The World Within Our Pockets

The World Within Our Pockets

In today’s tech-savvy world, we hardly miss a beat. The invention of smartphones and the internet have produced the convenient world of social media, which brings us everything from live world news coverage to what our friends ate for lunch. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram have revolutionized social interactions and how we communicate with one another. Although social media platforms are viewed as revolutionary platforms that have redefined modern communication, it contains hidden dangers that are affecting our youth negatively.

Snapchat and Instagram that offer picture-sharing platforms have led to the undermining of self-confidence and self-worth in adolescent users. The score system of likes, comments, and views have created a system of self-validation and evaluation based solely on appearances and external features, leading the youth into unhealthy body images and self-outlook. Those who may not receive as many like as more attractive individuals may feel compared and belittled by the amount of response or lack thereof. One can argue that such features are insignificant attributes in defining a person’s disposition or emotional state. However, adolescents, especially teenage girls between the ages 11 to 16, are highly sensitive to self-image and generally more insecure than boys. The shallow constructs of social media platforms, like the score system of likes and comments can thus be highly detrimental to the emotional and mental health of a developing youth.

Social media’s potential health risks extend beyond adolescents. Adults who spend a lot of time on apps like Facebook and Instagram have been reported to be less satisfactory of their lives and have lower self-esteem. The constant sharing and updating of people’s daily lives can serve as comparisons to one’s less interesting life.

With all these negative impacts, you may be wondering what can be done. It is not possible to eliminate social media or stop the millions of people using them. However, it is possible to change their meaning and significance in our lives. More emphasis on real-life interactions and encouraging the youth to pursue things for their own interests, as opposed to others’ perceptions of them, can help reduce the negative impacts of social media. Viewing Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat as insignificant, entertaining additions to our interactions, as opposed to the main types of social interaction, can help minimize the potential health risks in the world of social media.

  

Creative Writing Assignment

Slowly the world becomes yellow,

As I begin to feel mellow

My feet and hands go numb,

As my senses become dumb

My mind drifts away to another realm

Where one finds a purple elm

The world becomes a happier place

One in which every being has its space

I lose myself in endless thoughts,

As my mind explores its boundless spots

The clock ticks away,

But everything seems okay

Peace has come today

LA Times Article Analysis- "South L.A. high school students stage sit-in to protest mismanagement" by Stephen Ceasar
(MLA Citation- 2 Additional Sources)

            If you're a teacher at an LAUSD high school, you probably have experienced the inconvenience of Misis, or My Integrated Student Information System, which was newly implemented for the 2014~2014 school year. For the students, the problem with Misis has been a huge complication, misplacing students in wrong classes, muddling up student schedules, and generating many errors in student enrollment. Students at Jefferson High School have walked out in protest to the mismanagement of the school administration and its neglect of the issues engendered by Misis. Stephen Ceasar of Los Angeles Times summarizes the issues that led to the protest and explains the effects of the affair on the students.

            Beginning with the issues occurring at Jefferson High School, Ceasar captures the reader's concern. He spotlights one of the main sources of the conflict, the My Integrated Student Information System, which has caused scheduling problems in LAUSD schools. Ceasar then follows up with the effect of the Misis, as he says "Teachers have described over-enrolled classes, missing or inaccurate rosters, students without schedules and an inability to take attendance in the system." Ceasar then indicates another problem: "Foote  (principal) did not return requests for comment. Students returned to class Monday afternoon." As Ceasar pinpoints the issues, he allows the reader to understand the motives behind the protest. Furthermore, his logical order of explanations establishes a lucid introduction to his article.

            Ceasar goes on to explain the consequences of the issue and how they are affecting the students. He employs direct quotations from the students to show the detrimental influences of the mismanagement at Jefferson. He writes " 'It's the third week of school and we haven't learned anything,' she said, 'what's the point of being here if I'm not going to learn? We're tired of it.'" From these quotes the audience can learn the challenges the students face and understand the extent to which the Misis issue is harming the students, and empathize the students readily. Furthermore, Ceasar's quotations appeal to the audiences' emotions as well. "'I had to fight for my classmates', Lopez said, "We're not getting an education. It's not being given to us… We are good people who want to go to college.'" Lopez's plea shows to the reader the emotional struggle students have to face from the mismanagement and describes their suffering, and appeals to our compassion. Thus, Ceasar invites the audience to feel for the students' hardship and view the issue in their perspectives. By doing so, he establishes a persuasive argument that encourages the reader to support the students' concern.

            As for the final outcomes of the protest, Ceasar does not clarify. He mentions the district's intervention, in which the principal was replaced. However, whether the displacement of the former principal has made improvements is not addressed. Adding on, Ceasar does not provide perspectives from the teachers, school officials, and the district. The entire article is confined to the views of the students and does not give any insights as to what the administrators have to say.

            Despite some flaws, Ceasar artfully explains the management crisis at Jefferson High School by summarizing the issues that led to the walk-out and describing the outcomes of the conflict. As for the Misis crisis, it still remains a huge problem for schools across the district. Many are still struggling to correct their schedules and enrollment.

            An additional article, "LAUSD in crisis over its new Misis computer system", by Thomas Himes from Los Angeles Daily News, strengthens Ceasar's argument by further explaining the issues wrought by Misis. Similar to Ceasar, Himes beings his article by stating the administrative complications of Misis with student schedules and enrollment, as he writes that teachers stopped using the new system after "days of dealing with glitches and other problems that have lost records and kept students from starting in the proper classes." Hime goes on to give more examples and details of the difficulties students and parents had to undergo due to Misis. However, unlike Ceasar, Hime discloses the history behind Misis and how it came to be implemented by the district. Misis was initially launched to "comply with federal law and a nearly 20-year-old court settlement reached after the district admitted to losing the records of a student…" Hime provides an insightful explanation for the implementation of Misis and helps the reader understand the original purpose of the program, which may have been hard to grasp, amidst all the errors it was causing. 

            Another article "LAUSD Teachers Told To Not Use New MISIS Computer System Friday", from CBS Los Angeles, adds emphasis to the grave issues the Misis is causing. Similar to Hime and Ceasar, the author of this article delineates upon the complications generated by the newly installed administration program. The author explains that "data was not saved-including student grades and attendance records- were lost… and will have to be re-entered." Unlike the previous ones, this article mentions the district's attempts to fix the issue, and imparts a rather neutral argument in which the district is not wholly condemned, as it is in articles of Hime and Ceasar. The author writes that the LAUSD has "imposed a hiring freeze this week as the district pays to fix MISIS". The teachers union's view is included as well, as the article says "the teachers union want the district to scrap the program and use the old system until a better solution can be found." The author not only diversifies the argument by including views from the students, teachers, and the district, but also creates a neutral argument that invites the reader to assess the issue with a rational attitude, without any bias.
            These three articles by Ceasar, Hime, and CBS Los Angeles provide much insight to the Misis issue that has affected many students, teachers, and parents across the district. The distinct features of each article complement one another and contribute a varied view on the topic, and give the audience a more profound experience.

            

Los Angeles Times Found Poem

"Paris Chokes on Pollution; City of Light becomes City of Haze" by Kim Willsher

Oh City of Light

I am trembling in fright

As I am afraid I'll never see

The beautiful light of thee

The air is so thick and gray

I might never see the day

One day I may suffocate

So please, clear up before it's too late

One day I may not see the Eiffel tower

So please, clear up like a beautiful flower

I miss the clear days of the City of Light

When everything was clear and bright

Oh Paris come back to me

Works Cited

Willsher, Kim. "Paris Chokes on Pollution; City of Light Becomes City of Haze." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2015. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.

                The 1960s was marked by fervent  movements promoting civil disobedience and nonviolent protest. Martin Luther King was a prominent leader of the civil rights movement who purported nonviolence. Rosa parks was another figure who preached and also practiced nonviolent civil disobedience. Ghandi too, promoted civil disobedience through peaceful methods. These leaders of nonviolent protest permanently changed the way the world viewed protest and effectively spread the ideals of fighting inequality with nonviolence. 

                    Martin Luther King, Ghandi, and Rosa Parks all promoted nonviolent civil disobedience against social inequalities. Though in different settings, these figures led very similar movements. Ghandi, in India, led a battle against the British government that was at the time imposing unequal and irreverent regulations. Likewise, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks in the United States fought against unequal treatment and segregation of African Americans that were imposed by another ethnic group. In both places, each figure was able to attract national support and raise globsl attention to his/her causes, Ghandi gained thousands of followers who joined his fight agsint the British. Many accompanied him during his public fasts, speeches, and marches. Similarly, Marin Luther King and Rosa Parks received immense amounts of support from Americans, including both African Americans and whites. They even established organizations such as NAACP and civil disobedience groups to effectively communicate and publicize their goals. 

                   The ideals purported by M.L.K., Parks, and Ghandi permanently changed the global perspective of protest and organized efforts against inequalities. Their methods of civil disobedience have paved the way for further improvements with the aide of modern technology, such as the television, internet, and cellular devices. Accompanied by these tools, civil disobedience became much more effective as publication, communication, and organization became fast and far-reaching. Thus is why we see the practice of nonviolent civil disobedience so commonly today. The world has realized, from figures such as M.L.K., Ghandi, and Parks, that nonviolence can make a significant difference in a cause. Today we have countless numbers of organizations and laws that protect the practice of organized civil disobedience. This can be seen in many instances, such as the protest in Hong Long against a nondemocratic government.

                                                                             Question 1

            Since the advent of the industrial revolution during the late 19th century Earth has been becoming ill; that is, its environmental equilibrium has been disrupted for more than a century. This balance includes climate, ocean temperature, species diversity, and most importantly, our finite natural resources. In recent decades, the world has become more cognizant of the environmental changes brought by our constant and increasing use of natural resources and waste. The need to reduce the depletion of our natural resources and pollution has become a serious issue for many countries, including the United States. It is imperative that the government takes full responsibility of the issue of conservation and green-living for it can enforce laws and policies that promote conservation, fund research and production for reducing environmental pollution, and provide economic support for green living to not only its own citizens, but also to other countries.

            One of the most effective methods the government enforces a cause is laws and policies. The government can promote wise spending of natural resources and cut down wastes by simply creating laws that promote exactly those. For instance, the Singaporean government has a policy that "awards… tax rebate of 40% of the price of a vehicle to Singaporeans who opt for hybrids."(Source B) This single policy encourages many people to choose the hybrid, a vehicle that has a significantly lower CO2 emission. Furthermore, in the United states, high energy costs are "partly offset by government rebates". This encourages many to be more aware of their use of natural resources. Thus, the government can create a significant impetus for its people to conserve energy and reduce waste just by simple enforcement of polices that provide compensation. A system that wields such influence and power can easily create a greener society.

            Another reason that the government is responsible for promoting green-living is its ability to allocate funds to researches and innovative technology that promote energy conservation and reduced pollution. As a system responsible for the distribution of monetary support, it is the government's duty to allocate funds to researches and scientists who need government funds to conduct research. The U.S government is responsible for creating tools, technology, systems, and ethics that "will allow the planet to grow in a cleaner, more sustainable ways" (Source C). For this to happen, the U.S government needs to provide funds to those who create innovative technology and conservative systems., Organizations and research groups with sufficient funding will be able to create not only technology and tangible differences, but also a change in ethics that promote green living among regular citizens. The UI..S Department of Energy, for example, has a booklet that instructs home owners how to conserve energy (Source E). It provides a guide on how to wisely use electricity, water, gas, and home appliances, minimizing waste. Such methods increases the general awareness of energy conservation and encourages many to practice green-living.

            Lastly, the government provides economic support and a platform that supports its people and other nations. Countries like the United States, which is "powerful and most influential" in regards to innovation and inspiration (Source C), must take the global lead in creating a greener world. As seen in Source E, the U.S. is, apart from Japan, a leading nation in conserving energy, having systems that protect the environment, and avoiding pollution. This strengthens the notion that as a country with stable economic background to support research, provide jobs related to energy, and promote green-living, the U.S. should be fully responsible for encouraging other countries promote energy-conservative lifestyles.

            The issue of green-living has been a topic of high interest in recent years. Many are trying to maintain the environmental balance of natural resources, climate, and species diversity for future generations. As a policy and law maker, patron of innovation, and leader of global causes, the U.S. government should be fully responsible for greener living and the promotion of energy conservation.

Comparing Historical Accounts

            The 1960s was marked by fervent movements promoting civil disobedience and nonviolent protest. Martin Luther King was a prominent leader of the civil rights movement who purported nonviolence. Rosa Parks was another figure who preached and also practiced nonviolent protest against inequality. Gandhi, too, promoted civil disobedience through peaceful methods. These leaders of nonviolent protest permanently changed the world viewed organized resistance and effectively spread the ideals of fighting inequality.

            Martin Luther King, Gandhi, and Rosa Parks all promoted the same ideals, that of nonviolent civil disobedience against social inequalities. Though in different settings, these figures led very similar movements. Gandhi, in India, led a nonviolent battle against the British government, which at the time imposed unequal and irreverent regulations. Likewise, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks in the United States fought against unequal treatment and segregation of African Americans that were imposed by the whites. In both places, each figure was able to attract national support and raise global attention to his/her causes. Gandhi gained thousands of followers who joined hi fight against the British government. Many joined his fasts, speeches, and marches. Similarly, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks received immense amounts of support from African Americans and whites. They even established organizations such as NAACP and civil disobedience groups to effectively communicate and publicize their goals. Furthermore, all three figures faced opposition and hatred from many people, and experience difficulty in trying to effectively spread their causes. Martin Luther King was berated by the media and censured by many, for his goals to end segregation and racism angered many Whites. His public appearances were always met by fierce opposition, from law enforcement, civilians, and the press. King was arrested multiple times, which clearly indicated the common sentiment of resistance against his promotion of racial equality and the intermixing of whites and blacks. Rosa Parks also faced considerable amount of opposition, as she was arrested and censured for her refusal to sit in the "blacks only" area in the bus. Gandhi too, had to overcome suppression and opposition from the British government. He, despite violent retaliations from the British, constantly promoted peaceful methods and persistently encouraged his methods. The amount of resistance these figures can be evidenced by the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Gandhi, countless acts of violence from law enforcement, and many other brutal crimes against those who supported the three figures. In spite of such difficulty and conflict, King, Parks, and Gandhi constantly advocated peaceful retaliation and perseverance.

            As similar as they can be, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and Gandhi are different in multiple ways. Gandhi led a fight against British oppression in India. At the time, India, as a colony of Britain, was under heavy British control. Indian culture, including religion and livelihood, were ignored by the British and Indians virtually had no control of their own country. Constant oppression, accompanied by brutal abuse, manipulation of the Indian government, and neglect of Indian culture inflamed many Indians and spread a sentiment of opposition. Many times people attempted to lead rebellions against the British, only to end up dead, imprisoned, or tortured. Gandhi, contrary to previous methods, used nonviolent protest to fight the British. He led marches, fasts, and speeches that were accompanied by thousands of followers. Unlike Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks fought for civil rights and social justice. They aimed to dissolve the deeply entrenched sentiment of racism and segregation against African Americans in the United States and bring about an equal and peaceful society in which all people, regardless of skin color, can live together harmoniously. Further contrast can be seen in the way Gandhi and King viewed nonviolence. Gandhi believed that nonviolence achieves its goals through patience and non-cooperation. He practiced such belief by persistently enduring suppression from the British government, including imprisonment and torture. He also peacefully detached himself from the British rule, refusing to follow laws and regulations opposed by the British government. Martin Luther King believed that it takes creative tension and confrontation to accomplish change. King didn't believe completely in the detached, prolonged ways of promoting nonviolence. He led public marches, speeches, and confrontations with the law, media, and the whites who opposed him. King also did not take part in physical suffering to promote his causes, whereas Gandhi went on hunger strikes to draw global attention. These subtle dissimilarities in no way differentiate the extent to which these leaders impacted the world. Their persistence and patience have permanently changed the global perspective of nonviolent protest and civil disobedience.

            The ideals purported by Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and Gandhi permanently changed the way the world viewed protest and organized efforts. Their methods of civil disobedience have paved the way for further improvements with the aid of modern technology such as the television, internet, and cellular devices. Accompanied by these tools, civil disobedience became much more effective as publication, communication, and organization became fast and far-reaching. Thus is why we see the practice of nonviolent civil disobedience so commonly today. The world has realized, from figures such as Martin Luther King, Gandhi, and Rosa Parks, that nonviolence can make a significant difference in a cause. Today we have countless numbers of organizations and laws that protect the practice of organized, nonviolent civil disobedience. This can be seen in many instances, such as the protest in Hong Kong against a nondemocratic government, protest against police brutality across the United States, and protest against laws proscribing same-sex marriage. Thus, people today are more cognizant of the power and capabilities of nonviolent civil disobedience. Leaders such as Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and Gandhi truly engraved the ideals of peaceful protest and inspired many to lead their own fights.