjoys learning new words and exploring the world around him.” Elmo is the quintessential Muppet. He is candid and transparent, always saying what is on his mind and ensuring everyone feels welcome within their own “skin.” Although he is a bachelor with no official First Lady, he’s almost 4, his pet fish Dorothy will become the first First Fish (which is just fun to say!) This also gives him more time to focus on his biggest campaign piece: scholastic learning. Elmo believes coloring, singing, jumping rope and playing games should be the main focus of the American Education system and as such will see to it that a complete overhaul of the learning experience for children in America is accomplished. He guarantees to have an iPad in every child's hand on the Planet Earth by 2028, ensuring free access to information for all, and a fun way to create & share your art with everyone. He promises no back-door-access will be installed on these iPads as well, “maintaining personal privacy,” as a top order. During the 2024 presidential election cycle consider Elmo as your Top G and vote in the First Self-Proclaimed Puppet as your 47th US President. Campaign Slogan: When all else fails, forgive the script.

Informative Speech

I am a current student enrolled at San Diego City College and presently I live on the street out of my vehicle.

Hello, my name is Andrew White and today I will discuss some necessities required for stable living on the street. Having spent much time living on the street in the United States over the last 8 years, I have acquired many skills and insights to this lifestyle, and with the ever encroaching month-to-month style of living many residents face, these skills can become vital to anyone at the flip of a coin. First, I will talk about the gear needed for surviving the elements. Then I will go over access to public resources that are required, and finally the necessity for a sense of community (relatives or otherwise) while living on the streets.

What gear is needed for living on the streets?

One of the largest issues that is faced while living on the streets is the ability to elude the elements while maintaining a scheduled routine. Staying dry, cool, and organized is a major hurdle that most people face when living on the streets; therefore the individual's ability to stay coherent and aware of these elements is vital to survival. To this end, what are the means for a stable approach to this challenge.

The team at EmpowerUs.info created a simple guide to street survival that claims, “A routine will help you stay grounded and give you pride in the way you are negotiating a challenging time.” (EmpowerUs.info, 2022) This website lists some equipment, clothing and necessities for living on the streets in different capacities. They break down the information into two categories for survival: on the street, and in vehicles. Both require similar equipment but the means by which they are stored and carried are different…also the quantity may change when in a vehicle compared to on the street, as storage becomes more available.

Some categories of equipment to remember when preparing for living on the streets are, hygiene, eating/cooking utensils, tech & first aid items, and clothing & sleeping gear. Maintaining enough clothing to layer up during some of the more brutal weather patterns is crucial to physical & mental well-being. Furthermore, personal hygiene is a way to feel a bit more put-together when in such a disparaging position. On this note, supplies are one key to survival while living on the streets, another is the ‘access to’ and ‘knowledge of’ public resources for changing the difficult circumstances we may find ourselves in.

What public resources are available and sometimes required to use when living on the streets?

The necessity for public resources is another key to the thriving of any great empire, the ability of governance to supply “basic needs” services to its people is important to the longevity and stability of the power. It can be traced as far back as Roman Bath Houses and ancient amenities open to the public. As Sara Kimberlin and Monica Davalos from the California Budget & Policy Center point out, “Nearly 1 in 8 Californians did not have enough resources to meet their basic needs…for all individuals experiencing homelessness, public support that helps people meet basic needs are important both to prevent and exit homelessness.” (Kimberlin & Davalos 23)

Furthermore, the ability for the citizens living on the streets to access rehabilitation services is vital to transitioning out of such a position. Some individuals living on the streets are experiencing mental health problems coupled with drug use issues. In order to pass the threshold of societal participation, one must first tackle all the issues that plague themselves on a taboo-like level, most of which are rooted in illicit drug consumption. With such a need for public services, one could argue that a direct community is the factor that hinges most into living on the street, or not.

Why is a sense of community (relative or otherwise) necessary when living on the streets?

With everything that has previously been stated within this speech a strong argument can be made for the need of a direct community when living on the streets. This can include but is not limited to; relatives, friends, neighbors, fellow street dwellers, churches, and businesses. Healthy engagement with one's own community can completely alter the course of the experience of living on the street. Whether it be for supplies, shelter, or a friendly conversation, the direct community we live in can empower us to participate, or push us to reclusion.

The presence of a direct community can also create accountability for all parties involved. A friend or family member checking in with someone living on the streets to make sure they are making it to scheduled appointments and completing tasks is sometimes all it takes to ensure forward momentum towards serving a purpose.

Micah Bertoli from invisiblepeople.tv elaborates, “The link between mental well-being and social and community factors is well documented. Connecting with community groups can prevent and reduce feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression. A strong sense of community has also been observed to yield physical health benefits.” Which in and of itself reminds us of the need for a community, for the mental & physical benefits it provides us all.

Bringing this to a close, I want to remind everyone of the slippery slope that is, a stable housing situation, appreciate the amenities you are afforded and remember the distance to the other side of the tracks is not as far as it seems. Today we covered some necessary equipment, public resources available, and why a community is important to those living on the streets. Although I have been mostly living on the street since 2016, I myself am about to move into a housing program offered by the Veterans Village of San Diego. Upon recording this speech, I have less than 24 hours until I move into my new place; which will give me all the space I need to serve my purpose within society and my community!

Persuasive Speech

“Shrooms are a very insightful drug — very introspective. I did shrooms recently and then quit [my] job the next day. So yeah, I’ve made some real-life decisions as a result.”— Seth Rogen told esquire magazine in 2018

Today I am reasoning that psilocybin, aka 'psychedelic or magic’ mushrooms should be legalized nationally for Mental Health and Recreational Purposes.

I am a psychonaut, being someone who explores altered states of consciousness, especially through hallucinatory medicines. I have invested many years into learning a responsible & respectful relationship with plant medicines and psychedelics; which involves intention, facilitation, and my personal mental health at its core. I am not advocating for the immediate consumption of plant medicines and psychedelics by all Americans; I am here to bring insight to the reasons we should be legalizing the possession and consumption of one of them, magic mushrooms.

There are many individuals imprisoned in the United States for the possession and consumption of psilocybin which has gained recent notoriety in clinical studies for its beneficial effects within the mental health field. The continued decriminalization at local and state levels will continue the narrative towards a national reform on the matter.

Too many lives in the United States are being bound to the criminalization of plant medicines which have been used throughout time, and by many cultures, as a means of healing and connecting within the human condition.

Some cities: Denver, Oakland, Ann Arbor, Santa Cruz, and the District of Columbia have decriminalized the possession and consumption of psilocybin mushrooms; along with Oregon as a whole, and California, effective January 1st 2025. The District of Columbia, better known as The Capital of the United States, passed Initiative No. 81 - Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act of 2020. Initiative No. 81 will, “Make the investigation and arrest of adults for non-commercial planting, cultivating, purchasing, transporting, distributing, possessing, and/or engaging in practices with entheogenic plants and fungi among the Metropolitan Police Department's lowest law enforcement priorities; and Codify that the people of the District of Columbia call upon the Attorney General for the District of Columbia and the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia to cease prosecution of residents of the District of Columbia for these activities.” This is a great sign for the way the country may be headed in general, and we will need to continue the push of the decriminalization of plant medicines in America, if the trend is to continue. The reasoning behind these decisions is based on studies proving Health & Public Safety are not negatively affected by the decriminalization of possession and consumption of psilocybin; along with clinical studies that have shown magic mushrooms to be beneficial in the mental health field.

The clinical studies that have been occurring for years involving plant medicines and mental health are very promising with the research that has already been gathered. Anthony Bossis is a clinical psychologist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, with 15 years of experience conducting clinical trials of psilocybin with patients facing advanced cancer. Bossis explains, "The findings have shown already that the mystical experience [known by the consumers of psilocybin] has been a predictor, or a mediator, in terms of better outcomes, and we are seeing rapid and sustained reductions in depression, anxiety, hopelessness, fear of death, in people who do have an advanced illness who have this experience." The mystical experience has been described by Bossis patients as, “awe and wonder, of interconnection and of transcendence.” The benefits of a responsible and respectful relationship with magic mushrooms have been well documented at this point and we are now just learning how to share it within the mainstream. Soon the blemish that was once the War on Drugs will become the taboo that is never spoken about.

Similar to the decriminalization of marijuana in many states it will reduce the amount of individuals currently incarcerated for possession and consumption crimes involving magic mushrooms. Chris McElvany in an article on April 12th 2023 from pharmacytimes.com claims, “Decriminalizing drugs such as psychedelics allow governmental bodies to funnel more money and resources into other public health matters outside of penalizing drug users for nonviolent crimes. The initial step of decriminalization reduces police and incarceration spending and provides cities and countries with more financial support to develop tools and resources that can keep citizens safer and healthier.” This change in perspective mindset to decriminalize certain plant medicines and focus on developing tools to keep people safer and healthier is important to the responsibility and accountability of us all as we move forward with this action. This is not just about getting people out of jail, it is also about re-educating and maintaining healthier practices involving possession and consumption of magic mushrooms.

Having the perfect version of laws regarding the decriminalization of plant medicines and psychedelics alike is difficult to create. It is riddled with red tape and decisions that must be made at local, state and federal levels. Now is the time to question and realize your opinion about the decriminalization of psilocybin matters, and that one day it will become a nationally recognized reform.

Local and state law must take the reins on decriminalizing psilocybin to encourage national reform.

For now, focusing on the decriminalization of psilocybin and making the possession and consumption of it the lowest of law enforcement priorities at a local and state level is where we must start. As we here in California have already passed the bill to decriminalize the possession and consumption of magic mushrooms that takes effect January 1st 2025, this speech was not to persuade you to go out and vote.

Walking the road to the national decriminalization of psilocybin is a difficult task to embark upon. As more and more cities and states around America start to decriminalize magic mushrooms, more and more people will be released from the prison system and advanced clinical studies will continue to discover new information and insights about the benefits and repercussions of psilocybin for the human condition.

My intention was to persuade or re-enforce your prior beliefs about the decriminalization of psilocybin, and as a call-to-action to keep a positive narrative when speaking with your friends and family around the world about plant medicine and psychedelics. Remember that in some cultures of the world these magic mushrooms are a means to connect with and discover the self.

I appreciate you taking the time to listen to my proposition.

Psilocybin, aka 'psychedelic or magic’ mushrooms should be legalized nationally for Mental Health and Recreational Purposes.

There are too many people within the Industrial Prison Complex for simple possession and consumption charges regarding psilocybin when there have been clinical studies showing that it does not affect Health & Public Safety. The local and state law and policies regarding the decriminalization of psychedelic mushrooms is vital to the national reform that is necessary on this matter.

Now, I’m not saying go out and get some magic mushrooms, drive to the desert with a gallon of water and 3 or more of your friends with little to no survival experience between you. Losing your keys and going on a journey where Johnny gets lost but comes back after he rediscovers himself and has draped his body in a cactus hide. I'm simply suggesting you be more open minded when having conversations with friends and family around the world. Remember to speak about the responsible and respectful relationship that is required when working with plant medicines and psychedelics instead of the Reefer Madness you have been sold.

Special Occasion Speech

Humans. Multiversal dreamers. Asleep & awake. Two bit hustlers and blue collared business folk dust each others shoulders off, while white collared college graduates look for a job. As the economy rises, the people fall. Deeper. Deeper into a slumber. Deeper into debt. Deeper into love. Into a paradise that has become a dystopian future. Hope from the past within. The smiles of the children and the fear from a mother as another father walks out the door. Tragedy within a broken home has created a wasteland of broken bones. Everybody with the same attitude. Nobody loves me. Question being. Do I love myself? Does our day-to-day well being outshine that of your desire for a future of wealth? A future unseen. A future that is truly only affected by the here and now. Is your presence a .gif to be open always? Or a burden to be carried as fodder on the spines of our peers? Humans. Multiversal dreamers. Love within & without.

Hello, my name is Andrew White. Today, I am here to share with you a story. The story of You. The story of your trials & tribulations. The story of your perseverance & resiliency in the face of adversity. The story of your passion & commitment to a cause you deem fit. Today, we celebrate the story of You.

You are on a journey. A journey that we all comprehend for The Self, yet not another knows like you. The rigor & hardships that have molded you, as formless as water. The courage through fear and the strength of your joy that shines a light on the darkest reaches of Being. I do not intend any religious prophecy or spiritual grandeur in these words, I am simply speaking of things which may have been forgotten. For every failure that is experienced, success is in the lessons learned towards that outcome. Success can be measured by many variables and within any context; the goal is to win even when you lose. Win by recognizing how you got into the position. Win by seeing the tools that can lead you towards outcomes that are more desirable. Win within. Success is recognizing how failures occur and applying ethical tools & tactics that will avoid that outcome. Again, this is just one of many perspectives of success, how it is defined in each moment is measured by the variables & context that are being experienced, and the Being defining it.

Failures, which can also be seen as a form of adversity, come in their own shapes and sizes. Failure at-our-own hands, like failing to pass a class; or failure out-of-our hands, like losing to Peyton Manning in the Superbowl. Each of which have nuanced forms of the other type of failure entwined within them; along with many other forms of failure that we each know for and of The Self. The perseverance & resiliency that you show within these adversities depicts that of a gracious winner. Your ability to rebound stronger than previously perceived is a landmark for others to drive towards. We all face adversity & failures in our own way, meaning the acts themselves and the action we take because of them. No matter how you face these adversities, continue to grow & learn within them. Be courageous in your steps and never fear failure.

Hold strong in your passion & commitment to the cause. This does not mean being an extremist with information. Rather when you find any cause that ignites your passion, stay committed to the ever expanding body of information that reasons for and against your beliefs. Recognize when you are being blinded by your bias, and check-in with any new line of thinking you discover. Do not falter when arguments are raised against you, rather utilize them as an opportunity to reflect upon that for which you stand. Has your position changed and what direction must be taken to right the course? No matter the cause, your passion and commitment to it will be all the fuel needed to reach the destination.

Speech Analysis #1: “Atoms for Peace”

We can all agree that the weaponization of nuclear & thermonuclear technology is a kind of blemish upon the history of mankind. However, without this development for raw power, it can be reasoned that we would never have made the other technological advances we have since as a civilization. On December 8th 1953 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered his “Atoms for Peace” speech as his attempt at creating a positive narrative around the U.S. Cold War efforts and the plan for the future of nuclear energy in the county. The purpose was to share America’s new goals & ideas for its nuclear future, and the direction that its global relations, involving nuclear energy & armament, were aimed. He called for more than the reduction of nuclear armament, he insisted that the knowledge of nuclear energy must be shared and understood by more nations, so the scale of the world’s theater of war & scientific knowledge could be understood on a global scale. Overall President Dwight D. Eisenhower was well-liked during his term, although critics of the time called him a ‘do-nothing’ President, historians have credited this as one of his strong suits. His ability to hold strong any national reaction to global affairs and to take action in a clear and concise manner has made history remember him as a ‘man-of-peace’. President Eisenhower holds credibility in this matter as he was dedicated to the American Nuclear Initiative. His delivery was fit for the time as many orators carried a certain cadence and sound that translated well over early radio and television waves. His message was on peaceful atomic programs, involving the science and technology of nuclear energy for bettering mankind, rather than its self-destruction through the military industrial complex. Was he heard?

President Eisenhower focused many of his efforts towards ‘peace’ throughout his presidential term. Within 6 months of his taking office as U.S. President he was engaged in the armistice ending the Korean War, as well as investing much of his time as President into the debate revolving around nuclear science & technology. The National Archives website states, “President Dwight D. Eisenhower was determined to solve ‘the fearful atomic dilemma’ by finding some way by which ‘the miraculous inventiveness of man’ would not be dedicated to his death, but consecrated to his life…The ‘Atoms for Peace’ speech reflected the President’s deep concern about ‘Atoms for War.’ The escalating nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union, which included the development of thermonuclear bombs…” Eisenhower and his team were dedicated to informing the national & global public about new possibilities within a technologically advanced era. He wanted to ensure people understood the coming age and the potential it brought for creation & destruction.

During the ‘Atoms for Peace’ speech, President Eisenhower can be seen reading (almost) word-for-word from a written document. It can be noted that every sentence seems calculated & precise. His cadence is military-like and he enunciates every word. For the era that this speech was given, in terms of communication technology, radio & television were still very ‘grainy’, being difficult to always receive clear messaging as a viewer. This being said, there is a specific cadence & sound that many orators of the time used to ensure better reception and retention by their audience. President Eisenhower maintains a very stern and strong delivery, depicting the urgency with which he believed the information must be shared.

Being as the United States was the current world expert in nuclear weapons technology at the time, the President was the perfect orator to share the message of the nation in regards to these matters. Especially as President Eisenhower had strong personal & campaign beliefs regarding nuclear energy. In his address he stated, “The United States knows that if the fearful trend of atomic military build-up can be reversed, this greatest of destructive forces can be developed into a great boon, for the benefit of all mankind. The United States knows that peaceful power from atomic energy is no dream of the future.” His intention was to change the ways in which we may utilize this new destructive yet efficient energy source. The interest of this story was largely in play at the time, the speech was delivered as the Nuclear Arms race and The Cold War with the Soviet Union were still in full swing. The message that the President was imparting upon the General Assembly and the global community at large was the need to understand what nuclear armament meant for the world, and to cast a new perspective for the future of nuclear energy.

It took 30 years for The Cold War to “officially” end after President Dwight D. Eisenhower exited office. However, he was handed “the reins” of The United States only 4 years after it began. He delivered the “Atoms for Peace” speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York at the end of the same year he took office, 1953; within this speech he shared his perspective of the potential that the nuclear future brought. President Eisenhower's credibility for delivering this speech comes from his track record of peace dealing, and his personal involvement within the nuclear arms race/ its scientific & technological advances. His delivery was constructed and delivered precisely word for word, he was as far from candid as one could be, and yet his message was delivered with intent & passion. His message being the de-weaponizing of nuclear energy and the potential benefits it could bring in other forms, including power itself. Although President Eissenhower’s vision for the world may not have come to fruition, the idea it brings with it, is a perspective that may change humanity as we know it. Will he be heard?

Speech Analysis #1: “We Choose the Moon”

Whether you believe The United States landed on the moon in 1969, or not, few critics can disagree that JFKs’ “We Choose the Moon” speech is one of the top 10 speeches in American History. John F. Kennedy delivered this speech on September 12th, 1962; nearly 7 years later the Apollo 11 mission was deemed successful (conspiracies aside) and the USA planted its first extraterrestrial flag on the moon in 1969. Back in 1962 however, 35,000 students, faculty and press attended the live speech given by JFK at Rice University. With the stands full and in-field set, he spoke voraciously to the congregation and to millions of more who would hear it from recordings in the coming years. The “We Choose the Moon” speech was a rallying cry for all Americans to support the, then brand new, NASA manned-space program. Remember this was Cold War Era Earth and tensions were mounting surrounding which new super power, Russia or The United States, would come out victorious in the technological space race. Which would be the first country to put a man on the moon? This is the question JFK was attempting to assure be answered, USA, when he gave this speech in the summer of 1962. The following will be an analysis of his credibility, delivery and overall message for the “We Choose the Moon” speech. Let’s take a look at how one man inspired a nation to shoot for the moon!

During his life, John F. Kennedy created a name for himself with his vision of America being the first nation dedicated to human rights. The White House website states, “His Inaugural Address offered the memorable injunction: ‘Ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country.’ As President, he set out to redeem his campaign pledge to get America moving again. His economic programs launched the country on its longest sustained expansion since World War II; before his death, he laid plans for a massive assault on persisting pockets of privation and poverty.” This is a small glimpse at the credibility he bore when rallying the American people. He knew how to rouse the masses and excite the population. Although he may not have been qualified (technically)as the man to give this speech, he was the correct man for the job. He had a charm & wit that opened rapport with even those who found themselves opposed to him. His credibility as the U.S. President at the time had little else to do with it.

On the warm afternoon of September 12th, 1962, President Kennedy rallied the American people behind the idea of being the first nation to land a man on the moon. He began his speech with a story about the 50,000 year timeline of man being condensed down to 50 years. He elaborated within this standard, these terms, that 1 week before; penicillin, television and nuclear power were just developed. With the current (1962) pace of the space race, he said, “we will have literally reached the stars by midnight ‘tonight’.” The stories, anecdotes, metaphors and symbolism that he utilized to tell this speech were all focused at the main objective of rallying the American People to “Choose the Moon,” and winning the space race. John F. Kennedy has always been known for his use of speech delivery skills & techniques. His vocal variety and use of rhetorical devices is nearly unmatched by any public speakers, much less by world leaders. Within this speech alone, he utilized alliteration, rhyming schemes, and the rule-of-three; along with being articulate and pausing when necessary. He was humorous throughout and engaged with the crowd through his eye-contact and gestures. Last, and certainly not least, he made this entire speech a call-to-action by rallying the American public to support the Cold War efforts, the space race and, “do this, that and the other thing!”

Finally, we turn to his message when giving this speech. President Kennedy was able to make the viewer feel connected to the idea of the space race and the protection of American ideals through technological advancement. Known history detached, I think anyone viewing this speech would be convinced to support the cause of defending freedom and continuing the Cold War efforts. The way he organized the contextual information of the goals for the next decade of America, mixed with stories and anecdotes of pioneering space, created a tone of determination & assurance for the public. Which history tells us was accomplished.

Again, regardless of your beliefs on the outcome of the Cold War Era Space Race, JFK delivered a speech in 1962 that fueled Americans for nearly the next 7 years, as they pushed the boundaries of space exploration; fighting sickle & hammer for the right to claim, “first man on the moon.” I discussed his credibility as President of The United States to give the speech, his delivery during and the overall message he was addressing. In all, this speech can be selected as part of the reason why the U.S. invested nearly thirty-million-dollars on the race for space…saying less. We chose the moon!!!

COMM 160

Discussions

Introduction

Nice to see you all on the first day of class!

I spoke a bit about being an author & publisher in class today. I have been intentionally pursuing writing as my career for the last 3-4 years, having written 3 complete books in the last 10 years and writing my first poem in 6th grade. It became the passion I fully focused on during the global pandemic. Near 2 years ago I started my publishing company, Darke Scribe Publishing. I am currently a sidewalk vendor in Ocean Beach during the summer, where I share the first book I am releasing to the public. To clarify, I am not selling my book yet, as I am writing the first 77 copies by hand; of which I have the first 6 written. I am focusing more on publicity & connection with the public... while being patient with the process:) The next major goal I have is having my hand-writing digitized so I can ultimately print my books in my script, alongside getting my handwriting onto word processing programs for others to use. All 3 of the books I have competed writing revolve specifically around the human experience, within a lens of direct reality in some form or another. If you would like to know more about the projects I have completed and projects I am working on feel free to ask!

My Favorites:)

Movie: The Secret of Water

TV Show: Altered Carbon

Music: Steel Drum (Islander or Latin)

Favorite Food: Indian or anything similar

Experience: Life

Hobbies: Gaming

Interests: Self-Actualization

Support this Crazy Law!

Oxford dictionary defines a duel as: a contest with deadly weapons arranged between two people in order to settle a point of honor. At one point in history dueling at high noon was seen as a show of force, skill & outright dominance. The church bell sounds, the streets are empty, a tumbleweed blows across the cobblestone street. Everyone is peering out of windows through slits in the tapestries. One man falls to the ground as the other holsters his weapon. If this scene were to happen in Tennessee after 2014 neither man would ever be aloud to hold a public office position in the state. As Autumn Hill from utdailybeacon.com explains, "If you wish to duel in the state of Tennessee—which itself is illegal—don’t plan to take office after the fact. This 2014 law in article IX of the Tennessee constitution forbids duelists from running for political offices of any kind, and participants will face punishment just as any other citizen would." As cinematic as the scene I depicted earlier may be for Hollywood, in our present history I believe this law makes sense. The reasons why we should continue to support this law include; less people in public office with a deadly ego, more control over Main St. at high noon, and the ability for our community to resolve issues in a civil manner rather than a toxic duel in our city streets. As the law currently stands we have had no dueling occurring at the Main St. Saloon and plan to keep it that way for the foreseeable future! Remember, be civil & remain vigilant:)

Not That!

Like times through the hour glass, this is the change of our lives:) Convenience has its perks, and its downfalls...one of which being that my sales rep from my local food delivery service, constantly forgets to bring condiments & dinnerware with my order, and that's when it was custom to get those things automatically on take-out. It's no wonder these items are missed the majority of the time in the current reality. As of January 2022, California Law Assembly Bill 1276: Single-Use Foodware Accessories Available by Request Only, makes it nearly impossible for me to get the fixings I desire!

Stopwaste.org explains about the law requirements, "Single-use foodware items cannot be bundled together. Single-use foodware accessories and condiments can only be provided upon request, except at drive-throughs and airports, where staff can ask if a customer wants single-use foodware accessories. Food facilities using third-party delivery platforms can only provide single-use items and condiments that have been requested by a customer during the online ordering process." This means that UberEats & DoorDash both need extended options on the applications for all utensils, condiments & extras that each retailer provides. I need to select which of these options I want with my order, and then the driver & retail worker must check each order for all requested items; down to the straws... give me my straw damn it! In June of 2022 Dillon Davis published an article titled California Has New Restrictions on Straws & Ketchup Packets - But Is Anyone Enforcing It? He elaborates on the law stating, "...[it] effectively bans retail food businesses from providing single-use accessories such as utensils, straws and condiment packets unless requested by customers. It extends from takeout on ready-to-eat items to third-party delivery platforms, which now must offer would-be diners the option to add them to a food order rather than including them by default." My point being, convenience is contrived. The simpler we make it, the more steps we create for ourselves in the process, which in turn creates more opportunities for failure... like forgetting my straw!!

There are benefits to single-use items, especially in the food industry. The protection & preservation of fresh foods is important within our current market of mass distribution. In order for products to have a quality shelf life, plastics are inevitable in the process. Single-use plastics reduce food wastes and are a hygienic means of storing & dispersing products. Although a bit biased, the British Plastics Federation shared an article: Why Do We Need Single Use Plastics in which they explain, "Plastic packaging is so good at protecting and preserving fresh goods, it means we are able to eat a wide variety of fresh foods year-round rather than seasonally, expanding the range of foods we can enjoy... Keeping food from spoiling reduces food waste, which helps reduce the strain in the planet’s resources and keeps costs down. Plastic packaging is extremely hygienic, keeping food and other products insulated against any air-borne germs. It also prevents germs from being spread by people handling goods intended for consumption." There are many health benefits and reasons for why our fore-fathers decided to convert us to single-use plastics, if we are not to repeat a history of plague, then we must stand against the ban on single use plastics.

Down with California Law AB 1276! Where is my straw!?!?!?

Action Speech

The current need for adopting animals from the San Diego Humane Society is at a peak, due to the influx of domesticated animals being abandoned & forgotten. I believe we can make a change in the experience of many domesticated animals' lives by calling-to-action the adoption of those animals currently in a shelter.

Euthanization is the practice of ending the life of a patient to limit the patient's suffering. I am proclaiming further pet adoption to continue the reduction of pet euthanization. I must preface this speech with my personal perspective and the idea of, “the lesser of two evils.” I do not necessarily believe in the domestication of animals as this statement, to me, in-and-of itself is an oxymoronic idea. Think about it: Domesticated animals. That being said, I do believe that the euthanization of sheltered animals is unfortunate & grim.

The San Diego Humane Society has a current influx in animals needing adoption or fostering. My name is Andrew White and today I would like to bring your attention to this need and some actions you can take to engage with the process.

Due to a recent incarceration I was mandated by the state of California to complete 20 hours of community service at a non-profit organization within the county. The simplest path of completing this obligation was to volunteer at the San Diego Humane Society. Where I spent 2 days a week for 2 months completing the task. I volunteered within the Behavioral Center which houses dogs with issues living amongst the larger population of animals at the Humane Society. In time I learned of the current overpopulation of their campus, which has prompted animals sharing cages, and make-shift housing to be crafted for the animals within expansive warehouses.

1. 1. The current state of animal adoption & euthanasia in California.

2. San Diego Humane Society and how they are affecting change in this situation.

3. What can be done to support the Humane Society and the animals housed there.

Animal euthanization is still a major issue faced when discussing animal shelters across the State of California.

The 2022-23 Impact Report released by the San Diego Humane Society reveals that as an organization they “stayed at zero euthanasia’s of healthy or treatable shelter animals” during that time period. Do not be blinded by this statistic however, as the Humane Society practices the humane euthanization of animals on a regular basis. The “healthy & treatable” factor is key to this stat being true.

There are always more animals being brought to animal shelters than being adopted out. This is the reality we live. Although California committed to being a “no kill” state in 1998, according to a 2023 article by Susan Carpenter at Spectrum news reporting on the Koret Shelter Medicine Program at the University of California-Davis, “100,000 animals are euthanized at animal shelters in California each year.”

In the same article Susan Carpenter quotes California Assemblyman Bill Essayli, “shelter animal euthanization is the result of the overcrowding crisis…Shelters can’t adopt animals on their own. They have to work with rescues and the public to get dogs adopted or fostered, and if they’re not communicating with the public, that’s a problem.” There are local channels in which we as the public can assist in the reducing of the amounts of animal euthanization each year, one is by connecting with our local shelters and the San Diego Humane Society which I will take the time to share about now.

The San Diego Humane Society offers many outlets for information & resources accessible to the public. Some programs they offer to the public include; the community pet pantry, behavioral training assistance and a volunteer program that offers opportunities to engage with sheltered pets on a deeper level.

The San Diego Humane Society was established in 1880 and is the oldest and largest humane society in the county. Their mission to be, “an open-admission shelter…creating a more humane world by inspiring compassion and advancing the welfare of animals and people,” has somewhat been brought to fruition as of 2015 they claim, “After working for more than a decade to restrict the county’s animal population and increase opportunities for pet adoptions, the coalition has united to make San Diego the safest place to be a pet.”

There are multiple ways in which the San Diego Humane Society collaborates within the community to ensure a more humane living experience for animals in-and-out of the shelter.

Their Community Pet Pantry Program makes pet food & supplies readily accessible 6 days a week. Anyone with or without a pet can go to one of their many locations in the county and pick up necessary pet supplies to ensure your pet has all its needs to be happy & healthy.

Their website sdhumane.org states “[they] offer training classes, lectures, events, consultations, and a free Behavior Helpline, all giving the community direct access to our professional trainers.” There are multiple options, including in-person classes and online access to a database of knowledge that will empower both the pet & pet owner.

The Volunteer Program offers the public an opportunity to partake in the daily routine of caring for animals living at the shelter. This is also a means by which the Humane Society shares information with the public as the Volunteers are typically the people sharing their knowledge to ensure public engagement. The overcrowding of the physical shelters that I spoke of earlier is where we as the local public can assist animals & the shelters they live in, by slowing the need to euthanize animals in general. There are a few ways in which we can do that.

Comparative Analysis: Although there are many organizations within California dedicated to sheltering domestic animals the San Diego Humane Society, by-and-large, creates the most impact & diverse change for animals within the shelter system of Southern California. Their website claims, “more than 45,000 homeless animals flood San Diego shelters each year, shelter facilities are constantly full to capacity and their resources are stretched incredibly thin.” This situation is a never ending problem that we face here in San Diego.

There are multiple ways you can take action today.

First-and-foremost, telling your friends & family of the need to adopt animals from shelters and not to purchase them from pet shops or breeders. (Show SDHS Locations & Phone #’s Slide)

The next action you can take has more to do with pets that are already homed and in a loving place. Please be sure to spay & neuter your animals as this reduces the overpopulation of domestic animals in general. Also, microchipping your pet ensures their safe return home during escapes or mishaps. Furthermore, if you find your family or yourself in a situation where you are unable to care for your pet, the San Diego Humane Society also has a Rehoming Program that offers the opportunity to keep pets out of the shelter during their transitional experience.

Another way to take action, if you have the means & know-how, is to foster or adopt a pet from the shelter! These processes have differing requirements. Head to the San Diego Humane Society website to determine if you qualify. You can also add them on Facebook where on a regular basis, they post bio’s and details of animals looking for immediate adoption.

Thank you for bringing your attention to this matter today, and for taking the time to contemplate the current state of domestication & euthanasia in the pet industry. The current need for adopting animals from the San Diego Humane Society is at a peak, due to the influx of domesticated animals being abandoned & forgotten. I believe we can make a change in the experience of many domesticated animals' lives by calling-to-action the adoption of those animals currently in a shelter. Today I covered the state of animal adoption & euthanasia in California. How the San Diego Humane Society has been affecting change in the situation, and what you can do to support the local campuses and the animals housed there.

Although, on a fundamental level I do not agree with the domestication of animals as pets, I do believe the continued reduction of their euthanization is necessary. If you are thinking of getting a pet… take the time to go to your local shelters and find a pet that is looking for a home and would otherwise be euthanized, as this practice is a sad & unfortunate action, and only we as a collective have the potential to reduce it.

Speech Analysis Essay #1

On April 17th, 2012, R.P. Joe Smith delivered a speech for TEDxConcordiaUPortland encouraging the American public to be more cognizant of its paper towel consumption, along with the process we can use to begin reducing that usage. Being that 2012 was the year that the world thought the Mayan Calendar predicted the world ending, this speech and its purpose was a simple way to ensure humans played their part in ensuring salvation. I chose this speech because it is simple yet effective; Mr. Smith offers elementary statistics along with an easy-to-follow guide on how to save more paper towels. I will evaluate the speaker’s credibility, delivery, message & persuasive appeal when presenting this speech.

The TED Speaker Profile explains further about Mr. Smith, stating he “served as District Attorney for Umatilla County and is the former chair of the Oregon Democratic Party. He was the Executive Assistant to the Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives and held a short interim position in the Oregon House of Representatives. An active lawyer in a private practice, he once famously ran for the position of Oregon Attorney General without soliciting a single contribution over $99.99.” This example of low contribution requested while soliciting for his campaign shows his conservative nature and the means by which he practices what he preaches. Furthermore, I assessed his fine attention to detail when he had a paper towel from each different type of dispenser accessible in public restrooms, which shows he has invested time & effort into this argument when reasoning for utilizing his Shake & Fold Method (which I will explain further in the “message” section.)

The delivery of this speech is in a very familiar tone. Something along the lines of your parent or guardian telling you how & why you should do something and the benefit of listening to them when choosing the proper actions to take. He is very sincere in his belief of reducing the amount of paper towels and the benefits that less consumption will have for us as a civilization. He utilizes elements of satirical humor throughout his presentation, poking fun at the ways in which we currently do things and the simple steps required to change any bad habits we have acquired along the way. He also incorporated the audience within his entire presentation, by splitting them, one half saying “Shake” the other saying “Fold.” This kept the audience engaged throughout his presentation and was a form of repetition utilized to ensure the audience retains the message.

Mr. Smith had a very specific message with this speech: Americans use too many paper towels each year, and here is a method we can use to change that. One paper towel per person/per day is his call-to-action. The method that he shares being the “Shake & Fold” I spoke of earlier. He explains that 13 billion pounds of paper are used by the United States each year and if we can reduce our consumption to one paper towel per day, we can reduce that by 500 million pounds. The interest for this story is huge as it is a known fact that when Americans don’t have access to their paper toiletries, all hell breaks loose! This is a way to ensure we never run out or at least reduce our overall need. His visual aid usage when showing exactly how to use 1 paper towel, no-matter the paper towel type, is a great way to show the audience how you have no excuse to disagree with or do something other than what he is suggesting.

Overall I believe the speech did a great job of persuading the audience to reduce their consumption of paper towels. R.P. Joe Smith incorporated ethos, pathos & logos within this presentation. He emotionally appealed to the audience through his fatherly humor and his delivery techniques. His expertise comes from apparent years of practicing this technique of “Shake & Fold.” Logically, we Americans and the planet in general need to reduce our consumption of many materials, saving paper towels is something we can all have a direct impact on, as they have become somewhat standard within western living.

Today I presented Mr. Joe Smith’s speech at TEDxConcodiaUPortland regarding America's reduction of paper towel consumption. I evaluated his credibility, delivery, message & persuasive appeal. His “Shake & Fold” Method is a memorable and simple way to practice our personal reduction when using paper towels. Does your family use paper towels? This is the call-to-action and challenge to use them less!

Speech Analysis Essay #2

Greta Thunberg is a young Swedish woman and was born January 3, 2003, at the age of 16 she gave a speech to world leaders & the world in 2019 at the United Nations Climate Action Summit that was held in New York City. Although I never invest much attention into the news in general, I remember this speech being impactful to the world (in delivery & timing, not-so-much execution of plan afterwards) and everyone & their brother was speaking about it. When I was thinking of speeches to do an analysis on for this assignment I wanted to choose something that I remembered occurring in my lifetime. This was the first speech that came to mind. I didn’t even quite remember what the speech was about and had to ask some of my peers about it to figure out her name and the context of the speech to be able to find it online to start the assignment. This essay will be an analysis of her credibility, delivery, message & persuasive appeal.

Greta Thunberg is a climate activist that has been practicing activism since she was a child. At the age of 8 (2011) she recognized the world was in a crisis, and from her perspective, it seemed that no one was speaking about it. By 11 (2014) she had fallen ill and been diagnosed with Aspergers along with several other diagnoses. In 2018 she delivered a speech for TEDxStockholm titled School Strike for Climate (not the speech I am analyzing) in which she explains about her expertise and credibility in the cause. She states, “The climate crisis has already been solved. We already have all the facts and solutions,” Thunberg says. “All we have to do is to wake up and change.” She goes on to explain that no college degree or climate expertise is needed as we already have the information, action is all that remains.

Gretas verbal & nonverbal delivery is high octane emotion in this speech. She is on the verge of tears & speaking through a breath of sadness. Utilizing her hand in a very political gesture, she moves her hand at the audience as if stamping her message into their minds. Although she is emotional in this speech she is able to maintain herself and speak with clarity & purpose in a language that is not her mother language. She speaks with conviction & a determined cadence.

Her message is, “We’ll be watching you.” (0:27) and “How dare you?” (0:53) She is questioning her elders and those in power as to the things they have told the world and the action that has been shown. She is speaking for her generation and challenging her superiors to own their prior actions and respond with corrective action. In the last 40 years climate change has peaked the interest of each generation in different ways. Regardless of your care for the topic in 2019, a large majority of the planet heard about this speech and it gained a large interest potential. She was well organized in her speech and utilized logos & pathos heavily to balance her lack of ethos (expertise/credibility). I will break this down a bit further below. She utilized statistics and known facts about climate change with direct quotations and credible sourcing. There were no visual aids as she was sitting in a panel on stage, and she read her speech from a piece of paper. This aside, she did a great job of presenting herself and the information with grace.

Greta’s most persuasive arguments were that of relating inaction to known statistics, and questioning whether that inaction was a sign of evil, which she refuses to believe. She argued that change must occur and whether this generation chooses to take action on that change or not will show her generation the true intentions of our society. Her least persuasive arguments are in not giving any potential ideas for change; rather she just focuses on the fact there is something currently wrong. As I stated previously, her appeal in ethos is lacking as she is just a child and not a climate control specialist. However, she makes up for this by utilizing research and known facts that are accessible to any that seek them leveraging logos as a means to persuade. Furthermore, her deep-felt connection to this topic and the way in which the topic affects her creates a strong connection with the audience through the appeal of pathos. Overall, Greta has a strong persuasive appeal in this speech and creates a tone & delivery that strikes at the chord of humanity.

This essay analyzed Greta Thunberg’s speech at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit in which she challenged world leaders and the public at large to begin making the change necessary to counter climate change. I discussed her delivery, credibility, message and persuasive appeal. Overall, I believe this was a well executed speech and created a call-to-action that sparked some change in the global environment. Greta went on a campaign trail for climate change and effectively began a path to reduce global emissions. Do you turn off the lights when leaving a room?

Refutation Essay

Utilizing plant medicine & psychedelics is a slippery slope towards psychosis & addiction. Decriminalizing psilocybin & reallocating funds from the national drug control budget is not the solution for ending the War on Drugs and decreasing the stigmatization of drug use. Having been involved in a drug related court case, through which due process was served, and proper consequences were assigned; I have learned the importance of governmental drug control and the means by which the law prosecutes the offenders of these laws. In order for freedom to reign accountability must be held in the hands of the people. This policy is conceived, and not cost effective. Decriminalizing psilocybin is not the next step towards ending the War on Drugs, as this creates the space for “unrestricted use” with little to no safety and efficacy with clinically proven & researched trials. Reallocating funds from federal drug control disbursements for the decriminalization of one substance (psilocybin) is not logically cost effective in the overall goals of national drug control as there are already measures in place for public health & safety within these costs.

The policy idea presented is to decriminalize psilocybin nationally in the United States, in an effort towards ending the War on Drugs. Suggesting that the United States Government and the national budget for drug control is being improperly utilized & causing detrimental effects on the mass of the population.

There are many issues with decriminalizing & legalizing any substance, one of the largest is the idea of “unrestricted use.” To what ends should the law hold its citizens accountable for the possession & consumption of illicit drugs. Should criminal charges be held, or should the Wild West reign supreme. In a podcast called Fresh Air and transcribed on npr.org, Dave Davies explained in an article titled Why Oregon's Groundbreaking Drug Decriminalization Experiment is Coming to an End about the after effects of Oregon decriminalizing many hard drugs; “3 1/2 years later, public opinion has turned against the groundbreaking approach, and the state legislature has acted to restore criminal penalties for hard drugs. The state experienced rising overdose deaths and high rates of drug use, and open air drug use in streets, parks and camping areas unnerved many residents.” (Davies, 2024) This is a state-wide example of the issues that unrestricted use and the decriminalization of possession & consumption regarding certain substances includes. The statistics show that criminalizing drug use reduces the overall consumption of these substances as compared to their legal counterparts like alcohol & tobacco. Rafeal Lemaitre, for obamawhitehouse.archives.gov states in an article titled Drug Laws: Why Do We Have Them & Do They Work? “The use of legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco far outpaces the use of illegal drugs…It boils down to simple arithmetic: The more Americans use drugs, the higher the health, safety, productivity, and criminal justice costs we all have to bear. And if sensible drug laws (in combination with a wide array of prevention, treatment, and other health interventions, of course) help keep those numbers down, then the answer is yes, they are working.” (Lemaitre, 2013) Rather than national decriminalization & legalization the reduction of Scheduling certain substances will allow for future research to be completed with fewer places for red-tape to hinder the process.

There is understanding in the contradictions that the Scheduling of substances and the restrictions that puts on credible, scientific study creates. However, that being said as we move into this realm of the unknown. Collectively deciding to accept psychedelics & plant medicine then we should be rightfully informed. In this case that means ensuring it is understood that we do not have much long-term research on the effects of these substances. In an article, Not so Fast on Psychedelic Mushrooms on nytimes.com, Michael Pollan states, “I look forward to the day when psychedelic medicines like psilocybin, having proven their safety & efficacy in F.D.A.-approved trials will take their legal place in society, not only in mental health care but in the lives of people dealing with garden-variety unhappiness or interested in spiritual exploration & personal growth. My worry is that ballot initiatives may not be the smartest way to get there. We still have a lot to learn about the immense power and potential risk of these molecules, not to mention the consequences of unrestricted use. It would be a shame if the public is pushed to make premature decisions about psychedelics before the researchers have completed their work.” (Pollan, 2019) This is truly the precipice of the issue at hand. As we move forward into legalizing & decriminalizing any substance, we must first take steps with caution. Recognizing the means by which distribution should occur and the scale to which changes should be implemented. Ensuring we move forward with proper research established is a vital piece in the process of reformation. According to Kathryn Lucido in an article titled The False Promise of City-Wide Psilocybin Decriminalization:

for Harvard Law: Bill of Health, “the therapeutic effects of psilocybin need to be researched further in order to enact large-scale changes. However, these recent decriminalization efforts do not truly allow for researchers to study the therapeutic effects. Instead, these laws merely afford individuals access to psychedelics in select cities while exposing them to federal criminal charges.” (Lucido, 2020)

The redistribution of funds from the national drug control budget is not a cost effective means of building infrastructure & reeducation around one controlled substance (psilocybin). Although the rescheduling of certain substances may allow for less government attention to be required of certain activities, the overall scale of national drug control vastly out scales the benefits of one substance. Rather than focus these funds into re-educating the public on one substance (which these funds are already used to do for all substances) we may be better equipped to.

I believe the strongest argument for the policy speech is the BLAME given; “In 1971 President Nixon led the United States on a path of criminalizing drug-use and the “scheduling” of many substances. This “War on Drugs” narrative has been perpetuated & expounded upon, leading to the discriminatory incarceration of many citizens.” These discriminatory legislation & legal practices must be rewritten and changed. No matter how we view it, the current state of laws regarding scheduling of drugs and the criminalization of users is out of hand, and has ruined far too many lives. I believe the strongest argument for the refutation is the issues with “Unrestricted use.” There is a major problem with time & place for consumption of any substance, with the legalizing & decriminalization of certain substances we could see a society that leads itself down a path of psychosis, which is far from the goals any of us seek.

Thank you for your time to consider this refutation against the national decriminalization of psilocybin. The reasons include Issues with unrestricted use, Lack of long-term clinical research trials that reduces the safety & efficacy of the population and the lack of cost-effectiveness to reallocate drug control funds. This is not a call-to-action for everyone to inhale psychedelics. This is a call to END THE WAR ON DRUGS!

COMMS 170

Discussions

Introduction to Small Groups

Groups are inescapable simply by the nature of human existence, majority of us being born into a group, our relatives. We are a pack animal that rarely can thrive in an individual setting. The thought of a person living on the frontier comes to mind, or the shows we now see of "surviving the wild" and even within that context you see people looking to others for/to give assistance and guidance. Whether it be calling on a neighbor to borrow supplies or offering service to assist in some way; although majority of the time may be done alone, the requirement of healthy engagement with a local group is necessary to survival, even if the engagement is minimal.

I don't think there is an overall size too big for a group, I think the context of its purpose is vital to its size. Depending on the task at hand and the skills/knowledge of the individuals involved, the size of the group can differ. As the module describes for small groups, many don't consider there to be a maximum; 3 is the required minimum (as 2 people is a dyad, which has a different dynamic than 3 or more people), however once you get to 20 people or more the dynamic evolves yet again into a "large group" setting. The common ideal most experts agree on is 5-7 people to create a small group, as any more individuals involved will start creating issues with control, subgroups forming, and less satisfaction & commitment to the group as accountability becomes more difficult to enforce.

Verbal Communication

Verbal Communication is an ever evolving and elaborate tool that changes from moment to moment. It feels like yesterday when "Checks out" was a generational slang used for "I believe that to be true," when now it seems universal to hear, "Bet" from people of all ages when they are exclaiming their belief (or rather, "I would bet on that being true") in something. Within the microcosm of a community (region, gender, culture or generation) slang holds little weight for problems, as they are typically colloquially referenced terms, and known by those in familiar conversation. As global borders are crossed and the 'melting pots' edges are blurred, the problems from local slang can be exacerbated quickly however. A term of endearment to me, like "What's up fool?" may be interpreted as disrespectful to someone that is not from a similar background to me and vice-a-versa. Our ability to understand the use of slang and its context for interpretation is key to successful interpersonal communication. Recognizing the use of a derogatory term may not always give the best insight into the emotions or views someone is expressing, listening for how and why they use it gives a better perspective for interpretation. Misinterpretation is a large component to the issues when utilizing slang, knowing the time and place to use it is vital to success in any arena. Does this check out?

Nonverbal Communication

The game of Charades requires 4 or more people. In teams, one person is required to act (without speaking) out a word on a hidden piece of paper, while the rest of the team attempts to guess what is on the paper. You must learn some universal techniques to express ideas like: first syllable, or second word. On top of that you must be able to comprehend nonverbal cues from a team-mate who is acting out the thing being described. All-in-all it is quite a difficult game. Simon Says on the other hand, requires listening to words being spoken. 'Simon' will stand at a distance from a group, and say-out-loud things for the others to do. If you complete the simple task (jump-on-one-foot) then you can take a step forward closer to 'Simon'; if they say "Simon Says' 'beforehand (which I did not, so take a step back.) So in terms of ease, it really depends on the skills of the individual partaking in the game. If they are better at reading nonverbal cues, rather than listening to verbal ones; then Charades is the game for them, if not then it's Simon Says.

Many times the saying goes, "I see what you do, not what you say," and in this sense I would argue that Nonverbal Communication is more powerful; in terms of how things are interpreted by others. Nine times out of ten the way someone is acting is a stronger indicator to their intentions than their words are. I overcome the difficulties of misinterpreting Nonverbal Communication by asking the person that I am questioning internally, to verify or dissuade my perceptions of their actions.

Listening

Listening is important because it is how we invest most of our time in the communication process. Whether it be the words we are utilizing or the things we are saying with our body, we are all ways listening for the inferred meaning. Are we interpreting properly? Listening effectively is a practice in-and-of itself. Identifying & summarizing main points, paying attention to nonverbals, analyzing arguments and assessing the relevance of the speaker's comments all play a factor in listening effectively. Listening effectively will lead to increased knowledge, increased maturity, more success, improved relationships, and self-protection; all of which, impact your life.

Motivation

Motivation is the intrinsic feelings and extrinsic rewards that drive us to accomplish things. As Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs depicts; love, belonging, esteem & Self-Actualization are motivators that bring fulfillment to our lives. Myers-Briggs Personality types, extroverts & introverts, respond to different motivators; public display & private rewards, respectively. Motivation is important in groups because it provides the inspiration & incentive; the will/desire, the reason for working together, to accomplish a shared goal. The way to motivate the self & individuals within a group are the intrinsic & extrinsic motivators. The intrinsic motivators include: sense of meaningfulness, sense of choice, sense of competence, and a sense of progress. The extrinsic are things like cookies, grades, hugs, etc. Not everyone is motivated by the same things, and some circumstances create motivations that are unexpected or unique to the situation. Motivation depends on many details that occur during nuanced interactions & instances. If group members become apathetic, or indifferent, then the motivations that drive them are not being fulfilled. Pay attention, or inquire with them, as to what they think may increase this fulfillment. To help everyone become & stay motivated create a goal that is meaningful, inspiring and achievable. Be sure that everyone is assigned appropriate tasks and speak about it tactfully with the group. Be considerate and reach out to each other if it feels like things are needing to be put back on track. Re-evaluate & Re-adjust!

Leadership

A leader is someone who has been designated or emerges to help the group attain its goals. Leadership refers to the behaviors that direct the group toward accomplishing goals; this can also be the actions of those who are not in a designated or emergent leader role, but show signs of leadership when taking charge for a project's task.

Leadership is in the actions we take in every moment. The requirements to lead do not require a position or title, it is the choices in the actions we take that develops our leadership style.

• Leadership is a personality trait that individuals possess in varying degrees.

• There is an ideal leadership style, no matter what the situation.

• Leaders get other people to do the work for them.

Communicating a vision, showing gratitude, taking action & collaborating/ delegating tasks when necessary. Distributed Leadership is the idea that each group member can and should provide leadership services to a group. Which feeds directly back to what I said previously about the definition of leadership from question 2, “the requirements to lead do not require a position or title,” this concept of distributed leadership is a better means to define my idea:)

COMS 201

What Can You Do with a Degree in Communication Studies?

Publishing. Printing and lithographic equipment and operations, computer hardware and software, digital imaging, print preparation, page layout and design, desktop publishing, graphic design and web page design.

Although I am interested in a few of the options above and will pursue them in due time, the area I am most interested in pursuing as a career through this educational path of Communication is publishing. I am meaning this in literal terms of being a publisher of literature, and also in being a publisher defined within this context; all of which is a round-about way of saying I would be willing to pursue a career in copywriting as well. Copywriting, as defined by the Oxford dictionary, is the activity or occupation of writing the text of advertisements or publicity material. I enjoy the idea of re-writing the standards & procedures utilized when exposing the masses to information.

I am going to relate this to redefining words as well, or rather defining words within the context within which we are utilizing them. A great example of this is the section of Chapter 1 from the book, Processes of Communication, wherein the author Tammera Stokes Rice defines communication as the process of using symbols to exchange meaning; stating, "we are not arguing that this definition is the only one you should consider viable, but you will understand the content of this text better if you understand how we have come to define communication." (Rice Pg.11) Overall, I think the ability to define words the way we intend them is a great way for the communication cycle to be completed. I am not suggesting we all go around defining our version of "joy" to everyone before utilizing it in conversation; however within the proper medium I believe defining words for ourselves is vital to others comprehending & interpreting our meaning properly.

As a Communications major with an aim to be a professional public speaker I will be able to utilize the information in this class to sell myself with a better ability to explain my field of study and my perspective expertise. I have been asked the question, that the book describes, on many occasion; "what does a communication degree get you?" and "what kind of jobs can you get?" This course, and the first chapter itself has and will continue to give me a stable foundation for explaining my degree. Although, personally, this field of Communication study is more supplementing to my passions with tangible applications for delivering my message; rather than any desire to study its history or the social humanities involving the topic.

I am entering this class with no prior knowledge of its content and after having completed reading chapter 1 & 2, I am excited to see what this next 8 weeks will bring. The material has given me a concrete grasp on the knowledge I have received from any of my previous Communication classes and we are just getting started. As the job market is always evolving, so is the study of the field of Communication. Within this new information age, communication has a new opportunity to set a precedence for its future scholars, and we are the one's creating that framework!

Communication Skills Assessment

My assessment findings: "You're a capable communicator, but you sometimes experience communication problems. Take the time to think about your approach to communication, and focus on receiving messages effectively, as much as sending them. This will help to improve your ability to communicate."

I am reading into this auto-generated response and will consciously admit that I am learning to be more actively empathetic. This is what I am interpreting, "focus on receiving messages effectively," as I may get in my own way of receiving messages properly. This is to say that I tend to be more of a "cut to the chase" type of individual and the appeal of Pathos tends to elude me. Although I can understand the reasoning for sharing details & perspective, I would rather "get to the point" of solutions; which can sometimes make me appear cold in my response. I have discovered many of my own strengths and have come to appreciate many of the talents & ideals I bring to the table. The strengths that are most relevant in my life right now are my drive & resilience. As I move through this housing market and the journey of self discovery, I realize more and more I am capable of living any type of life I create for myself. Whether I am living on the street, in a vehicle or within a dwelling I will continue to grow in this life! In the same vein of discovering many strengths I have realized many places for improvement. I would say the most relevant improvement I can make at the moment is recognizing that a schedule is built to organize & structure our own experience, not to define a requirement for living. I tend to swing from the ends of a pendulum, in most situations in life, tangible & abstract; balance is where this life is leading.

Social Changes & Issues in the Future

As the spectrum of major changes that can be anticipated in U.S. society in the next 50 years is a broad perspective, I will focus on two major changes that we are beginning to comprehend the impact of the existence of; that is, the advent of the internet, and the heightening of tension between the church & secular states. Similar to the invention of the printing press in 1440, which the author Stokes-Rice claims, "made the written word more readily available to the masses through newspapers & books thus, forever changing the ways people learned & communicated;" (Stokes-Rice Pg.30) I am reasoning that the internet can be defined in a similar fashion. I believe the quote the author would have written about the internet is something along the lines, "[the internet] made information more readily available to the masses through websites & blogs thus, forever changing the ways people learned & communicated." The impact that the printing press and the internet have on human civilization are very similar in there content, the timing is just a few hundred years separation from their invention. The second major change is the tension rising between the church and its historical power struggle to blind the masses from information & knowledge. As the global community deeply entwines itself within spiritual & material beliefs the path we take is one towards redefining our connection with our creator. I am meaning this in an individualistic sense, as many people are beginning to realign with their personal views of creation and the connection they cultivate personally with those views. The access to information that the internet provides allows an opportunity for the blinders to be removed.

I believe the changes that the field of communication will adopt being prompted by social changes are vast & detailed. Within chapter two the author states, "rapid advances in technology, and the emergence of a 'global village,' have provided almost limitless areas to study communication." (Stokes-Rice Pg.31) To give my insight on the matter, I would reason that as the Communication Studies Department expands its diverse borders, it will only become better and more well-equipped to define its intersectionality's and the purpose of each focus. This is also to say that our global understanding is leading us to a more expansive grasp of Communication as a whole; as social, communal, and interpersonal studies develop further comprehension.

Research Methodologies

Of the three broad research methodologies; rhetorical, quantitative & qualitative I have no preference, as I personally do not fancy myself a researcher. I am more the type to be researched. For necessity of completing this assignment I chose to elaborate on the Rhetorical Methodology, and the "Narrative Criticism" type of method for Communication research.

The book gives an example of how we may each already practice the rhetorical methodology in our day-to-day lives using film, "Think about the last movie you watched. Did you have a conversation about the movie with others? Did that conversation include commentary on various parts of the film such as the set design, dialogue, plot, and character development?" (Hahn, Paynton Ch. 6, 6.4) If you have had conversations similar to this (no matter the context) you are doing a form of rhetorical research, that I would also classify as rhetorical analysis. I started my college career in 2013 as a Film Analysis Major (I wanted to be Ebert & Roper) and still continue to have many discussions along these lines. I understand the formula for this approach and its techniques are familiar to me as I use these concepts in many circumstances of conversation & analysis. I am also a writer, so the idea of studying stories to learn how cultures & ideals are shared with a culture is intriguing to me. The book explains further, "narrative rhetorical research [Narrative Criticism] contends that people learn through the sharing of stories. A researcher using this method examines narratives and their component parts—the plot, characters, and settings—to better understand the people (culture, groups, etc.) telling these stories. This research approach also focuses on the effects of repeating narratives." (Hahn, Paynton Ch. 6, 6.4) This form of communication research led me to think about Anthropology as a whole, and the cross-sections it has with Communication Studies. The levels to which we can understand specific sections of history & culture through the types of communication that were present is fascinating to me; much less the study of the stories they told to understand even further details of their perceptions & beliefs at the time, as a whole.

Is there a story from your childhood that you can recognize ties within your culture, or families beliefs?

The one that I immediately thought of when I started reading this section in the book was "The 3 Little Pigs." This story is about three little pigs that all have different standards for work quality, and that patience and hard work will pay off. The first two pigs built there homes quickly with shoddy materials and with little worry about the Big Bad Wolf, who would come to eat them for dinner. The third pig took his time, was patient and used quality bricks to construct his home, which ended up saving all 3 Pigs from the Wolf in the end. Along with many other stories written by the Brothers Grimm my family & culture was heavily influenced by this form of story telling.

Define Yourself - Who Are You?

The ways I define myself as a person are through my self-concept, self-esteem & self-efficacy. My self-concept revolves around my personality characteristics and the perceptions I have of myself within each moment. My self-esteem comes from the evaluation of myself within the point in my life cycle that I currently reside. My self-efficacy is the judgments I make of my own ability to complete a task within a certain context.

A few ways I define myself include:

Public Figure. Public Servant. Public Advocate. I Am Life Savant. Being. Loving. Darke. Self-Aware. Self-Activated. Self-Actualized.

I have changed many of my own self-definitions over the years, through the process always evolving & becoming. I will continue to change my self-definitions as I become more fluent & versed in my knowledge of The Self and my ability to recognize my personal ways becomes more refined. I am always finding new ways to define myself, so that I can learn to become and transcend the definitions themselves.

Something this makes me think of is something that Dr. Joe Dispenza says, "Your personality is your personal reality, and vice-a-versa." Knowing this we can change one or the other, which will in-turn have the ladder following suit. Meaning if you don't like your personal reality, change your personality, and watch your personal reality follow suit. If you don't like your personality, change your personal reality, and see your personality change.

Nonverbal Communication Assessment Prompt

This assessment of Nonverbal Immediacy Behaviors was a great insight into how perception of The Self and from others varies by perspective. Overall I rated myself with a 43/60 in my Nonverbal Immediacy Behaviors Score, which is the average for "college-age" men (I'm 34 for whatever that means to this insight.) I had a classmate rate me, so they only have a slight vision into these concepts of me, as we have only just met this semester, which is also an insight into perception. They rated me at a 55/60.

While we discussed their scores of me they said, "I didn't see much middle ground with you on these...it was either 1 or 5 on most things." Which is understandable for multiple reasons, one of which being the effort that I invest into engaging with conversation during class, another being the perception others have of us with very little input and a narrow lens.

These 2 scores are telling me that Nonverbal Immediacy Behaviors Overall are difficult to assess with only a short time of meeting someone. Depending on another's practice of communication techniques in general, and the effort they exert towards these actions, we may perceive them to have a higher or lower perceived score than what they see of themselves with the constant input of personal experience.

Body Language Quiz

My results: "You're on your way Andrew! Some of the more difficult body language questions stumped you."

I am not entirely sure how to interpret this as it gives no further context in the results. It did give me little blurbs after each question that explained why I was correct or incorrect, overall, I do not know what my results were. As a quick reflection I would say I got about half of the questions incorrect. I will also comment that I think it can sometimes be more difficult for myself to interpret intended emotions through computer mediated material. I have had friends in the past call me "Literal Andy" because of my inability to express & interpret the full context of conversations. Which directly reflects my decision to become a Communication Major; so that I may learn more about that which I am not naturally inclined:)

Body language has portions of it that are specific, as in the example of "steepling" & confidence. There are more ambiguous concepts that may differ from culture to culture like what is an appropriate physical spacing in face-to-face interactions. In some places 6" is the accepted norm, while in others close proximity to one another shows respect. The ability to read & interpret seems some what of a double-edged sword, as we gain more personal knowledge about these concepts we may unintentionally "read" into things. This seems to be where the myth that when someone is lying they look a certain direction.

The Power of Language: How words shape people, culture

The article The Power of Language: How words shape people, culture by Alex Shashkevich on news.stanford.edu is a great overview of how language effects humanity across the planet. Each cultural & environmental perception we have is interpreted in the ways we utilize language. As the article explains, "even the slightest differences in language use can correspond with biased beliefs of the speakers..." This is an example of how our personal perception (self-imposed & learned) affect the way we utilize our own language. Learning the history of languages and how they are created gives researchers insights into the unique ways humans communicate with each other. An example of this is the difference in the English and Chinese Language, both in their phonetics and their written symbols. Which shows us the ways different cultures utilize language to represent their thoughts, and ideas. English utilizes a cuneiform that gives each consonant multiple sounds representing different potentials for their application. Chinese utilizes symbols that are more expressive of abstract ideas and only gain meaning within their context. These are simple examples of the differences that are created when language is developed within a culture. Furthermore the website brings our attention to "Language as a lens into behavior" and the ways in which we express ourselves & define words gives us our unique view & experience of the world.

Conflict Styles

Conflict Styles Assessment Survey Scores

Problem Solver 91%

Problem Solvers tend to want to discuss all the details of a problem and work through it together so that everyone gets what he or she wants and is happy in the end. Their strengths are that they tend to welcome differences, build high-levels of trust and mutual understanding in relationships. There is also the potential to learn from creative problem solving.

Weaknesses: When time is a factor, it is difficult to spend the energy and time needed to process the way Problem Solvers tend do. There is also the potential for burnout from over-processing.

Compromiser 73%

Compromisers approach conflict with the goal of compromise. They tend to think about what they are willing to give up and what they are willing to hold on to, and try to gear communication to focus on this give-and-take for all parties. It is a good way to promote cooperation. It can be done fairly quickly when both parties are engaged.

Conflict at Work

This concept of “How to Mend a Relationship” and the 3 steps to accomplish this—creating a positive tone about the relationship, expressing shared narratives rather than individual-centered perspective, and relational agility is an important tool for constructive living. As most of these ideas are self-explanatory once comprehension is attained, I find the biggest detriment to the success of this process is the necessity for both parties to be aware of these tools for mending a relationship. As the article explains, “It might also be the case that the relationship is no longer worthwhile, if you’ve attempted to take these steps and their not reciprocated by [the other party involved].” This also brings to mind the idea that some people know about these steps and take actions to actively sabotage relationships. I find this article and its breakdown of the 300 studies to be a well-delivered introduction into mending relationships. I will personally utilize this information to intentionally empower any relationships I find myself in; personal & professional, intimate & platonic.

Dynamics of Interpersonal Relationships

1. Select an important friendship in your life and pay attention to your communication climate.

   • How do you and this other person demonstrate recognition, acknowledgement, and endorsement?

     I am choosing a friendship that began in 4th grade, the year was 1998, and I met my childhood best friend who became more of a brother than a friend. In this 20+ year friendship there have been many moments of joy & conflict; we have experienced many forms of connection & disconnection, distance & disagreements being only a slight perspective into the scale of its connection & disconnection. We have always had a healthy communication climate even in our moments of turmoil. Nearly a year ago I intentionally distanced myself from this relationship due to certain circumstances; even throughout the process of "ending" a 20 year friendship we have been able to recognize, acknowledge & endorse each others experience, a caveat to that being the reasoning for my distancing in the relationship is because of a certain perspective of relational agreement & endorsement being broken. It currently feels like one of those nuances that has been forgiven and yet will not be forgotten, as further pain would arise if current boundaries were removed.

2. Reflect on that friendship and trace its development through Rawlins' six stages.

   • How did you move from one stage to another?

     Role-Limited Interaction: My friend and I met in 4th grade, he was more accepted by our peers as a club soccer player and student athlete, I was a bit of an oddball, outcast. Although we had completely different experiences and "friend" circles, we quickly became best-friends and shared a similar sense of humor that transcended any social expectations.

     Friendly Relations:

     We pretty much started hanging out together all the time, and I started getting invited to hang out with people and at events that I typically wasn't going to before. My friend basically my pass to hand-out. His accepting of me led others to accept me in their own ways, even if it came with predispositions.

     Moving Toward Friendship:

     By the end of 8th grade my friend & I had become known as the best-friends on our campus. We shared many common interests by this point and our contrasting personalities balanced each other well.

     Nascent Friendship:

     At this point in the friendship our relationship was closer to that of brothers and we became more autonomous. Moving into high-school our schedules and lifestyles shifted our time invested into the specific relationship.

     Stabilized Friendship:

     My friend and I were always there for each other whenever the assistance was needed, although the relationship was more distanced overall; whether it be for living circumstances or mental support, we had a stabilized and reciprocal relationship.

     Waning Friendship:

     At this moment in our friendship specifically it is in the Waning stage as we begin to grow older and our perspectives and life practices change we have a different experience than we have ever experienced. This is the moment that brothers decide that their lives are not what they once were and ties must sometimes be broken

   • Where are you now? What tells you this?

     As I previously expressed we are in the Waning Stage of our friendship. Many years and trials have led us to recognize a need for change that involves distancing our realities.

3. Discuss how the various dialectical tensions function in this relationship.

   • Give at least two specific examples.

   • Describe how you managed the tension/s.

     In the past we utilized separation as a way to manage some dialectical tensions we experienced. My friend has 2 daughters and is a blue-collar construction worker. I am a digital nomad that has been on Submarines and lived on the streets. Our two worlds have not always meshed and yet we were able to make the time to hang out in settings that were appropriate for both of us while still maintaining our autonomy.

     As my friend & I have different life experiences & perspectives we have come to many a compromise in conversation & the relationship overall simply by reframing our perspectives & desires to better align with each others experience. One example of this includes our ideas about "stability" and the differing in our personal perspectives; yet we are able to reframe the conversation to understand that we each require & desire different things for our personal stability.

Cultural Competence Self-Assessment

Awareness: 40/40

I feel that overall I am very aware of the differences that make us similar as humans and I recognize the means by which we each express those differences. Furthermore if I am unaware or newly-informed of some 'xyz' diversity, I take the action to learn and accept the difference in culture and the uncertainty of ignorance.

Knowledge: 37/40

I do not necessarily know the specifics of which tribe was culturally oppressed and so forth, but I am knowledgeable to understand that it happens regularly for many cultural groups. Also, I do not know any of my family history in terms of details, I know my mother and her family is from Canada and my Father's family is from Australia, in terms of details of either I am none the wiser... which has led me personally to be connected with the human experience rather than any culturally & familial tied experience.

Skill 40/40

I am a public servant & public advocate; through this practice I have learned many skills to communicate & comprehend through the veil of culture. I am a human first, and pale skin second, this perspective has offered me the opportunity to seek out and engage with perspectives other than my own.

Emotional Intelligence Test

Score 62/56-75

Test Feedback: Great! You're an emotionally intelligent person. You have great relationships, and you probably find that people approach you for advice. However, when so many people admire your people skills, it's easy to lose sight of your own needs. Read our tips below to find out how you can continue to build your EI. Researchers have found that emotionally intelligent people often have great leadership potential. [1] Realize this potential by seeking opportunities to improve even further.

I have become more emotionally intelligent over the years, and specifically within the last year or two become much better at setting healthy boundaries for myself. Specifically in terms of my own needs, as I have become to take ownership for many factors in my life I have got better at ensuring my mental health & overall wellbeing are the highest priority; there are other priorities involved within each nuanced situation, however, my mental health and overall wellbeing is key to me:)

Dynamics in Interpersonal Relationships

Healthy & unhealthy relationships come in many forms and bring with them many experiences & emotions. We all partake in healthy & unhealthy relationship habits; the depth to which we engage with these habits or the severity of their impact is relevant to each particular situation. The main point that I find is relevant to all the unhealthy habits are related to manipulation & gaslighting. Giving self-disclosure should foster honesty in a relationship which will evolve into trust. Conditioning also plays a part in healthy & unhealthy relationships, sometimes we are caught within an unknown conditioning are not even able to recognize the situation we are living.

Health Campaign

I am a smoker. I smoke tobacco & marijuana products. I have smoked for about 10 years now, and today I will share about how Media & Mass Communication influences tobacco consumption. Truthinitiative.org releases many articles and materials regarding smoking and the effects of tobacco consumption. Today I will focus on one of their campaigns, Lights, Camera, Tobacco? within which they have composed research sharing the amount of smoking mass media influence causes and the extent to which we are affected by it. They detail in the article further about their campaign, stating, “Truth Initiative’s sixth annual analysis of tobacco imagery in popular entertainment finds increasingly pervasive smoking imagery in 2022’s most popular streaming shows among 15- to 24-year-olds, music videos, as well as youth-rated movies. Truth Initiative, along with research collaborators at Breathe California and NORC at the University of Chicago, has tracked tobacco imagery in entertainment most popular with young people since 2018.” (Truth 2024) As we know with research it takes time to accumulate data and develop the research & analysis, as many trends continue the information they provide is the most up-to-date we may find available in regard to mass media and smoking. The call to action of this campaign is: “to urge decision makers at all levels, including entertainment executives and leaders of streaming platforms and broadcast networks, showrunners, directors, writers, actors, and music artists, to refuse to help normalize tobacco and eliminate it on screens most popular with young people.” (Truth 2024) This campaign is not to remove smoking from media all together, but rather, it is urging us to limit the age group in which media is produced & distributed that includes “smoking” imagery.

Smoking is the action or habit of inhaling and exhaling the smoke of tobacco by sucking on the end of a lit cigarette, cigar, pipe, etc.

Smoking causes Lung Cancer, which is a disease that occurs when cells in the lungs grow out of control. It's the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and is responsible for the highest mortality rates among both men and women.

This campaign by Truth Initiative focuses on people ages 15-24. Its aim is to inform the masses of the prevalence that smoking imagery has in media targeted for this age bracket.

There is no specific gender that is targeted with this campaign. Smoking is something that affects everyone.

Truth Initiative is a national (United States) smoking prevention campaign that uses advertisements with anti-tobacco messages targeted at youths ages 12 to 17 who are most at risk of smoking.

The health communication campaign goal is not to remove smoking from media all together, but rather, it is urging us to limit the age group in which media is produced & distributed that includes “smoking” imagery.

This campaign advances health equity by:

1. Avoiding use of adjectives such as vulnerable, marginalized and high-risk.

2. Avoiding dehumanizing language.

3. Remembering subpopulations and keeping it broad to all 15-24 year olds no matter their race, gender or culture.

4. Avoiding saying terms with violent connotations in regard to their campaign. (No use of phrases like “we are combating smoking.”)

5. Avoiding unintentional blaming. Focusing on the producers & creators rather than the population at risk.

The Communication Dynamics of Public Speaking

My Goals with Public Speaking

I am an author & publisher by trade. My future goals are to be a public speaker; somewhere in the realm of Tony Robbins. Through my personal experience of trial & tribulations, along with the desire to educate the masses about mindset & lifestyle I have been actively pursuing my goals of being a public speaker. There was a moment in my life that I realized being a public speaker offered me the opportunity to do whatever I wanted. I mean this is a very literal way in terms of the practice of public speaking; any profession or individual can be a public speaker it depends on their approach & expertise in the field they practice. For me it is mindset & lifestyle, for someone else it can be activism, and for others still it may be a position in the medical field traveling & spreading awareness about a certain disease. Overall, the broadness that Public Speaking offers is what intrigues the most, with this skill & practice, no matter the content; I will be able to speak to “persuade, inspire or influence” my audience.

Understanding Public Speaking

The study & practice of Public Speaking can be traced back to The Classical Period (500 BCE - 400 BCE). In the textbook Process of Communication authored & compiled by Tammera Stokes Rice she explains, “It was at the Lyceum approximately 2,500 years ago that Aristotle and other rhetoricians taught public speaking & persuasion…” (Rice Pg. 19) What I will now refer to as the Art of Public Speaking has been a topic of great importance to the evolution of humankind. Our ability to listen & reason with conflicting perspectives is our ability to be civil & organized. The continued development of rhetorical devices for persuasion such as logos, ethos & pathos have been developed & perfected for centuries. In an article on instituteofpublicspeaking.com titled Public Speaking: The Verbal & Nonverbal Joseph Guarino stated, “Public speaking is all about organized communication to a group to persuade, inspire or influence. It follows the same fundamental skills that any other communication task requires. It demands we are on point with our content, use proper… and relevant body language. Any incongruence in our message on our body language, voice or verbal message will cause our audience to immediately doubt our message.” (Guarino, 2024) As I stated previously, public speaking has a broad range of applications, and no matter the context, our ability to persuade an audience is key to the success of our message.

Behavior Patterns of Public Speakers

In the same article by Joseph Guarino he explains about Mehrabian’s Rule. This rule explains that communication in public speaking is 55% visual (body language), 38% vocal (voice) and 7% verbal (words utilized). These behavior patterns are statistical in nature and give us insight into the amount each function of communication is utilized when public speaking. On 98thpercentile.com, ElevatEd released an article Effective Communication Styles in Public Speaking in which they state, “Communication is effective only if both the speaker and the listener understand the message conveyed concisely. Two people's interpretations of one message can be different. Hence, if the speaker gets feedback from the listener, then it makes room for effective communication.” (ElevatEd, 2022) This dynamic of speaker & listener and the relationship between them is important to understanding the behavior patterns of public speakers and the tools implemented to be an effective public speaker.

Applying Classroom Concepts

Rhetorical Criticism is a vital concept involved with public speaking. Chapter 7.3 Understanding Rhetorical Criticism in the textbook Introduction to Communication it explains about rhetorical criticism, “as an epistemology or way of knowing [and] understanding about the communication process and the artifact under study.” (Paynton, Hahn) Understanding how a public speaking event that I present will be analyzed offers me an opportunity to be more prepared for any event or topic I find myself publicly speaking about. As a writer I enjoy the opportunity persuasion offers when creating arguments. Many times for homework assignments here at City College I have chosen topics that aren't necessarily I agree with, yet I enjoy being able to reason for any cause.

The Future of Public Speaking Involving Technology

Technology has offered us a unique opportunity for the future of public speaking engagements. We are now crossing over into a hybrid media world, where physical reality and the digital world are blending. The potential for reaching a wider audience has never been more possible, and we are just getting started in the process. Speakeragency.co.uk in an article titled The Future of Public Speaking: Emerging Trends & Technologies put it quite eloquently, “The future of public speaking is not a singular path but rather a vibrant collaboration between technology and human connection. It's a future where physical and virtual stages become one, where AI coaches refine delivery and immersive storytelling transcends the physical world…So the future speaker must embrace the technological wave and become a maestro. Like a conductor to an orchestra, they must direct technology to amplify their words and presence, creating beautiful symphonies.” (SA, 2024) I think that with the endless possibilities that Public Speaking as a profession brings, alongside the unlimited potential that future technologies hold, there is a likelihood that every single person on the planet will truly see their “15 minutes of fame” and one day get a chance to speak to the world directly.

HUMS 105

Discussions

Getting Started in this Class

My name is Andrew White. I am nearing the completion of my Associates degree in Communications with an emphasis in Public Speaking. A side quest I have given myself on this adventure in education is attaining a certificate in Behavioral & Mental Health which has led me into this classrooms doors. All that in consideration, I hadn't spoken to my mother in near 10 years, up until 2 years ago when my younger sister passed away, and the opportunity to learn more about Family Strengthening Models feels aligned with my current experience.

As someone who has been involved within many programs, on both sides of the desk, I find myself seeking as much knowledge and information as I can to understand the best way to implement and utilize public services responsibly and with everyone's best interests at its core. Whether it be for the situations I may find myself in, such as my difficulties with maintaining a typical housing position, or for others and things I may never experience myself; I do my best to stay informed. Deciding to take this course "semi-indifferent", with no prior understanding of its details, I am excited to learn about all the main points it will touch on as they seem to align with my intent I previously described:

• The various support programs available to individuals and families.

• How to access support programs and resources.

• How to advocate for care.

• How to implement care to promote health and well being.

I was privileged & fortunate enough to grow up within my mothers home, alongside 3 of my younger siblings, my 4th sibling was born when I was 21 and in the U.S. Navy. I know very little of my father and that side of my heritage, other than, my parents being of high school age when I was conceived, and my father being sentenced to a jail term before I was born. Nuanced circumstances aside I was blessed in my youth as my mom did her best to maintain a "normal" life for my siblings and I.

In my years I have come to see Us All as family, and that within which I was born, relative. Relative in terms of my existence and the relatives I "know". Family being that which I can comprehend to be all there may be. Through this perspective I have been blessed with the opportunity to engage with all types of family structures, from beliefs-to-class or mindset-to-business, I perceive the differences we share to be our greatest strength. I have sat at dinners in trap houses and multi-million dollar estates alike discussing similar conversations. I have been invited to pray with the church and chant with the temple; to learn with the scholars and debate with the philosophers. I love that my family is the human race, and that we continue to grow. I wouldn't change anything about the condition we share, as "without resistance, there is no progress..." Patience within this experience will lead us all to our own salvation, whatever that may mean to each of us individually.

My understanding of the concepts of "family of choice" vs. "family of origin" are wide and direct. Believing in them is a bit harder to express. That being said I will end this by telling you a quote to twist your thoughts. The thought entails a well known quote that we humans have created and many have heard. The quote history and time have grasped and "twisted" to be what we now know as, "Blood is thicker than water," was once known to be, "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb."

Thank you for taking the time to read my entry and I look forward to learning many new perspectives within this class!

The World of Mental Health

Upon reviewing this module I realized something that I had forgotten during the start of the semester process. I have taken this class before... This is one of the classes from the last time I was going to school (in 2020) that I have to retake to complete an academic renewal and clean my transcript up, in preparation for transferring to a university. That being said, I only went to school for about a month that semester and had to step away due to some "global" circumstances. Let's just say it was in my best interest to step away, even if I failed to complete the process by filing withdrawals from my classes. Thankfully it has led me on a fresh path of self discovery. I know that I wasn't prepared at the time, and the break allowed me to be fully present with my studies now. To some extent I am specifically familiar with this module's material as I remember being in this class. Table 2 from the Family Service Model Defining Different Types of Teams was a great reminder for understanding some of the difficult tasks that teams face when working with other disciplines to ensure coverage of care for a consumer, especially since I am currently in the process of utilizing multiple teams myself, as I get my disability and housing situations together.

The concept of wrap-around services within the community based model of care stands out to me in so many ways; as my time living on the street has led me to experience lack of care at times, and to hear from many people the difficulties they face with mental health services, recovery, and the barriers of entry into these fields. The wrap-around model ensures services for care such as transportation to appointments or home visits instead, which opens up flexibility and accessibility for more consumers to engage in care. I will utilize this understanding more when I am questioning case workers and consumers about the types of opportunities that they are aware of, within their community, that revolve around this method of care.

The more I come to understand the nuisances and intricacies of mental health, the more I realize the road to growth requires all parties involved. It is more than someone wanting to change, it takes a village to ensure that change occurs. It takes the understanding of accessible resources and the engagement of a community to begin the journey of self care. A simple place to start is in understanding sympathy, empathy and rapport. Sympathy being the understanding of someone else's experience with no emotional attachment to the feeling they have. Whereas empathy is the feeling of emotional attachment to the understanding of someone else's experience. And rapport being the respect that is created from understanding one another's experience. With the ability to engage with empathy we become more well equipped to build rapport amongst case workers and consumers as a whole, which in turn opens up the communication that is required to ensure the proper care for the plan of healing.

Outcomes aside, the need for community based models within such a modern institutionalized world is vital to maintaining mental health with such a large population. Educating consumers and case workers on wrap-around models of care will change the way many small communities are able to evolve mental health needs into a more dynamic field of growth. For all of the large scale cities that revolve around policies made at legislative levels of government, how long will it take for more wrap-around models of care to evolve, and be more well known amongst the masses? Will the masses want to take on the responsibility involved with such a level of community based care?

The Family Support Model, Families & Our Role

This week brought insight into defining certain criteria for major mental health disorders, their diagnosis, and the symptoms that can be experienced by an individual with these criteria. We learned that symptoms are the things a person may report about what they are experiencing. Upon observing signs and recording symptoms, a diagnosis can be made by following the list of criteria for major mental health disorders (i.e. Diagnostic Requirements for Schizophrenia). In order that a mental health professional on the West Coast gives a similar diagnosis to one on the East Coast a standard was created, the DSM.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) is a guide and reference manual created by the American Psychiatric Association to list criteria needed for the diagnosis of major mental health disorders. These criteria make it possible for mental health professionals to communicate across national borders and be speaking about the same relative concepts. Two different symptoms of major mental health disorders are mania, excitement or overactivity; and depression, low states of sadness/loss of interest. These two examples fall on opposite ends of the spectrum for a persons ability to function typically in society which can lead to the peak of highs and the depths of lows. The standard that the DSM creates is a way in which we can collectively agree upon major mental health disorders, and the overall experience of those living with them; whether it be for initial diagnosis or desired treatment, this standard is a key component to successfully living with major mental health disorders.

The subjective experiences of major mental health disorders include, and are not limited to: feelings of fear & confusion, being out-of-control, or a confused sense of self. These subjective experiences cause secondary symptoms for the person experiencing mental illness and the community they are in. Examples of this are the stigma created around people experiencing delusions, false beliefs; or the frustration from feeling out-of-control. There are many factors when dealing with mental health disorders, both for the person experiencing them and the people involved. Recognizing the signs and listening for the symptoms empowers everyone with the awareness and knowledge needed to find potential treatment options and the action required for healthy/manageable living.

The Impact of Mental Illness on the Family & Resiliency

The Quick Reference Guide titled Determining Realistic Goals & Expectations interested me the most because it is a plan-of-action, which as a military trained individual, I find the most effective. Creating a vision of the future that is desired, from the past that is remembered, is a key to living fully within the present. Many people have difficulty with goal-setting, much less achieving. For someone experiencing SMI this guide breaks it down to reduce the amount of stress between the first steps, and the next, of that process. It will be helpful to me in more than just the Mental Health field, or when working with someone experiencing SMI, as these steps for goal-setting can be applied to many areas of living. However, when working with someone experiencing SMI, that is in the stage of making changes and partaking more actively in their treatment, this guide gives a great foundation to build from. The guide has three steps for establishing realistic goals & plans: assess the current level of functioning, assess/understand the prior level of functioning, and establish realistic short term-goals. These assessments should include: basic skills for independent living, interpersonal skills, and educational/vocational skills. To establish short-term goals: assess the individual and determine areas of potential improvement, make small goals to move towards the desired end goal, and focus on one area at a time. As I said previously I believe this guide for goal-setting can be applied to many areas of living. Whether it be for myself, a family member, or someone I am working with that experiences SMI; I think this Quick Reference Guide is a great tool for many to use. To be completely honest and transparent with everyone: I haven't had the book since the start of class, and this week it caught up with me (I haven't technically learned anything new.) Between the assignment for creating a quiz and this discussion post I realized I could no longer get away with my choice and have to come clean now and change the reality. I have already reached out for help, and will just have to wait for the week to start (as it is Sunday) to get back on track. I apologize to everyone for being dishonest with my agreement to partake in the class, by not having the book, and look to correct my mistake this week.

What is Your Attachment Style?

University of Denver psychologists Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver released a questionnaire in The Rocky Mountain News in July 1985. The questionnaire asked readers to identify which of three statements most closely reflected who they were (Attachment Style) while in love. The three options are:

1. I find it relatively easy to get close to others and I am comfortable depending on them and having them depend on me. I don't worry about being abandoned or about someone getting too close to me.

2. I find that others are reluctant to get as close as I would like. I often worry that my partner doesn't really love me or won't want to stay with me. I want to get very close to my partner, and this sometimes scares people away.

3. I am somewhat uncomfortable being close to others; I find it difficult to trust them completely, difficulty to allow myself to depend on them. I am nervous when anyone gets too close, and often, others want me to be more intimate than I feel comfortable being.

These options refer to the three main styles of relating to others (Attachment Styles) that were first identified in the 1950's and 60's by John Bowlby, an English psychologist, and the inventor of Attachment Theory. The three options listed above are related to the Attachment Styles below:

1. Secure Pattern of Attachment - love & trust come easily to the individual.

2. Anxious Pattern of Attachment - one longs to be intimate with others but is continuously scared of let down and often precipitates crises in relationships through counter-productively aggressive behavior.

3. Avoidant Pattern of Attachment - it feels much easier to avoid the dangers of intimacy through solitary activities and emotional withdrawal.

The video explains that knowing which of the three categories we belong to and to "deploy the knowledge in love so as to warn ourselves and others of the traps we might fall into." This knowledge along with the right tools and training will allow many relationships to flourish, as there are more people that are within the option B & C categories, who tend to fall in love with someone from the other category (40% of the population is in these types of relationships; avoidant & anxious together.)

A person with an anxious attachment pattern with an 'avoidant' partner typically thinks situations and nuances are much worse than they actually are. The silence of the avoidant partner may just be simple silence, not a lack of love on their part. Their distance isn't necessarily meanness, it may be their way of maintaining personal balance. The 'anxious' lover is not needy, but the way they deal with their desires is aggravating the situation. They may be triggering their 'avoidant' partner by asking for intimacy directly and (probably) with too much anger. The 'anxious' partner must learn to tread lightly and be a little more distant when requesting closeness.

On the other hand a person with an avoidant attachment pattern that is with someone that is 'anxiously' attached needs to recognize the extent to which they remove themselves emotionally, especially when the 'anxious' partner is offering closeness (or requesting it a bit angrily.) An 'avoidant' type may prefer sex with strangers, and get nervous when getting intimate, oftentimes sabotaging long-term intimacy. They are afraid of what they really want. If an 'avoidant' person was to look back on their past, closeness was frightening because people let them down, adopting a strategy of removal to protect themselves. A person with the avoidant attachment pattern needs to remember that they are no longer living the past they remember, and the present is being tarnished by their fear based living. It may feel like the 'anxious' partner is being aggressive and upset for no reason; they are at heart, upset, and unable to express their needs in another way. Give reassurance and explain calmly your love for them.

The first step is knowing which pattern type you fall under. The second is getting the emotional schooling needed to get out of the recurring patterns to ensure success in love. I chose this video to share more about because in the last year I have met and separated from a partner. The reflection and learning from this video has shown me that she was an 'anxious' lover, and go figure, I'm an 'avoidant' type. With this new knowledge I will be able to move forward into future relationships with some framework for approaching intimacy, and I hope the information can empower others too.

Consequences

Natural consequences are any learning experience that happens naturally, with no outside interference. No "piggy backing" allowed. Meaning no one should tell you, "I told you so" (i.e. standing in the rain gets you wet.) Whereas logical consequences are those learning experiences upon which the repercussions must be deliberated & decided upon. These should create a consequence that offers a helpful learning experience rather than just a punishment for action taken. The author seems to discourage the use of logical consequences because there is a fine-line between "Positive Discipline" and direct punishment. This fine-line being difficult for many in authoritative positions to tow.

The author, Dr. Jane Nelson, outlines the "3 R's and an H" Concept of Logical Consequences: Related, Respectful, Reasonable and helpful. If any 1 of these 4 concepts are not met then it is a 'failed' learning experience, which is one of the reasons the author indicates it is not the best option: there is a high probability of failure that the logical consequence won't be fully received by all parties. The author offers some other options in place of logical consequences: holding a family meeting, focusing on solutions instead of consequences, creating routines, offering limited choices, asking for help, dealing with the belief behind the behavior, hugging and many more that I will leave for you to share about in your discussion post:)

The chart in the Woolis book on page 169, called Family Problem Solving is a very similar idea to the way we create & utilize logical consequences for a family-member experiencing SMI. Step 1 itself in this process is: arrange a family meeting, which is an alternative that Dr. Nelson suggests rather than logical consequences. The largest correlation that I noticed between the book and the handouts however was there consistent recommendations to focus on solutions rather than consequences.

The first way I will utilize this in my personal life is to share the idea with my mom, as she is currently raising my niece, and my perception is that my mother can use it to put a bit more structure into the learning processes she is creating for my niece. The second way I will use this is to stop telling people, "I told you so" I already dislike that I do it unconsciously, and this was a huge reminder to stop in general!

Prop 63

Darrell Steinberg presented his reasoning for updating the standards & requirements from Proposition 63 in a presentation called The Future of Mental Health on TEDxSacramento. California passed the Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63) in 2004, which is a "millionaires tax" that has funds, "dedicated exclusively to building up the public mental health system in our state," as Mr. Steinberg informs us from the video. Generating 2 billion dollars a year, with 25% required to be invested into prevention & early-intervention of homelessness due to mental health concerns, while 75% is assigned to services for those who have already succumbed to living on the street because of a mental health condition; and he is arguing for the numbers to be reversed (25% post-services, 75% prevention & early-intervention.) I chose this video to elaborate a bit further on because this Proposition has directly affected me, as I am currently in a transitional housing program on my way to being placed in permanent housing within the next couple months! I had no real prior knowledge or concrete education on how the system that I am currently utilizing was initiated, or where this all came from. To hear this little piece of history has given me insight into where to direct my appreciation and how to remain further informed as I move throughout the process of obtaining stable housing.

Another video that I learned a lot from, or rather was moved by, was The Mental Health System - A Call for Change presented by Nora Blum on TEDxZurich. Nora did an impressive job utilizing the rhetorical triangle (logos, ethos, pathos) wherein she showcased a strong reasoning for an update to how we approach mental health and the systems in which people must navigate to engage with their own success. Both of these videos were strong examples as to many of the things Rebecca Woolis discusses in this weeks chapter Working With Mental Health Professionals and Choosing Facilities. She gives a brief history of the mental-health system and how the closing of institutions and complicated laws governing rights make even the most noble of causes difficult to achieve. There are many moving parts involved with getting someone the proper care & treatment, some of the more abstract include; relatives relationships with caretakers, consumers transportation availability and living situations conducive to healing.

Due to the recording date of both these videos nearing 10 years ago, I am intrigued to see the numbers/statistics on how things have changed and how far we have come, if I have time/remember to come back to this thread I will share anything I find:) The fact that the topic we are speaking of in class has a direct link to my current life experience feels significant to the potential impact this change California made is having.

Trauma in the Brain

Kristen Johnson in her TEDxSDSU presentation The Secret That Almost Killed Me explained about her personal lifetime trauma. The downward spiral of her mental health and her story of recovery & success while recognizing the need to speak the truth about her trauma, regardless of the stigma involved. She explains about the connection between her childhood trauma and how it became manifest in her alcohol addiction, simultaneously being prescribed medication that have adverse effects when combined with alcohol.

Recognizing the need to speak with a boyfriend, whom she unintentionally pulled a knife on, due to PTSD, this reaction is an example of the brain's fight, flight & freeze responses. In the video Emotions and the Brain by Sentis it describes what happens in the brain when it detects a perceived potential threat, "our brain releases the stress hormones adrenaline & cortisol which prepare us for a fight, flight [or freeze] response." (0:45) The experience Kristen had with her boyfriend was her body's natural reaction to its environment & circumstances. In her healing process she learned practices of Transcendental Meditation & Mindfulness: which the video Why Mindfulness Is a Superpower: An Animation by Twill defines: "is the ability to know what's happening in your head at any given moment without getting carried away by it." (0:14) Which ultimately gave Kristen the tools she needed to heal her past traumas and to recognize the triggers that were not suiting her

As this week's material describes stigma with a lens through mental health & disabilities, I believe this is an opportunity to recognize that there are stigmas around all kinds of topics. Although there were mental health repercussions that Kristen experienced due to what she went through which had their own stigmas to overcome, there is also a stigma around speaking about these traumatic experiences themselves, specifically rape. There is stigma around speaking about prior & current drug use. There is a stigma about living on the streets. I guess what I’m meaning by all this, is that the definition of stigma given this week feels confined; “the negative attitudes or discriminations against someone based on a distinguishing characteristic such as a mental illness, health condition, or disability.” Regardless of the lens of stigma, it harms us all by contributing to poor mental health outcomes, delays in treatments, lack of communication & understanding, perpetuating ignorance & stereotypes and confining trauma.

Denial played a major part in Kristen’s journey which was escalated by her unconscious alcohol addiction. She explains further that this denial is what led to further re-victimization in her life as she was not able to recognize the patterns of re-victimization. She would convince herself that it wasn’t rape because of who the person was or that her mind & body would shut off when it happened later in life, leaving a mirage of the experience. Denial is one way that we deal with grief & loss along with other things; our minds' ability to believe these thoughts is the iron curtain of denial.

Social Stigma is the way others act or think negatively about another person or their experience. (An example being someone thinking an individual is worthless because of their dirty appearance.)

Some negative consequences of social stigma are increased mortality rate due to delays in seeking care, along with bullying, harassment, social rejection, avoidance and isolation.

Personal Stigma is internalized negative actions & thoughts that someone perpetuates against themselves. (An example being an individual thinking they are worthless because of their dirty appearance.)

Some of the negative consequences of personal stigma are a lack-of-confidence, loneliness, hiding illness or disability and creating self-limiting beliefs.

The media perpetuates stigma giving, “portrayals of those with mental illness that often skew our behavior toward either stigmatization or trivialization if taken at face value without considering the implications.” Typically the media is used as a means to perpetuate stereotypes which are of consideration when speaking of stigma. I believe a solution to this is to educate yourself on all matters that are involved with the media you consume. If you watch a movie about a mentally ill character, research the relevance that the engaged community places on the depiction. If you see a news article about a “crazed man” running nude down main street, look into the details of his arrest and his mental state before coming to conclusions. I believe the only way to counter stigma is through education.

Hope in Recovery

Hope removes ownership for the need of recovery. It offers an opportunity for an individual to remove the responsibility for the actions that have led them to this need. I think faith is misunderstood for hope. An individual can have faith that a system works by seeing the outcomes of it's participants; for an individual to have hope that the system will work for them removes the need to remain personally accountable for the steps in the process.

How to Make Stress Your Friend

I chose the video released on TED presented by Dr. Kelly McGonigal, How to Make Stress Your Friend. This topic aligns very well with my personal practice in reframing my mindset. The ideas Dr. McGonigal shares in this video reminds me of Dr. Joe Dispenza's work regarding the placebo effect. Thinking & viewing reality in a constructive manner allows us to change our experiences. One such example is a longer life simply by thinking differently about stress; Dr. McGonigal shares, "people who experienced a lot of stress in the previous year had a 43% increased risk of dying. But that was only true for the people who also believed that stress is harmful for your health." (1:53) This shift in mindset can begin to alter the health of our lives. Rather than believing stress is too much to handle, recognizing the benefits of its onset, will create an opportunity to make a change. Kelly explains further, "that pounding heart [from stress] is preparing you for action. If you're breathing faster... it's getting more oxygen to your brain..."(5:33) These physical changes in the body can be recognized & rationalized as healthy positive feelings that are preparing us for the moment at hand.

I think this concept can be applied to many areas of our lives, not just those moments revolving around stress. There is a meme that says something along the lines of: Relationships are hard. Being alone is hard. Choose your hard. Being broke is hard. Creating wealth is hard. Choose your hard. Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard... so-on-and-so forth...A line that I would add is: Being stressed is hard. Utilizing stress is hard. Choose your hard:)

I have done this with the idea of "homeless" and society's perceptions of this reality... I have come to believe and tell myself/others that I can "live on the streets." For me, I am at home within the soles of my feet. This simple reframing of language and perception has offered me the opportunity to change the experience I have whenever I do find myself without a dwelling to retreat to. I am able to find comfort in each moment rather than seeking it from some form of desire.

Attachment Patterns

Are you needy and at times overbearing? Are you distant and often reserved? Does your friend, family member or partner seem to act in either of these ways? Understanding the style of attachment that someone operates in can empower you to approach the relationship with grace & compassion. With this in mind… How has John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory impacted our understanding of parent-child & adult attachment, and how have mental-health & care professionals come to interpret this concept? As part of our Module 6 assignment, we were tasked to review a collection of information and choose a topic to summarize. For that assignment I chose this same topic (and the video What is Your Attachment Style?) as it greatly evolved my perception and understanding of how I interact in my interpersonal relationships. Since working on that assignment I have been able to better approach my relationship with my mother; and although she may not be aware of this information, I am experiencing the results of my altered approach. I myself function from an Avoidant Attachment Style and as such have begun to consciously make efforts to change the way I interact with my mother specifically. Setting new & clear boundaries and maintaining those boundaries through practice & communication has empowered a dynamic shift in my parent-child attachment, as for my adult attachment that has yet to be seen.

Since its conception in the early 1950’s Attachment Theory has received harsh criticism and theoretical success. The initial reception of this concept was that of ostracism & contempt. The general consensus, of the time, was that this concept was created far outside of standard operating procedures and had little to know ground to base the information on. To be clear, John Bowlby reviewed case studies and utilized statistical methods to develop his first “empirical insight”; although this is commonplace now, this was not a standard means of research in that era and as such he did not receive initial support for his ideas. Today, I will introduce you to the history of John Bowlbys’ Attachment Theory, the attachment patterns it defines and the basis for parent-child attachment. First, let’s review the history.

John Bowlby was a British developmental psychologist & psychiatrist and at the time of the publication I am referencing he was the Director of the Child Guidance Department at the Tavistock Clinic in London and the Consultant in Mental Health to the World Health Organization. In 1951, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, he published a monograph titled Maternal Care and Mental Health, within which he put forth the first signs of his attachment theory hypothesis, “...what is believed to be essential for mental health is that the infant and young child should experience a warm, intimate, and continuous relationship with his mother (or permanent mother substitute) in which both find satisfaction and enjoyment. Given this relationship, the emotions of anxiety and guilt, which in excess characterize mental-ill health, will develop in a moderate and organized way.” (Bowlby Pg. 11) This first insight into a new psycho-analytical approach led Mary Ainsworth to further the defining of the Theory. In the 1960’ & 70’s she developed & introduced the ideas for the attachment patterns we now know today; stable, anxious and avoidant. In 1986, Mary Main furthered the defining of the patterns by adding a fourth called the disorganized style.

These 3 (now 4) patterns of attachment; stable, anxious, avoidant & disorganized have created a means by which researchers can interpret actions that individuals make based on circumstances and determinants for survival. Secure Attachment is when love & trust come easily to the individual. An Anxious Pattern of Attachment is when an individual longs to be intimate with others but is continuously scared of let down and often precipitates crises in relationships through counter-productively aggressive behavior. Whereas an Avoidant Attachment Pattern is when it feels much easier to avoid the dangers of intimacy through solitary activities and emotional withdrawal. The Disorganized Attachment Pattern is about inconsistent and difficult to predict behavior. “Much of the research on these [internal working models for parent-child attachment] is based on the notion that, beginning in the first year of life, mentally healthy individuals develop a “secure base script” that provides a causal-temporal prototype of the ways in which attachment-related events typically unfold (e.g., “When I am hurt, I go to my mother and receive comfort”). (Cassidy, Jones, Shaver 2013) These “Patterns of Attachment” are how we relate a child’s development for the type of attachment patterns they will exhibit naturally throughout life. We will now discuss the parent-child & adult attachment types.

There is a distinction to be made between attachment behavior and attachment bond when discussing the attachment theory. “Attachment behavior is behavior on the part of the infant that promotes proximity to the attachment figure, such as smiling and vocalization (Carlson & Sroufe; Cassidy). Attachment bond, however, is described by Ainsworth and Bowlby not as a dyadic and reciprocal relationship existing between the infant and his caregiver, but rather as the infant’s interpretation of his relationship to his mother (Cassidy).” (Flaherty, Sadler 2010) Most of the concepts that have been derived from Bowlby’s Attachment Theory are within the context of parent-child attachment and the early development of these connections, their importance to our personal survival and a means by which we interact with the world.

We reviewed the history of John Bowlby and the Attachment Theory. The different patterns of attachment that this theory defines and the concept of parent-child attachment. Thank you again for your time in receiving this information, and may it find you able to utilize the knowledge to better yours or another's experience. John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory has impacted our understanding of parent-child & adult attachment, and how mental-health & care professionals have come to interpret this concept. Although attachments are natural, remember to hold all things close within your heart as you let them go within your arms.