I Never Did Care Much for English. It Was One Thing to Speak

Foreword

ii Parley 2013 never did care much for English. It was one thing to speak the credit. Despite my comfort with my own writing, I have always been language and understand what other people were saying to me, afraid of what other people will think of it. I convince myself that it is not but sitting in the classroom and placing the words in the right lines of the good enough and that I shouldn’t even bother. It wasn’t until I read “We diagramI never made much sense. I had always tested at a reading level far Are All the Same” that I felt I could contribute anything of importance to above my grade, but the incessant segregation of the parts of speech was Parley. It is a short, two page, 090 level paper, wrought with errors that I foreign to me. Perhaps this is why I never cared for writing through high can only imagine are the bane of English professors everywhere, but it had school. It was frustrating. I could communicate effectively with my own something that made it worth reading. voice, even understand the words that other people had written down, but to put my own thoughts to paper was an insurmountable task. It wasn’t It had a voice. until my first year at the Santa Fe Community College that I was able to bridge the gap between my love of reading and fear of writing. Professor It is a voice full of courage and insight as the author shares “My Jerrall was a strange man with strange quirks that could make you chuckle individuality was hidden because I didn’t share it. My voice wasn’t heard if you had observed him outside the academic setting. He was, however, because I didn’t use it.” This line inspired me. Why couldn’t or wouldn’t able to bring order to what seemed to be a nonsensical system of writing. I share my voice? Isn’t this what Parley is all about? It is easy to feel inad- All those years of the jumbled and confusing sentence diagrams were made equate as a 24 year old at a community college when all your peers have Caleb Poe Caleb clear. graduated years ago and are living their lives with successful jobs, families and have experienced the world in ways one can only dream of, but I I had found my voice. remember that essay and its words of encouragement. I realize I am part of something too, and that “my silence would have kept me invisible.” I chose I don’t think any of us knew what to expect on our first day in not to be afraid, to not limit myself by what I perceive others will judge me Professor Becco’s class. It was exciting and terrifying at the same time. for. “After all, we are all the same, no matter what…” Who were we to decide what qualified to be published inParley ? We were just students too and for some this class was nothing more than an elective

iii Contents

Foreword ...... ii Contributors ...... vi A Little Girl Remembers ...... 1 the bus is always late this time of day ...... 5 Letter from a Birmingham Jail: The Cause ...... 9 Personal Response ...... 11 The Wave ...... 16 The Disregarded Poor ...... 19 “District 9” and Ethnic Conflict ...... 25 A Price So Dear ...... 31 Public Education: Focusing on Our Failures ...... 33 A Precious Commodity ...... 39 iv Parley 2013 Refuge ...... 45 Making Change ...... 49 Confessions of an Everyday Student ...... 55 Living a Masquerade ...... 59 Death of a Soldier ...... 63 The Hidden War ...... 67 Polygraphs: Truth about Lies ...... 73 Progression on the Ponds ...... 81 All Of Me: Fear, Sinew, Mirrors, Words and the Heart ...... 83 Pivotal Seconds ...... 85 I Must Be ...... 87 The Team ...... 89

v ` Caleb Poe is a 24 year old Journalism major who served on the Parley Editorial Board. He plans to pursue a Bachelor’s degree and work as an intern with the Associated Press or a local newspaper. As a kid, Caleb spent a lot of time playing outside which provided him plenty of time to think and dream. Although he didn’t learn to write about those dreams until later, he always loved reading. Poe says, “Journalism has always felt like an adventure and I can’t wait to be able to practice what I have learned here at Pikes Peak.” Caleb would Contributors like to clarify he is NOT related to Edgar Allen Poe. ` Christy Wiabel-Smith is in her last semester at PPCC and is hoping to transfer to CSU Pueblo or Colorado State’s Global online campus in the Fall. Christy served on the Parley Editorial Board in 2012. She has been married for 2 years, has 2 children, 2 step children, a granddaughter and welcomed a grandson this semester. Growing up in Memphis during the Civil Rights era inspired this story which is based on actual events in her life.

vi Parley 2013 ` Susan Brewer is a 54 year old, married, ` Wesley Parker is a graduate of PPCC and is mother of two who is currently studying Color studying a second degree. He is a California Theory under the mentorship of Ann McKean native pursuing his dream of being a college at Pikes Peak Community College. She was graduate in Colorado Springs. He is active in proud to be able to attend four watercolors his local church while awaiting the arrival of his courses offered by top watercolorist in the first child (a little girl). He has an associate of nation, Mr. Thomas Owen. Her own paintings applied science degree in telecommunication are influenced by her developed health production and is working toward a Bachelor’s conditions as a way to manage pain. Susan has a degree in Mass Communication. He is a Phi deep love and belief in Jesus Christ, which is Theta Kappa member with a 3.55 gpa and is incorporated into some of her art as well. the recipient of the PPCC inspirational achievement award.

` Megan B. “Embi” LeFurge is a pre-nursing ` Andrian Moore, 35, is studying Speech, student at PPCC who hopes to obtain her BSN Language, and Hearing Sciences at PPCC and and work on a Native American Reservation. plans to transfer to Metro State University for Before attending PPCC, she studied vocal jazz her bachelor’s degree. As an at-home mother performance and world folk music at UCCS; for many years, she has always felt inspired to in turn, musicality and improvisation work with children. Her favorite class at PPCC manifests in her poems. She reveres the library was Western Civ with Wayne Artis, taken in like a place of worship and is eternally grateful her first semester of college. She reports that she for the new discoveries at every turn of a “struggled a lot, but learned what it takes to be corner and every turn of a page. She would a successful student.” Andrian’s motivation for also like to thank her poet friends for reading her “Untitled” poem with her essay was to unveil her own visceral reaction to Dr. King’s powerful and both critical and gentle eyes. eloquent letter.

vii ` Kimberly Baker moved to Colorado from ` Michael D. Jordan a 25 year old Psychology Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband Jeremy and major served in the Air Force. Michael’s goals their loveably-lazy cat Artemis. She loves to are to complete his Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s, write novels and short stories as well as poetry, eventually his PhD, and grow an awesome and when she is not writing she enjoys reading beard. He is especially focused on the beard. and playing video games. She is majoring in When discussing the motivation for his essay English at Pikes Peak Community College and Michael suggests, “I often see a lot of connec- hopes to one day become a middle school tions to the social sciences in popular culture, English teacher. and I believe a lot can be learned about us as a culture and individuals by what we produce and consume artistically.”

` Shayla Byers is a 29 year old mother, who ` 22 year old Multimedia Graphic Design wants to be an occupational therapist. Her major, Lauren Behan, created the beautiful motivation for her essay comes from her eleven pieces Maestro and Serengeti Sunrise. Lauren’s year old son, who is severely autistic. Following parents are artists and they taught her the love the completion of her classes at PPCC, she of the fine arts and creativity. She wishes to take looks to continue her schooling at UCCS, and her passion of creating wild concepts into the eventually obtain a degree from CSU. Shayla video game industry when she has finished at was prompted to write her piece about the poor Pikes Peak Community College. Lauren was in America, because she feels that racial inspired by the Orchid Mantis when she created stereotyping has led to improper handling of Maestro and wanted to capture its essence. She poverty in America. created Serengeti Sunrise to reflect South African culture and art, including the coffee plant which is one of the country’s largest exports. viii Parley 2013 ` Jessica Johnson, age 31, author of “A Price ` Benjamin Smith, an award winning artist, So Dear” is majoring in Anthropology here at claims that he is still in the process of becoming PPCC. Her favorite teacher is Justin Burnette, a a sculptor. His path started four years ago when US History professor. She says, “His focus on he moved to Colorado Springs in pursuit of an the flow of history and the impact events had Engineering degree at PPCC. His initial path on the lives of everyday Americans, rather than took him on a direction he hadn’t considered a plethora of facts and dates to regurgitate, gave and led him to his passion. Of his art Ben me a richer understanding of history.” After she asserts, “It’s no longer satisfactory that leaves PPCC, she would like to continue her something simply looks beautiful, intricate, or studies and one day enter the field of Paleoan- detailed. The essence, the message, the soul of thropology. Her inspiration for her essay was to show that it is never too the piece is what gives art strength.” late for a new beginning.

` Emily Williams a 21 year old PPCC student, ` Rebekah Artman thrives on writing papers currently pursuing an Associate of Arts. She for class and has always excelled in English. Not intends to finish up her degree at a university only is she pursuing a degree in English, she is following her graduation from Pikes Peak, also only a few months away from completing though she has not yet decided where. Her her first novel. Rebekah looks forward to favorite class was Creative Writing, taught by continued writing, tutoring, and possibly Deidre Schoolcraft, where she learned how to becoming an Assistant Teacher after graduation. better organize her essays to be an effective She has enjoyed many classes, but names writer. She was motivated to write about the English as one of her top five favorites. As for troubles with the education system because she her favorite teacher, Rebekah has chosen feels that teachers receive much of the blame for a problem that has many Professor Danen Jobe. This instructor inspired and taught her to become factors. the writer she is today, and for that she is very grateful.

ix ` Dax Garner Bushway is an 18 year old ` Allison Medina, age 20, is an Art and Art Pikes Peak Community College student History major. Allison loves her courses, majoring in Psychology. Through his own life, because her eyes have opened to how interwo- he has experienced much hardship so he aspires ven and relevant history can be. Allison knows to reach out and help others work through their she wants to travel and create more art. She own pain and suffering. His motivation for this remembers watching historical movies and piece was to show others how God has worked documentaries with her father, which sparked in his own life. He professes, “Jesus is my all in her own love and curiosity about history. She all; I am nothing without His love and grace.” goes on to say, “It only makes sense that I’ve fallen in love with art history, because it combines both of my favorite interests.”

` Gabriel Wilson, a 22 year old Biology major ` Jane Snow is a twenty one year old English at PPCC, hopes to one day get a complete a major who knows the value and the impact Master’s degree and become a physician’s good instructors have on a person’s path in life. assistant. Gabriel looks forward to a life of Troubled by the less-than-exemplary teachers helping patients. At PPCC, Gabriel loved ENG she had when she was growing up, Jane presses class with instructor Dan Todd. towards becoming the powerful high school English teacher she never had. In writing this work, Jane wanted to share her personal story and encourage others who might be going through similar struggles at school.

x Parley 2013 ` Donald Crandall is a 34 year-old student at ` Lindsay Emerson says, “I realized I wanted PPCC. He is majoring in the automotive to become a social worker when I went to the industry because he has always been into cars, Veteran’s Administration and saw the impact and after PPCC he plans to open his own shop. social workers had on our country’s heroes; too Donald’s motivation behind the words of many service members are not getting the “Death of a Soldier” was to share a difficult time appropriate help they need and I want to help in his life. Of all the instructors Donald has had, them.” She wrote “The Hidden War” essay after Brook Bhagat was his favorite because, as spending 4 years in the Army and seeing that Crandall says, “She brought a new look on hundreds were not given proper care and that writing for me.” this is a problem that is destroying people’s lives every day. Emerson adds, “I accept that I have my own bias in this piece and I do not speak on behalf of anyone but myself.”

` Matthew Quiroz was inspired during ` Kelsey Fonzi is a 19 year old majoring in Operation Iraqi Freedom to create, Tears of Psychology. She plans to attend Metropolitan Red. Matthew, 48, is now working on his State College of Denver to get her Bachelors Outdoor Leadership/Recreation Technology then to a PhD. She has always been mesmerized degree. After spending 22 years in the Army, he by the complexity of the human psyche, which decided the program fit perfectly with his skills has driven her to pursue this field in hopes of and personality. His favorite class is Ann gaining further insight. “There is an abundance McKean’s 3D Design class. She encourages and of false information about the legitimacy of motivates to her students. Matthew plans to polygraph tests” Kelsey’s motivation was to enjoy his retirement from the military when he show how unreliable the test is and how finishes at PPCC and wants to continue creating art. detrimental it can be when used as a means of determining truthfulness.

xi ` Curtis South is a 24-year-old Computer ` Derek Hajdik, is a 30 year old veteran. In his Science major planning to transfer to CSU in time serving, he gained many valuable lessons: Fort Collins after finishing his Associates at “do what you love and don’t put your happiness Pikes Peak Community College. The attraction on the back burner” — that’s why he is to computers began in his childhood and has pursuing a Fine Art major. His piece represents stuck with him through the years, shaping the the combat veterans, because for them life after road he plans to follow into his field. His war is never the same. Derek feels lucky to have favorite class, thus far, was wood shop, where he an incredible family to help him re-integrate. joined in the process of creation and fun with Many veterans do not have the same support. many of his friends. Curtis wrote “Progression Derek wishes to thank Garry Glissmeyer, his on the Ponds” when he was homesick. His teacher asked him to write drawing instructor, who has helped him make great strides as both an artist about anything, so he chose to share his favorite place, his family farm. and a person.

` David Musgrove is a 27 year old Journalism ` Sara G. Cofield is a 20-year-old Visual Arts major at PPCC. He is working on a novel and major who plans to transfer to UCCS for a loves to share stories and important facts that Bachelor’s Degree in the same field. Film impact our society. David appreciates the Photography II with Richard Rinker remains learning experiences from Stephen Collins and her favorite class because of the specialized skill Kathy Sturdevant’s class. He shares that his she learned developing film in a dark room. motivation for this essay was “confession, and Learning is an overwhelming need and passion baring my secrets.” David’s words are powerful in her life, seen through her love of both as he says, “I am a veteran, and yet I yearn to be writing and reading. Sara also enjoys crafts and human again in this world someday.” artistic endeavors, especially photography and graphic design. Miniature schnauzers are a love of hers for their feathered beards and grumpy old man eyebrows, features that tug at her heart strings. xii Parley 2013 ` Eighteen year old Kyle Lira says, “ We all have things that we are apprehensive of sharing with people when we should feel free to show our true colors to the world without fear of being judged.” Kyle is majoring in Accounting. When he chose his major he says, “Growing up, studying accounting never even crossed my mind as a possible career path. I originally picked it because it was practical and found out that I actually enjoy it and I do well at it, too!” His favorite teacher at PPCC is Ann Snell, because she makes the more boring topics really entertaining by always having an upbeat personality.

` Brandon Wheatley, 35, is a Multimedia Graphic Design major. Brandon was the winning designer in our cover contest. He is clearly artistic and enjoys creating in a variety of different mediums. Brandon even worked as a cake decorator. He is excited to be pursuing a degree that “will allow me to do what I enjoy doing for a living.”

xiii A Little Girl Remembers

y family lived in a small brick and stucco house just listening to Peter, Paul and Mary, smoking a cigarette and drawing flowers minutes from the Mississippi River front and downtown with my crayons. Our black and white television buzzed in the other room Memphis. Our community was close knit, nothing but middle income, with the weather report and other meaningless chatter. At 6:00 pm. she whiteM families living within the invisible barriers that sheltered us from the did her best to coax me into bed, but being five, I refused to cooperate. “I struggles of other races and cultures. In the late 60’s there were lots of com- wanna hear Puff.” I whined. munities like ours across the south. They were full of adults who struggled “Alright, but just once,” she warned. She flipped the album over and to maintain their way of life by shunning those different from them, and set the needle arm to play the first song. I danced with my doll and sang children who just wanted someone to play with no matter their skin color. along. It was my favorite song. What fun it would be to have a magic At 19, my sister knew what life was like outside our rigid neighborhood. dragon to play with! The phone rang and she ran to answer it while I She was attending college and she had friends who had marched in Bir- twirled to the music. The song ended and I was just reaching to start it over mingham. She had friends who had gone off to Vietnam and never come again when my sister grabbed me from behind. I started crying in protest. I home. She knew change was coming. It was only a matter of time. didn’t want to go to bed. The TV was on, the sun wasn’t quite down and I I wasn’t old, just shy of my fifth birthday. My sister hated being a wanted to hear more Puff. All she said was “Hush.” built-in babysitter, but she promised to be available on Thursdays so our She carried me all through the house, drawing curtains and blinds, parents could keep their regular dinner date with friends at their favorite shutting doors and turning deadbolt locks so deliberately they made a downtown restaurant. She sat with me on the floor of her bedroom, heavy clicking sound. Then she turned off all the lights. She grabbed my

1 Parley 2013 She could not know at the time what an impact her father would father’s transistor radio and a flashlight my shoulders and whispered “Hush, I before carrying me into the bathroom. have or how his endeavors would need to hear this.” She didn’t say a word as she shut the The little radio crackled with door and sat me, fully clothed, into the make their mark on humanity. news of the shooting. There was bathtub and then climbed in beside shouting in the background as me. I stared at her with tears in my eyes. She was crying too. “What’s voices warned of rioting and violence. People were implored to stay out Wiabel-Smith Christy wrong?” I sobbed. of downtown Memphis. Even though I was little, I knew my parents were “Mother and Dad said we need to hide in here because someone’s downtown. I began to cry again. Where were Mother and Dad? Were been shot and lots of people are angry. We can listen to the radio and you they hurt? My sister shook her head and continued to listen to the radio. can look at this book.” She handed me The Three Little Kittens from a My five year old mind ran wild with possibilities. I didn’t want to sit in the stack of books beside the clothes hamper. I was frightened so I held it tight. bathtub anymore, I wanted to get up and run outside to find my parents. I It was comforting and familiar, unlike sitting in the bathtub in my clothes. wrapped my arms around the book and tried to climb out of the tub. “Sit I didn’t open the book. I felt more secure just holding it and fanning the here and I’ll read to you,” my sister said, pulling me backwards and into her pages with my fingers. My sister turned on the radio, expecting to hear lap. She began the story as the radio droned on. “Three little kittens they music from the tiny speaker, but frantic speech filled the room and rico- lost their mittens and they began to cry...” cheted off the walls. I started to fuss so she gently placed her arm around We spent the evening sitting together in the bathtub, reading the

2 story over and over and listening to the news reports echo all around us. wondered when he would ever come home. Her siblings were older and The eerie crackling of the radio and the soft glow of the flashlight belied perhaps more keenly aware of their father’s place in history, but Bernice, the scenes of chaos that were unfolding just a few miles away. We listened like me, would have seen him as just her daddy; a gentle man who would to the voices as they described the man who had been shot. He was a very leave a legacy far beyond her simple childhood memories. important man who had many enemies. They talked about his friends Bernice and I were born into a biased society that favored one race who had held him as he was bleeding. They talked about his wife and his over another, one sex over another, one class over another. It was unethical, four children. His little girl Bernice was five too. I asked my sister why but it was the status quo of the late 60’s and many people feared change somebody would shoot this little girl’s daddy and she just shook her head above everything else. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. tirelessly worked and and sighed, “Because he was different and he wanted things to change.” I prayed for change, not only for his own people but for all people. He didn’t understand what she meant. I could not stop worrying about his knew what he was asking would meet fierce opposition, but he persevered little girl. What would she do without her daddy? Thinking about her because he knew it was necessary and right. He wanted his children to made me miss my own father who was out there, somewhere, lost in the grow up in a world where peace and justice prevailed. Because of his violence and trying to get home. Chants of “We shall overcome” poured efforts, Bernice and I became a part of that new generation of peace. As we out of the little radio. I cried myself to sleep, cradled in my sister’s arms, grew up, we saw civil rights take hold across the nation. We saw the war dreaming of little gray kittens with blueberry pie stains on their mittens end in Vietnam. After many years of hope we saw her father’s dream take and me, standing alone, holding the hand of a grief-stricken little girl who shape and bloom as children of different colors worked and played together cried for her daddy. without prejudice. This is the gift that Dr. King left us; something tangible I often think of that night and little Bernice King. She could not and true that flourishes today. It is the dream of a world where our know at the time what an impact her father would have or how his children and grandchildren will live in genuine peace and equality. If we endeavors would make their mark on humanity. She only knew that refuse to accept anything less, this world that he dreamed of is undeniably someone feared him enough to take him from her. She would not have within our grasp. understood the desperate violence that followed his death, just the empti- ness his absence left in her heart. She would have clung to her mother and

3 Parley 2013 Susan Brewer “i think i can” Christy Wiabel-Smith Christy

4 the bus is always late this time of day. my two boulderous shoulders hold a neck taught like rope, holds a mind that is heavy with thoughts dropped as stones in a cauldron of soup atop this creaking, knotted tree of a person I hold my trunk and sway, sweat dropping like fruits the bus is always but the hour’s wait allows me time to ruminate— and how those memories do collect as newspapers along the gutters late this time of day of my mind, Until the passing cars pull them from the concrete those little ghosts lift and then fall like sheets drying upon the twine and then one remembers— I remember—

your tawny skin stretched over bones and tendons fingers like spider legs running along the potatoes as you peeled at their skins

5 Parley 2013 those fingers that brushed my hair and washed my child body those fingers that picked the coins and plunked them into your purse

once, the moon full like a belly and the stars waiting like kisses called you to the window pulled you from the basin filled with dishes and for that moment you forgot those blisters that would bleed— that bus that stopped, LeFurge “Embi” B. Megan saw the color of your person, closed its door and fled and those five miles you tread, those five miles you tread to feed us some mornings I would feign sleep— that moon, those stars, they met you daily before the sun woke, listening in reverent silence as you hummed the hymns, and the iron laid over our clothes— those clothes were always cold by the time my body

6 would meet them and breakfast— you left us breakfast— although we never ate it warm remember—you would leave us notes Be good. Do good. Be safe.

despite those miles you tread, every evening that screen door still swang, your voice still rang, sonorous, soaring, Helloooo, my children your shoe soles crusted red, your hands cupping your back, the smile swept from your eyes’ corners, your body would betray you— but you would never let us know— how tired you were you called us Chickadees! My babies! oh how tired you were like me now, Mama,

7 Parley 2013 I’m tired but, every Sunday— remember? those little miracles— life jumped into our hands into our elbows, our arms into our hips into our knees like every inch of skin had an itch and song would fill our lungs like a warm bird we’d cry out in joyful sorrow, Lord, set our people free Brother Reverend would claim he didn’t hear it so we’d cry out again

Lord, set our people free LeFurge “Embi” B. Megan and we’d stomp and clap as ancestors laughter trapped like mangos in our cheeks I in my piggy tails you in your white shiny pumps, jumping that space behind my eyes would glow, hot

how elated was I how elated were we in those instants to acknowledge the captivity of our persons and spite it with joy

8 Letter from a Birmingham Jail: The Cause

artin Luther King was not only the face of the civil rights Leadership Conference, an organization led by Martin Luther King, was movement, but a symbol of leadership for people around at the forefront of the civil rights movement. However, the organization’s the world fighting for justice and equality. While he is most known for his efforts at that point had failed to bring attention to their fight against “I HaveM a Dream” speech it was his “Letter from A Birmingham Jail” that injustice. Early in 1963 the SCLC were coming off a campaign in Albany, brought him into the spotlight and brought attention to the peril of African Georgia, in which they tried to force the city into integrating public facil- Americans. He was arrested for leading a demonstration for civil liberties ities. This campaign was seen as a failure as the city fought to keep their and criticized by local church leaders for causing trouble in an already laws the same and handed King a humbling defeat. It was the struggle in volatile city. With his back against a wall, he was forced to step into the Georgia that would help shape Project C. King wrote in his autobiography forefront of the civil rights movement. While the letter became known as “When we planned our strategy for Birmingham months later, we spent a masterpiece, it was the launch of “Project C” in the city of Birmingham many hours assessing Albany and trying to learn from its errors. Our that would shape the events after. appraisals not only helped to make our subsequent tactics more effective, The town of Birmingham, Alabama was the most volatile city during but revealed that Albany was far from an unqualified failure.” the civil rights era. Black residents fought against unjust laws to gain Though the Albany movement increased his profile, King was leading equality, encountering stiff resistance from white political leaders. African a faltering movement. The SCLC had failed to attract any media attention American citizens’ cries for equality had fallen on deaf ears as the gov- and most around the country were unaware to the plight of blacks in the ernment ignored the calls for civil rights reform. The Southern Christian South. Wyatt Tee Walker, who at the time was the executive director of

9 Parley 2013 the SCLC, devised a plan that would become Project C. The C stood for clergymen admonished King for causing trouble and argued that the battle confrontation but in name alone because they were aware of city com- for justice should be fought in the courts and not the streets. missioner Bull Connor’s tendency to meet demonstrations with violence. While imprisoned King began writing his response to the criticism. Wyatt explained his plan saying “My theory was that if we mounted a Over two weeks King wrote what would become the Letter from a strong nonviolent movement, the opposition would surely do something Birmingham Jail. The Letter from a Birmingham Jail not only laid out to attract the media, and in turn induce national sympathy and attention to the goals of the civil rights movement, but showed the nation that they the everyday segregated circumstance of a person living in the Deep South” were resilient enough to fight until the end. However, it was the brilliantly (Bass 96). Wyatt timed the walk from the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church orchestrated Project C campaign that became the blueprint for people to the downtown area as well as secondary targets in case the police blocked around the world who were fighting against injustice. Wyatt’s goal of their path toward stores and libraries. The goal of the campaign was to fill baiting the authorities into brutality tactics that would attract the attention the jails with demonstrators which would force the city to continue nego- of the national media worked flawlessly as images of people being hosed tiating. On April 10, 1963, protests began in Birmingham as demonstrators made their way across the country. Historian Glenn Askew wrote that the staged sit-ins and protests throughout downtown Birmingham which led campaign “led to an awakening to the evils of segregation and a need for to a violent backlash from the authorities. These protests went on for a reforms in the region” (Garrow 94). This campaign was also instrumental month as they were initially only thrown in jail. As the protests dragged in Washington as the White House would begin legislation that would pass Parker Wesley on, the backlash from authorities became more aggressive. Protesters were as the Civil Rights Bill a year later. Though Martin Luther King would be hosed down and attacked by police dogs before being thrown in jail. Bull praised as a hero in the aftermath of the Birmingham campaign, it was the Connor was able to secure an injunction which barred all protests and execution of the campaign and the resiliency of the residents of Birming- raised the bail of those jailed substantially. The SCLC lacked the funds to ham that helped inspire change. cover the cost of bailing out the demonstrators so they made the decision to ignore the injunction and continue protests. On Good Friday, Dr. King and more than fifty protesters were arrested. While in custody King decided not to pursue bail so as to bring attention to the movement. White

10 Personal Response

r. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” generations on the African Americans that I know. The accurate descrip- is a poignant look into the reality of racial inequality in tion of what I felt is not guilt, but rather empathy and Dr. King creates 1960s America. King writes this letter to fellow clergy men and aims to several opportunities for his audience place themselves in his role, as in the addressD their concerns regarding the wisdom and timing of the nonviolent following passage: “when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your direct-action demonstrations in Birmingham, Alabama that King and other speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year old daughter leaders orchestrated and carried out in 1963. King employs all three types why she can’t go to the pubic amusement park that has just been advertised of appeals; however, I find I am particularly moved by pathos and ethos on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told fun town in this work. So much that, I must admit, I was initially confused by my closed to colored children,” (par 14). As a parent, a heartbreaking scene own emotions. Dr. King’s letter evokes in me strong feelings of empathy, is etched into my mind. Instantly, I picture my own seven year old child indignation, and even pride. looking up at me, the innocence in his eyes distorted by tears. I imagine One of my first reactions to this reading was a sense of guilt by the sorrow flooding my heart as sadness leaves wet streaks on his round mere virtue of being part of what King describes as the “oppressor race” little cheeks and an ache in my chest so intense that I am left physically (par 31). But after allowing myself some time to inventory and analyze my incapable of speaking. King’s ability to get me to place my son and me into reaction, I came to the realization that I can no more take responsibility his reality all but guarantees my support of his situation because, to put it for the actions of the white segregationists King describes than I can place simply, is just plain wrong, and that is a powerful tool. the responsibility for crimes perpetrated by African Americans of previous In this reading, there are many examples of things that are wrong.

11 Parley 2013 Indignation is an emotion that I find surfacing within myself over and over Now, there is nothing wrong in having an ordinance which requires a again as I read, but nowhere is it more apparent than in King’s statement, permit for a parade. But such an ordinance becomes unjust when it is used “Throughout Alabama all sorts of devious methods are used to prevent to maintain segregation and deny citizens their First Amendment privilege Negroes from becoming registered voters, and there are some counties in of peaceful assembly and protest,” (par 19). As King explains how a just which, even though Negroes constitute a majority of the population, not law can become unjust through capricious or malicious application, I find a single Negro is registered,” (par 180). This quote resonates in me as I myself perplexed by the situation. African American citizens are struggling consider that not only has a whole population of Americans been humili- for the equality America was founded on, and these people are being Moore Andrian ated, deemed inferior, and denied basic human rights, but they have also, in arrested for improper parading. After exhausting many other avenues, many cases, been robbed of their means to participate in our political pro- African Americans moved to peaceful protest and even that was stifled. I cess. The right and duty to vote is sacrosanct in the American system. We find myself asking where else were they to turn, how else could they effect are told time and again that our message can be heard through our vote. change, and where is their justice? Impeding that amounts to stealing one’s voice. African Americans endured As I read this piece, my feelings of empathy and indignation are unimaginable hardships in this land and were powerless to effect change in strong indeed; yet, they are surpassed by something else, and that is pride. the system with their vote. I find this to be the height of injustice. At first glance, it may seem strange to associate pride with a situation so Another example of injustice in this reading is King’s arrest. He filled with suffering and injustice, but this is precisely why I react this way. writes, “I have been arrested on a charge of parading without a permit. Would anyone have blamed Dr. King for being angry with his situation?

12 I doubt it. King made a cognitive choice to remain optimistic, to address ork ited those who questioned his motives with reverence. In fact, he defines the W C parameters for how he will respond to his critics in the opening paragraph King, Martin L Jr. “Letter From Birmingham Jail.” . Bates College, of his letter: “I want to try to answer your statements in what I hope will be Bates.edu 1 Jan. 2001. Web. 5 Apr. 2012. patient and reasonable terms,” (par 1). This statement demonstrates King’s commitment to treating others with respect. Even as he finds a glaring gap in their argument, he maintains this position, “You deplore the demonstra- tions taking place in Birmingham. But, your statement I am sorry to say, fails to express a similar concern for the conditions that brought about the demonstrations,” (par 5). I find it inspiring that while Dr. King is refuting the attacks against him by these men, he is gracious. This is a great moral I can apply in my own life. An attack on our motives or ideas need not be answered in anger or hostility. King proves reason and kindness are a far more effective approach. Dr. King’s letter is masterfully crafted and full of wonderful lessons for all human beings. This piece inspires me to demonstrate empathy to those enduring struggle, to be a catalyst for justice, and to recognize the good in our world. I recall, as I read this piece for the very first time, feeling over- whelmed by the many emotions that filled me. I have learned the immense value of allowing myself time for reflection. This is truly an amazing gift to receive from a letter written to someone else, almost fifty years ago.

13 Parley 2013 Andrian Moore Andrian

14 The Robert Burns Poetry Contest celebrates an educator, colleague and poet. Burns taught at PPCC, CSU Pueblo and the Air Force Academy. Elizabeth Slaughter, friend and PPCC faculty member, generously donated money to create the student poetry contest in honor of Burns. Mary Pier- ing, longtime friend and colleague, recalls, “It was obvious how much he cared about writing.” Burns’ poem “Talking to Anna,” featured in the 2009 issue of Almagre showcases his talent as well as his fondness for Anna Swir, Polish poet. Burns is also remembered for his sense of humor. Slaughter shares, “He had me laughing almost every time I talked with him.” The poets who submitted their work to the Burns Poetry Contest show great promise. Piering observes that “Burns regarded the work of fledgling poets as the most serious undertaking in the world.” All submissions display an awareness of language and how it can convey image, emotion, and wonder. Surely, Robert Burns would be proud. The 2013 Burns Memorial Poetry winner can also be seen in Rear- range, PPCC’s Online Literary Journal, along with other excellent literary works from PPCC students. Check out ppcc.edu/rearrange.

15 Parley 2013 The Wave

We paint this picture With a small kiss To remember. And a tear in his eye That he wiped quickly away You see, our greatest warriors set off Because a warrior does not cry. One day Searching for women So they left us there Children to add to the empire And went so far away Land ripe with life and bounty For conquest, glory, and the heroic life Across that dangerous sea.

My father was on one of those boats Kimberly Baker That one, in the front And it was not until their return Young still, but growing in experience That the Storm arrived Pounding waves, a crashing sea It was his first journey. Darkness, light, and more darkness Swirling, turning, clouding reason And leaving his first-born infant Me …And then came the wave. Behind

16 Twenty stories and more And when he arrived back at the home Huge, imposing, destructive That would never be the same to him Larger than any they had ever seen He told us what had happened And how he had lived. They say it blocked out the sun. And he finally was able to weep And the brave men aboard those ships And shout Including my father And cry out in his grief. There, in the front Did not weep So we, the family and friends of those brave warriors Or shout Paint this picture Or even cry out in their surprise To remember.

Together, as soldiers should They died, alone, in those boats.

And the gods, though harsh at times Spared one lone warrior Tekate Who lived on seaweed and fish For an entire month Before he found the shore.

17 Parley 2013 Katsushika Hokusai — “kanagawa oki nami ura (the great wave off kanagawa)” (1826–1833) — Library of Congress Kimberly Baker

18 The Disregarded Poor

illions of people in the United States today are affected with “minority,” however, and that stereotypical viewpoint is both inaccu- by poverty. Most of them can’t afford a good education rate and ill-advised; it’s leading to the neglect of most of America’s poor. or healthcare; many of them can’t afford basic necessities, such as food or As a result, poverty in America isn’t being fully addressed, thereby reducing housing.M Poverty and its related effects have long been under discussion by the possibility of it ever being eradicated. people within a wide range of professions: scholars, sociologists, psychol- In “Seeing and Making Culture: Representing the Poor,” bell hooks, ogists, government officials, educators, and many others. While it has been a scholar and cultural critic, describes her experience at college as a poor agreed upon that poverty is a very large and important issue in American student amongst class-privileged peers. She claims her peers and professors society, a consensus has yet to be reached as to the causes, ramifications, viewed the poor as lacking intelligence or integrity, as being worthless, and and/or solutions to poverty, and although many researchers have done lazy. She also states the African American and Filipina women who worked well to address poverty as a multifaceted and complex situation, the total in her dormitory were often blamed by the other students when items went analyses so far have fallen short of capturing it in its entirety. missing (433). Hooks argues that these events, as well as most of the stigma When most Americans consider poverty, it’s generally associated related to poverty, occurred as a result of the negative representations of with racial or ethnic minorities. Often, it’s in conjunction with African poor people in the media (434). Americans or Hispanics, and if one were to research poverty in the United Unfortunately, the conviction that minorities are poor seems to be so States, they would be hard-pressed to find a source that didn’t link low deeply ingrained that the general public and scholars both give little regard socioeconomic status with a minority race. “Poverty” is not synonymous to the existence of poor white people, the connotations of being a poor

19 Parley 2013 white person in America, or the impact of today’s social policies on white other race, simply because the majority of people in the United States are poverty. That there is a greater risk of being impoverished for a member white. Of America’s total poor, 42 percent are white, while 29 percent are of a minority race is inarguable, as the percentages of people in ethnic Hispanic and 26 percent are African American (Ross). Seldom does anyone minority groups who are living below poverty level are staggeringly high look at the individual racial statistics and realize that even with a lower in comparison with the percentage of impoverished white people. As of percentage of the poverty-stricken within their race, poor whites vastly 2011, about 27 percent of the African American population and 25 percent outnumber the poor minorities overall, and with this lack of insight comes

of the Hispanic population in the United States lives below the poverty line, a lack of thoughtful consideration. Byers Shayla compared to about 13 percent of white Americans (United States Census It is difficult to believe that millions of people have slipped through Bureau). Statistics such as these, along with the portrayals of poverty in the the cracks of scholarly discourse, yet that seems to be precisely what has media that hooks adamantly argues against (434) and America’s admittedly happened. Any issues or struggles unique to being a poor white person in sordid history in its treatment of minorities, help lead to stereotypes such America are not being brought to light and discussed the way they should as “most poor people are black” or “most white people are middle class,” be; it is as if poor white people do not exist, or as if no matter how poor assumptions that are, quite frankly, absurd. a white person is, he or she will always be better off than a poor minority, Despite what comparing the percentages of each racial population and therefore individual consideration for the plight of impoverished whites implies, the majority of poor people in the United States are white; in fact, is presumed both unwarranted and unnecessary. In “Complicating ‘White there are millions more poor white people than what can be said of any Privilege’: Race, Poverty, and the Nature of the Knapsack,” Paul C. Gorski

20 speaks of “white privilege,” defined as the societal power white people Reason,” Douglas G. Campbell, a retired professor at California State Uni- possess, knowingly or not, as members of the dominant race in American versity, argues that the supposed existence of “white privilege” is leading civilization. According to Gorski, a long-time anti-racism educator, even university students to disturbing conclusions, such as believing all white the most poverty-stricken white person is more socially privileged than a people have easy lives or that “white people don’t deserve what they have” racial minority by virtue of skin color, and as such, reaps a multitude of (499). These assumptions aren’t only far from accurate; they also precipitate unseen benefits, such as he or she being welcome amongst other whites. the neglect of the largest population of impoverished people in the United In spite of this, Gorski argues that social class needs to be included in States: whites. Further, by not taking poor whites or their struggles into discussions of white privilege; poor account, the majority of American white people cannot claim nearly citizens are being led to accept the the same amount of privilege as Most white people living in the social-class stereotypes propagated middle-class white people, and this is in the media. often overlooked during deliberations depths of poverty would likely The life of an impoverished about race. white person is by no means Most white people living in the dispute any amount of privilege. easy. Maybe he or she can claim depths of poverty would likely dispute the “white privilege” benefit of any amount of privilege. Regardless of race, ethnicity, or nationality, when being accepted by other whites, but oftentimes, poor whites don’t live in one cannot afford food, basic necessities, housing, and/or decent healthcare, neighborhoods in which their neighbors are also white. Instead, they live it is doubtful the word “privilege” comes to mind; “despair” might be more in the neighborhoods they can afford, and their neighbors tend to be of accurate. In addition, most poor people never escape poverty and spend the another race. Social acceptance, then, becomes a more complicated issue; rest of their lives struggling to survive, yet poor whites seem to be at the sometimes the poor whites are accepted by the other races, and sometimes bottom of the list of those others deem deserving of attention or assistance, they are not, but either circumstance leads to a singular ostracism. By possibly due to this idea of “white privilege,” or to the stereotype that all living amongst non-whites, poor whites are segregated from their own white people are middle-class. In “ ‘White Privilege’: A Shield Against race, and should their non-white neighbors be unwelcoming, they are

21 Parley 2013 left with no social belonging. Without this belonging, poor whites lack no denying that. Unfortunately, the research being done in regards to the social and emotional support that usually comes of groups of people poverty might lead one to believe that the struggles of poverty are caused struggling through a common situation, and end up with fewer resources by racial discrimination, or at the least, are exclusive to minorities. This is to help them cope with the hardships of poverty. not the case at all; poverty affects persons of every race and ethnicity, and Moreover, America seems so intent on rectifying its history of African by focusing almost exclusively on minority races in terms of social policy American oppression at the hands of white people that it has brought or research, the attitudes of most Americans toward those in poverty have about, instead of social equality, discrimination against whites. Senator become based on distorted preconceptions and stereotypes. Being a racial James Webb argues that “affirmative action was designed to recognize the minority doesn’t automatically equate with being poor; being white does uniquely difficult journey of African-Americans” as an effort to correct the not automatically equate with middle-class and privilege. The sooner injustices of slavery and later, segregation and discrimination in “Diversity researchers and policy makers acknowledge this, the sooner poverty can be and the Myth of White Privilege.” He asserts, however, that during the confronted in a way that may eliminate it from American society. promotion of minority diversity programs, the dissimilarities within white When one considers the representations of the poor in the media, cultures in America were ignored by policy makers and all white people along with social policies, such as affirmative action, that single out were grouped together for the purposes of social policy. Webb claims the minorities as being the most disadvantaged citizens in the nation, it is not erroneous view of white America as a “monolith,” instead of appreciating so surprising that poor white people are being overlooked. Perhaps it even Byers Shayla the socioeconomic differences within American white cultures, has led to becomes understandable, given that the United States was founded on today’s diversity programs “having expanded so far beyond their original the oppression and exploitation of minorities; it makes sense that so many purpose that they now favor anyone who does not happen to be white.” Americans focus on the hardships minorities now face as a way to atone This means poor whites are being passed over in order to afford poor for past transgressions, particularly if white privilege does, in fact, exist. minorities better opportunities, and in the process, are being deprived of However, all of America is being disserviced by the negligence of poor those same opportunities. whites, no matter how understandable it may be; if poverty research must The implications of this line of thought are astounding. The hardships be linked with race, then it should be in correlation with every race, not impoverished people face are compounded by racial discrimination; there’s only minorities. It is the only way poverty will ever be corrected.

22 Works Cited

Campbell, Douglas G. “ ‘White Privilege’: A Shield Against Reason.” Academic Questions 23.4 (2010): 497-504. Academic Search Complete. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. Gorski, Paul C. “Complicating ‘White Privilege’: Race, Poverty, and the Nature of the Knapsack.” EdChange. N.p. 1 Jan. 2012. Web. 17 Nov. 2012. hooks, bell. “Seeing and Making Culture: Representing the Poor.” From Inquiry to Academic Writing: A Text and Reader. Ed. Stuart Greene and April Lidinsky. 2nd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012. 432-37. Print. Ross, Robert. “Poverty More than a Matter of Black and White.” Inequality. Program on Inequality and the Common Good, 8 Oct. 2012. Web. 17 Nov. 2012. United States Census Bureau. “Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2011.” Census. United States Census Bureau, Sept. 2012. Web. 17 Nov. 2012. Webb, James. “Diversity and the Myth of White Privilege.” The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones and Company, 22 July 2010. Web. 17 Nov. 2012.

23 Parley 2013 Susan Brewer — “living the dream” Shayla Byers Shayla

24 “District 9” and Ethnic Conflict

t a casual glance, the Sony Pictures filmDistrict 9 might with characters being interviewed and describing how a derelict spaceship seem like an unusual film for discussion of the concepts carrying extraterrestrials drifted to a stop over modern Johannesburg, South of sociology, with its focus on extraterrestrials and their giant spaceship. Africa. Comparisons are immediately made to immigrants, as the aliens are However,A the viewer would be mistaken to assume that District 9 is about blamed for rising crime rates, and a private security company, Multi-Na- anything other than human issues. Rather than a space alien-themed lark, tional United (MNU), is hired to police the aliens, segregating them into District 9 offers a glimpse at the foundations of racism and racial identity, a township of Johannesburg called District 9. Soon the film focuses on one with a clear retrospective on Apartheid in South Africa. Through a layer of MNU agent, Wikus van de Mewe, a white South African who has been metaphor, director and co-writer Neill Blomkamp has provided a window given the task of relocating the aliens to a concentration camp. While on his own South African culture, revealing how it has changed, as well attempting to force the residents of District 9 to relocate, Wikus encounters as how it has stayed the same. The following will explore the themes of a substance that causes him to grow alien body parts. MNU immediately District 9 from the sociological viewpoints of structural functionalism, sym- conducts inhumane experiments on Wikus, ignoring his previous status as bolic interactionism, and conflict theory, using specific scenes from the film a prominent employee. Wikus escapes and attempts to hide in District 9, which illustrate each viewpoint. The following pages will indicate how the where he encounters an alien who claims to be able to cure his condition, various sociological approaches interact and overlap with each other in the but only if Wikus helps him escape earth. context of the film. An important fact to note when examining District 9 from a The beginning of District 9 is presented like a documentary film, sociological perspective is that the aliens are not intended to be the focus 25 Parley 2013 for the audience. They all look very similar to each other, they do not speak the township. They have earned their own derogatory moniker, referred in a discernible language, and none of the alien characters have names that to as “prawns” because of their crustacean-like appearance. The aliens the audience is meant to know, aside from the Anglicized names ascribed become stereotyped as intellectually inferior to humans despite the fact that to them by humans. Instead, the aliens have the ability to represent any they arrived in a spaceship well beyond human technological levels. Early minority group whose appearance and customs seem foreign (i.e., “alien”) in the film, Wikus typically adopts a condescending and overly simplistic to a dominant culture. This is vital to an understanding of District 9, since manner of speech when addressing the aliens, suggesting that he feels they Michael D. Jordan D. Michael it stands as the principal metaphor in an otherwise extremely literal film. are not smart enough to understand him otherwise. This prejudice quickly By far the most readily apparent theme in District 9 is the concept of progresses to overt discrimination, as the aliens are segregated to the slum race. According to Kimmel and Aronson, race is based on an assumption of of District 9, and kept under guard by MNU. biological distinction (2009). Of course, the aliens are an entirely different Of course, ethnocentrism comes into play as well, as many of the species from the humans in the film, leaving little question of a biological human characters consider alien habits and customs foolish or repulsive. distinction, but the film does not seek to support or discredit this assump- White South African culture is routinely imposed upon the aliens, who tion, only to explore its outcome. From the beginning of the film, one can are forced to adhere to norms which they barely understand, and even see prejudices that have already formed among the humans. The aliens given Anglicized names they must use for all documentation; the idea of an are stereotyped as violent criminals after a few of their number engage in extraterrestrial named Christopher Johnson might seem preposterous to the altercations with Johannesburg police, leading to their segregation within audience, but in the framework of institutional discrimination, in which

26 it would “seem to make sense” (Kimmel and Aronson, 2009), it is far from transformation into an alien himself. Even so, elements of other theories are surprising. Even black South Africans, who had themselves been the victims present as well, most notably frustration-aggression theory, demonstrated of Apartheid a few years earlier, are portrayed as largely supportive of the by how the aliens are blamed for crime; also, at least one human declares aliens’ segregation from the human population. that the aliens are stealing jobs away from humans, even though the Indeed, institutional discrimination had taken root, with most of the aliens do not appear to have any jobs at all outside their own segregated human population of Johannesburg supporting discriminatory measures community. When Wikus undergoes his transformation, he experiences against the aliens. It is very telling discrimination that is accurately about the film’s focus that Wikus, the described by primordial theory; he protagonist, is in charge of this institu- The obvious, if unethical becomes different, an “other”, and tional discrimination structure from his cannot be allowed to retain his former first appearance. Wikus is charged with high status in society. relocation of the alien residents to a solution, is to simply remove In fact, from a sociological new concentration camp, which would perspective, Wikus’ transformation establish a total institution which would them from the social structure. from human to alien presents the tightly control the alien immigrants. film’s most deeply layered look at He must also enforce discriminatory laws passed against the alien minority, the attitudes of the human beings around him. He at first tells no one as they are prohibited from owning weapons or having children without of the changes he is undergoing, which is explainable from a symbolic authorization. interactionism standpoint. According to Kimmel and Aronson, symbolic Several theories of discrimination can be applied in the case of District interactionism is the examination of how an individual’s interactions 9. The film itself seems to favor conflict theory, in which the most powerful develop their sense of self (2009). Even though Wikus sees his human group, white South Africans, seek to dominate and control the aliens. body deteriorating at an alarming rate, he does not even consult a doctor. This can been seen with MNU’s direct oppression, as well as the nearly Wikus navigates a world of carefully maintained appearances, where he instantaneous removal of Wikus’ rights and authority when he begins his must present an image of confidence and professionalism at all times. He

27 Parley 2013 holds a very high status in society, both ascribed and achieved. He is white, from destabilization, and the world can continue to function. This global which places him among the South African elite in terms of race. He is also effect of alien segregation is not MNU’s main goal however, making it a financially successful, being of upper middle-class, and he is a high-rank- latent, unintended function. The manifest function of segregation, as well ing MNU agent, which grants him a measure of political power. Wikus as the sudden change in Wikus’ status, is mastery of the aliens’ weapon possesses a status that is difficult to attain, and so to admit that his ascribed technology, which only the aliens themselves have the ability to use. MNU status had changed would jeopardize his master status. It appears he is right dominates the aliens in order to gain military power. to worry, because when he can no longer hide his transformation, Wikus This leads directly into the conflict theory of sociology: the dynamics immediately ceases to be the white, upper middle-class MNU agent, and of society are the result of conflict among groups (Kimmel and Aronson, becomes a “prawn.” Any respect he once had is gone, and he is treated with 2009). In this case, one group, humans, seeks to dominate another group, the same disregard as the most reviled minority. aliens, for its own benefit. This is probably the concept to whichDistrict MNU’s response is a good example of structural functionalism at 9 most clearly correlates. Wikus finds himself unwillingly switching sides work, the sociological idea that society consists of integrated levels working in this conflict, from the haves to the have-nots, to his great dismay. He together to maintain order and stability. They instantly remove Wikus is almost immediately detained by his former employers, among them

from his position of prestige, because he is now an alien. Their systematic his own father-in-law, and subjected to painful and traumatizing tests to Jordan D. Michael segregation of the aliens can be seen as an attempt to maintain social order. see if he can operate alien weapons, the main reason the aliens are being The aliens do not fit with human society; they have little regard for norms, exploited at all. It is only at this point that Wikus takes exception to the and resist cultural assimilation. The obvious, if unethical solution, is to methods employed by humans to dominate the extraterrestrials; he was simply remove them from the social structure. The planned concentration perfectly comfortable delivering the same injustices in the past. Indeed, he camp to which the aliens would be sent would make this process easier, and wants nothing more than to return to his former status, to the point where maintain the stability of the established order. Even their abrupt rejection he will work against and even kill humans in the hope of finding a cure and persecution of Wikus, until recently one of their own, makes a perverse for his “condition.” That he ultimately fails this quest indicates the barriers kind of sense. By treating the aliens, both biologically and culturally, as minority groups encounter when facing discrimination; his ascribed status resources for exploitation, they protect the functioning of their own society has come to define him, and he can never rise above the lowest level, a

28 situation that correlates to social stratification, a major aspect of conflict theory. Ultimately, District 9 serves as a unique retrospective on Apartheid, using metaphor to explore the roots of a far-reaching system of racial seg- regation. The film touches on aspects of symbolic interactionism, structural functionalism, and social conflict in a manner that ties them all together in a comprehensive framework, seeking to reveal the root causes of racism itself. It might appear that the film theme suffers without the perspective of a relatable human minority, but it is not the film’s goal to explore the minority response to oppression. District 9 is about racists, how they think and behave, and how they marginalize those they seek to dominate, and so the film attempts to accurately portray that marginalization at work and succeeding, to show a world with no regard for a group of outsiders, and how easily those attitudes can become a reality.

29 Parley 2013 Lauren Behan — “serengeti sunrise” Michael D. Jordan D. Michael

30 A Price So Dear

y favorite bookmark tells me “It’s never too late to be what have vacationed in Mexico and traveled the country. They take me places I you might have been.” may never see otherwise: Japan, Russia, Great Britain, anywhere I want to Perhaps I shouldn’t listen as it also gives George Eliot credit for the go, a book shows me through its pages. words,M which, though common, is not verifiably true. Even so, I find Like Richard Rodriguez “I rarely looked away from my books – or comfort in the sentiment as I embark upon a college career that will one back on my memories” (21). As a young girl, and still today, these beguil- day lead to a PhD, a colossal adventure which I am beginning at the ing fantasies took me places where wrong-doers faced castigation and distinguished age of thirty. Why? The answer is simple: books betrayed happiness existed for those who remained good – notions starkly contra- me. Their continual insistence on making me read and re-read landed me dicted by my “real” life experiences. My inability to reconcile my world in the embarrassing position of high school drop-out rather than stuffy with the literary ideal caused great anguish in my little heart. Thankfully, young doctor. I found Dickens. He taught me the value in these sufferings when, while I have never understood people like Gerald Graff who “disliked and taking leave of Mr. Pickwick and his fine friends, he said, “There are dark feared books” (22). Books and I have loved each other from the moment I shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast” (686). This first experienced the thrill of recognizing a word on a page. Scarcely, not a theme, prevalent in so many of his works, gave me hope that one day I day has passed in the last twenty-five years during which I did not take a could find contentment. moment for “canoodling” with a book. We do everything together, from With literature acting in a way so beneficial to my state of mind, how doctor appointments to car trips, birthing children to coffee breaks. We could I possibly feel betrayed?

31 Parley 2013 The support books offered came with a steep price. They were pleasure from a text book, so they don’t begrudge me for the time spent naughty friends that inexorably drew me into their schemes. They whis- with those “other” books. We still snuggle every night, but not until I have pered incessantly during class, calling to me from the dim recesses of my taken care of my children, husband, homework, and occasional housework. backpack, forever enticing me to read one more page, one more chapter. These boundaries support our relationship in a way flagrant passion never They sabotaged me constantly. Too often, homework would lay forgotten did. as I succumbed to the siren song of my current literary infatuation. In This new, mature relationship has finally allowed me to commence junior high school I was first reprimanded for reading in class. Whether I my college journey and is proving an asset rather than the hindrance had finished my work or already knew the material seemed not to matter as it once was. Their support now comes in the form of a few minutes of teachers would rebuke me for not being “on task” or appearing inattentive. relaxation every day instead of the constant escape of former days. Now, as I In high school, To Kill a Mockingbird proved exceptionally subversive. The put those old mistakes behind me, I finally have the chance to be that thing story was so edifying that it refused to stay safely in my locker or put away I might have been. during other classes, a persistence that forced me ahead of the assigned reading in English. The audacity! I watched my grade drop in English due Works Cited to my bibliophilism and realized a sacrifice was in order. It would not be books. Dickens, Charles. . New York: Junior year of high school was my last. Tearfully I pleaded with The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club Johnson Jessica Dodd, Mead and Company, 1944. Print. my principal to allow me to return for senior year, I wanted so badly to Graff, Gerald. “Disliking Books.” . Ed. graduate. I was, she said, “ineligible to attend” any school in my district; From Inquiry to Academic Writing Stuart Greene and April Lidinsky. 2nd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. there was nothing she would do. The high test scores, the aptitude that Martin’s, 2012: 22-26. Print. outstripped most of my classmates, proved useless in overcoming the Rodriguez, Richard. “Scholarship Boy.” . devastation books caused with their interference. From Inquiry to Academic Writing Ed. Stuart Greene and April Lidinsky. 2nd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. These experiences did cause a brief rift in our relationship, but, Martin’s, 2012:15-22. Print. through discussion and compromise, we have come out stronger than ever. Though I never touch it during class, I still take a book with me wherever I go, my books respect that. They also respect that I can derive as much

32 Public Education: Focusing on Our Failures

any young Americans graduating from high school today opinion of the American people is that public schools do not get enough do not have the skills or knowledge to successfully progress funding. I could say this is true, since my elementary and junior high into adulthood. This is a problem, as our economy is more thoroughly schools both held fundraisers every year to turn students into salesman in dependentM on the education of its citizens than in previous generations. the attempt to raise more money for the school. By determining our school Many of the manufacturing jobs, well-paying jobs that required less educa- budgets in this manner, we are allowing our government to create an tion, that fueled America to success in the past are now filled by China and environment where educational systems have to fight tooth and nail with other developing countries that do not demand the same salaries as their each other to receive the funding they so desperately need when schools American counterparts. Money has been thrown at the school system in an are working towards that same common goal of educating children. The attempt to fix it. Often, how well the students test determines how much testing and funding situation creates an environment where teachers are funding the school will get. I remember sitting down in my third grade constantly questioned about their teaching abilities. classroom to take Colorado’s statewide student assessment, the CSAP. Our The largest failure that has come from this competitive environment teacher told us to “try hard and do our best” because how well we did on within our education system is the quality of education that our children the test determined how much money the school would get. Most would are receiving. “The hard truth is that testing instruments fall short of the expect a teacher to say they wanted to see how much their students had mark of measuring the types of student performance that really count. learned. It’s easy to paint a portrait of the teacher as a villain with quotes They simply don’t measure what Americans think they measure … Those like that, but they are not being wicked by telling the truth. The common of us who have extensive experience in raising scores know that states

33 Parley 2013 demand that a school’s curriculum be ‘comprehensive,’ meaning it must they do not test for the purpose of comparing one student with another or cover a broad range of subject matter. Unfortunately, teachers can’t spend one school with another” (Frase and Steshly 19). When a topic is thor- precious time delving into every area (or even a few areas) in depth, for oughly covered, students have the opportunity to develop a deeper interest fear their classes won’t be properly prepared for the test. So they ‘cover’ as in that subject, and see how it affects them and their society. Students who much as possible – but thinly” (Frase and Streshly 19). No one can become are taught by skimming the basics of complex subjects are less equipped to thoroughly educated in a subject only by catching the foundation lessons add relevancy to modern society. on those subjects. No one expects a child to draw images comparable to Children who are given more tools for success usually excel at a Emily Williams Van Gogh the first time they are handed paper and crayons. We should not higher rate than those given less. The same can be applied for those who expect our students to become thoroughly educated in math or science start out with less in life. According to Evans, “[She has found] that … when there is not enough time in the year to thoroughly educate them [children from low income families] are cognitively stimulated less than by glossing over a subject and hoping they pick up enough information higher income children, from reading less and being read to less, to experi- to form some semblance of understanding. We need some sort of test to encing less complex communications with parents involving more limited make sure that students are receiving the right education, but our tests are vocabulary” (qtd. in Scales, Roehlkepartein, Neal, Kielsmeier, and Benson doing just the opposite. They are allowing schools with lower grade point 40). Children who start out poor receive less of the attention needed during averages to receive less funding. “Japan and Germany both spend more time their childhood, but typically receive less enriching education from their on less subject matter. And, yes, they do test rigorously. The difference is schools. Evans has also found that, “Low-income youth are more often

34 taught using memorization, drills, and other basic instructional methods The environment a student in poverty faces is not ideal. According that are not conducive to engagement or learning, and they generally to Dobrin, a writer for Psychology Today, “Poor children experience suffer from lower expectations for their achievement” ” (qtd. in Scales, high levels of stress because, amongst other reasons, they live in violent Roehlkepartein, Neal, Kielsmeier, and Benson 40). Schools in the poorest neighborhoods, walk across many busy vehicular intersections, move areas of the United States are usually known for their failure to produce residences twice as often and get evicted five times as often as the average capable adults who can go on to further American, [and] are more likely to themselves in a positive way in society. be bullied in school” (9). This stress, Unfortunately, this form of teaching Teaching to help students pass along with receiving stimulation from is a result of the testing meant to see home and school, makes it difficult to if students are learning. These schools find a positive connection towards a receive less funding because they are the test does not lead to a better society actively holding them down. not as successful as other schools in their “According to the research of the district or state. The school desperately informed public. It leads to National Dropout Prevention Center needs financial support to keep teaching at Clemson University in Clemson, the most disadvantaged students in our young disillusioned students… South Carolina, Duckenfield and population. The teachers teach off all Drew conclude that over the past 15 the tests and are not able to teach as thoroughly as a teacher who receives years, the best research-based dropout prevention strategies include school/ students who start out with the stimulating experiences that typically come community collaboration, family engagement, early literacy development, from a more privileged section of the population. They are given less to and service-learning” (qtd. in Scales, Roehlkepartein, Neal, Kielsmeier, begin with, and are expected to fail by society. As society expects them to fail, and Benson 40). Schools need to connect with students, and show them there could be an attitude that less resources should be wasted on them when how they can influence their communities. However, teachers have to students who have a chance of success should be given that opportunity to make sure that students can pass their tests at the end of the year. Students prevail in a society that runs more smoothly with well-educated individuals. continue to fail their standardized tests, and bring less funding to an already

35 Parley 2013 Benjamin Smith “steampunk jar” Emily Williams

36 disadvantaged population. The teachers are often blamed for not teaching standardized testing and school funding. Our teachers are there to give students, and often are threatened with job termination. Teaching to help students the tools they need to succeed in our modern society. We need to students pass the test does not lead to a better informed public. It leads to stop questioning how are teachers are constantly failing our students, and young disillusioned students who cannot see how they can succeed in a ask how we as a society have constantly failed our students. disadvantaged system, and creates a weaker economy when they cannot make enough money to support the basics of living. Distrust is a reoccurring theme in American Public Education. According to the BBC, the Finnish education system is not interfered with by politicians telling them how to teach. Teachers are required to hold master’s degrees, and more trust is placed in the students’ ability to learn. Finland currently does the best at educating their students (BBC News, prod.). The ability of teachers to teach is not constantly questioned by the politicians or the public. It may be easier for the public to trust their teach- ers, as they are required more education than the average American teacher. In failing American schools, the teachers are constantly blamed, rather than addressing the deeper issues that stop children from learning. According to Chris Mercogliano, a professional who works in free education, “children don’t do meaningful work anymore. They don’t help out around the house or find ways to earn their own money — things that are so important to their sense of autonomy and initiative. The only work they do is homework … The result is that when the young people get out onto the open range of adulthood … they are at a loss. … They aren’t criti- cal thinkers.” We need to end the disadvantaged system that has arisen from

37 Parley 2013 Works Cited

BBC News, prod. “Finland’s Education Success.” BBC News - World News America. BBC News. 6 Apr. 2010. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. Dobrin, Arthur. “The Effects of Poverty on the Brain.”Psychology Today. Psychology Today, 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 10 Dec. 2012 Crain, William. “Fulfilling One’s Calling: An Interview with Free School Educator Chris Mercogliano.” Encounter 21.1 (2008): 5-11. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. Frase, Larry E. and Streshly, William. Top 10 Myths in Education: Fantasies Americans Love to Believe. Lanham: Scarecrow Press, 2000. Print. Scales, Peter; Roehlkepartein, Eugene C.; Neal, Marybeth; Kielsmeier, James C.; and Benson, Peter L. “Reducing Academic Achievement

Gaps: The Role of Community Service and Service-Learning.” Emily Williams Journal of Experiential Education 29.1 (2006): 38-60. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

38 A Precious Commodity

hat is life? The Oxford Dictionary defines life as “the con- thought to be differentiating, meaning they can become any kind of cell or dition that distinguishes animal…from inorganic matter, organ depending on where they are placed. Embryonic stem cell extraction including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and demands the destruction of the embryo. Many scientists and activists continualW change preceding death” (oxforddictionaries.com). This question believe that this research could bring about treatment and a cure for is part of the foundation of the debate between supporters and detractors diseases and conditions such as, Parkinson’s, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, of embryonic stem cell research, and is fraught with ethical difficulties. It and other debilitating diseases. For the most part the detractors care just is one of the most important issues of our time, and will help define the as much for the sufferers of these conditions as the supporters, but want to intrinsic and instrumental value of human beings. According to Kantian find a way other than embryonic stem cell research to bring hope to them. ethics, this research is unethical. Kant’s First Categorical Imperative People who disagree with embryonic stem cell research care about people stipulates that humans shouldn’t be used as a means to an end. like Michael J. Fox, Joni Eareckson Tada, and the late Christopher Reeve, This is the stage at which the ethical debate begins, as some people and also want to see science reach the point of being able to cure these believe the embryo is a human life, while others see it as only a mass of conditions; however, not at the expense of the life of others or the intrinsic cells. Embryonic stem cells are cells that turn into different types of organs value of human beings. and organ systems and are derived from the earliest stage of development A fundamental question in this debate is, at what stage does life of the human embryo. Researchers typically create the embryos in a lab via begin? There is some scientific research that indicates that it begins at in vitro fertilization, and then extract the stem cells from them. They are conception. Dr. Fritz Baumpartner spoke from his medical expertise when

39 Parley 2013 he said, “There is no more pivotal moment in the subsequent growth and Utilitarianism, as seen through a Jeremy Bentham lens, would support it development of a human being than when 23 chromosomes of the father because the use of embryonic stem cells could maximize happiness and join with 23 chromosomes of the mother to form a unique, 46-chromo- health for thousands while minimizing pain. Although animals are not some individual, with a gender, who had previously simply not existed” human, most Americans feel rightly that it is unethical to treat them (prolife.com; emphasis in original). According to science, life grows and as expendable. If it is considered unethical to treat animals this way on changes; the embryo clearly demonstrates this from the advent of fertil- both Kantian and utilitarian grounds, why then, isn’t it unethical to treat ization, contrary to proponents’ claim that it does not start at fertilization. pre-born human beings as expendable? Biologically humans are not Rebekah Artman The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy points out that some contend that far removed from animals, particularly apes and monkeys. Science has “the cells that comprise the early embryo are a bundle of homogeneous shown a mere two to three percent difference in DNA. Therefore, many cells that exist in the same membrane but do not form a human organism people think that human beings are animals. From a religious standpoint, because the cells do not function in a coordinated way to regulate and particularly in Christianity, human beings are fundamentally different from preserve a single life”(Siegel 2008). animals in that they are made in the image of God. Besides that, human If life does begin at conception, then to sacrifice millions of lives for beings possess thinking, reasoning, and discernment abilities that animals research is unethical according to Kant’s ethical standards. If life instead have not demonstrated. These qualities give humans their uniqueness and begins at birth, meaning embryos are not fully human, then Kant’s First importance. But, proponents argue that human embryos are not life in the Categorical Imperative loses its steam and utilitarianism is bolstered. truest sense of the word. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy says,

40 ‘While there is no consensus about the capacities that are necessary for the attempted to exterminate particular groups of people for greater conve- right to life, some of the capacities that have been proposed include rea- nience and livelihood. In America’s short history alone the most memorable soning, self-awareness, and agency” (Siegel 2008). If this is the criteria for examples of this are the quartering off of thousands of North American determining life, there are several classes of people who do not qualify for Indians onto reservations, and African American slavery. In both cases the the status “life”, including, those aged 2 to 4 years and under and possibly people were stripped of their intrinsic value, and society thought of them up through the adolescent years, as sub-human, and thusly, many mentally challenged people, expendable. those suffering from Alzheimer’s It is one of the most important issues Extreme utilitar- disease, schizophrenics, and the ianism and the mindset of insane. There have been people in instrumental value can lead to America’s past that have called for of our time, and will help define the far-reaching consequences. If the extermination of such people. society can justify using human Utilitarianism may ask if intrinsic and instrumental value of embryos this way, where is the it is always unethical to sacrifice limit and what will keep society a few lives for the convenience, human beings. from stretching that limit? The health, or happiness of the many. “greater-good” mentality could The argument is that society often makes that choice; for example, people be used to justify destroying any class or group of human beings, especially are willing to risk harming or killing other people for the convenience if their intrinsic value is ignored. Technically, this argument known as “the of driving a car. A utilitarian might ask what the difference is between slippery slope” is a logical fallacy. The problem is that this has been played the two. There is a significant difference between risking potential harm out time and time again throughout the annals of history, the most obvious and the purposeful sacrifice of certain individuals or groups. Logically it example being the abuses of Nazi Germany. Hitler began his T4 euthanasia is impossible for one to step outside without inviting some level of risk. program with older disabled children and adults, but quickly included Throughout history, though, the greater society has harmed and even younger children and then Jews, Gypsies, black people, and homosexuals.

41 Parley 2013 Lauren Behan — “maestro” Rebekah Artman

42 The program continued even after the German people protested. That is just as differentiating and pluripotent as embryonic stem cells, if not more not to say that supporters of embryonic stem cell research want to destroy so. An adult stem cell is pluripotent when it acts, or can be made to act, like lives or bring back the days of Nazi Germany. They simply want to bring embryonic stem cells. The Family Research Council states that “researchers hope to the suffering. Many supporters suffer from debilitating conditions in Kansas demonstrated that stem cells from the umbilical cord express or have family members that do. I don’t want to see these people suffer pluripotency genes…and show properties of ‘primitive pluripotent cells’” either, and hope that science can find viable treatments for these conditions. (frc.org). Some argue, however, that society shouldn’t limit science and that The unfortunate truth is that embryonic stem cells may not offer the scientists should be free to explore both types of research to bring about the hope for these conditions as many people suppose. The Family Research most effective results. First, it comes down to the intrinsic value of humans. Council found that in 2006 “scientists in Sweden and Japan found no Further, society does not permit unbridled medical or scientific research, improvement in Parkinson’s rats treated with embryonic stem cells, and as it would be unethical to do so. Clinical trials involve fully consenting many animals developed severe tumors”(frc.org). Researchers at the same adults either on their own behalf or that of their children, and typically do organization found that in 2005 a Washington University, St. Louis not pose a danger to people. Even trials involving animals are regulated and researcher “found that transplanting embryonic stem cells into rat spinal limited so as to prevent abuse. Scientific research must be limited in order to cord gave no improvement, and caused tumors in a number of animals”(frc. respect the intrinsic value of humans. org). Despite this demonstration of the failure of this research, scientists My great-grandfather had Parkinson’s disease and life became and activists continue to promote the unethical practice. The scientific increasingly difficult for my great-grandmother. Nevertheless, she loved community and the media, then, are acting unethically by not informing and cared for him until his death. My grandfather Thompson suffered from the populace of problems with this research. Many are just uninformed diabetes. Watching Grandpa live with that debilitating condition every day, about the real promise of alternative treatments. and witnessing the slow weakening of his already frail body, was one of Embryonic stem cell research becomes increasingly unethical in light the most heart-wrenching and difficult things I’ve had to do. Even so, I do of adult stem cell research, which shows that stem cells may be derived not support the sacrifice of tiny human beings who have not been given from a number of sources such as, umbilical cord blood, bone marrow, hair a chance at life. When we disregard the intrinsic value of people at any follicles, and skeletal muscle. Scientists have discovered that these cells are stage of life, even to ease suffering, we lose part of our humanity and our

43 Parley 2013 value loses its meaning, no matter the age or condition of a person. Life is orks ited precious at every stage. It’s important to see what we can do as a society to W C protect the lives of the youngest, oldest, and most vulnerable. Braumgartner, Fritz. “Life Begins at the Beginning: A Doctor Gives the Scientific Facts on When Life Begins.” Frc.org. Apr. 12, 2005. Web. Accessed 7/27/12. http://www.prolife.com/life_begins.html Sciences Survey Shows.” VCU News Center. 12/14/06. Web. Accessed 7/30/12. http://www.news.vcu/news/Americans_Support_for_ Embryonic_Stem_Cell_Research_Declines_VCU Family Research Council. “Adult Stem Cell Pluripotency.” Frc.org. Web. Accessed 7/28/12. http://www.frc.org ___. “Parkinson’s Treatments: Adult Stem Cells vs. Embryonic Stem Cells.” Frc.org. Web. Accessed 7/27/12. http://www.frc.org ___. “Spinal Cord Injury Treatments: Adult Stem Cells vs. Embryonic Stem Cells.” Frc.org. Web. Accessed 7/28/12. http://www.frc.org Rebekah Artman Oxford University Press. “Life: Definition of Life.” Oxford Dictionaries. 2012. Web. Accessed 7/30/12. oxforddictionaries.com/definition/ english/life Prentice, David A. “Adult Stem Cells: Saving Lives Now.” Frc.org. 2010. Web. Accessed 7/28/12. http://www.frc.org Siegel, Andrew. “Ethics of Stem Cell Research.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Fall 2008 edition. Ed. Edward N. Zalta. Web. Accessed 7/30/12. http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2008/ entries/

44 Refuge

aggie had been sick for about a year. She wasn’t getting achieved something. Now I had the tools to conquer the books I saw my much better and she was about to go through some major parents reading. When I wasn’t doing school reading, I was reading history treatments. Being the oldest sibling, I took on a great deal of responsibility books, encyclopedias, and abridged classics. Through these new tools, I whenM Maggie was in the hospital. My parents saw this and wanted to do entered into the worlds of Oliver Twist, George Washington, and Black something to let me know they loved me and understood my sacrifice. Beauty. This wasn’t reading just for the sake of reading; I began to enter I had been spending a few days at my best friend’s house and when my into the great conversation of thoughts and ideas. Though I was only a parents came to pick me up, they gave me a present, some new books. child, my reading helped develop my sense of morality, mercy, and justice. Reading was one of my favorite things and this present was the greatest But more than being presented with ethical situations, I began seeing God’s comfort my parents could have provided. Harry Potter, Redwall, Castaways greater story in the books I read. Oliver Twist wasn’t simply a story about of the Flying Dutchman, and A Wrinkle in Time all stood ready to provide an orphan; it really showed how we are lost people God pursues and saves. refuge from the sorrow I lived in. Pinocchio became a prodigal son story instead of simply being about how My literary journey didn’t start as a refuge, however. My parents tell children shouldn’t lie. The books I read strengthened my still young faith. me I was always an inquisitive child and couldn’t wait to learn. I remember About a month after I turned nine, my younger sister Maggie was practicing phonics with my mom, going through simple readers, and diagnosed with a brain tumor. Suddenly my innocent life was filled with getting my certificate that said I had completed “Sing, Spell, Read, and terror and uncertainty. My three little sisters and I were all homeschooled, Write.” When my mom and dad signed my certificate, I felt I had really so there wasn’t a real escape from Maggie’s sickness. Day after day I

45 Parley 2013 I saw a lot of “dark magic” in my watched Maggie vomit from the thought Harry and everything chemo and my parents weep with life, but God constantly reminded to do with him was evil. I let the sorrow. Watching TV, playing with book sit on my shelf for months, friends, or staying at other family’s me that He owned the victory. scared of what might happen to houses felt like drugs; the tempo- me if my eyes were exposed to rary relief to my pain, but eventually it wore off and I returned to reality. such material. After a while, I started reading the books and I couldn’t stop. Bushway Garner Dax I began turning to the things I loved most: stories. When I wasn’t helping Every minute I wasn’t doing schoolwork I read Harry Potter. At first, the my mom take care of my sisters, I was reading, and listening to Adventures reading was simply an escape; instead of thinking about whether Maggie in Odyssey, or Radio Theatre. These stories were balms for my soul. One of would live or not, I could focus on Harry’s quest to defeat Voldemort. my favorite stories to listen to was The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis. Hearing Soon, my faith started making its way into my reading. No longer was I the tribulation of Narnia, the utter hopelessness of the Narnians’ plight, simply reading to find a refuge; God was reaching through these stories and the triumphant victory of Aslan over the Calormenes reminded me and reminding me about Him and His character. No longer was the story Jesus would return one day and do away with my suffering. These stories simply about children casting spells at each other; God had a greater plan were a refuge for me, and in them God gave me hope. at work. As Harry gained victory against Voldemort, I was reminded that The night my parents gave me Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Jesus, in the last days, would have victory over sin and death. When Harry I was wary of even picking it up. It was a time when most Christians died and rose again to defeat dark magic once and for all, God showed

46 Susan Brewer “jesus on the cross”

47 Parley 2013 how He accomplished this once and for all on the cross. I saw a lot of “dark in this great tale. I can’t help but look at everything I read, be it textbooks, magic” in my life, but God constantly reminded me that He owned the theology, political speeches, or novels through the lenses of redemption. For victory. me, literature is more than simply entertainment; it is God communicating God wasn’t content to let me read books that simply echoed His story. to me His truth. Perhaps God uses stories, as C.S. Lewis once said, to “steal Ultimately, all the reading I sought refuge in drove me back to God’s story. past those watchful dragons”. I am always amazed after I finish a book and I realized there was only one source of true comfort and peace: the story realize all that God was telling me through it. God is a good shepherd, and of Jesus dying on the cross, atoning for my sins, and defeating the horrors sometimes His staff looks more like books than it does a cane. of the Fall. The day I started high school, Maggie was flown to St. Louis Children’s hospital where the doctors hoped to stop her uncontrollable seizing. This marked the beginning of a dark time in my heart. I had to Works Cited come to grips with what I truly believed about God. Were all those stories true, or had I simply been fooled into thinking God cared? As required Lewis, C.S. “Sometimes Fairy Stories May Say Best What’s To Be Said.” by school, I read The Lord of the Rings my freshmen year. Perhaps the 1956. . Web. 6 February 2013 Bushway Garner Dax most poignant element of this immense story is Aragorn defeating the Wedgewood Circle Rodriguez, Richard. “Scholarship Boy.” . forces of Mount Doom and returning to his rightful throne in Gondor. From Inquiry to Academic Writing Ed. Stuart Greene and April Lidinsky . 2nd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Though I couldn’t bring myself to read God’s Word, God still reached out Martin’s, 2012: 15-22. Print. to me through this story. He reminded me that He sits on the throne and is sovereign over all the suffering in our lives. Eventually, my God healed my spirit so I could once again read His Word. The stories sustained me through that incredibly difficult time. I haven’t yet, and I don’t think I ever will, grow out of my love for stories. Through all the suffering I have experienced, God has taught me He is unfolding one grand story of redemption, and I am but one character

48 Making Change

visited the American Numismatic Association Money Museum, B.C. with minute formations of a natural mixture of silver and gold. These located in downtown Colorado Springs, on November 17, 2012. irregularly shaped and colored “coins” were the foundation for future The first forms of “currency” were used through trade and bartering- trad- regions to begin using precious metals as currency. ingI a cow for a particular weapon, etc. However, my visit was to see how Later, these coins began to be engraved with either the head of a lion money was made throughout time from different countries and regions or a lion’s paw mark on one side of the coin, while the other side contained around the world and how we have come to know currency today in its two welts from the procedure of creating each coin. These particular coins coin and paper forms. So many people think that wars and major events became known to historians as the “Lydian’s Lion coin” and accounted for are what create history without considering the influence that money has more than twenty percent of the available currency in the region. These played in the world. For this reason, it is important to study the evolution findings are based off of the archaeological finds for different currencies. of currency in its many different forms so that people may have a better Like everything else in the era, these precious metals were usually bartered understanding of how this evolution has affected cultures and the modern by “weight, availability, versatility or simply its aesthetic qualities.” United States’ currency. An emblem as simple as a lion’s head may have sufficed during the After walking into the single story museum and passing the front earliest years of the coinage creation to identify a region, but to the Greeks desk, I started the tour downstairs in the basement level which held the and later Romans, coinage was a means of delivering a message. By the late information about money and coins dating back to the first currencies. 7th century, Ancient Greek city states provided coins which demonstrated The first concept of coinage-currency came from Lydia in the 7th century political independence. The influence of coinage grew so much during this

49 Parley 2013 era that there were about eight hundred Greek city mints. The Greek coins needs, but they were able to improve the production process, forming their that I observed were all different in size, shape, and insignia (engravings). own currency system by the late in the 3rd century B.C. Their new way This was the first era where a human head was used as a Greek emblem. of producing coins “lead to a mass production and fast distribution for Political leaders and historical events engraved on coins became a method multiple causes such as military or political needs.” Often times, the coins of delivering messages and campaigning on a wide-scale. Seeing a political portrayed the leaders’ head or an important historical achievement associ- leader on a coin also helped give prestige to that person as they were seen ated with the leader. Under this implemented system, coins were made by a by many of the citizens. specific precious metal which gave each coin a different value. The Roman Gabriel Wilson These ideals were soon adopted by the Roman Empire in the 3rd system of currency reflects the system that the United States has today century. The Roman Empire also used the coin emblem to spread political with the different values of coins like pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, half propaganda. As described in the Yale University art gallery exhibit entitled dollars, and dollar coins. “Roman Coins,” it was “in fact, because the emperors are identified in Above all, it was Spain’s “Pieces of Eight,” introduced in the 15th accompanying legends, coin portraits can [could] provide crucial evidence century all the way through the 19th century that influenced the United in the identification of likeness of imperial figures in other media.” Similar States and other countries in the creation of their own currencies. Spain’s to today, the hundred dollar bill is referred to as a “Benjamin,” giving “Pieces of Eight” refers to the coins ability to be able to be physically cut Benjamin Franklin’s name and identity a literal monetary value. into eight pieces to create change, making it a more evolved coin. This was Not only did the Romans know how to use currency for political accomplished due to the discovery of silver in Mexico in the 1540’s, which

50 enabled Spain to produce many coins. The Euro shares commonalities since 1795. The museum has many different versions of coins with famous with currency in the United States and in Europe, as it has a set system of emblems that represent the United States. Amongst these emblems are the different values used throughout the region. famous “Half Eagles,” the Statue of Liberty, the Indian Princes, and later, A combination of these two systems was adopted by many countries. “In God We Trust,” used in 1864. They were significant in representing the The United States began making their currency as soon as the country country, just like the Roman coins represented their insignias, which hold became established. To legitimize the currency, the United States made their own meanings. The Half Eagles coin represented not only the coun- it illegal for any other coin to be used unless it was engraved with the try’s national bird since 1792, but also “represented a symbol of strength, “United States of courage, freedom America.” This and immortality.” practice showed So many people think that wars and major events In 1909, the first its sovereignty coin valuing one from England and are what create history without considering the cent was the first created a political to portray a leader, statement similar Abraham Lincoln. to the Greeks and influence that money has played in the world During the Romans centuries timeframe of before. Shortly after its establishment, Massachusetts began “[issuing] 1793 to 1857, the one cent coins were larger and heavier than the size of the first paper money to cover costs of military expeditions”. Interest- a quarter today. After the price of metal rose in 1857, the United States ingly, it was Benjamin Franklin’s genius that made paper money a more was forced to make them smaller. Through 1865 to 1889, silver was used reliable form of currency by using unique prints in which helped deter to make three cent coins, which was the smallest of the coins created at counterfeiters. the time, but was kept by many people during the Civil War. Due to the The Numismatic Museum shows that the United States’ pursuit shortage of silver, the government was therefore obligated to make them in of creating its own currency resulted in the use of coins and “test coins” a copper-nickel combination. In 1864, they changed the metal to bronze.

51 Parley 2013 Allison Medina “anubis” Gabriel Wilson

52 The idea of making “change” out of a whole dollar came from the is one ideal that has almost directly carried over from the 7th century all Spanish “Pieces of Eight.” Throughout time, the United States has made the way to our current coinage. Furthermore, Spain’s Pieces of Eight and many coins with different values to accommodate needs. For example, in the Euro’s ability to create change and be used on a wide scale came as 1870 a three dollar coin was made for the convenience of buying postage an advancement and convenience to their respective countries/regions. stamps that at the time cost three dollars, but was discontinued when The United States assumed these characteristics by creating specific values telephone services were made available in many cities.20 In 1861, the for coins to create change and adopted the Euro’s concept of being used United States suspended the use of gold and silver and substituted these throughout a whole country, and not necessarily a restricted state. Finally, with paper money to help fund the Civil War, despite the California Gold the United States furthered the use of paper currency, adding emblems to Rush of 1848. all their different forms of currency, and they also created a system for mass Like Rome, all that was needed to mass produce currency in the producing these paper bills and coins. United States was a more innovative approach in creating money. In the The American Numismatic Association Money Museum does a great 1830s during the Industrial Revolution, “the U.S mint introduced steam job of showing money’s history. The culmination of these cultures can be powered presses for the first time.”21 With the help of the assembly line seen in American money today through the different exhibits, giving reason invented between 1829 and 1833, mass production was finally possible. The to study its history and origins. Plus, who doesn’t love money? railroad would later contribute the moving of the precious metals in the 19th century.22 As seen throughout history, the evolution of currency has been shaped by the needs and cultures of the particular region, which in turn shaped the way that American currency was developed. The beginnings of currency are found in Lydia where metal was first thought to be used as a means of currency. Following this event, Greeks and Romans made a major transition in personalizing currency according to their political agendas. The idea of insignias being engraved on coins as a means of delivering a message

53 Parley 2013 Bibliography

Eichele, Reanne. “Welcome Video and Lecture 1.” (Online Lecture. World History 112. Colorado Springs, Co. August 5, 2012). Goldsborough, Reid. “A Case for the World’s Oldest Coin: Lydian Lion.” ( 2012) http://oldestcoins.reidgold.com/article.html “Guide to United States Coinage.” Littleton Coin Company. Accessed November 27, 2012. http://www.littletoncoin.com “The American Bald Eagle.” U.S. Department of Verterans Affairs. Accessed November 20. 2012, http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/ eagle.pdf. “The Beginnings of Money.” The British Museum. Accessed November 17,2012. http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/themes/money/

the_beginnings_of_money.aspx Gabriel Wilson “The History of Money.” 818 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. 17 November 2012. “Roman Coins.” Yale University Art Gallery. Accessed November 17, 2012. http://artgallery.yale.edu/pdf/perspect/roman_coins.pdf

54 Campus Life hosted a “confessions wall” during multicultural awareness week. Here are the voices of our students. There were Confessions of an four categories for students to choose from for their confessions, which were Academic Dishonesty (Green), Procrastination and Time Management (Yellow), Failure (Blue), Random (Pink). All Everyday Student confessions are written verbatim from the confession cards.

55 Parley 2013 Random

It doesn’t matter what happened in the past. The past is behind you

I tend to avoid people in the halls that I do not want to speak with

I do not like being a student

I hate the way this society has become and I fear it will only get worse

I love to write but I’m terrified to let others read my writings (even though I know I’m not a

horrible writer) Life Campus PPCC

School is so important to me, yet, other things find a way to be first.

I struggle with addiction every day, my school life is severely affected, even if I do hide it well.

I feel guilty if I have to say no, that I can’t help a friend

I allow everyone to take advantage of me because I don’t know how to say ‘no’

56 Failure Procrastination and Time Management I tell myself I’m going to start an assignment right away, but then I forget about it until the last minute. I don’t think I have ever been on time for an important event

My dishonesty has led others to fail in the same manner of my own failure. I procrastinate a lot! I need help with time management (Non-accountability) I watch How I met Your Mother every day instead of doing my homework Sometimes I feel like my life will amount to nothing I need to make more time for ME I’m terrified I’ll always fail and too scared to really live

Academic Dishonesty

I use Wikipedia for every paper

I write my friends and familys papers for school

57 Parley 2013 PPCC Campus Life Campus PPCC

58 Living a Masquerade

girl sits in a tiny closet, the door closed tightly, no light is on. direction, a purpose: writing. Her knees are drawn up against her chest, her arms wrapped Life at home was not the Hallmark ideal. An underlying tension protectively around her scarred legs. A razor blade is clutched tightly in her was always present, from the first door slam of the day to the awkward hand.A She rests her chin on her knees as she stares fixedly at the only source silence around the dinner table. There were strict regulations to be followed of light in the claustrophobic room: her laptop screen. The small animated throughout the day with harsh consequences if not followed with religious pencil is scribbling furiously away as the person she is messaging on Skype consistency. Freedom of speech was strictly prohibited. is typing up a message. The pencil has been dancing its frantic dance for However, speech was all that could be hindered, for thoughts, though a few minutes now, in response to the confession of her intent. Finally the unable to be voiced, were free to roam and ponder. At times this freedom of words appeared. “Tell me what’s wrong.” thought created more frustration and depression than any hardship could That girl was me. The person on the other end of the messaging ever amass. To think and feel thoughts and emotions and yet be forbidden ended up being my best friend and now my soul mate. At the time how- to express them was maddening and demoralizing. I have sympathy ever, he was someone I did not know very well. Why the urge to confess towards caged animals, like tigers seen at zoos. To possess such raw and to an almost complete stranger? Perhaps I felt safe talking to someone lithe power, to govern cunning and prowess, only to sit in a pen and eat who was not close to me or my family, and had no influence. Whatever from polished, sanitized dishes and drink filtered water. I see in their eyes a the reason, my life was impacted more than I could possibly imagine. The familiar frustration and anger. It is no wonder when given the first oppor- person on the other end not only saved my life that night, he also gave me a tunity of freedom they attack and kill anything they can get their claws

59 Parley 2013 To think and feel thoughts and emotions on. It must be an exhilarating safe-haven, where I scribbled experience to finally exercise and yet be forbidden to express them in my journal, hiding in their God-given abilities, the closet in case someone however inappropriately they was maddening and demoralizing. barged in and asked the may do so. dreaded question, “Whatcha Writing is my version of exercising my abilities. The night in the writing?” to which I would reply, “Nothing” in hopes they would believe closet, while attempting to put to words emotions too tumultuous to the lie and leave. As Rodriguez puts it, “I kept so much, so often, to myself. explain, I discovered a strange delight. While the person on the other end Sad. Enthusiastic. Troubled by the excitement of coming upon new ideas” Snow Jane was at a near panic to my wellbeing, I was preoccupied with trying to (Rodriguez 21). These words capture so eloquently my experiences of find the perfect words to describe loneliness in the extent I was feeling, withdrawing from individuals and isolating myself. I became addicted to searching the house for a thesaurus, a dictionary, a book, anything that the wonderful world of freedom created when writing, to the discovery of a could provide me a way of conveying what I was striving to say across to voice I never knew I had, and to the process of constantly striving to write my reader. All thoughts of self-harm were gone. I was intoxicated with with more precision, with more penetration, and with more passion. writing. I explored and probed deep within myself on those pages. Most of the Although still living a constant masquerade of neutral cogitat- journals have been destroyed, partly from embarrassment and partly from ing, I started pulling away into the warm security of my bedroom, my fear, but their affects are still present. Confidence and awareness have grown

60 in ways that are shocking to my parents and siblings. They are confounded ork ited at my courage (or stupidity) to confront my father, to form opinions W C opposite to his, and to be self-assured with myself. Edmundson, Mark. “On the Uses of a Liberal Education: As Lite Enter- Writing is therapeutic; it gives me a voice I was never allowed to use tainment for Bored College Students.” while under rules of a dominant father. It freed thoughts and feelings pent From Inquiry to Academic . Ed. Stuart Green and April Lindinsky. 2nd Edition. up for so long that it was so painfully and wonderfully beautiful to release. Writing Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2008. 322-336. Print. As I grow more mature, I see my parents as a reminder “of who I once was and the life I earlier shared with them” (19). The process, the digging into one’s soul and extracting thoughts and passions before unknown, has created a secure, confident woman. With my new-found voice, I am work- ing on creating a relationship of understanding and forgiveness with my parents. It is not an easy road, for there have been difficulties at every step. But no longer am I that helpless girl, trapped in overwhelming depression. Looking back on the girl locked in her closet, and seeing where that girl is now, I am confident things will continue to improve.

61 Parley 2013 Susan Brewer “saved by the light” Jane Snow Jane

62 Death of a Soldier

n 2004, I lost a soldier and a good friend of mine to the war in Iraq on the right-hand side of us. After minutes of waiting for the dust to while on a mission which we had conducted many times before. At settle, I could finally see what had just happened to the rest of the squad first when our company commander told us we were on a quick in-and- and what condition they were left in. I was in the back of the formation outI mission I had thought this is going to be so special and exciting. The so I ran to the center where the bomb had hit to see if everybody was mission was simple, we were to conduct a dismounted patrol through a ok. I counted the guys and realized I was short one man, my friend, who neighborhood of streets and alleys provided by our military intelligence was nowhere to be found. As we searched around the crater and debris group to capture a local bomb making cell in the area. When things go our youngest soldier found the body of one of our own; my friend. We wrong in war, it’s never a good thing. The death of my friend and fellow were in shock. At the time we had not realized that we had no security soldier changed the way I looked at life forever. around us. The rest of our platoon arrived at the site about 15 minutes A long four hours into the mission and all was going as planned. later to help secure the area and remove the body of our badly mangled On a street, which looked like it had been through a bombing run, we friend. A few hours later we returned back to base. We all found out that walked down the badly destroyed road, and then something inside me our squad was never supposed to be on that mission since it was designed didn’t feel right. It seemed like a shot had gone off; 30 seconds later I was for our Special Forces group. The whole platoon was informed to go to engulfed in a cloud of dust and debris followed by a deafening explosion. the conference room to hear a few words from the chaplain. The chaplain A roadside bomb weighing approximately 50 pounds and made up of gave his speech and at the end of it he said a line that I will never forget, homemade explosive materials went off directly in the center of our patrol “Sunshine, you are in your Father’s arms now. Rest in peace.” The whole

63 Parley 2013 Sunshine, you are in platoon broke down once more. and I finally had the chance and honor to As a young boy, around the age of 10 your Father’s arms now. meet my new platoon. I was a little guy, not years old, I started to learn about the military very big, and kind of shy. At first I had a from my father who was a marine in Viet- Rest in peace. hard time fitting in, until I met a guy who nam. My father would always tell me that the I nicknamed Sunshine. Sunshine was the military wasn’t for your everyday person. I would usually play by myself in one guy who was always there to help the new recruits feel welcome and the backyard, all dressed up in some kind of camouflage that I had created helped them to get comfortable and on the right track. Sunshine and I David Crandall from stuff I found in the garage. Face paint, clothes, G.I Joe figures and became close friends about 3 months later. Sunshine had been in the Army black cardboard weapons were the gear that brought me in and out of my for a year and a half before I joined. Sunshine was only one rank ahead of intense battles that I had read about or seen in a movie. Over the years as me, because of his tendency to speak his mind at the wrong time to the I became a little older and in grade school, my oldest brother joined the wrong people. It seemed that day after day we were always stuck on the Navy and went to Desert Storm. Years went by, and in November of 2003, same details together, and I don’t know if this was because we were friends I joined the U. S Army. or it was just our luck of the draw to always be together. We were the two As an Active duty Soldier, my first duty station was in Colorado lowest ranking people in our platoon, but we liked to think that it was Springs, Colorado. The unit that I had been assigned to was still finishing just our supervisors letting us be together and get done what they needed up a 10 month deployment in Iraq. Two months later they were all home to have done. Sunshine and I had a lot of the same interests. On our off

64 days or after work we would ride our motorcycles wherever we could, and we would also play a lot of video games together. Sunshine and I trained together for the next six months, then our unit received orders to deploy to Iraq – this was Sunshine’s second time to Iraq and a first for me. It has been many years since that life-altering day and I still think about what happened or what we all could have done to prevent this. I am out of the Army now because I know and feel that this one particular deployment overseas made me realize that our life span is short enough in this world, and that some of us don’t need that extra push into a dangerous situation. I still talk to some of my other buddies from that deployment and we like to remember the good times that we all had and reflect on the bad times and how it brought some people closer and some to their breaking point. To this day I’m glad that I was there but, in the end, my wife, family and close friends are what mean the most to me now. What I have learned from this terrible day was that everybody should live life to the fullest and be proud of the things that you have accom- plished and fight for the future that you want for your family and yourself. Life can bring a change as fast as a blink of an eye and completely rotate and flip your life upside down. I am thankful to be here today, to remember and to pass this on to others. Losing a friend has changed my life in a way that most people wouldn’t understand unless they were in my shoes.

65 Parley 2013 Matthew Quiroz “tears of red” David Crandall

66 The Hidden War

he United States military has long sought to invoke the image that the average American is unfamiliar with. It is kept hidden underneath of being the strongest and most capable fighting force in the covers which some of the high-ranking officers pull tightly over the the world. Standing on the outside and looking up to the military as an military. For too long it has been kept from public eye and even the service honorableT and noble institution, one cannot begin to see the corruption members within the military. Military sexual trauma has been portrayed as and betrayal that has engulfed the lives of the country’s brave men and an issue that is not that big of a deal. Many of the people in the military see women. With two wars raging for the past decade, the United States has the victims as liars that are trying to get more attention or to get someone paid respect to those who have fought to protect this country, but the harsh else in trouble. It is easily thought among some of the American people irony is that service members fight a war daily within their service to the that these women put themselves in vulnerable situations and sometimes country. It is the tragic downfall of the military that the enemy often wears even beg for it to happen through their actions and attire. Others view the same uniform as the hero. Military sexual trauma has been destroying it simply as a problem that is contained within the military and that the the lives of the bravest men and women in this country and the scope of commanders should deal with. Though there are always exceptions, these the problem has been downplayed for far too long. When a female soldier perceptions represent a large proportion of the way in which military is more likely to be raped by another soldier than killed by enemy fire in a individuals approach the issue of military sexual trauma. combat zone it is time that substantive change occur and that a solution to In order to properly grasp the problem facing the military one must a growing problem be pursued (Schneller). have a solid understanding of the various forms of sexual assault and under- There is darkness within the ranks of the military in the United States stand why the occurrences within the military have led to the establishment

67 Parley 2013 of independent terminology. Military sexual trauma, also known as MST, is jobs, and explosive ordinance disposal jobs. Women that choose to go into an act of sexual assault or sexual harassment involving a service member in these fields may expect to be the minority, but they rarely expect to be the military (“Just the Facts: Military Sexual Trauma”). Sexual harassment is putting themselves in danger. When only one or two women are in these a form of threatening or unwelcome physical or verbal conduct in a sexual positions in a large group of men, it can often be difficult to accommodate nature (“Just the Facts: Military Sexual Trauma”). Sexual assault is sexual for the gender differences in sleeping shelters and bathroom facilities. contact without consent from the other person, which includes: touching, When these gender differences become compromised, the female(s) may Lindsay Emerson grabbing, oral sex, anal sex, sexual intercourse, or sexual penetration with be put into a situation that can be compromised easily by a perpetrator. an object (“Just the Facts: Military Sexual Trauma”). Military sexual trauma This is more prevalent in deployed areas as there is more pressure on the has become so prevalent within the military that it has been given its own victim to not do anything about the incident because they are essentially acronym, MST. This trauma can happen anywhere for the victim, whether trapped on a small base with their perpetrator and the fear of repercussion is on base, in a combat zone, or even at a public bar. greater when the victim cannot remove themselves from the situation. It is Women make up only 8% of the Armed Forces (“Subcommittee not common for legal services to be available at every base when deployed Urges VA”). This small percentage indicates that it is very possible for a and this presents the problem of reporting the crime. These situations are woman to be alone in gender in a platoon or company of service members. unfamiliar to the average American and show that military sexual trauma Women are allowed to hold jobs that have been originally thought of as has very different aspects to it than civilian sexual trauma. Unfortunately, “manly jobs.” These jobs include an array of mechanical jobs, carpentry this also makes it more difficult for a civilian to understand the complex

68 process of reporting this crime in the military. (O’Toole). Under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice, it the com- The idea that a victim should have known better or should have mander of the accused person who is responsible for reviewing the case for been able to prevent it has been long thought by too many people and has sufficient evidence and decides whether there is evidence to proceed with diminished the real harm that military sexual trauma does to a person. The the case (O’Toole). This fault within the military justice system is what sheer numbers of military sexual trauma victims are proof that a problem destroys the chances of justice for the victim. clearly exists. Since World War II, it has been estimated that 500,000 service When the real life impacts of sexual trauma are explored in depth members have been sexually assaulted or raped in the military (“Subcom- it is hard to continue the thinking that a woman would want this to mittee Urges VA”). In 2010 alone, it was estimated that 19,300 assaults took happen or purposely put herself as risk. The issues associated with sexual place (Schneller). Though this number trauma include the development is an estimate, Defense Secretary Leon of post-traumatic stress disorder E. Panetta has acknowledged that the We cannot allow the biggest threat (PTSD), depression, anxiety, numbers are far higher than what uncontrollable emotions, emotional statistics are able to report (Risen). to female soldiers to be someone numbness, problems associated According to The Huffington Post, “a with drugs and alcohol, sleep issues, servicewoman was nearly 180 times upsetting memories that trigger more likely to have become a victim wearing the same uniform. unwanted responses, and trouble of military sexual assault (MSA) in with concentration and memory the past year than to have died while deployed during the last 11 years of (“Just the Facts: Military Sexual Trauma”). Before the acronym MST was combat in Iraq and Afghanistan” (O’Toole). One might think that the created, service members that experienced sexual trauma were typically astonishing statistics from military sexual trauma would be enough for given the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder if they suffered the leaders of our country to make drastic change and reform, but that from symptoms following the event. Proper treatment is crucial in the is not the case. It is estimated that one in four victims do not report the recovery process of MST. Without treatment, these issues can manifest attack because the perpetrator is the person they would have to report it to into something detrimental and can even lead to suicide. Research shows

69 Parley 2013 that veterans who have PTSD are 4 times more likely to develop suicidal the cases were valid, but rather that there is a deeper issue within the justice ideation than those who do not (Suris, Link-Malcom, and North). Since system in the military. PTSD is the most common disorder associated with MST this presents a The documentary, The Invisible War, has uncovered the hidden truth serious issue that cannot be ignored or be left untreated (Suris, Link-Mal- about covering up rape in the military and has shined a light on a different com, and North). angle that most Americans did not know existed. Oscar-nominated Kirby Though military sexual trauma may seem parallel to that of sexual Dick read an article in 2007 about the high rate of sexual assault in the assault and harassment in the civilian world, there are many more issues military and after much shocking research, he decided to make a docu- that a military victim must face and at times may put them in more danger. mentary about it and reveal to the world what the strongest military force The stigma that is carried by a sexual assault victim in the military is one is really doing (Schneller). The full-length documentary is full of gruesome of the biggest problems faced when trying to attain justice for the crime details of interviews with military sexual assault survivors. This film is not committed. The number of perpetrators being convicted would appear to just a few pissed off women ranting about their horrible experience in the weaken the argument that sexual trauma is an issue in the military; however military, but rather an in depth study of 25 survivors and the life they had the figures can easily be misinterpreted. In 2011, only 3,000 cases were to endure after their attacks in the military (Schneller). The raw emotion

reported and only half of those were ever investigated. The final number of seen in this film rips into the viewer and tugs relentlessly at their heart. The Lindsay Emerson attackers being convicted was only 191 (Schneller). The appearance of these power of this movie is more than just an hour and a half of information numbers to our country is that only 191 people actually committed the about rape victims--it has the power to change how Americans perceive crime because they were convicted. However, the conviction rate of sexual rape victims. assault is a number that cannot begin to even represent the slightest truth The influence of other service members has been proven to have a to the rate of occurrence of this crime. It is important to keep in mind the negative impact on the treatment of a victim. Research has been performed amount of people that never report their case for a list of numerous reasons. on the social influence of peer judgment on rape victims and the role of These extremely low numbers of conviction diminish the issue to the positive and negative social reactions of people involved in the situation public and it can be understandable to see it as a small issue when the rate (Brown and Testa). The research tested the idea that a stigmatizing judg- of conviction is so low. This does not indicate that only a small number of ment of a rape victim can easily spread from one person to another (Brown

70 and Testa). The study found that negative judgments were far more pow- erful than neutral or positive judgments in influencing other people about the rape victim (Brown and Testa). One of the most important findings in the study was that men often blamed the rape victims in general and not the perpetrator (Brown and Testa). With the overpowering number of men in the military and in high places of authority, this study demonstrates that women are at a disadvantage in the treatment and legal proceedings when they are victims. The numbers are far too strong to ignore any longer. It is evident that there is an enormous problem with sexual assault and members of the military. Rape is a terrible four letter word and it is a word that the brave men and women that fight for this country should not be so familiar with. We cannot allow the biggest threat to female soldiers to be someone wearing the same uniform. The country needs to recognize that sexual assault is damaging the lives of thousands of service members every year. The original thought that military sexual trauma is a small problem contained in the military and that women bring it upon themselves must be reconsidered after reviewing legitimate information and facts. America can no longer turn a blind eye to the uncomfortable topic of rape and it must acknowledge the growing numbers as a sign of an issue that is bigger than previously thought.

71 Parley 2013 were more powerful and effective in the paper. The information orks ited W C is also very recent and accurate. The article not only contains the recent statistics, but it also includes information about the justice Brown, Amy L. and Maria Testa. “Social Influences on Judgement of Rape system within the military and shows the power that a commander Victims: The Role of the Negative and Positive Social Reactions of has over the legal proceedings. This article was useful in that it gave Others.” (2008): 490-500. Web. 20 November 2012. Sex Roles strong statistics that cover more ground and it is very recent. “Just the Facts: Military Sexual Trauma.” 2010. . Web. 8 AfterDeployment Risen, James. “Military has not solved problem of sexual assualt, women December 2012. This fact sheet was created for professional use say.” 2 November 2012. New York Times. Web. 14 November 2012. for the military to use in sexual assault and harassment prevention. Schneller, Johanna. “A Horrific Truth that Begged to be Told.” 21 July The information presented on the document gave an in depth look 2012. Globe & Mail. Web. 14 November 2012. at the issues associated with military sexual trauma. It also gave the Shane, Leo. “Lawmakers Propose New Protections for Military Sexual detailed definition and description of military sexual assault and Assualt Victims.” 13 April 2011. Stars and Stripes. Web. 1 December sexual harassment. The website AfterDeployment.org is dedicated 2012. (Not Used) to the well-being of active duty service members and veterans and

“Subcommittee Urges VA to Update Military Sexual Trauma Adjudication Lindsay Emerson covers the main issues associated with these two populations. This Regulations.” 18 July 2012. House Committee on Veteran’s Affairs. document was useful in that it explained in simple terms what Web. 20 November 2012. MST is. Suris, Alina, Jessica Link-Malcom and Carol North. “Predictors of Suicidal Hoyt, Tim, Jennifer Rielage and Lauren Williams. “Military Sexual Trauma Ideation in Veterans With PTSD Related to Military Sexual in Men: A Review of Reported Rates.” Journal of Trauma & Dissoci- Trauma.” Journal of Traumatic Stress (2011): 605-608. Web. 20 (2011): 244-260. Web. 1 December 2012. (Not Used) ation November 2012. O’Toole, Molly. “Military Sexual Assault Epidemic Continues To Claim Valente, Sharon and Callie Wight. “Military Sexual Trauma: Violence Victims As Defense Department Fails Females.” 6 October 2012. and Sexual Abuse.” Military Medicine (2007): 259-265. Web. 20 . Web. 6 December 2012. This article was more The Huffington Post November 2012. (Not Used) important than some of the articles not used, because the statistics

72 Polygraphs: Truth about Lies

n many crime-based television dramas, polygraph tests are used Meanwhile, Melvin Foster was brought in for a polygraph test and failed, to catch the offender swiftly and accurately in a lie. The common prompting police to accuse him of the murders and tarnish his reputation scene is set in a dark lit room with a single lamp placed above the accused’s forever. It wasn’t until 2001 that physical DNA evidence finally linked head,I showing beads of sweat rolling down his nervous face. Hooked up to Ridgway to the crimes, but Foster still suffered from the false test results various cords and menacing-looking gadgets, the police officer asks him a (Maschke). So why is the polygraph test so widely used in court cases if series of innocent questions such as his name, age, and date of birth before they have proven to be incorrect? Although some people are comforted by quickly jumping to a more accusatory tone. The man being questioned the seemingly truthful answers lie-detectors provide, the results are often becomes increasingly uncomfortable as the questions become more per- the outcome of nervousness or embarrassment, can be easily falsified, and sonal and specific. Suddenly, the polygraph machine’s needle shoots back are too confusing to be presented to the untrained and uneducated. and forth on the scrolling sheet of paper, indicating the offender is lying. For a better understanding of why the polygraph test is faulty, one The police officer promptly arrests the man for the charges he was accused must look at the history of the machine as well as the theory of detecting of and rushes him off to a jail cell. In this scenario, the test results are lies. The first theory that lies could be detected with a machine came about grounds for arrest and, subsequently, a guilty charge; however the opposite in the 1890s. These first tests involved measuring changes in blood pressure type of outcome is more common. of the accused. It wasn’t until the 1930s that the “modern” polygraph As such, in 1984 Gary Ridgway later known as the Green River killer, was invented. The test works by measuring changes in four physiological passed a polygraph exam and was released to continue his killing-spree. responses including upper respiratory, lower respiratory, blood pressure, and

73 Parley 2013 Ben Smith “politician” Kelsey Fonzi Kelsey

74 electrodermal skin conductance, otherwise known as “sweaty palms.” Since heart-rate out of fear of being falsely accused. Iacono stated that polygraph the 1930s, the test has not changed greatly, even with ever-progressing tests are biased against the innocent because “[they] are likely to respond technology. similarly [physiologically] when confronted with a false accusation, even Correspondingly, the most commonly used type of polygraph test when truthfully denied” (75-86). If the polygraph test cannot distinguish by law enforcement is the CQT, or Control Question Test. According to between someone who is guilty and someone who is innocent, why is it William Iacono, a professor of clinical science and psychopathology at the used to detect lies? From this, a new problem arises; some people, such as University of Minnesota, this form of test is “not so much a standardized criminals, are able to cheat the test by disguising lies. test as it is a collection of procedures Since polygraph machines mea- that combine interview techniques with sure physiological changes, people are physiological recording” (75-86). In The machine that has been able to create false results by manipu- other words, this test acts as more of an lating their bodies or justifying the lies interrogation technique than an actual in their minds. A change in posture, scientific way of detecting lies. Former known for decades as a “lie- placing focus on breathing, and FBI agents who once administered contracting certain muscles can help polygraph tests said, unbeknownst to detector” is actually a lie itself. to disguise a lie (Lewis and Cuppari the accused, testing begins before the 85-92). Studies have been done to test if machine is hooked up or turned on and continues after all cords have been breathing techniques are a legitimate way to fool a lie-detector test and the removed from the questioned. The “conversation” that takes place before results are not surprising. Researchers Bruno Verschuere, Ewout Meijer, and the polygraph is often called the pre-test. Researchers Jerry Lewis and Armand De Clercq tested participants’ reactions to various questions they Michelle Cuppari explained that, during the pre-test, the examiner explains would obviously lie about and found that the machine detected their lies; the procedure and makes it clear to suspect that the test is accurate and will however after teaching the participants breathing and relaxation techniques reveal if the person lies (85-92). Many speculate that this will only make then asking the same set of questions, they passed the test (348-56). Many the guilty nervous, but it was found that even the innocent had increases in have questioned if the participants became accustomed to the questions

75 Parley 2013 and learned to anticipate what would be asked, but another study was con- liar” will decide that they can lie and get away with it. Although there are ducted that took a different approach. Bruno Verschuere, Valentina Prati, physical cues that test administrators look for to determine if someone is and Jan De Houwer found volunteers that had never taken a polygraph test lying, a liar may not show any physical signs of deception. Subsequently, and taught them similar relaxation techniques prior to administering the people who are honest and giving truthful answers may give physical signs exam. The participants were able to fool the test on their first try (410-13). that are consistent with lying behavior. Another piece of evidence that shows the faulty nature of the poly- Polygraph operators also look for unfair and uncontrollable traits in graph test is the complete disregard for the psychology of true criminals. the person being questioned. The tester preforms a pre-test where they Some people are just natural liars and being questioned does not make observe the accused; they watch their mannerisms, their body language, them nervous or anxious. Aldert Vrij, Par Anders Granhag, and Samantha their speech patterns, etc., but they also start making judgments based on Mann have done extensive research into what makes someone a “good liar” appearance. The administrators are trained to determine if someone is lying and found that “the mere fact that people lie will not affect their behavior, based on how attractive they are. The more attractive someone is, the more speech content, or physiological responses; however, sometimes liars may credible they are thought to be and vice versa. Such minuscule aspects, a show different responses to truth tellers” (77-98). The two emotions nice smile and symmetrical face can skew testers’ opinions of the accused commonly associated with telling a lie are guilt and fear: feeling guilty for person. After analyzing all these different aspects of the polygraph test, lying or being afraid of getting caught, but liars do not always experience clearly this test does not use scientific methods to detect lies but simply Fonzi Kelsey guilt or fear. Manipulative people see lying as an acceptable means to get relies on many inferences and superficial judgments. their way and because lying is commonplace for them, they do not feel One final problem with polygraph tests is the false advertising uncomfortable telling a lie. Having no remorse towards lying, manipulators associated with their accuracy and legitimacy that is so widespread. do not follow conventional morality nor do they find the act of telling a lie Companies that manufacture polygraph testing machines have continu- mentally challenging. When “good liars” are fibbing, they are able to justify ously claimed that the test is 90 to 98% accurate at detecting lies; however, the lie by their moral standards, especially if the stakes are low. Often, liars scientific research has shown that lies go undetected nearly 40% of the will determine if the person questioning them is proficient at detecting lies. time (Verschuere, Pati, and Houwer 410-13). Virtually all people have been If the examiner shows any signs of uncertainty in their method, a “good taught that polygraph tests are true; a false security in the test’s validity is

76 created. Not only do test administrators have faith in this method, but the test nor are they well-versed in psychological phenomenon. Prosecutors average citizen seems to as well. A major issue with this large-scale trust exploit this by convincing the jury that polygraphs detect lies. In a sense, in the polygraph test comes into play when there are multiple suspects in using polygraph test results as admissible evidence in a trial is a manip- a criminal case and a lack of physical evidence. Often, all of the suspects ulative tactic that can lead to inaccurate convictions. The number one are given a polygraph test and the first one with a “deception indicated” argument for continuing the use of polygraph tests is that they can still be result will be listed as the primary suspect, causing investigators to only used if the results are not presented to a judge or jury. To take them out of focus on anyone who failed the polygraph. At times, the results from this the courtroom completely is fair, but using them in interrogations can still method are positive and the guilty is correctly identified but more often the be destructive. The testing needs to be re-marketed truthfully or eliminated opposite is true. Many times, guilty people have walked free and created from criminal investigations completely. Although there is not a fool-proof more terror. Since law enforcement officers, polygraph test administrators, solution to revamping the polygraph, it is too deficient to continue being the public, and even offenders trust this test so fully, jurors are swayed when used as a lie-detector. The test does more harm than good and has no lie-detector test results are presented or even mentioned in trial. scientific basis. Although most states have passed laws that say polygraph results are The machine that has been known for decades as a “lie-detector” is no longer admissible in court, 17 states still allow prosecutors to present actually a lie itself. Enough research has been done to definitively say that them as evidence. The tests can be used as long as both parties agree to polygraphs measure nervousness through physiological changes rather include them in the trial but the defendant does not get to see the results than detect deception. The fact that the testing methods have not changed of their polygraph test prior to agreeing to have the test submitted as in over seventy years is disturbing enough. With technology making evidence. The problem with showing uneducated jury members “evidence” advancements on a daily basis, a more updated test should be feasible. Since that says the person on trial has lied is that anytime “cognitive neuroscience the test currently only measures changes in physical aspects, people easily data” is presented, people outside of the scientific field feel intimidated get away with lying because they are “good liars.” One major issue is the (McCabe, Castel, and Rhodes 566-77). Often, the prosecutors will explain involvement of the pre-test, which encourages test administrators to make the results of the polygraph test with scientific jargon assuming that preemptive judgments about a person’s character and credibility through members of the jury are not familiar with procedures used to perform the their appearance and body language. All of these smaller details about the

77 Parley 2013 test are not general knowledge and can cause confusion to those provided with the results. When they were first invented, lie-detector tests were used very rarely and only for special cases but in modern-day America, the test is used fairly often to get confessions out of suspects in criminal investiga- tions. The use of polygraph tests has led to a false sense of understanding among jurors and society in general. Presenting completely unscientific data as psychological evidence is not acceptable and should no longer be permitted in criminal investigations. As the late United States politician Sam Ervin said, “Polygraph tests are 20th-century witchcraft.” Kelsey Fonzi Kelsey

78 Works Cited

Fiedler, Klaus, Jeannette Schmid and Teresa Stahl. “What is the Current 16.2 (2011): 348-56. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Truth About Polygraph Web. 19 Nov. 2012. Lie Detection?” Basic & Applied Social Psychology 24.4 (2002): 313-24. Verschuere, Bruno, Valentina Prati and Jan De Houwer. “Cheating the Lie Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. 19 Nov. 2012. Detector: Faking in the Autobiographical Implicit Association Iacono, William. “Forensic “Lie Detection”: Procedures Without Scientific Test.” Psychological Science (Wiley-Blackwell) 20.4 (2009): 410-13. Basis.” Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice. 1.1 (2001): 75-86. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. Web. 06 Dec. 2012. Vrij, Aldert, Par Anders Granhag and Samantha Mann. “Good Liars.” Lewis, Jerry A. and Michelle Cuppari. “The Polygraph: The Truth Lies Journal of Psychiatry & Law 38.1/2 (2010): 77-98. Psychology and Within.” Journal of Psychiatry & Law 37.1 (2009): 85-92. Psychology Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. McCabe, David P. Castel, Alan D. Rhodes, Matthew G. “The Influence of Fmri Lie Detection Evidence On Juror Decision-Making.” Behavioral Sciences & the Law 29.4 (2011): 566-77. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. Maschke, George. “Gary Leon Ridgway, Deadliest Serial Killer in U.S. History, Passed Polygraph and Killed Again.” 04 Nov 2003. AntiPolygraph.org, Online Posting to Polygraph Policy. Web. 05 Dec. 2012. Verschuere, Bruno, Ewout Meijer and Armand De Clercq. “Concealed Information Under Stress: A Test of the Orienting Theory in Real-Life Police Interrogations.” Legal & Criminological Psychology

79 Parley 2013 Ben Smith “politician” Kelsey Fonzi Kelsey

80 Progression on the Ponds

rowing up on a 100-acre farm in South Carolina does not with my dog listening to the birds, squirrels, and the gentle swoosh of present many opportunities for fun, unless there exists the the weeping willows hanging over the water. I watched the fish break the combination of three breath taking ponds stocked with fish, the best dog surface to grab bugs flying around the giant lily pad blossoms, the cows in Gthe world, a beat-up old boat, and someone to fill the empty seat for off in the field being lazy and eating, and occasionally deer drinking from company. It was when I was on the water, at home on the farm, that I the bank. Cool fog touched my face as I paddled out to my favorite fishing could discover things in life. I was able to push the eject button to propel spots in the early morning, often before school, making getting up at five myself away from reality and find peace in a beautiful sunrise or sunset, or o’clock worth it. turn on the vacuum and suck myself back to the world. Simply put, the The ponds were my sanctuary, where I could do and handle anything. ponds were my escape. When I was fourteen, my mom and I were fishing early one morning On my tenth birthday, I received the best friend I ever had, Chu- under the biggest willow tree by our east pond when she told me she had Cho, along with my first love, Charlotte. Chu-Cho was my ten week old kidney cancer. In a way, I feel she knew telling me there would soften the white lab puppy and Charlotte was a fourteen inch Mastercraft john boat. blow a bit. I told her she was the strongest person I knew and bet her that I was the captain and Chu Cho was my first mate, always positioned on if I caught a fish on the next cast, she would be better in six months. I did his custom plywood and carpet bow bed. Packing all my gear each night catch the fish that cast, but got the time way off. Three months later in the before, I prepared for the five o’clock alarm that would wake me and same spot, my mom told me the doctor announced her cancer free. remind me of the great place I would soon be. As a young boy, I floated As the years went on, things in life changed. Chu-Cho and I got

81 Parley 2013 There was something about the bigger, which means the boat got East pond and paddle to the dark smaller, but how I felt when I was in ponds that allowed me to find the willows, finding the calmness I was it did not. It was the same place where looking for with a dirty white lab at I could relax, cast lines, do homework, answers to questions I had in life. my feet. or talk to Chu-Cho, who turned out Everyone has a place that to be the best listener. It was the place that I could talk to my parents about means the world to them, a place they connect to or rely on. For me, it was my day or problems I was having, or listen to a friend that needed to talk. the ponds on our family farm that allowed me to gain a certain control and Curtis South Curtis There was something about the ponds that allowed me to find the answers balance in life, and taught me patience and respect. I also built connections to questions I had in life. Being on the water taught me patience and what with family members, friends, nature, but most importantly my best friend to focus on in life. What I could not figure out in one pond I discovered Chu-Cho. My boat on the ponds with the best friend I ever had was my in another, and as the years went on I started to learn that I could go to entry to and exit from reality; it was my heaven. certain spots and change, build on, or maintain whatever feelings I had. If I was upset, I would go to the West pond honey hole and watch the sun go down over the cow fields. If I wanted relaxation, I would go to the South pond by the tree line and lay in the bottom of the boat, listening to birds and watching animals in the woods. If I wanted peace, I would go to the

82 All Of Me: Fear, Sinew, Mirrors, Words and the Heart

am afraid. my adversaries; this has cursed me just as much as it’s made me a better am afraid of myself in times of frenzy; to know that I am capable tactician in the art of war. of causing heartbreak and pain just as proficiently as any other human indi- I am an illusion. vidual.I I fear the effect that the events in my life have had on my exterior, I do put up a facade; a front, so as to protect myself. The old saying as well as my interior self. To be hardened is to be stone; to be stone is to be is “Never let anyone see you sweat.” It can be chalked up to composure or heartless and to be heartless is to be lifeless. I am afraid that I won’t regain character, depending on which trait it can be best described with. It’s a skill my ability to know how to enjoy a beautiful sky; to see the stars and gaze I had to learn in a different uniform in a different world, and it doesn’t rub at them in all their wonder. I am afraid of looking at them as just things off; it sticks to you like crude oil. You stand up with your shoulders out that mean nothing. ready for a fight that will never come; for an argument that will never take I am strong. place; to debate an opponent that you’ve never actually met. The mind is I am strong only because I know I have paid a price to consider on guard when there’s nothing to guard anymore. I have made my own myself so. I have bled more than I ever cared to; to know the sight of blood chains in regard to my social ability. I wear a mask that I can’t take off. for true is to wash it off of your hands only to still see it every time you I am artistic. look at them afterwards. I am strong because I am not easily surprised; I lose myself in words in the best way one can, by reading and writ- to be strong is to be steadfast in life’s sudden contingencies. I am strong ing them instead of using them as tools for ranting and lamenting. I put because I have taught myself to try and be at least two steps ahead against ink and letters to paper and I feel satisfaction; I find confession through my

83 Parley 2013 Derek Hajdik “the post-war soldier”

fingers and my words. I become essential in spite of my relative irrelevance to the world at large; I put my name and my words on something that can matter to everyone if given the chance. I find alchemy between myself and something that can be turned from inanimate to pure life. I am passionate. I make love with the thought of actual love; the only time I show my true self, and with the one I trust it to. She is my home; I return to her in my darkest hour. I make myself hers to wrap myself in her arms and leave this world away from us. With her eyes, I remember any part of me that was ever good at all, and I teach myself to keep standing up on my own David Musgrove two feet, to walk in morning sunlight with her hand in mine and enjoy the beautiful blue sky and the fading night stars; to let go of the strategy and the contingencies, and to look at her with my own eyes and smile, and not the one I show to the rest of the world around me. I lie down next to her and night and dream the dreams I’ve longed to see in my sleep. I wake up, and finally realize that I have become the man I want to be.

“Can you see me? All of me? Probably not. No one ever really has.” - Jeffrey Eugenides (Middlesex, Picador, 2007) 84 Pivotal Seconds

ife is comprised of definitive moments that are crucial in and provided me with numerous definitive moments, would one day changing the course of a person’s life. These can happen so leave our family in devastation; giving me the moment that surpasses quickly and turn into memories that seize you in their entirety. Who am everything else. I? WhatL are these pivotal moments that determine who I have been, the Our dog’s bark was our siren of warning, she was persistent. Little person now and possibly who I may become. My purpose is not to gain to our knowledge, as we turned up the T.V’s volume and pushed pillows pity or to out-weigh the defining moments of others, but to express the harder over our ears, that this was the night our lives changed forever. My individual voice of who I am. mom came banging on my door with screaming sobs that shook my core, With hand-me down boys’ clothing, bowl haircut and a ‘nothing the sort that haunts dreams. Two men with solemn faces wearing pressed can stop me’ attitude, I was a girl who was just one of the boys. Out of my uniforms were sitting patiently in our parlor. My momma, brothers and I three brothers, one was the person I strove to be like the most. He would waited for news any family with a soldier dreads to hear. Seconds left fro- wake me in the morning to watch our favorite cartoon; Blue’s Clues, and zen, hanging; in a family with three active military, dad and two brothers, imparted his knowledge of cooking the world’s best oatmeal. He assisted those two men whose presence only meant loss of life left us asking who in my learning to read, kneeled in-front of me to show me the art of tying have we lost? One of our own had died. My smiling beautifully blue-eyed shoes when no one else succeeded, and at times made me feel ignorant brother, the very one whose approval I strove for hardest, was gone. His when I made a mistake. I learned that nothing is more important than arrogance and laughter could no longer be heard in this world. This was family, even if we don’t like them. My brother, who was my entire world the very moment that shattered our family and from there we were left to

85 Parley 2013 pick up the pieces. he was a brother, son and friend. He was my “Kito”. My face is only one of millions and my story is no more important The future is uncertain; one only hopes that the compilation of than any other, but exists none the less. The death of my brother brought pivotal moments equips a person to choose what defines them. At times many things to the surface such as a grief the extent of which no words can our footsteps are uncertain, seemingly lost and left to wander but the sun accurately describe. Nothing more can be said to attest to his importance still rises as life continues forward. Whether you are keeping up or not, is in defining who I have become. The loss of my brother brought friends a choice only you can make. I am only one in a world full of individual and family closer to our hearts and into our home but at the steepest voices, expressing a story to those who care to listen. Who are you? Cofield Sara G. cost. His life was not lost on this world; his time here brought growth in personal strength and helped define the person who is here today. Who am I, though? A sister, daughter, and friend, I am someone who is passionate and fiercely loyal. I am a young woman who wears two active military blue stars on her sleeve and a gold star-sized wound of a fallen soldier over her heart. A seeker of knowledge and someone who loves literature, I am also a person who experiences deeply the pain of others. I am not someone’s statistic nor can my knowledge be measured by a standardized test, and good manners are not a choice but a way of life. He was not only a soldier,

86 I Must Be

am a boy, therefore I must like fixing cars and watching football. I you imagine how quickly opinions of me would change if people found am young, so I must be naïve and impulsive. I am overweight, and out I am an atheist? That I am gay? I can guarantee that people would accordingly that must mean that I lack any sort of self-control. I am white cause a riot. Friends would become distant. Teachers would look at me in a so I must believe I am better than every other race. different light. Gossip would spread and strangers would give me awkward My physical characteristics obviously give people free reign to decide glances in the hallways. who I am and what I stand for. And why not? My visible traits are there for Do not misconstrue this reluctance to let people in as not being proud everybody to see and evaluate. But what about what they can’t see? of who I am. I couldn’t be happier, really. My close friends accept me for I am an atheist, so I must have no heart and I lack the capacity to everything I am, physical or otherwise. My boyfriend takes me for all I am accept those who have religion. I am a cancer survivor, which means I am and loves me because and in spite of all my imperfections. My mother and not ever allowed to be upset because I survived such a hardship five years grandmother love me unconditionally in a way that I could never quantify. ago. I am getting a college education when so many in my family have not, But the masses are not so open. so I have to think that I am better than everybody else. I study accounting, Colorado Springs is not ready for proudly homosexual, liberal which means I am not adventurous. I am gay, which definitely means that I democrats. My kind is unheard of here. Why should I expect any different? must be effeminate and enjoy fashion and home shopping networks. I belong in Boulder, San Francisco, or New York, some place that is ready Because of these stereotypes, I am scared to let people know who I for me. People here just enjoy the beautiful mountains, sunrises and sunsets, truly am. I can let people like the person I portray, not my true self. Can not diversity.

87 Parley 2013 I do not mean to make myself seem perfect. I, too, have reservations when I meet new people. But at least I try. I make an effort to give every- body I meet a chance to be my next long-time friend. I only hope that one day I will meet somebody like me who is hiding who they are in fear that they will not be accepted. Pinpointing who I am seems kind of superfluous now. I should not have put so much effort into trying to define myself. You all do that for me every day. I am not who I think I am; I am who you think I am. Lira Kyle

88 Editor in Chief: Jo Ellen Becco

Producer: Robin Schofield

Creative Director: Adam Curry The Team The Publishers of Parley … Cover Design: Brandon Wheatley

If you are interested in submitting work or Editors: becoming an editor or designer for Parley, Zach McArthur contact us at [email protected]. Abigail Chu Leena Geeter Erin Huddleson Caleb Poe Sara Cofield Landie Holgate Meagan Kronjaeger Courtney Gonzalez

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