Even More English (Eng. 101)

      An article published by Cambridge University Press called "Not your "typical" research: Inclusion ethics in neurodiversity scholarship" is about including neurodiverse people into research instead of just studying them. Harsh stereotypes have labeled them as "incompetent" or "dumb" which prevents them from being included fairly. The medical ethics of researching neurodiverse individuals is challenged everyday with concerns about equality and full understanding with the research.     The neurodivergent population has been the focus of many researchers. Neurodiverse people have been studied for years but they've never really been included in the researched that's based on them. The article states, "Including neurodivergent people in research focused on neurodiversity has many benefits. Many of these benefits are gained from centering research on a target population (i.e., research of neurodivergent people, not about neurodivergen...

      An article by Koku Asamoah called "The Perception of Black Peoples in Music and Art" is about how black people have been stereotyped negatively, resulting in repressed art recognition. Unfortunately, stereotypes are very common and are most of the time negative, but just how much art have they covered?     Many artists, inventors, and songwriters have been underappreciated because they were ahead of their times. For example, Vincent van Gogh, a Post- Impressionist artist wasn't supported at all for his art due to its bright colors, and unique style. Throughout the European Renaissance there were artists and musicians that were underappreciated because they broke the molds and created something new. Now flash forward roughly 175 years to today, where the stereotypes and unwanted freshness of art still exist. The author of this article responded to some stereotypes against black culture art by saying, "It hurts to see the music that comes from a culture with...

      An article by Zio Baritaux called "The Enchanting Realm of Water Lilies and Lotuses" is about the art and storytelling derived from water lilies, lotuses, and lily pads. These plants are found naturally in overgrown, wild ponds that are murky and not appealing to the average person. Surrounded by dark algae ridden water and sour mud, these plants provide a habitat to small fish and amphibians. The leafy pads improve the water quality making a livable freshwater habitat. However, for artists these plants are way more than just small habitat providers.     Water lilies and lotuses have inspired folklore such as sirens who resides in the dark water. The dark water is seen as uncertain and dangerous, and the leafy covering just adds to that aesthetic. The author explains what about the plants sparks interest, she states "What is it about water lilies and lotuses that pull at the edges of our imagination? Perhaps it's how these delicate blooms rise from om...

      An ABC13 Houston video called "What is 'La Matanza' and Why is It Not in Texas History Books?" is about the multiple killings of Mexicans and Mexican Americans during 1910-20's. Not many can recall the history because it was never formally recorded in history books. The stories of unlawful killings were passed through generations of families who had loved ones taken from them by racially motivated Texas rangers.      The video starts with a woman named Melba sharing her story of how her great grandfather and great uncle had reported some stolen horses only to be shot by Texas rangers. Melba has shared this story with many, most importantly her daughter Christine Melisse who keeps the memory alive like others as ABC13 Houston states, "In an effort to prevent any other racist field tragedies and never forget a key moment in their history, markers have been erected throughout south Texas all thanks to an organization called Refusing to Forget. It was fou...

      A study called "Applied Behavior Analysis in Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Scoping Review" by National Library of Medicine is about a form of therapy dedicated to reinforcing "good" behavior in order to "normalize" autistic behavior. Neurodiverse people are unique in how they perceive the world and they have unique ways in communicating with their surroundings. This therapy practice takes that away from them.     Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is therapy that "treats" people with autism. It started in the 1970's and had the main goal of changing autistic individual's behavior. The patient's results were good for their standards the study states, "The remarkable findings revealed that 47% of the children who participated in this treatment reached normal intellectual and educational functioning compared to only 2% of a control group" (Lovaas, 1987). This is all still in use today. When a youth sta...

      An article by Steven C. Hayes called "What If You Didn't Need to Feel Better to Live Better?" is about not needing to feel good to be productive or carry on with your life. While there are many studies that suggests the idea to be true, there are many factors that suggests that the ideas are false.      It has been proven that people take the path of least resistance. The article discusses studies that states pursuing happiness is a toxic relationship to hold with yourself. The author discusses one study that states, "In science this process is called "experiential avoidance" or "EA" and it's one of the most toxic ways of interacting with the world. The more we begin to organize our lives around not feeling certain things, the more we numb ourselves, and the more our lives shrink" (Hayes). This is one of the studies that the article covers, it is leaning towards the idea that trying to chase happiness represses less-desirable emotio...

      A short story by Mark Galarrita called "There Are Three Children Jumping Over a Can Outside a Bodega" is about the exploitation of people for media content. The story starts off very tame with three boys playing a simple game outside of a bodega when a man approaches and shoves a camera in their face. What happened next shows the horror of media.     Taking place in Queens New York, three "Brown boys" are playing outside a bodega when a well-dressed man approaches while recording them. The boys have been told by their mothers, "Beware these men, the mothers said, they come for our lives. And they will not stop until they have your soul." (Galarrita). These boys have been taught from a very early age that men like the one recording them are monsters. When the man tries to engage the boys use unnatural powers to kill the man in a violent way symbolizing violence as resistance or as a way to reclaim power from the man. They did not want to be recorded s...

      An essay by Elizabeth Friend called "The Lessons of Lore" is about finding the truths and morals in ghost stories. When you think ghost story the spooks and mysterious creatures that terrorize teenagers in make out points probably pops into mind, but some tall tales are weaved with a lesson in mind. Are ghost stories just for entertainment, or are they a warning stemmed from the changing of the times?      Ghost stories are not factual. They might have started out based on a true sighting or experience but it's like a game of telephone, after being shared through the generations it has changed drastically. The story that the article follows was meant to be more sad than scary, and it was more real than the usual fabled tales, so it resided deeper with more people. It was the story about Lydia, a ghostly hitchhiker who disappeared when drivers stopped to help. A few people were emotionally driven to find out the truth behind the sightings but all they ...

       An article by Caroline Foltz called "Extinction By The Bowl" is about the misunderstanding and over-hunting of sharks. The author explores why the hunting is futile, and how sharks have been stereotyped as monsters. The inhumane ways of humans wasteful hunting styles have caused the near extinction of more than just sharks.     In America during 1825-1850 Americans were trying to control the Native Americans so they started slaughtering buffalo. They would kill whole herds just to take the pelts and tongues leaving the rest to rot and waste. The pelts and tongues were the most valuable parts so while Americans prioritized the money Native Americans were starving because they used their whole kill including the bladders of the animal! This wasteful hunting caused the population of buffalo and Native Americans to drop drastically. The article really reminded me of this history because it states, "To this day, a threat to our ocean and to our future lur...

      An essay by Anne P. Beatty called "When We Are Afraid" is about conflict of opinion and perspective. The world is full of conflict and diversity. The saying "not one person is like another" is very correct. When humans are introduced to a new idea, they're either excited or scared. When they're excited, they openly explore the new idea, when they're scared, they'll project their fear and try to run away, or they'll respond with violence and try to completely dispose of the idea instead of trying to think about it logically. Then to deepen the issue they pass their close-minded ways to their children. It all comes with having and teaching perspective.     You may notice that some areas of the world are stereotyped as being closed off, isolated, close-minded, or clannish. One of these places is the southern states or North America. The text states, "This is a southern city, where some things bloom, and others are buried" (Beatty). B...

      An article by Charlie Angus called "Gaza: Eyewitness Accounts to Crimes Against Humanity" is about the destruction being rained upon the Gaza. Angus goes as far to comparing the destruction and acts of the Israelites to the holocaust and nazis in World War II. More people need to be aware of the grisly acts being conducted towards the Palestinian people.     It was made clear it's not a secret Isreal seeks to destroy Gaza. How they're doing that involves, "The IDF (Israeli Defense Force) is preventing fuel coming in. There is only enough fuel for three days. Once it is finished, the hospitals will completely shut down." Healthcare is being directly targeted and choked off for supplies. Healthcare personnel are being murdered and incarcerated. The population is slowly being snuffed out so there is no resistance. It has been reported that responses for aid have been weak. Close to nothing has come from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom about the bo...

     An article by Ijeoma Anaka called "Technology, the Cause of Possible Mutilation and Murder of Small Talk" is about the lack of social skills and the increase of neck pain in recent generations. And while solutions have been offered most condone the destructive habit.     Device usage has become a part of everyday life, thus introducing new problems to overcome. Devices have been invented to "combat" bad posture, but the devices make it easier to be more addicted to your device. The problem is lack of social skills and understanding yet it's being condoned. The neck strain has been normalized because entertainment and communication happen mostly through screens now. "From ergonomic keyboards and mice wrist rests and monitor stands, there is a burgeoning market for products designed to support healthy computing habits" (Anaka). While these products are made to help, they just encourage more screen time, for the sake of being more "productive...