Blog Post 5

Upon reevaluating my personal blog, I discovered the basis of my writing revolves around the theme of equity. Not equality, equity. Equality is the art of ensuring sameness amongst all individuals through fairness and justice; however, to achieve equality all individuals must have a homogenous understanding of fairness. Moreover, equity assures that individuals, regardless of their history or dynamic make-up, have access to the same opportunities. More often than not, individuals get so involved with their own trials and tribulations that they forget to recognize those of others. For instance, students at UF constantly complain about the loans they have taken out to afford the school's high tuition rates; synonymously, there are men and women world-wide starving because they cannot afford more than one meal per day. As citizens of the United States we are blessed to be able to call ourselves free: free from slavery, free from oppression, free to voice our opinions. The discourses on my blog serve as my personal platform for a societal reform. The main objective of my mystory is to evoke a sense of responsibility within my audience; as individuals of society, we have the responsibility to insure that all beings of the world are treated with the same amount of respect.  We must be proactive in our thoughts; we must be the change we want to see in the world. Equity for ALL.

Matthew 7:12

The Golden Rule

12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Check-In 3

Truthfully, when Mikayla announced our course material was going to revolve around the aesthetics of hip-hop culture I squirmed inside. My writing experience prior to entering ENC 1101 was comprised of analyzing literary works from the Medieval Period to the Seventeenth Century. I was unsure how well my writing I was going to progress this semester because Hip-Hop is, for the most part, an unfamiliar realm of music to me. Assignments based on current issues were very difficult for me to write about because I was so accustomed to writing about literature created 200 years prior. Initially, I struggled with class assignments. However, the diversification of the theme has allowed me to gain the quintessential knowledge I will need to adapt to unfamiliar topics in future classes. 

Community Blog Post

 While at home in Naples, Florida during Thanksgiving Break, the local D.A.S(Domestic Animal Services) arrived at my house to gather more information regarding the "vicious" dog fight reported by neighbor.The previous day, my dog bit our next door neighbor's dog while the two were outside. My neighbor told the authorities that she watched my dog run over into her yard and bite her dog's back. After the authorities surveyed our home, they questioned my family and I about the history of our pit bull and her usual behaviors. 

However, the neighbor diagonal from us recollects an entirely different story. He told the authorities that he watched the whole scene unravel. According to him, the neighbor who called was in fact not outside when the situation happened. She let her dog outside to go to the bathroom and as she ran outside she spotted our pit bull. Cassie(neighbor's dog) darted towards our dog aggressively and ready to fight. Lola(my dog), hide behind my father's legs. It was not until she felt threatened by the other dog did she react by bitting her back. 

Although the act of violence was pure self defense, DAS treated our dog as the pursuer and not the victim because she is a pit bull. Due to many reported accounts of dog fighting and accidents that pit bull have caused in the past, the bred receives a negative connotation.  However, the manner in which a pit bull acts is solely dependent on the owner and the training the dog received. It truly is a hassle to own her in our neighborhood because of the large amounts of elderly citizens. I cannot take my pit bull for a walk without receiving glares from by standers who believe she will attack them at any time. It's disheartening to know that discrimination is not constricted to the human race but also extends to those who cannot speech up against their prosecutors. 

Challenge Post #2

To: Mikayla Beaudrie
From: Alexis Gray
Date: November 16, 2014
Re: Challenge Post #2: Flight to Canada

Dear Mikayla,

      After long consideration, I have decided to switch my topic of interest for my challenge posts from SW 34th Street's "Graffiti Wall" in Gainesville to the short poem "Flight to Canada". I made this decision based on my person strengths as a writer; the analyzation of poetry comes more naturally to me. As a result, I am evaluating Ishmael Reed's poem for content, style, and the linkage between the piece of prose and hip-hop.

     A basic summary of the poem:
 Quickskill, former slave of Master Swille, writes about his escape from the plantation and the master's cruel inhumane treatment. The accepting nature of a black slave by  the citizens of Canada is juxtaposed with the oppression of African American's in the US, especially in the Southern states. Stanza four to nine describe Quickskill's last return to the plantation while the Master was away at a slave auction in Charleston. Although he already assumes one of the other slaves told the Master because it is not fair one escapes the thresholds of slavery. He continues to describe how he took money from his safe;initially, the reader may consider Quickskill as a thief but if you examine the poem more closely, he is taking his compensation for working as a slave on the plantation.

      I will be able to make a more in-depth analyzation in future check-in post about the challenge post. I gave a brief summary to let you know that my topic of choice has changed and I am more comfortable writing about the poem "Flight to Canada" by Ishmael Reed.

                        Sincerely,
                               Alexis Gray

Striving to reduce veteran homelessness within local communities

1. Produce a documentary that shows the extent of veteran homelessness within my local community. The video would demonstrate a veteran's living arrangements, their overall mental health, and daily activities. The documentary would consist of interviews from former soldiers living in Gainesville and would concentrate on how war affects the body and mind. The main goal of publication would be to raise awareness within the community and produce a call for action.

2. Raise awareness amongst my peers  by creating a non-profit club through UF's clubs and activities board. The club would advocate for the improvement of US veterans within Alachau County. Also, the group's efforts would be highly concentrated on eliminated veteran homelessness within the community.  Members would table weekly in Turlington, urging students to contribute in the club's efforts.

3.Having a food drive for Gainesville's local homeless veteran service provider either monthly or semesterly. The canned food raised during the drive would then be donated to the veteran organization to help aid in diminishing veteran hunger. 

4. Contact local and state officials with a compilation of documentaries from each county in Florida suffering from veteran homelessness. The multi-media film would be distributed to both state governors and senators with the hope a bill would be enacted for the improvement of veteran treatment.

5. Volunteer to be a hospital driver for veterans. Hospital volunteering involves working directly with veterans by driving and escorting them to and fro the hospital. Additionally, volunteers provide companionship. Although being a driver does not directly effect the status of veteran homelessness, it provides veterans with a service that would nor otherwise be feasible. The constant monitoring of a veteran's health can help decrease the effects of mental health issues by providing proper care: psychological therapy and medicine.

6. Proposing a research project to decipher why veterans believe that homelessness is the only option for them after years of poverty.

7. Conduct a study that analyzes the work of the VA. From the study determine whether or not the methods of care are efficiently working for veterans.

8. Conduct a clothes drive. All the proceeds will go to local homeless veterans. The clothes will be distributed via local VA banks. The clothes will be given to veterans who are actively seeking employment opportunities.

9. Have a hiring day for all veterans in Alachua County. The position openings will be for local businesses within Gainesville. Prompting job offers within the veteran community can prevent homelessness by providing them with a steady income.

10. Monetary donations. Simply raising funds to donate to the local homeless veteran service provider to use properly for programs that will help veterans out of poverty and back into the working field.

Veteran Homelessness: a national epidemic

A veteran of war (in the United States) is a citizen of the US who actively served the military during times of war; to be eligible for military benefits and compensation after one's service, a solider must be discharged from their branch for any reason but dishonorable discharge. By the time US soldiers return home to the states, their minds have been intoxicated by the horrific tragedies of war. For this reason, many experience post-tramatic stress disorder and/or have a substance abuse problem,usually alcoholism. The military knowledge and skills a soldier obtains during training is imperative to serving their country during times of war; however, most of that information is not easily transferrable to a civilian job. A combination of mental-illness and job insecurity leads many veterans of war unable to provide funds for proper necessities such as a safe place to live, food, and clean clothes. As a result, homelessness begins to take effect; "The United States Code....[defines]...homeless...[as]...an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence". Men and women of the US military are constantly sacrificing their lives in order to ensure the longevity of the freedoms inscribed in the US Constitution. Conclusively, it is our duty as citizens to protect and defend the lives of our veterans.

                                                       

p.s. Mikayla I'm not sure how I should write about this topic because I myself can make an impact within my own community but I cannot eliminate veteran homelessness. Any ideas?

Analyzation of RHAP Research Report

Problem:
The problem being proposed within RHAP research report is the epidemic of HIV/AIDS amongst the modern day youth of the American society.The number of adolescents affected by the two diseases are highly prominent within communities of low socioeconomic standard. 

Solution:
Researchers of the Academic Medical College use hip-hop/rap music as a medium to teach adolescent students about HIV/AID awareness and prevention. Researchers believe that by using hip-hop music students will be able to familiarize themselves with the topic of discussion more easily. 

Unknown terms:
Sexual script theory: 
   social and cognitive process that guides social and sexual interactions and processing by which meaning is given to sexuality.

lymphokines:
    susbset of cytokines that are produced by a type of immune cell         known as a lymphocyte 

PCP(phencyclidine):
     an anesthetic drug intended as an animal tranquilizer but is widely misused as a recreational dissociative drug that causes hallucinations.