Author Archives: GABRIELA AGUILAR CASTILLO

I interviewed three Gen Z’s, first-time voters, in regard to the 2020 presidential election.

Kaseem J., 18

“I already voted for the Biden-Harris administration but we live in a controversial time and I don’t actually believe my vote is pertinent in the presidential election being from New York, which is a democratic strong-hold. However, I mostly see my vote as important because of the legislative branch, relating to the Senate and Congress because I wholeheartedly believe the maintenance of checks and balances is pivotal to the stability of our democracy.”

“I think that diversity, equal rights, and immigration are all important issues that need to be addressed by an administration that comprehends these issues personally. We need a President from a diverse background, who understands the oppression created by lacking equal rights in this country, and who understands the benefits of immigration. Thus, my views are that these are cornerstone’s of our democracy that will be addressed in a better manner under a Biden-Harris administration, but would have been better addressed had Kamala Harris been the democratic nominee for President.”

“I think the presidential election is important right now because the executive branch has largely abused its authority and failed to manage the country effectively or with any respect for the constitution. However, the real importance I see with this election is the Democratic intent to attain a majority leadership within the United States Senate because I feel the political disarray we have witnessed would be ongoing if democrats were unable to cease control of the senate, whether or not a Biden-Harris administration ceased control of the executive branch.”

“In terms of America getting better or worse, in my perspective, it has gotten better over, perhaps the last 100 years, but has been moving in the wrong direction from a short term perspective, amidst the Trump administration.”

“I am only optimistic about the future underneath a Biden-Harris administration if it were to precede a Harris led administration because I feel that her political agenda is stronger than that of the incumbent Democratic candidate, Joe Biden. My optimism is limited by worry as we continue to elect president’s who do not reflect the diversity of the nation, diversity in the White House under a Harris administration would accompany my optimism my composing a reflection of the diverse representation of America that we saw underneath Barack Obama’s administration.”

Leiha H., 19

“I think it is important to take part in the democratic process to help shape and develop our country for our future and other generations to come and for that, I voted for Joe Biden.”

“Well, I’m a black female who is also an immigrant. I stand for all these things, (diversity, equal rights, and immigration) because I am a part of the diversity in this country, as a female equal right is very important because this country has a lot more work to do with equality for females and minorities. I’m an immigrant and I have seen first hand the contributions that we bring to this country…..so that pretty much sums it up.”

“Well, our current president isn’t fit for office and he doesn’t have the best interest of the people. This election is important because we need to get him out of the White House before he worsens this country any further.”

“I don’t believe America got better. America as a country hasn’t been able to deal with its terrible past, instead most people pretend as if all the terrible things that led up to the country’s birth were all things in the past. So no, American isn’t better, I think it has always been terrible just wearing a disguise because people are still being treated unfairly and others are more privileged than others.”

“I can only do my part and expect others to do the same. So for now I’m keeping an open mind and hoping that our future in this country will get better”

Jose P., 18

“Voting is the only way we get people into congress/office that Will represent and uphold the values shared within the community. By not voting, I guess I’m giving up my own values and ideals for the rest of society to decide for me.”

“I am 18, and by law, I should be able to vote. However, I submitted my voting registrations late in regards to the presidential election. If I could vote in this election, my vote would probably go to neither. I don’t really have a full agreement with either of the candidates in regard to their policies. Both sides share good and bad ideas. I also don’t believe in voting for one side just to get another out and not liking the candidate is not really me having my own vote. At that point I would probably just vote for Kanye West, I like his music.”

“I think this election is overall important because it will decide how the next 4 years may go. If it goes Biden’s favor, there is a possibility the Senate will flip and many Trump policies can be overturned by new bills. If Trump wins, we can see policies become more conservative with the Supreme Court being majority Republican and a possible house flip.”

“I’m 100% on immigration, equal rights, and diversity.  I think all people should have the same rights regardless of sex, race, religion, etc. Also, people who seek refuge or an opportunity shouldn’t be denied those possibilities so easily.”

“I believe America is staying at the same level it’s been, regardless of the presidential outcome. It’s going to have its good days where politics are stable and people aren’t so conscious. But it will also have days in where conflict is up in congress and the whole county will have a say on a specific bill or situation.”

“I always try to keep a positive mind for the sake of myself. I mean what else can get worse?”

One of the three things that stood out from the reading, “Gen Z Voters on the Issues that Matter Most to Them Ahead of the Election,” was a specific statistic mentioned, “Pew Research Center says 1 in 4 Gen Zers in the U.S. is Hispanic.” which stood out to me because I was not aware of that. It is shocking to read that because the numbers are growing, we (the Latino community) can reshape the U.S. with our vote. Secondly, while reading “Gen Z is about to go to the Polls, Many for the First Time. Here’s What They Care About”, a particular opinion from Gen Z’s were that they believe young people don’t vote because they don’t think they can change anything, which I think is a bizarre opinion that occurred in several of their interviews. After all, there is so much information on the web that says otherwise, and many young people are tech-savvy. Last but not least thing that stood out to me from the reading, “Gen Z Rising: 6 Things to Know About Gen Z, Politics, and 2020”, is that surprisingly, there are still Gen Z’s, specifically a quarter of Gen Z’s, out there who would vote for Trump after what he has established during his term, and to me, it is unbelievable which is why this statistic stood out to me.  

I can’t speak for my peers, but after getting to know most of my peers, I believe we are more leaned towards being progressive than conservative. These portraits of Gen Z can only be identified with my sense of who I am to a certain extent. The statistics are not arguable. Some begin with the fact that we are in a pivotal moment of history, and Gen Zs are the youngest people voting in this year’s election, which is true. However, although we are the youngest, we are still well informed, and we aren’t just voting as we see fit but portray our vote for the ones who aren’t able to. This connects to what I would change of these depictions of Gen Z’s, we are young, but we have experienced a lot under this current administration, from the Black Lives Matter movement to the deportation of hundreds of immigrants, and we are not voting on a whim.

Suppose I was interviewed for any of these stories. In that case, I’d stress the importance that I am voting because the U.S. must establish, for lack of better terms, a better immigration system. I feel that many Gen Z’s understand that their vote is essential and that it is our civic duty to vote. I was exhilarated after reading these texts because so many of Gen Z’s are voting to see change and seen that after Trump’s administration, the U.S. is in shambles, which calls upon us to get up and act.  

“Backpacks v. Briefcases: Steps Toward Rhetorical Analysis”

A) While reading, “Backpacks v. Briefcases: Steps Towards Rhetorical Analysis,” I learned that understanding rhetorical messages can help one establish informed clearer analyses/conclusions, helping us understand what we buy and for what purpose or why a person wears a certain attire for. I also learned that understanding the exigence (a new word I had to look up as well) is essential to discovering the purpose of the rhetoric because it gives the reader an understanding of why they chose the use of rhetoric and if it was used correctly (if their idea/purpose was accomplished). Another thing I learned which I didn’t know beforehand was that constraints (beliefs, facts, attitudes, documents, etc.) of the rhetorical situation determine how rhetoric is presented meaning constraints determine the way the speech is delivered to the audience.

B) “In fact, according to rhetorician Kenneth Burke, rhetoric is everywhere: “wherever there is persuasion, there is rhetoric. And wherever there is ‘meaning,’ there is ‘persuasion.’” This quote from the essay signifies that rhetoric is essentially everywhere, from media to what we eat and/ or choose to wear, but the rhetoric is a critical component in interacting with others, and that of which affects us in many ways- the way we think and act.

C) One way, “Backpacks v. Briefcases: Steps Towards Rhetorical Analysis” will affect the rhetorical analysis that I am currently working on is by understanding the entire context of the speech in order to study the ways the speaker breaks down their speech with the uses of rhetoric strategies like logos, pathos, and ethos to persuade the audience.

This post grabbed my attention as I was scrolling through my Instagram feed. It was funny and clever to me. It was funny because during the presidential debate Trump could not let Biden talk for his given time of 2 minutes, so this is a clever representation of him not being able to restrain himself for 2 minutes. Also it caught my eye everyone knows in UNO, you most definitely do not want to be the person who draws 25 because you essentially just lost the game and Trump had one job… stay quiet for 2 minutes.

A summary of Orwell’s thesis regards the poor declining English language, modern English, including written English and in order to correct the English language to what it once was is by removing bad habits in order to gain a clearer thinking. “But an effect can become a cause, reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an intensified form, and so on indefinitely.” This particular statement means although it normally is cause and effect. The effect can become the cause just as easily because it can deliver the same response which is similar to English Language because it can only become disorganized as we the writers or influencers make it. It is significant to me because it makes a reader think in an entirely different way after reading this statement. As a reader, there are many texts where there are cause/effect narratives but never about the end consequence being the cause. The statement that the effect (consequences) can also become the cause is being shown the similarity between the English language because it is reversible.  I think Orwell is trying to convey that our modern English language makes it easier for us to be susceptible to barbaric thoughts.

One of the several examples Orwell offers that most disturb him are operators or verbal false limbs. Essentially not simply writing one word but instead creating a phrase. I do see this example in writings up to this day. As for my writing, I do see this being an error when I write but I tend to fix it afterward because like Orwell stated it is easier but is seen as poor writing at the end. Orwell’s critique of these bad writing techniques is to be taken lightly as certain readers and even writers use these techniques to their advantage in order to emphasize their point and although these techniques may disturb him another would use it for their benefit as it is only one mans words.

Language use and politics intersect heavily for me because it conveys different messages that one may interpret as correct when you dig deeper it is futile and irrelevant or like Orwell states, “is designed to make lies sound truthful.” One example would be the differences between describing someone as being “pro-gun,” “pro-control,” or “anti-guns.” Each of these terms can deliberately frame the positions in different ways and lead to twisted meanings due to the underlying misunderstanding.

The audience for Bernie Sanders’ ad for the 2020 presidential campaign is directed towards Latinos. It is for Latinos because the people included speak in Spanish and Spanish-speaking people would understand and everyone who participated in the ad are Latinos. Also at the end when Bernie enters and says “approved by Bernie Sanders” there is a picture of him with AOC hands held up together. The ad’s message is that Latinos, Hispanics, have the right to vote and as citizens exercise their right to vote for Bernie Sanders in order to protect values. This ad demographics appeal to the Latino voters, to the working class, low to middle-income Latinos because of the way they’re dressed within the ad, and to the Latino immigrants who have become citizens and urge them to vote because of their vote matters.

This ad’s message is to encourage other fellow Latinos to vote since a majority of people who enter the U.S. as immigrants who receive citizenship don’t vote. He’s trying to convey the message that he’s fighting for the voiceless because essentially this is our fight. He is arguing to defend DACA, for the immigrants that made sacrifices to be in the U.S. and for a better future for our families. 

The presidential campaign ad evokes feelings of encouragement and assurance because instead of himself speaking about his stance on Latinos having a voice he puts Latinos and clips of protests to defend DACA and of Bernie Sanders rallies, essentially giving the voiceless a voice. This presidential campaign is a positive ad because it pertains to the low to middle-income class Latinos, the ones who are never heard from. It also is a positive ad because it urges other fellow Latinos to vote for Bernie Sanders giving hope to the rest of Latinos who feel they have no power to create change but this is their time to fight, not only fight for a new president but for a better future for themselves and the future generations to come. It is positive because unlike other presidential campaigns he focuses on the Latino community rather than use this particular ad to bash other presidential candidates.

The visual elements aren’t dramatized like other presidential campaigns that I have seen. He uses videos of protests regarding DACA and adds testimonies from Latinos. The clothing of the participants within the ad is dressed like working-class citizens seen in the ad. The framing focuses on each person, only one in each frame in order to emphasize the importance of just one single person’s voice. 

I believe the persuasive technique used in this ad is the use of Pathos. Bernie uses emotion to captivate the Latino community and embrace our right to vote and use it to vote for him. The ad was successful because I know I am not the only Latina who supports a candidate who supports immigration reform and wants to give back to our community.

“Movement Nv SP”

(Go to the website and click on the one that is named, “Movement Nv Sp.”)

Reading “Shitty First Drafts” I interpreted her approach as freewriting for her first draft, allowing whatever came to mind and jotting it down on paper then returning to fix errors and be more concise with her point after her first draft. As for, “Rethinking the Shitty First Draft,” the writing approach of George Dila, first pointing out that she is a careful, obsessive writer, which I already can relate on while reading the article on her approach. George’s approach is writing what you need to and obsessively fixing it along the way because in the end, one is satisfied with the pages written.

As far as my writing approach, George Dila’s approach which is obsessively revising as you type/write is the best description of my own writing process. Although, my older sister gets frustrated on how long it takes me to write a paper, nonetheless a post like this. However, that is just me as a writer, I personally don’t like a “shitty” first draft because it is too messy for me and I’m not able to pinpoint my central idea. Therefore, if my first sentence is bad in my eyes, I won’t continue unless I revise it and I am satisfied with it, although, here and there I do tend to write down thoughts that come to mind to put into my writing besides that, I normally revise it along the way. Revising along the way is my writing approach because I don’t like messy, rough, drafts because it isn’t concise to me and irks me in a way as well. Revising along the way allows me as a writer to comprehend my thoughts and be satisfied with the draft given which I admit does tend to take time, but I would rather give it my all then submit a “shitty” first draft.

The text I chose was of Caitlin Flanagan’s essay, “I Believe Her,” and it starts off with an inscription in her 12^th-grade yearbook, not something you think much of until you continue reading and you are then appalled as to what you have just read. “I Believe Her,” is about the trauma she endured during her teen years, describing her sexual assault that led to the escalation of her depression. In the article, The Atlantic, she approaches the subject of Brett Kavanaugh’s sexual assault allegations and her standpoint is confirmed that there are women out there who have been through similar assaults and it shouldn’t be easily dismissed or hidden.

The central issue raised by this text is society does not normalize women coming forward reporting sexual assaults. Ergo, there is a stigma around sexual assault survivors coming forward and have to “prove” what they experienced or else their doubt surrounding their report, and this requires the victim to relive their trauma in order to retell their assault. However, it is a long road to recovery, as survivors like Caitlin Flanagan feel guilty, as they don’t want to ruin another person’s life or the question if they could have prevented it but in reality, it isn’t their fault. The fact that these individuals can go on and live their lives as if they did nothing wrong, such as Brett, confirms how society allows the people accused to stay in positions of high influential power. It’s been normalized in a society that it’s okay for men to do that and still maintain a high position of power, understanding that it is a societal issue.

“I Believe Her” is a self-explanatory title, connecting to the political standpoint of Caitlin Flanagan on Ford’s story, accusing Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault upon her at a young age. Caitlin Flanagan as a #MeToo supporter, voiced her teen sexual assault that argues Brett Kavanaugh’s position as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the U.S. Proving that a man, Brett Kavanaugh, sexually assaulted, Christine Ford, and was nominated during this time and was able to still become Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and politically unjust.

A quote from, “I Believe Her,’ that stood out was, “The idea was that anything bad that happened was the girl’s fault. She had agreed to go off in a car with a boy alone; she was taking her chances.” These two lines stood out to me because in society, it is always the women’s fault for wearing either “revealing” clothing, if we drink, walking by ourselves, or “you shouldn’t have been walking in that bad neighborhood at that time”, and etc., but yet you never hear someone say, “It wasn’t YOUR fault.” It is very significant to me because it is unfair that women are blamed for another person’s actions, and #MeToo is a very relevant movement that more should be aware of because women are sexually assaulted every day and yet are silenced when they come forward.

I chose, “I Believe Her” because the title itself is impactful, women need to support women. There shouldn’t be a stigma around sexual assault victims and their traumatizing accounts. This issue is important to me because I read and hear sexual assault stories so much on the news and it just shocks me as to how so many women are afraid of coming forward simply because of the guilt or circumstance where one may be blamed for the occurrence when it was not their fault.