Legends ~

Madonna. Mary J. Blige. Beyoncé. Mariah Carey. What do these ladies have in common? Other than the fact that their names start with an M (besides Beyoncé), these ladies are legends of course! These ladies are the BEST in the music game; they are the definition of what music is. They have had influences on fashion and how artists perform today; especially Madonna. I think people don’t realize what good music is, but after listening to one of their album and they would. I’m not clear how I want to approach my claim, but I plan to use footage of their performance at sold out concerts and how their music are always number one on the charts. I want everybody to feel what I feel when I listen to their songs or see them performing on TV; but I know this is sensible thinking. Some people don’t listen to their genre of music but I feel that they could appreciate these women and how their talents have touched millions of lives; no matter where you go in the world these ladies are known. I’m still working on how I want to present my argument; I want to do a video that show footage of their performance and how the audience reacts toward them. I know everybody won’t feel the same way as I do but after they see the points I will make, I hope they walk away will a more open mind to why these women are so great.

~ Music ~

Music. Can you picture the world without sound? Melody? Music to me is vital in the universe. It has such a huge impact on people. I believe that it influence peoples’ mood and behavior. Have you ever notice your behavior change after listening to a particular song? How about being angry after listening to a violent rap song or feeling calm while listening to a spiritual song? I believe that music affect us emotionally and on a subconscious level. Think about, how can a song inflict such strong emotions? It shows the power of words in a music form.

No matter where you are in the world, music acts as a form of communication. Even though you can’t speak the same language, you are able to express yourself in a way that mere words couldn’t do. Music in my opinion brings people together and allows them to relate on a fundamental level. In my paper I plan to express that without music the world would be a very gloomy place. I plan to interview people about how music has affected them. I also want to show how it has impacted events in history; for example, how some artist used music to lash out at the government or how it is created escapes for others.

I would consider myself a lover of music. So it will be easy and fun to write this paper. I would be a prime example of how music has effects on people’s life. This will make my audience feel more connected to my paper. I can’t imagine what it would be like if there wasn’t a song that dealt with everything you were going through. No matter where you come from, there’s a message in a sound that relates directly to you.

Color

Why is there so much emphasis on race nowadays? This question steered me to the topic of my position paper.  I believe that organizations shouldn’t be primarily based on the color of your skin. I understand that there is a since of pride about coming together within your race as a whole while striving to reach some goal, but I feel like this leads toward “typecasts” within these groups. In this position paper, I want to address how I’ve experience this type of division. For example, I was in an organization called SISTAS that taught young African American females about bettering themselves.  I always felt that anyone should be able to come together and be part of something that is set out to make you a better person.

I kind of feel like this paper will be a breeze. I will still have to worry about my audience and focus, but I feel like I’m headed in the right direction. It’s 2011 and I feel like everything is still segregated. When will people look pass the color of others skin and see them as regular human with different customs and values? I don’t see this happening any time soon because there will always be warrants about people based on their skin color. Even though it would be nice to see this, I am content on writing about how organizations should be broader instead of pin pointing a specific group of people. I know it’s wistful thinking, but I hope that people will begin to look pass black and white while asking themselves: does color really matter?

Miracles

Have you ever wondered if guardian angels exist? Well I have.  Bianca Vera has proven to me that everyone has something implausible watching over them every single hour of the day.  A couple of days ago I didn’t even know who she was; in a month or two I won’t even remember her name, but her story I will never forget. She’s the woman who jumped off the bridge to avoid an accident and miraculously survived. How can a person jump four stories from a bridge in the freezing waters of Lake Lanier IN THE DARK and swim one hundred yard over forty-five minutes to safety without drowning or freezing to death? My answer to that is simple: a higher power that has control over humanity’s destiny.

My message is not to argue that God exist or to make people believe in angels. I just want to bring to people’s attention that what if there was somebody or something always watching over you. That could be a guardian angel or even a spirit of your loved one. Vera did the impossible; she survived a disaster that had people’s mouths open because it was so extraordinary. How do you explain this? I was moved to tears by her story because as I watched her give her testimony on the news I felt like I was there with her and I could feel the emotions that she must have felt. I asked myself “why” she survived. Was it her purpose to testify to millions of viewers the present of something that is bigger than our minds can conceive? No matter what it is, I believe in that something.

Detroit

Have you seen the Super bowl commercials this year? They were off the chain. One in particular stood out to me. Titled Chrysler: Eminem (2011), this commercial defined what a commercial is supposed to be. From the beginning to the end it grabbed my attention and I was sucked in to its web of persuasion. I liked how the narrator’s voice created a scene that made you feel like you were part of a city that have recently been down but have risen above the recession to deliver a product that they are known for: the Chrysler.  I think what made this commercial so successful was the fact that the advertisers perfected how they approached their audience. They weren’t just selling a car but they were selling Detroit.  It was a genius idea to use Eminem as the front man because even though he’s known as a famous rapper, a lot of people don’t realize that he’s from Detroit. Who better to sell a product than someone who’s familiar with it? This was brilliant because it highlighted the advertisers’ attention to specific details. The directing and the flow of the commercial made it entertaining. As the suspense built, so did the music which made me feel like I was going up a roller coaster waiting for the sudden fall.

I don’t know what it was about Chrysler: Eminem (2011) that made me so animated but I believe it’s one of the best commercials I have ever seen.  I loved the scenery of the city they showed, the narrator’s voice that was luring me, the music and how it built, and of course Eminem; his cool demeanor brought an edge that exemplified the smoothness of the Chrysler.  It was incredible!

Teen Pregnancy

Teen Pregnancy. This phenomenon is occurring in schools worldwide. What does this say about society? Sex is present everywhere we go, everyplace we look. You can’t watch a movie without seeing some type of steaming action. Turning on the radio, music artists are always talking about love making or about some kind of action they want to perform with their lover. So is the media to blame for this epidemic of unwanted pregnancy. In the article, 4parents.gov, the author explains how one in three ten girls are likely to get pregnant before they reach the age of 20. These kinds of facts are bewildering to the mind. How can parents stop their daughters from making this life changing decision? Should there be more detailed conversation in health classes in high schools? Should teachers start explaining how to prevent getting pregnant to students as early as middle school? We need to start asking these questions.

Teenagers are getting the wrong message. Back in the day, girls that became pregnant were ashamed; nowadays it’s common to see a girl walking down the street with a big belly. Teenagers need to get the real facts. Preventions need to be discussed more. Parents need to stop telling their children not to have sex; because let’s face it, they are going to do it regardless. Instead of trying to control their actions, parents should show them how to protect themselves. Unwanted pregnancy is 100 percent preventable. When I was in high school, it would always bother me when I saw girls walking around with their bellies sticking out. These girls need to take the necessary steps of preventing an unwanted pregnancy; they need to realize that they are in control of their future.

Living with Illegals?

America. The land of the “free”. Who wouldn’t want to come to this country where anybody can be somebody? So what’s the problem? Many would say illegal immigrants. According to Barone, America has had an accomplishment with immigration; majority of people around the world migrate to America each year. America also has a failure with immigration: there is an estimated of 12 million “illegal” immigrants residing in America today. Who’s to blame?

This issue has been debatable for many years.  Some people believe that whoever wants to venture to America should have the right; but residents that are strongly against it ask this question: what are the consequences?  This is simple: they are taking Americans’ jobs. If you are not for illegal immigrants then you are probably the percentage that doesn’t care. But any way you look at it, it’s an issue that has to be dealt with. That’s where the government comes in. Or do they? It’s been 20 years sense the Senate has issued the last major immigration bill. So if the government can’t protect America’s boarders, then who can?

I want to bring to people’s attention that these immigrants are just like us: they want a taste of the American dream. So who is America to put a limit on who can get it? When people think of illegal immigrants they shouldn’t just see the word “illegal” but they should try to put their selves in these people’s shoes. You should ask yourself why millions of people are willing to risk their safety to cross a border to find hope. No matter if you are for it or against it, this problem will never simply disappear.