I watched a news clip from
abcnews.com about police violating people’s rights. In a video called “Have These Cops Gone Too Far?” a number of cases were brought up where victims claim
that they have been harassed by police officers. In one segment, a group of
women were charged with DUI (driving under the influence) and were arrested. They
were taken to jail and searched. They were then put into cells without any
privacy and were being recorded by cameras. The officers asked them to change
from their normal clothes to prison overalls for mug shots. After that was
completed, they told the women to change back to their normal clothes. During that
whole process, the women claimed to be recorded. Their privacy rights were
violated because there were supposed to be given curtains to change and use the
bathroom behind. But they were given no such thing. If any newscaster asked me
how I felt I’d say that I was outraged. The police officers had no right to do
such thing to me and they should be ashamed. They have no feelings for other
people, they’re cold hearted. Humiliating people like that is just absurd and
inhumane. Fortunately, I’m not those victims but I feel bad for those who have
been treated in such ways.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Tanzim Ahmed 811. Letter to Ms. Berner
Dear Ms. Berner,
I have received word that you are considering the removal of books from the 6th grade library. Sixth graders are inexperienced kids who need to learn about the world around them. The best way for this to happen, in their world, is by letting them read the books that teach them how to deal with harsh issues. Many parents don’t like the idea that teens are reading about such dark topics in books, but they need to let their children explore and imagine outside of their experiences.
The sixth grade library contains some dark books that teach readers about issues such as rape, murder, or drugs. Even though these books contain violence and aggression, they educate the reader about the main issue. For example, autobiography called TWEAK by Nic Sheff starts off describing heavy drug usage. The main character, Nic, shoots methamphetamines and heroin quite frequently. This book certainly does not idolize drugs, showing them as destructive and horrifying. Throughout the book, readers are constantly reminded of the consequences of drugs. Towards the end of the book the author teaches the reader how to deal with drugs. Slowly Nic removes himself from the plethora of drugs that consumed his life. This type of book is exactly what Maureen Johnson, author of “Yes, teen fiction can be dark – but it shows teenagers they aren't alone”, talks about in her essay. She says, “If subjects like these are in YA books, it's to show that they are real, they have happened to others, and they can be survived. For teenagers, there is sometimes no message more critical than: you are not alone. This has happened before. The feeling that you are feeling, the thing you are going through – it is a
known thing.” The author wants to help people by comforting them, by showing that addictions are not glamorous. These stories make drugs look less attractive. The way the author does this by simply writing the book itself.
In a news broadcast on abc13, Deborah Wrigley, a reporter, went to Conroe Texas where the book Fahrenheit 451 was being challenged. Caney Creek High School student Diana Verm was given an assignment on the book Fahrenheit 451, which she complained offended her because of “… the cussing in it and the burning of the Bible.” After she complained to the teacher, she was given an alternate assignment. Unfortunately, her father, Alton Verm, pushed the situation further. He tried to ban the book for everyone. The school said that they would have a hearing about it later but student rally coordinator Darrell Lee already started stirring up support for the book. Verm doesn’t realize how YA books teach readers. He was offended by the burning of the Bible but didn’t understand that towards the end of the book, the characters tried to save the bible. These people like Meghan Cox Gurdon read a book and just seem to miss the point. Look what she wrote about in her article “My 'Reprehensible' Take on Teen Literature”, “‘I used to squirm when I heard people talking about cutting—taking a razor to your own flesh never seemed logical to me. But in reality, it's wonderful. You can cut into yourself all the frustrations people take out on you.’ Now ask yourself: Is a book the only thing being sold here?” Here, Gurdon displays a blurb from a new book and right away she classifies it as “too dark”. Also in her article, she responds to a quote from Sherman Alexie’s article, “Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood". Alexie says, "Does Mrs. Gurdon honestly believe that a sexually explicit YA novel might somehow traumatize a teen mother? Does she believe that
a YA novel about murder and rape will somehow shock a teenager whose life has been damaged by murder and rape? Does she believe a dystopian novel will frighten a kid who already lives in hell?” Then Gurdon abruptly responds by saying, “No, I don't. I also don't believe that the vast majority of American teenagers live in anything like hell.” This response weakens her claim of how “dark” YA books are. Gurdon doesn’t know who lives in hell or not, she has no proof, and is hell relative - can we relate to another’s version of hell even if our challenges are vastly different?
Gurdon is criticizing many authors by saying that they put too much violence in YA books. But Johnson says, “There isn't a YA writer alive who is out writing books to corrupt youth. No one writing about self-harm is teaching how to self-harm. No one writing about rape is providing instructions on how to rape or how to be raped. I know this seems a ridiculously obvious point, but this is the argument that comes up again and again.” Gurdon says, “It is true that so-called problem novels may be helpful to children in anguished circumstances. The larger question is whether books about rape, incest, eating disorders and "cutting" (self-mutilation) help to normalize such behaviors”. She is totally wrong. YA books don’t normalize these behaviors, they help the victim understand that they can get help from other people. These victims might not want to get help because they think that they are the only ones doing drugs or self-mutilation. But if they find out about how other people deal with the same issue, they might come out of their shadows and speak up to get help.
This is why, Ms. Berner, you should not refrain from removing any books from sixth grade classroom libraries. The books represent the irritating alarms that wake us up every
morning. The books, in a way, seem to be speaking to readers saying, “Hey! Wake up, this is what’s going to happen in the real world so be prepared.” Challenged books open up a readers eyes and let them focus, see their surroundings, and let them explore the world they live in. If you remove books from the sixth grade libraries, it is as if you are closing the eyes of the students in your school.
I have received word that you are considering the removal of books from the 6th grade library. Sixth graders are inexperienced kids who need to learn about the world around them. The best way for this to happen, in their world, is by letting them read the books that teach them how to deal with harsh issues. Many parents don’t like the idea that teens are reading about such dark topics in books, but they need to let their children explore and imagine outside of their experiences.
The sixth grade library contains some dark books that teach readers about issues such as rape, murder, or drugs. Even though these books contain violence and aggression, they educate the reader about the main issue. For example, autobiography called TWEAK by Nic Sheff starts off describing heavy drug usage. The main character, Nic, shoots methamphetamines and heroin quite frequently. This book certainly does not idolize drugs, showing them as destructive and horrifying. Throughout the book, readers are constantly reminded of the consequences of drugs. Towards the end of the book the author teaches the reader how to deal with drugs. Slowly Nic removes himself from the plethora of drugs that consumed his life. This type of book is exactly what Maureen Johnson, author of “Yes, teen fiction can be dark – but it shows teenagers they aren't alone”, talks about in her essay. She says, “If subjects like these are in YA books, it's to show that they are real, they have happened to others, and they can be survived. For teenagers, there is sometimes no message more critical than: you are not alone. This has happened before. The feeling that you are feeling, the thing you are going through – it is a
known thing.” The author wants to help people by comforting them, by showing that addictions are not glamorous. These stories make drugs look less attractive. The way the author does this by simply writing the book itself.
In a news broadcast on abc13, Deborah Wrigley, a reporter, went to Conroe Texas where the book Fahrenheit 451 was being challenged. Caney Creek High School student Diana Verm was given an assignment on the book Fahrenheit 451, which she complained offended her because of “… the cussing in it and the burning of the Bible.” After she complained to the teacher, she was given an alternate assignment. Unfortunately, her father, Alton Verm, pushed the situation further. He tried to ban the book for everyone. The school said that they would have a hearing about it later but student rally coordinator Darrell Lee already started stirring up support for the book. Verm doesn’t realize how YA books teach readers. He was offended by the burning of the Bible but didn’t understand that towards the end of the book, the characters tried to save the bible. These people like Meghan Cox Gurdon read a book and just seem to miss the point. Look what she wrote about in her article “My 'Reprehensible' Take on Teen Literature”, “‘I used to squirm when I heard people talking about cutting—taking a razor to your own flesh never seemed logical to me. But in reality, it's wonderful. You can cut into yourself all the frustrations people take out on you.’ Now ask yourself: Is a book the only thing being sold here?” Here, Gurdon displays a blurb from a new book and right away she classifies it as “too dark”. Also in her article, she responds to a quote from Sherman Alexie’s article, “Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood". Alexie says, "Does Mrs. Gurdon honestly believe that a sexually explicit YA novel might somehow traumatize a teen mother? Does she believe that
a YA novel about murder and rape will somehow shock a teenager whose life has been damaged by murder and rape? Does she believe a dystopian novel will frighten a kid who already lives in hell?” Then Gurdon abruptly responds by saying, “No, I don't. I also don't believe that the vast majority of American teenagers live in anything like hell.” This response weakens her claim of how “dark” YA books are. Gurdon doesn’t know who lives in hell or not, she has no proof, and is hell relative - can we relate to another’s version of hell even if our challenges are vastly different?
Gurdon is criticizing many authors by saying that they put too much violence in YA books. But Johnson says, “There isn't a YA writer alive who is out writing books to corrupt youth. No one writing about self-harm is teaching how to self-harm. No one writing about rape is providing instructions on how to rape or how to be raped. I know this seems a ridiculously obvious point, but this is the argument that comes up again and again.” Gurdon says, “It is true that so-called problem novels may be helpful to children in anguished circumstances. The larger question is whether books about rape, incest, eating disorders and "cutting" (self-mutilation) help to normalize such behaviors”. She is totally wrong. YA books don’t normalize these behaviors, they help the victim understand that they can get help from other people. These victims might not want to get help because they think that they are the only ones doing drugs or self-mutilation. But if they find out about how other people deal with the same issue, they might come out of their shadows and speak up to get help.
This is why, Ms. Berner, you should not refrain from removing any books from sixth grade classroom libraries. The books represent the irritating alarms that wake us up every
morning. The books, in a way, seem to be speaking to readers saying, “Hey! Wake up, this is what’s going to happen in the real world so be prepared.” Challenged books open up a readers eyes and let them focus, see their surroundings, and let them explore the world they live in. If you remove books from the sixth grade libraries, it is as if you are closing the eyes of the students in your school.
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