Author: akochanowicz

Could not upload. Will bring it to class.

As soon as we started reading Ms. Marvel, I thought about about how I can analyze the comic, or its specific part. To be honest, I had no idea what I was going to. It all changed when we had the option to draw. I always draw, and it is not artistic. It’s usually some random figures, creatures, and other things like that. It started when we did the drawing exercise in class, and I drew some rats. There was no reason for me to draw them, but I felt the need to draw them. Anyways, that is how much project started.

The following class, I attempted to draw Kamala, and to my surprise, it actually came out half-way decent. At this point, I had the rats, Kamala, and that weird porcupine thing that is fun to draw ( I drew 4 of them in a row). Drawing was challenging, especially close-ups and faces, but overall not as difficult as I thought. The hard part was putting it all together. It took me a long time to come up with a dialogue, and the placement of images. Gluing them together was easy, but I had to replace the drawings a couple of times.

My target audience are the people who have read the comic. The reason behind it is that people need to understand what is going on in the comic, things like reoccurring themes such as identity crisis specifically. My project is an extension of the scene where she hides from Zoe, and sees the roach. In my scene, Kamala meets a rat, that is cute at first, but then turns into a dragon/alien rat. I’d like to call it a Dralian (trademark pending). She sees that the Dralien is about to eat her, so she will use her powers to defend herself. At first, she turns into the white Ms. Marvel, which she never wanted to be at first. Then, she turns into herself, and the Dralien morphs back into a rat.

What I am trying to illustrate is how Kamala’s powers are by controlled by her emotions, and that she can only turn into her version of Ms. Marvel only when she feels comfortable in her skin. At first, the rat was not scared. Maybe because it was not the first time encountering Ms. Marvel, but it was the first time that he saw Kamala as Ms. Marvel, and he was scared. He was scared because Kamala brought a new look, and attitude to the superhero gang. Throughout the comic, Kamala wants to be like other kids, so she is trying to fit in by doing things that her parents do not approve of. She does not realize that she should be proud of who she is,her culture, and that she is powerful when she feels confident. 

If I had another week, I would work more on the drawings. I am not that skilled, so it takes me longer to come up with something good. It is easy to draw characters, but it is hard to draw everything else. I would take my time and focused on the backgrounds. I would also extend the scene, add more dialogue and more panels. I was going for humorous/serious emotional impact. Kamala is very sarcastic, so I tried keeping it that way, but I also wanted the audience to learn from this. The message here is simple- be yourself. If you try ti imitate others while forgetting where you came from, you will lose the uniqueness. We are who we are, and we need to embrace it. We need to live it, and be proud. Nobody wants to see bunch of Zoes and her friends everywhere.

The idea: I am creating a scene right after Kamala shrinks for the first time, and then sees the roach. In this comic, Kamala will encounter bunch of radioactive rats (creating of the Inventor), and she will fight them off by using her powers. She will win only when she really becomes her true self.

1. Is this a good idea? (It is the only question I can come up with)

I loved the idea of drawing, and putting live in the pictures. I also found the connection that needs to exist between an artist and a writer interesting. Two people can interpret the same image, or text, in multiple different ways, and it is amazing when they can actually create something that satisfies both of their visions. I will pay more attention to the drawings, and how they go hand-in-hand with text.

It did leave a impact, and I might even draw something for the final assignment. I am not sure what exactly, but I can come up with something meaningful. One meaningful thing about this format is that I will be able to create scenes not depicted in the comic, and I think that this will be lots of fun.

I am excited about this because it will be my first time drawing as an assignment, therefore I will make it neat, and good-looking. I will also be able to put my own little artist’s trademark in it, something different from the original comic. To be honest, I might draw alien rats and Kamala fighting them off. If I do not draw, however, I will write something about the view of society on different cultures.

Ms. Marvel is teaching me a lot about a culture gap in our society. As a country, we are very diverse, and yet there are so many condescending views on certain cultures. The message in the comic I clear, and it is to be who you really are, and not your fabricated self. It looks like Kamala is finally getting the hang of her powers and abilities when she I being herself, but of course I will not find that out until the next collection.

I really did not know how to start my paper. I always have a hard time starting a paper. I was sitting down at my desk at night, and I was brain-storming different ideas. I wanted to stay away from well researched topics such as marijuana and conviction rates, crime, drugs or election. I just wanted something that people do not think about. I thought about LaGuardia and its low graduation rate of 17%, and then I wondered about the reason behind it. Then I struck gold. I took a while guess and came up with a hypothesis that CUNY schools with predominantly white student body have higher graduation rate. I was not wrong.

Graduation rates and demographics were not available together, therefore I went on a quest to find out that. First, I found out CUNY graduation rate, which is around 43%. I selected a sample of 10 schools, all four year college. I went to CUNY site to find out the demographics. Those 10 schools split in exactly in half. 5 schools had predominantly white student body and five had minority student body. Once I established that, then I had to find out the graduation rates for each school. Again, I went to CUNY website and found out retention rates. CUNY keeps track of graduation rates for 6 years, which is a reasonable time to graduate.

Last step involved finding out the average for those two groups. I added them up, and then compared them to the CUNY graduation average. Results were alarming. Schools with white student body had a graduation rate of 54%, and schools with minority body have significantly less graduation rate of 36%. I needed to dig deeper. I needed to find out the reasons behinds this. As I was doing this research, I kept thinking about Intersections, a play that we have examined in class.
I found out that graduation rates are affected by various factors such as economic situation, financial struggle, and health and justice system. I had decided to focus on income inequality. I started researching income inequalities in the United States, which is approximately $24,000 dollars. It is a very significant amount and a lot van be done with it. That also happens to be an approximate cost of a 4-year CUNY school. I had this great info but I needed to apply it to New York City. I was fortunate to come across a superb study by PhD program candidates from Lehman College. With the new information, I was able to further support my thesis. It came to my realization that the income inequality in NYC is as significant as anywhere in the states.
I had to sit back and reflect. I know many people who are in a situation like characters in Intersections. Some had to drop out, and some lost motivation to continue, and I can’t blame them. When someone drops out, people say that they drop out because they don’t care. It is an ignorant assumption. We do not know what others go through, and this research paper, along with the play, helped be understand everything better. I started putting everything together. Everything from financial struggle to income disparity, and it is just sad. It is sad that some people do not have the equal opportunity to go to school. It is not fair that some people have to choose between their family and school. They should be able to take care of both without having that ultimatum.

Fortunately, New York is taking the right steps in order to minimize the income disparity. NY now offers free college tuition for the qualifying families. To some people, that will mean everything to the. It will open new opportunities, and it will make dreams come true. It will give people an opportunity to feel what other people feel, tuition free college. No more ultimatums. No more loans. Only more opportunities. It is a first step in the right direction.

A Long Way Ahead

Inequality is present everywhere, and there is no question about it. Despite the country’s continuous progress, it will take years before any change is accepted. Yes, the laws change, but people do not. It takes generations to phase out certain ideals. Currently, the laws are supposed to limit inequality, but everyone knows that what is on paper does not reflect the status quo. Sometimes laws are passed to just make people happy, to show that something is being done about an issue. One thing is certain, and that there is an educational disparity between ethnic groups. CUNY colleges with predominantly white student body have a higher graduation rate as opposed to CUNY colleges that have a larger minority student body, and that is driven by the inequality in income.

One would think that after a landmark case, Brown v, Board of Education (1954), which desegregated schools, inequality would start to cease, however that was not the case. Colleges in the United States are now more segregated more than ever. The question, of course, is why? What is causing this disparity to constantly grow? As stated by Lindsey Cook, in “U.S. Education: Still Separate and Unequal”, “Many factors contribute to disparities in education. Lower wealth, lower health, lower parental education levels, and more dealings with the justice system….” All those factors go hand-in-hand. If a person is not healthy, then the school is least of their worries. If a family is living below, or right on the poverty line, which according to the Department of Health and Human Services is 24,600 for a family of four, the chance of their kids going to school is slim to none, since it simply would not be affordable. Then, there is the infamous justice system, which cares more about someone’s color of the skin rather than the actual crime committed, and which ironically jails the innocent, and liberates the guilty. However, one of the leading causes for educational disparity is the inequality in family income between races.

New York City is one of the biggest and most diverse cities in the world. It once was a gateway for immigrants during its Ellis Island days during the 20^th century, and that legacy continues today, as it still treats immigrants as human beings, and “those who come here to steal other people’s jobs”. New York City looks out after its residents by improving standards of living and assisting those in need. It is safe to say that NY is one of the more open-minded states. It is the first state to offer a free public college for the qualifying families. However, one of the things that cannot be fixed by New York is the income differences that exist between racial groups. This a war that has been fought for years, but the progress is not visible, as the gap only continues to grow.

Unfortunately, the whole country is affected by the income disparity. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (1967-2012), the differences in income were very significant. “The median income for non-Hispanic White households was $57,009, and it was $33,321 for Black households. For Hispanic households the median income was $39, 005” The difference of about $24,000 is an astronomically high number. For some people, it is their annual salary, and for some, their college tuition. For many people, $24,000 can make a huge difference in quality of life. With that money, families can live in better conditions, or parents can send their children to better schools, or they can simply provide more educational resources for their children. The scariest thing is that the income inequality exist all over the country, and it is has been consistent throughout the years.

Unfortunately, New York City is affected by it even more because of the excessive cost of living. In another study conducted by Lehman College, Department of Latin American, Latino and Puerto Rican Studies, the researchers concluded that “Just over half of the City’s household income went to non-Hispanic white households in 2010 although they comprised 37% of total households. Latino households earned 18.4% of New York City’s total household income despite making up slightly over 26% of all households, while non-Hispanic black households, 21% of all households, received 16% of income” (Bergard 16). In other words, white families accumulated over 50% of all income in New York City, while composing only one-third of all households. Differences in income, and the disproportion in wealth accumulation is alarming.  Income plays a crucial part in college attendance, and graduation.

College tuition is expensive. Fortunately, New York City public colleges are more affordable as opposed to some private colleges which tuition is as high as $50,000 per year, making the college experience cost them about $250,000. The Four-year cost of a CUNY college is approximately $26,000, and that number is solely based on tuition. This figure excludes all the fees, and other costs associated with college, such as personal expenses, books and necessities. It is important to keep in mind that many students take longer than 4 years to graduate. It is common to see students finish college in 5, or even 6 years. As earlier mentioned, White families have an advantage by making $24,000 more than Black, and Hispanic families. That $24,000 is close to the approximate cost of CUNY School. People who have the money to go to college, will go to college because the financial worries can be put aside. Students who do not that kind of money to use have a different list of priorities.

People who grow up in families that struggle financially often have an obligation to help their family, as opposed to the more fortunate, entitled and spoiled kids who do not have a sense of family obligation, since everything in their lives was taken care with the help of money. If someone’s family is struggling, that person will be encouraged by the family to go to school, because that is the light at the end of the tunnel for a better future, or at least that is what everyone believes. A college degree usually signifies hope, as it is a minimum requirement for many good paying jobs. However, family will always be first. If someone is thriving in college and their family is struggling financially, there is a good statistical probability that the person will leave school to take care of their family just as in the play Intersections.

 Intersections, a play by LaGuardia’s students, displays a perfect example of the priorities that a person must take once it comes to their family. Janelle, and Alex, two characters from two different backgrounds are faced with very tough decisions. Janelle, a college student is faced with a challenge when her grandma is dying of cancer. She is told by her cousin, Travis, to focus on school because grandma “would want you to finish school” (Intersections 12). Janelle, however, sees it differently. In her eyes, she is obligated to help grandma, because when her mother passed away, “she took us in like it was nothing…she sacrificed her life for me” (Intersections 14). Janelle’s family is poor, and they do not have enough money for the proper treatment for her grandma. College is important, but taking care of a family member takes precedence. Janelle’s family bond is stronger than anything, and nothing will ever come in between. Janelle is a brilliant student, but she knows her priorities.

Alex, on the other hand, is facing a different problem. He is pressured to study something that he does not enjoy, but that degree has a promising career. He is obligated to graduate because his family pays for his tuition. His family wants him to be successful, because it will bring opportunities that they never had before. Alex does not graduate college, but he finds a way to take care of his family. He becomes a Police Officer, a difficult job that is conflicting with his interests, but provides financially. Alex did not graduate, but he found a way to take care of his loved ones. Family first.

Intersections is a great example of what is happening in New York City within the CUNY schools. CUNY’s average graduation rate is 43.1%. Based on the graduation rates, and demographic make-up of the four-year CUNY schools, CUNY schools have a better graduation rate when the student body is predominantly white, as compared to the schools where the student body is minority. Baruch, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Hunter College are five schools where white students represent more than any other group. The average graduation rate for those schools is 54.5%, which is 11.4% higher than the CUNY average graduation rate for all schools. John Jay, City, Lehman, NYCCT and York College are the schools where the minority students outnumber white students. The average graduation rate in those schools in 35.52%, a 7.6% below the CUNY average. People’s quality of life will be a factor in graduation rates. Of course, quality of life is affected by income, and the income gap plays a major role in graduation rates.

I have met many smart people who struggle in LaGuardia. They do not struggle, because of their apathy toward education, even though it is a popular belief. It’s easy to say that someone does not care, but how can anyone make a statement like that without walking in their shoes? How can we judge others without having a clue about that person’s life? They struggle because they face conflicting interests. Do they focus on school, or do they help their families? What takes a precedence? They make a decision based on their upbringing, and often, it is to take care of their families first. Should their family make more money, like the $24,000 differential in income, maybe then they would not have to worry about financial issues. Maybe then, they would not have to choose between the two. Maybe then, they would have the opportunity to go to college and just focus on graduating, and ultimately give back to their families for sacrifices they have made. I know that if the people who struggle that I have met would stay in school, they would be very successful.

If inequality exists in CUNY schools, it does exist everywhere else. Fortunately, the inequalities in CUNY system are not impossible to get rid of. In others words, educational disparity in CUNY schools is fixable. CUNY colleges should be an example for all other schools to follow. Governor Cuomo’s scholarship program offers a free college tuition for the less fortunate families. That program will help those who struggle financially to focus on school, and not on the tuition debt. That program will help to increase graduation rates, because it will not give students an ultimatum between school and family. This is one of the many steps in the right direction. As people say, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Inequality in income directly correlates with the educational disparity and CUNY graduation rates. People who have more money will have a higher graduation rate. Families who make more, will lay out a better path for their children to be successful. Money does not bring happiness, but money will help people live better. Money will give people more opportunities. It is time to recognize, and address this problem. It is time for people to stand up, and to fight the educational disparities that exists in CUNY schools. It is time for all children to have the same opportunity for a brighter future. The increasing gap in income inequality needs to stop, as it is not fair for families not to provide all the necessary resources to attend college worry-free, graduate and make dreams come true.

 

Bergad, Laird W. “The Concentration of Wealth in New York City.” Changes in the Structure of Household Income by Race/Ethnic Groups and Latino Nationalities 1990-2010 (2014): 16-20. Print.

Cook, Lindsey. “U.S. Education: Still Separate and Unequal.” Business Insider. Business Insider, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2017.

“Current Population Survey 1967-2012.” Census.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2017.

Department of Health and Human Services. “Federal Poverty Level.” HealthCare.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2017.

LaGuardia Community College, Students. “Intersections” (2016): 1-20. Print.

“Office of Institutional Research. Student Demographics.” The City University of New York. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2017.

“System Retention and Graduation Rates.” The City University of New York. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2017.

“Tuition & Fees.” The City University of New York. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2017.

Questions:

1. Does it make sense?
2. Is it organized?
3. What should I change?
4. Should I add anything?
5. Any suggestions?

After I finished reading Intersections, I had a flashback of everything that has been happening. They did an amazing job of accurately portraying the struggle of high cost of medicine, exaggerated emphasis on education (Janette is brilliant and would do just fine without a degree), and lack of police training, along with many other things. The research topics that I will look into will be: cost of drugs, the effects of marijauna on cancer patients, the reasons why marijuana is illegal, and police officers who reach for the gun as soon as any situations presents itself. Yes, police officers do have weapons, but they should not draw them unless it is a last resort. I am basing this opinion on the shootings that has been happening in the last couple of years. It is time to train people to use their best judgment first. I will also look into something about education, although I am not sure what specifically. I feel like a college degree is needed to work in most places, but I am sure that someone without a degree would be as much, if not more capable of doing the job. Education holds people down. We are told that we need a degree, and once you get it, jobs are still hard to find, and the debt is could be over $200,000 ( using private universities for this example). Once you get a job, you are told that you need Masters if you want to move up in the company, or have your salary increased, and that will add another two annual salaries to your current debt.

I will definitely look into articles from credible newspapers, and I will also look into studies. Although statistics can be misleading, they are a great start, and if I find statistics from multiples sources, I will be able to come to an accurate conclusion. Research could either reinforce my stance or it could completely prove me wrong. I would like to think that I am right, but sometimes you just never know. That is why it is important not to say things without learning about them first. To me, research means educating myself on the topic, and it could be anything. It also means spending hours looking for the right information. Many sources are biased, based on opinion, and when proving a point, opinion will not suffice. It also means understanding the topic thoroughly. Research should be motivated my ourselves. People talk a lot, and a lot of it is pure lies. I listen do people, but I never believe them until I read about it. People tend not to fact check the source, and that is crucial. I loved the play. It’s short, but it captures a lot of issues that we deal with today as society. To be honest. I wish that it would be a little longer, but I can see why it is the way it is.

I always saw poetry as message with infinite interpretations. That, of course, is very reductive. I hated reading boring poem in High School, and for the most part I still do. At school, we are forced to read literature that is carefully prepared by people with P.h.D., and other experts who determine what we have to read and why we should read it. There is, however, something that is being overlooked, and that is the fact that our society is progressing, and there new social issues arise.

In this class, we did something rather unorthodox with the literature. We have analyzed four spoken word poems, which I prefer more as opposed to Hamlet, for example, which cannot be used in anyway. Poems that we saw brought up problems that we deal with today, such as identity crisis, love, police brutality and discrimination. Those are relevant issues seen in today’s society, even though we claim to be “progressing” at an alarming rate.

I love this different approach. Poetry is powerful, so why not study something like we just did in order to spread knowledge, and awareness? It is more interesting, relates to more people, and most importantly, it gets people to talk. Discussion is very important part of the class, as we get a chance to share our views, experiences, and provide possible solutions.

Now, for what I have learned while doing this assignment. I should ask myself, “What haven’t I learned”? This assignment made me think in a new way. I always knew that analyzing the poem was a must, but now I know that I always overlooked important factors.

For the first time ever, I was started to think about the audience, location, delivery, and even appearance. It was something that I never considered, because I read most of the poem and only analyzed the text. Context of the poem is bread and butter, but it does not so justice without proper delivery. I read all the poem before actually watching them, and the first impression that I had was, “OK, not bad:”. That has changed, of course, as soon as I read watched the video. I had goosebumps or chills for the most part during all the poems. The delivery is important, because it shows the author’s passion, emotions, mood, and true self. It shows how much the author cares about the topic, and how much he/she wants people to understand.

Audience is also very important. Some poems were directed toward White people, just like in “3 Ways to Speak English”, where the reactions were priceless, and some were directed to people who can closely relate, just like in “Ebonics 101”. Context of the poem is based on the audience, and it is interesting what historical facts are said. For example, if Steve said “Martin” or “Rodney” to White audience, there is a good chance that they would not understand it, because they were not affected by that event.

Personal appearance plays a huge role in the performance, and I was able to see that in #DeadMum poem. The author is Muslim, and he does not wear his religious hat as opposed to his other videos. This is such a minor detail that many people would not even notice. Upon further analysis, this actions plays an important role. The poem is about connecting with people, especially those who do not show enough appreciation for the loved ones. Imagine if he had worn that hat, how would this affect people viewing this video? To be honest, not as many people would watch this. People see someone dressed a certain way, and they already make their decision. A young Muslim male with a religious hat on would be associated with a religious video despite the title. People would think that he is trying to bring religion into the poem.

Working on this project helped me to analyze not only the context, but everything else that is going on in the video. This is a great tool that I will use in the future, and it will definitely make poetry more enjoyable.

 

 

http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/a-death-in-a-florida-prison-goes-unpunished

The Borders We Make

Throughout centuries, people have been fascinated with poems. Maybe it’s because of a plethora of possible interpretations, meanings or subtle messages that are hidden intelligently by the author. Maybe people are fascinated with the poems because of how closely they can relate to it. The more powerful poems are, the bigger impact they leave on the reader. However, context of the poem itself will not bring its full potential power, or leave a lasting impact on the reader without proper delivery and surroundings. In the poem #DearMum, the author expresses unconditional love to his mother, but shows signs of regret, sadness, and guilt. He uses various objects, background music, and other clues to make his delivery more powerful, and to connect with people and their feelings.

Kids and moms have an unbreakable bond, and that begins way before the kids is born. For 9 months, she is dealing with swollen ankles, and lower back pain, and yet, it is all worth in the end. Moms are caring, loving, always concerned, sometimes annoying, but always for the right reasons. If someone is annoyed by their mother, it is because she loves them. It is because she cares. They are always there when someone is in need. The author’s mom was there when he needed her. When he was sick, she always knew a cure, “A prescription of tea, honey, hand made lemonade what more could I ask for”. Visit to a doctor was not needed, because that tea would fix everything. When he was not home, she “…could never ever sleep when ever we were gone/ She would stay up all night next to the phone although we would never call”. Moms always want to know where the kids are, and they can never sleep knowing that they are out at night. It is a natural instinct, whether someone is 14 or 44 years old. No matter how old a person is, a mother will always treat them the same way. Mothers need simple things, such as a phone call to ease the tight feeling in the stomach, and make fear go away. 

His mother was always there for him, but he was not always there for her. The author regrets not being as affectionate with his mother, and not helping her as much as he could. When his mom wanted him to call, he never did. It does not seem like a big deal, but in the larger spectrum of things, it was a big deal. One phone call would help his mother sleep better, or at least it would make her feel better about her son’s safety. So why didn’t he call? Maybe because it seemed silly to him to make that phone call, or maybe because he thought that his mom didn’t trust him. Maybe he truly believed that his mom was not that worried, so he took it upon himself to assume and make a decision not to call, and today, he regrets it.

Throughout the poem, he mentions things that he is sorry for. One regret that stood out was not helping her with the dishes, “It doesn’t make me less of a man to wash the dishes whenever your your arms get sore”. For years, women have been expected to do all the domestic duties, such as cooking, cleaning, and doing dishes. It is still a stereotype, and to this day, many men believe that it still is women’s responsibility. It goes without saying how ignorant that thought is. Domestic duties dynamic has changed over the years. It doesn’t make anyone less of a men to help his loving mother, or a partner do the dishes, clean the house or cook. That makes someone more of a men, because it proves an elevated level of responsibility and maturity. However, that was something that the author failed to do.

The poem itself is very emotional, and unless someone watching it is an alien, one would feel goosebumps, or the tight feeling in the throat when holding back tears. The author maintains his composure throughout the delivery, but his voice cracks once when reciting one of the more powerful lines, “I love you Ya Yumaa and I’m sorry I’ve never told you all this before”. For some unknown reason, those words are hard to say for many people, myself included. Moms know that their kids love them, and kids, even adults assume that there is no need to say, “ I love you” to their mothers. It is a simple expression, yet it will mean a world to the person that it’s being addressed to. He is telling her that right now, and it brings back a lot of memories, and times when he could say it, but he never did.

If someone read the transcript, there is a good chance that the person would feel indifferent, because words alone do not do justice. That, of course, would change once the same person watched the video. This was a deliberate attempt to make people emotional. Everything in that video has its purpose. The video takes place in the kitchen. There were flowers, dishes that were semi- done, a cup, and the special effects synced with body movement. Kitchen symbolizes many things. It is a place where his mother had spent a lot of time cooking, and cleaning. It is also a place that holds a lot of memories. The cup is there to represent the cure for cold, and he finally made it for her. Dishes are semi-done, because he shows that he is still new to that, and that he still needs to get better at it. He wishes that he helped her do it when he was younger, therefore it would not be so clumsy now. This display is for his mother to see, because even those she is no longer with him, she can see him trying from above.

None of those objects meant much at first. It would not mean much even if someone watched the video. Everything would make sense after a close analysis of the poem. Flowers were visible the whole time. It is revealed at the end that his mother had passed away. The flowers are there in her honor, and memory. All the objects are there in her honor. She might not be there with him now, but she will always be his “Queen”, and she will always be in his heart. 

Delivery of the poem is beautiful. He rehearsed it a lot in order to make it perfect. The title is #DearMum, which allows more people to connect, and makes finding it easier. He really wanted to connect with people and question themselves. In his other videos, he is seen wearing a taqiyah, a religious cap. In this video, he does not wear it. One would think that by now people would all love, and see each other as equal, however it is not the case. Many people still believe that they are somehow more superior than others because of their skin color, or because of the belief that their religion is the only one that should be practiced. He does not wear a taqiyah because he wants to connect with everyone. He wants to bring down the walls that divide people, and build bridges to connect one another. He is making the point that no matter how one looks, or what one believes in, everyone has a mother that loves them.

I am not a very affectionate person myself, even when it comes to family. While I was watching a poem, my first reaction was “holy shit”, and then goosebumps appeared all over my body. Halfway through the poem my eyes started tearing, and it took some formidable force to hold those tears back. Music in the background made me feel somewhat more vulnerable, but not in the bad way. It helped me open myself up.  A four minute poem was powerful enough to trigger something that has been hindered inside me for a long time, a moment of clarity. His mother reminds me of my mom, how caring, loving, and worrisome she is, and the author himself reminds me of my myself. I am not a bad son, and neither is the author. We are just not realizing the importance of appreciation, and simple gesture. I do not help with the dishes, even though it will take me 3 minutes of my day, and I often choose not to call my mom, even though it would take me 10 seconds to dial her. But I will start. I will change. I love and appreciate my mother, and I will give her what she deserves.  

This may seem like a generalization, hence the frequent use of “everyone” throughout the essay. Of course, not all of us have mothers, but it does not mean that people cannot connect with this poem. All of us have someone that truly cares about us. All of us have a special bond with someone. Whether it is a father, older sibling, or a family member, a friend or even a neighbor, there is someone that once took motherly duties and did the best possible to be a sufficient substitute for a mother. This poem is about a magnificent connection with the author’s mom, but it can be about magnificent connection with anyone. Love has no boundaries. We create boundaries with a lack of appreciation and isolation as we grow older. The author is telling us to reach out to those people and make amends before it’s too late.

The poem is about love, regret and guilt. His mother always took care of him, sacrificed everything for his well-being, and cared about him like nobody ever will. It is not after her death, when he realizes the mistakes he made. He did not help her as much as he could. He did not show love, or appreciation for her sacrifice. He regrets that deeply. This poem is more than just what is seems to be, an apologetic message to his mother. It is a message to everyone else. He is calling on people to wake up. He is calling on people to question how they treat their mothers, or anyone that cares about them. He is calling on people to change their ways, to shows love, appreciation, and to realize the sacrifice that certain people have made before it is too late.

Expectations: emailed.

Rough Draft: emailed.

I reviewed yamelldls, and sandepk.

Questions:

1. Does the organization make sense?
2. What should I change?
3. Does it make sense at all?
4. What shouldn’t be there?
5. What improvements should I make?