Author Archives: Asha Ighodaro

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ult6g4YdmIHA2NEqXjuOM0IkSL1qAsUEIbq32yRzTKk/edit?usp=sharing

The Op-Ed article i read was “Here’s what to know about the dangers that go along with hosting Thanksgiving amid surging coronavirus infections: What’s safe? What’s not?” by Keith Grant the op- ed went over ways we could continue the thanksgiving holiday with extended family in a safe manner the entire gist of the op-ed stated that is was all around a bad idea to have any extended family over at your home during this thanksgiving due to the corona virus pandemic and how if in any case you are having extended family over there are many steps you can take in an effort to stay safe for you as well as immediate and extended family. I found this Op-Ed extremely effective because it listed i clear and concise sentences what would be recommended for higher safety, another reason this was very effective is because he had some credibility, in the beginning of the op-ed he wrote that he was “the chief infection prevention officer at Hartford HealthCare,”as well as having a “large extended family” as well despite this as you read through this op-ed he strongly suggest against having extended family over for the holidays. What i didn’t find effective was his saying that public transportation is “moderate to high risk” its definitely extremely risking in this pandemic but i do realize this could depend on what public transportation can look like in his area.

Ever since election day I was on edge it felt like it was taking years for them to count the ballots instead of the couple days it actually took. On top of how long it was taking the current president was  I think the only thing that calling fraud because he was losing and his supporters were out marching and harassing news vans saying they were stealing ballots it was actually kind of funny but it was definitely a new low for our country the only thing that actually calmed me down was seeing the memes and people poking fun at the situation just to cope i guess and then the morning Biden won i went in to work and it was like finally a four year nightmare had ended. I think one thing I’ll remember about the election is how every blue state and county within a red state completely disowned Florida  i don’t know i found that funny and then how everyone was making memes about how slow Nevada was taking counting the ballots. I also saw memes on social media saying now that trump will be out in January we would end up going back to “Regular Racism” and I know its a sad thing to find humorous but it’s also kind of a relief in an unfortunately twisted way.

Asha Ighodaro: The Questions 

Are you registered and ready to vote and if so why? and if not elaborate.

What do you feel is the issue we need to focus on the most as a country?

And how do you feel about our generation being seen as “the activist” generation?

Ibrahim O, 18

Yea i am registered to vote but I don’t think I’m ready to vote cause I haven’t really done enough research on the different candidates to make a decision. I know the president we have in office isn’t good but I think it’s irresponsible to just vote for someone without doing research on who I’m voting for.

I think the issue we really need to focus on as a country is probably homeless people. There’s so many people who don’t even really have a place to call home and that needs to be changed.

I think that it’s a good thing that our generation is seen as the activist generation because it goes to show how big of a voice we have. With the use of things like social media it makes easier for us to speak out on things that aren’t right.

Mohamed C, 18

I’m not registered because I never got around to it it didn’t seem like something I should be in a rush to do until the past two months.

We definitely need to work on tons of social justice issues, there are a lot of inequalities in our country that need fixing but we should start on race and gender inequality which need to be taken care of.

I personally think it’s empowering but sometimes I wanna get on social media and laugh and forget the real World but am instead bombarded with the real world and it kind of feels like the weight of the world is expected to be on us.

Nevontae M, 18

1. I am registered to vote and yes I have voted. It’s time to change this political climate for America

2. There is so much that needs to be changed… but for now let’s focus on economic equity. We should try to aim to have everyone on the EXACT same level. It would fix a lot of the goals we have on this nation but also better living styles

3. Our generation is definitely “the activist” generation because we been through and seen a lot of what our parents and elders have experienced and tried their best to end but couldn’t. Also, we just have a internal drive for life to be better than what it is. Even though we are viewed as weird or strange because we don’t really carry old traditions like our parents we do carry our own lives and we know we have the power to change it for the better

Rahama S, 18

Yes, I’m Registered To Vote. This Is My First Time Voting & I’m A Little Nervous Still Dont Know Why. It Feels Like Theres Alotta Pressure For This Election & Everyone Is Literally Pressuring Each Other To Vote. So Yeah I Just Want It To Be Over.

As A Country? You Have Time? Besides Racism The Unlawful (If Thats The Right Word) Arrests On Black People. It’s Us Against The World Let Alone The Police. There’s Brutal Killings & Arrest Made Just Being We’re Black. And It’s Sickening.

As It Should!! Because Without Activists Theres No Movement. We Literally Have To Be The Voices For Everyone & I Feel Like It’s Amazing Seeing The Youth Taking That Role Onto Their Shoulders.

One of the things in the readings that stood out to me the most was the fact that Gen Z has “little to no memory of the world as it existed before smartphones” i didn’t find it surprising because yes we are the most technologically advanced Generation but I did find is shocking because it never registered to me that there is a large percentage of the younger gen z will never even understand how life was before everyone had smartphones and advanced technology even when i saw memes that were like “kids today will never know….” it didn’t FULLY register that these kids that are being spoken about are the younger ones in my generation. Another point that stuck out to me is that our generation is the most “racially and ethnically diverse generation” and i agree with that in the sense that we interact with people outside of our own community we tend to learn from the source how their culture works whether it be in person or most of the time through social media platforms. one part that i disagreed with or was more shocked by was the idea that there are 22% of gen z between the ages of 18 and 23 who support Donald trump, while it is a low number its still mind boggling that as the most progressive, open minded, technologically advanced generation there are still some people who support him, but to each their own. The next thing is that gen z is on track to be the most educated generation and I feel because of all the technology in the palm of our hand and the knowledge we have literally in our pockets it would be a shock if we weren’t. at the end of the day im really proud whenever i see my generation winning but i know theres still a lot of work that needs to be done FOR us because sometimes it does feel like other generations put our generation on a pedestal and expect us to be okay mentally.

After reading Laura Bolin Carol’s text “Backpack Vs Briefcase: Steps Towards Rhetorical Analysis” it didn’t take long for me to understand that in her point she was saying that we make rhetorical analysis in our everyday lives. She gave examples of how this is done like examining the people around us and how they are physically and I realized this is something I do everyday. I analyse my surroundings and try to figure out the person. She wrote in her text that we wouldn’t actively know when we are analysing someone because it’s something we’ve learned to do over time because of the different kinds of people and situations we are in. Another thing i learned from this essay is that all media no matter what the purpose for it is uses rhetorical analysis not just political media but regular everyday commercials for example deodorant commercials, she wrote that understanding the rhetorical analysis within our everyday media is how we will be able to “ become informed consumers, but it also helps evaluate the ethics of messages, how they affect us personally, and how they affect society.” which is something that everyone in society should strive to do. In the text Bolin says “you probably didn’t think to yourself, “I think I’ll do some rhetorical analysis on her clothing and draw some conclusions about what kind of personality she might have and whether I think I’ll like her.” And, yet, you probably were able to come up with some conclusions based on the evidence you had.” I feel that this is significant because this is something all of us do one way or another whether we realize that or not, when we’re scrolling through social media and we see someone we like with a style or view that we like or agree with we assume we’ll like that person. After reading this text from now on i think i’ll stop looking at a rhetorical analysis as an assignment for class trying to do the work step by step and act as if I’m judging and analysing someone or something im seeing for the first time. 

https://twitter.com/eljgales2/status/1313606060972937217?s=20

I was seeing this meme a lot and at first I had only seen the first two screenshots and thought well that sounds like something he would say, i just thought it was funny because the for one the whole post really just makes it seem as if he’s saying he is “built different”and two the fact that a ton of people really thought he said that proves how odd the things he says can be.

In Orwell’s thesis he explains that the english language is so far gone as an effect of politics that many words and phrases used have lost their original meaning due to their over saturation in modern language. He delves into the idea that in many of the works of modern writers you can identify when the author has an idea and is unable to put that idea into words, so instead they imitate phrases of others creating an article lacking in “imagery; [….] precision.” 

One quote from the essay that appears significant to me is when Orwell says “The appropriate noises are coming out of his larynx, but his brain is not involved as it would be if he were choosing his words for himself. If the speech he is making is one that he is accustomed to make over and over again, he may be almost unconscious of what he is saying,” in reference to politicians and their way of words. This made a lot of sense because politicians are just regurgitating words and phrases to keep their voters in continuous support of them, obviously they don’t say the same exact phrase day after day, but each time they speak there’s a new way of saying the same idea. In this quote Orwell is stating that this is basically what’s happened to the english language people have gotten so used to saying words that sound good that they forget those words have to mean something. 

I think Orwell’s critique of the modern english language is extremely valid. One example is when he said modern writers often lack an ability to write imagery or make you understand or feel the topic. There are examples of this lack of imagery or extreme bias in imagery in many political articles. I will admit a lot of my writing does include what Orwell is denouncing using and words and phrases that someone has already thought of because of an inability to create new phrases. 

I think there are two specific instances in which language has been manipulated for political gain. One example of this is the term or phrase Black Lives Matter, now, many people who don’t agree with the term, or rather, don’t support the idea say that the term is counter intuitive and that it’s racist in itself. I assume the confusion lies with saying “black lives matter” those who don’t support the idea believe it’s not inclusive of all races but fail to see the context of the term. The second instance is with a term or terms is “pro-life” if perpetuates the idea that people who are pro-choice don’t value human lives, if someone were to come along a conversation about abortion without knowledge on the topic of abortion and hear “pro-life” they’d assume that the opposing group did not care for, or value human lives, the term can be a bit manipulative. Yet the term pro-choice doesn’t mean that once the idea is implemented all women will get to have an abortion, it means if the time should come a woman would have the choice over what she can so with her body without restrictions from the law, this term pro-choice is better than pro-abortion because the term cannot be used to demonize those who support a woman’s choice over her body. 

After watching this ad, I know this ad is directed to all American voters, but most importantly those who are afraid of the current social climate. He highlights that he doesn’t want people to  see him as someone who condones or encourages the riots and looting but he does support the actual protest and marches for change. He also highlights to voters that a vote for Trump will only continue to fuel the fires.This ad is highlighting the fact that under another four years of Trump’s America, Trump will instigate more fear and violence in the country as he did these past four years. Biden begins this ad by denouncing the the looting and rioting because Trump’s extremely gullible following have been attempting to make people believe that Biden supports rioting and looting they want to make it seem as though the protest that have been happening are not protest but in fact looting and rioting, in this ad Biden clearly differentiates the two because he knows the difference, he is aware that people are trying to put words in his mouth and he wants to make it clear that he will not allow people to do that. Biden promises that if he were to become president he wouldn’t continue spouting destructive and divisive rhetoric as Trump does when he tweets things like “when the looting starts the shooting starts” threatening the lives of his own American citizens who he claims to love so much. This ad gives the audience a feeling of clarity and relief, when he talks about what he will do in his presidency versus what trump is already doing you feel a great sense of relief that if he were to become president he wouldn’t allow his supporters to become “armed militia” highlighting the fact that Trump’s supporters are extremely violent and a danger to society.  This ad is both positive and negative, its positive because he talks about all he will try to do to make this country better for the people fighting for a better social climate, it’s also very positive when he makes it clear he does not support the violence being done in this country whether is be from rioters and looters or the trumps supporters aka “armed militia” or the armed forces being put in the streets to attack even peaceful protesters. It’s very negative when there are clips of these rioters and looters as well as armed forces attacking the citizens in this country fighting for change, he uses pictures from the affects of the riots and looting which gives people a negative feeling. Biden uses pathos by calling on people emotions through these extremely sad time he wants people to know that he will stand for what’s right and won’t be fear mongering as trump does he amplifies the fact that trump wants the run this country with fear by using swat teams in states with protesters even if they are peaceful Over all this ad is the polar opposite of the majority of Trump’s ads, there is a lot of lighting and brightness in this ad, whereas in Trump ads he is being very dark and trying to fear monger the audience he also tries to demonize Biden and a lot of liberals in his ads. Whereas in Biden’s ad although he does use three clips of trump, he just uses the actual clips and doesn’t try to edit or change them in any way them to demonize him, Biden probably does this to amplify the fact that he doesn’t need gimmicks or editing to make Trump look like a monster because trump does that all in his own. The background music is very uplifting it gives the vibe of positive and ready for change. I think this ad is successful in that it tells the audience the truth in what the current president is doing and how damaging it is. This ad makes the watcher feel ready for change and that change would come with electing Joe Biden as president.