That letter was insane.
At first I was apprehensive as to whether or not I would like how he was writing, but towards about the third page, he really grabbed me. His writing was so compelling, and the rhetorical structure he used to address his point was phenomenal.
When MLK begins addressing the major struggles that the negros endure, it absolutely captivates the reader, because it all is so gut wrenching. When he discusses the ridicule that they receive, it's absolutely impossible to stop reading. "Any law that degrades human personality is unjust." That right there is so simply stated, but so complex in meaning. MLK speaks with some gentleness but assertiveness, that he almost forces the reader to acknowledge the seriousness of his letter. Even toward the end, he is apologetic for taking up too much of the reader's time. How can a man with so much purpose, be so kindhearted when the battle has yet to be won?
I thought it was brilliant for him to compare his efforts to those of Paul as need for Macedonia. He asked the reader to "never be considered an outsider" and he often describes he and his fellow negroes as "victims of broken promises." These broken promises begin with the signs that the local businesses refuse to take down, to the idea that negroes still can't enjoy a seat in the front of the bus.
His idea of a direct action program used to create a situation so crisis packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation. Althought MLK uses such a gentle tone, his ideas are drawn out, and show concrete ideas and planning. It is obvious that he is not toying with these ideas, but planning of prevailing.
I like how he offers the gainer a more personal approach to understanding the difference between the 2 laws of unjust and just. He addresses the audience by saying that Adolf Hitler's possession of Germany, and persection of the Jews was "legal" but the Freedom Fighters and their attempts to change the world, was considered "illegal."
He compares Asia and Africa's "speed toward gaining political independence" with "negroes still fighting to be served a cup of coffee."
This was by far one of my favorite reads in a long time!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Response to Chapters 6&7
Surprisingly, I hate reading text materials that are boring, but...
I was very interested in the way that Pipher describes the effects and responsibility that writers have on society.
On pg 77, this really caught my attention:
"The ideal writer's temperament includes the ability to tolerate ambiguity, handle intensity, wrestle with self-doubt, take risks, and accurately assess criticism. Most writers must be able to withstand poverty, loneliness, and anguish."
That quote really stood out to me because that's something that I lack strength in when I write. It is exceptionally hard for me to maintain my composure when people criticize what I am saying, or how I am saying it. Last semester for Journalism, I had to write a paper that was roughly about 90 pages, that dealt with poverty in society, and if minimum wage would increase or decrease the number of families on poverty. I had to watch videos, and construct interviews that really hurt me. I watched a documentary on a mother who worked at KFC and had 5 children... struggling indefinitely with her own life, and the lives that she had brought into the world. After I spent the semester doing all this research, I realized that the underlying problem with poverty and serious issues is that we don't make education as big a deal as it should be, and we put down people's writing, and critique people's work to the point where they give up, and lose hope in something they once really wanted.
When I teach my third graders over the summer, when its time for them to write about a summer experience, or favorite memory, you think they would get really excited, but some of them don't, because they don't have good experiences, or because when they write, the teacher tries to change the experience, and make it almost fictional. When I teach them how to write, I try to preserve as much of their own interpretation as I can. I would never want to take away their overall memoir.
I was very interested in the way that Pipher describes the effects and responsibility that writers have on society.
On pg 77, this really caught my attention:
"The ideal writer's temperament includes the ability to tolerate ambiguity, handle intensity, wrestle with self-doubt, take risks, and accurately assess criticism. Most writers must be able to withstand poverty, loneliness, and anguish."
That quote really stood out to me because that's something that I lack strength in when I write. It is exceptionally hard for me to maintain my composure when people criticize what I am saying, or how I am saying it. Last semester for Journalism, I had to write a paper that was roughly about 90 pages, that dealt with poverty in society, and if minimum wage would increase or decrease the number of families on poverty. I had to watch videos, and construct interviews that really hurt me. I watched a documentary on a mother who worked at KFC and had 5 children... struggling indefinitely with her own life, and the lives that she had brought into the world. After I spent the semester doing all this research, I realized that the underlying problem with poverty and serious issues is that we don't make education as big a deal as it should be, and we put down people's writing, and critique people's work to the point where they give up, and lose hope in something they once really wanted.
When I teach my third graders over the summer, when its time for them to write about a summer experience, or favorite memory, you think they would get really excited, but some of them don't, because they don't have good experiences, or because when they write, the teacher tries to change the experience, and make it almost fictional. When I teach them how to write, I try to preserve as much of their own interpretation as I can. I would never want to take away their overall memoir.
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