"If Men Could Menstruate", "The Great Lawsuit", and "A Vindication of the Rights of Women"

Reading the three essays really made me things about how different things would be if men and women were TRULY equal. This would would be a much, much different place. And in some ways, a much better place.

The first essay I read was "If Men Could Menstruate" by Gloria Steinem. I've thought about what it would be like if both men, and women went through this and it would change many things. But what I really came to realize after reading this, is that it would really go to mens heads.They would use it for the benefit (not that some women don't do that already). I"m not sure I would like it if men could menstruate, although, they would understand what us ladies go through every month just so we can have children. We deserve more respect, just saying.

Respect. That is the man things I got from the second essay I read. "The Great Lawsuit" by Margaret Fuller. Men treat us like we can't fend for ourselves. Sure we might not be a strongly built as men but we sure as hell are mentally strong! I would love to see a man go through what we go through and stay as grounded as most women do. I would love to see them live in the life of a woman and go through everything we have to go through. Not just the periods, giving birth, but the constant judging. Assuming we can't lift a box, or aren't as good as fixing things. I would just love to see their faces when they realize we don't get paid as much because men don't think we're as good of workers. Because we can't do it as well. All just because of our gender.

Luckily, things have gotten better for women over the years. In the 1700, women weren't even allowed to read. Now that is just crazy. And not being able to read made it near impossible to get a job. Oh wait. Women couldn't have a job. They were forced to stay at home to clean, cook, be a caretaker to the children and run the house while to husband was out being a "man" and making the money. This stayed like this up until the 1920's. And even then, they didn't work jobs like the men did. Stereotypes, thats all this is. Women aren't strong, they can't work, they aren't smart. Wrong. We are strong, we can work and we are smart.

These three articles really made me realize how unfairly treated women are. We have it "easy" as some men would say. Well we don't. These essays show how much we have been doubted and how men "cut us slack" because of our gender. It's unfair and wrong. Just wrong.

A Different Life

After reading this essay by Richard Wright, a got a peek into a different life. A life I never lived nor saw. It was strange to read about the things that he went through, he made it all seem fights between african american teenagers and white  than it would be today. Where if something like that happened in McFarland today, it would be the talk on the street for a long time. The world changes more than people realize, and reading this essay gave me glimpse of just how much it can.

It made me sad to think that someone has to be scared of other people just because of the color of their skin. I mean it really shouldn't matter, but sadly it did and in some places still does. I could never imagine living the way Wright had to when he was growing up. Everyday having to live in fear that someone could, and would, possibly hurt him just because of the color of his skin. It isn't fair.

When I got to the part of the essay where Wright had the job and started asking Morrie and Pease question, they both started calling him the "n" word like it was nothing out of the ordinary. This is another example of how different times are. If I were to say that word around adults and some teens, I would get in serious trouble. It just isn't appropriate to say it anymore. And the way that Wright was treated at his job was mind blowing. I mean I knew things like this did happen during this time but to read/hear it from someone it happened to? It was sickening, and terrifying.

Really reading this entire essay made me realize how sick people can truly be. To know that innocent people would get beat, arrested, and mistreated for one reason was just wrong. It still is wrong. After reading this I wanted to go back in time and just tell people how wrong it is, the way they're treating people. Just because someone's skin is a different color than yours doesn't mean you have the right to treat them poorly. It really makes me sad to know that people were really bothered enough by the color of someone skin to beat them, and sometimes even kill them.

These stories are the things that have scarred our country. The things that will never be forgotten and are forever carved into the soil of this place. America was never always great, and these stories and the haunting proof of this. Though things have slowly been getting better, they will never be fixed. Nothing can erase the things that have been said and done. And that, is the sad truth.

"Talk of the Town"

Going into this assignment, I really didn't know what to expect. I mean, I wasn't sure what it was going to be about or what I'd get out of it. And let's just say that when I finished reading this, it got me thinking about things I never really thought about before. These essays were on a subject not many people my age remember, including myself. When the twin towers were hit I was a young five-year-old just about to turn six a month later. I don't remember anything about that day--not what I was doing, or wearing. I don't recall where I was when it happened, or whom I was with. Though I don't personally remember the day, I'm well aware of the horrific event that occurred in New York City on September 11th, 2001.

While I was reading what John Updike remembers about the day, it brought me to wonder what it would be like to be able to recall that day in time. The way he tells exactly where he was, what he was doing, and who he was with is almost sickening. If he was asked to describe any normal day that happened several years ago, he might not have been able to go into such detail, but because he was so close to where it happened, and was old enough to process the event, he is able to write about and share things about that day that I will never be able to. I cannot even begin to imagine how he felt when he watched the towers fall. He was simply visiting some family, when everything changed in a split second.When I read this, an awful image was projected onto my brain. I could just picture him and his wife just holding each other as they processed what they had just witnessed. And to know that this man will never be able to shake the haunting memory of that day from his mind is so upsetting, for anyone who can remember the day.

Reading the second part of the essay gave me a different look on the 9/11 attacks. While Updike talked about what he saw and what he did on the day of 9/11, Susan Sontag gives a different delivery of her memory. Sontag called the attacks a "monstrous dose of reality" which she later backs up with her exclamation harsh words that showed her anger towards what happened. The way she wrote about this event make it clear that she didn't know anyone who lost their life due to this event, and in a way it makes me believe that she didn't witness it first hand either. She had no compassion for all the lives affected by this infamous event, like she wasn't even thinking of those who lost someone close to them. The vibe that this essay gave off was the polar opposite of the one Updike provided. The first one made me feel sad, and upset that someone had to have such vivid memories of something who horrible. Whereas Sontag made me a little mad that someone who sound so heartless and show no sympathy for those affected by the attacks on September 11th.

All About Me

I've never been one to talk about myself, though I'm rather excited to have the opportunity to do so. Okay well, bare with me as I now rant about me, myself and I! First off, my name is Carolyn Elizabeth Dorn. I was born in Madison Wisconsin and raised here in McFarland. So I quite literally have grown up in the small town of McFarland. I live with my mother, father and two siblings, Patrick who is 15 and Danielle who just turned 12!  So now that you know the basic, and boring, things about me, let's get more into detail. There are really three major things in my life: music, golf, and helping people. I'll start with first, music.

Anyone who knows me already knows how important music is to me. Whether that's playing it, writing it, or listening to it! I always have my iPod with me and headphones in. To me, music is my escape from everything. Whenever I need to just get away, I go up to my room and put some music on. I'm sure many people listen to music for the same reason, but the music I listen to isn't exactly the music your typical teenager listens to. I don't listen to the music you hear on the radio. I prefer heavy metal, post-hardcore, and rock. That kind of stuff. One of my main hobbies is going to concerts. I've seen over 40 bands in concert, everyone single of them was a night I will never forget. If I could go to a concert every day, I would! It just never gets old. Aside for listening to music, making it is also a major part of my life. I've been playing clarinet for eight years now and I love it. I've been in band ever since 6th grade. Now here in  highschool I play in wind ensemble, pep-band and marching band. I used to play jazz band in 7th and 8th grade. I play alto sax for that. I also used to play piano, violin and, of course, recorder! Haha. I dabble in writing music. It never gets anywhere though. I prefer to write lyrics rather than the actual melodies. It helps me express myself. 

I'm not exactly the most athletic person on the planet, hah, so I was extremely glad when I was forced to try golf. As weird as that sounds. My mom told me I needed to find a sport to play in highschool because it's part of the experience. I thought about every girls sport McFarland had to offer and I came to realize, I've played every sport already and it just wasn't my thing, or so I thought. So one day, my uncle took me to the driving range and right when I hit the first ball, I knew I finally found a sport I enjoyed. Something just, clicked, as cliche as that sounds. So I started practicing the year before I started my freshman year of highschool and got good enough to play JV on the girls golf team. I just fell in love with the game, the people, and the rewards that come with it! Luckily it's a sport I will be able to play for the rest of my life. 

The last thing that is a major part of my life is helping people. As my friends and family know, I would do anything for them. If you mean something to me, then I'd take a bullet for you. I always put everyone else before myself, and it can sometimes get me into trouble. Being the type of person that I am, I realized what I wanted to do with my life a lot sooner than most people. I knew I wanted to help people in some way. For a while I wanted to be a doctor or a nurse, but I can't handle the gore. Then I learned about a field I've never even heard about, occupational therapy. I did some research on it and thought to myself, "This is what I want to do with my life." So, I told my parents and they thought it sounded perfect for me. Sadly  my grandpa had a stroke a year and a half ago. The good thing for me was he needed an OT (occupational therapist) to help him re-learn how to do some everyday things. I shadowed his OT for an afternoon and watched what she did, it was great to see how much she helped people without having to deal with the gore. As of now I'm thinking of going to MATC for two years then transferring to the UW Madison to, hopefully, get my masters degree in occupational therapy. Things may change, but I'm excited to see where I end up.

So there you have it That's pretty much me summed up into four paragraphs! If you lasted through that, congrats! Hopefully I didn't ramble on about nothing, haha. I look forward to getting to know you all better over the next several months. 

Oh! And AP Comp? Bring it! I'm ready for whatever you've got!

~Carolyn.