Reflection 3.1

This argument is probably the easiest one for me to work with since I subconsciously use it all of the time. I'm the type of person that always likes to look at all sides of an issue and make sure I understand those point of views before I choose a side of my own. I never like to offend anybody and make sure that they are aware that I respect their opinions. I'm not very good at trying to persuade people to change their opinions on something so I'd much rather compromise with them.

Rough Draft 3.1: Grandpa, He Was Born This Way: A Rogerian Argument Pro Gay Adoption

Dear Grandpa,

I’ve decided to write you this letter because I honestly haven’t been able to get you out of my head for the past few weeks. The last conversation we had on the phone didn’t end too well, (since we both ended up arguing and avoiding talking to each other for the next few weeks) but I think it is time to bring up the topic once again. Now, I understand that you might possibly never agree with me, but I want to try to help you understand why I believe in gay rights and their right to adopt children. I hope you are willing to hear me out and to keep an open mind as I try to explain to you why I will always stand by my beliefs. In turn, I promise to do the same for you. 

First, I wanted to let you know that I do recognize where you are coming from. I realize that you were raised as a Roman Catholic,  and the catholic church is strongly opposed to homosexuality. For this reason, I wouldn’t want you to sacrifice your beliefs or religion in anyway. However, I wanted to let you know my point of view. The last time we talked, you pointed out a few verses from the bible that support the idea that God is against same sex practices. Just to refresh your memory a bit, below I’ve include two examples of verses that have stuck with me since then:
"You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female. It is an abomination." - Leviticus 18:6
"A man who sleeps with another man is an abomination and should be executed." - Leviticus 20:13
Anyone who comes across these verses in the Bible, particularly those that are more religious, will automatically become troubled by these words. Nobody wants to be thought of as an “abomination” to anyone, especially not in the eyes of the ones you love most. “God didn’t make a man and a woman for no reason. Being with another man is not natural and therefore, shouldn’t be done.” While those are both legitimate reasons you’ve repeatedly told me during our last conversation, I do not believe that homosexuality is a choice, therefore I certainly do not believe they should be denied the rights given to any heterosexual couple. (White, 58)

To me, homosexuality should not be considered an abomination; it’s a part of life. Homosexuality has been around since before Christ, not just the last few centuries it has been exploited by society. In fact, homosexuality was actually encouraged in both the Roman and Greek armies during ancient times. The thought was that men would fight more bravely to defend their country if they loved the people they were fighting with and would want to protect them. (Smith, 7)

In agreement, two men who want to be together do not lack the capability of being just as affectionate and loving with each other as they would be with someone of the opposite sex. It also does not hinder their ability of being responsible and capable of raising a family as well. Statistics have shown that children raised by same sex couples are just as intelligent as a children who were raised by a heterosexual couple. In fact, children who were raised in a single parent household are more likely to have more issues with self-esteem and discipline than those with gay parents. (Alfano, 7) I believe that anyone who wants to raise a child and proves that they are able of doing so should be given the opportunity.

In the Presidential Campaign Questionnaire of 2008, Obama was asked his opinion on gay couples adopting children. His response was “I believe there are too many children who need loving parents to deny one group of people adoption rights. A child will benefit from a healthy, loving home, whether the parents are gay or not." (Giordano, 23) Even if you do not agree that homosexuality is morally right, you can’t turn away from the amount of children without parents and in need of homes. A couple that has a steady income and has shown to be emotionally responsible should be given the same chances, regardless of their sexual preferences.

I have also been doing some research in biological anthropology and came across something applicable to homosexuality. From an evolutionary standpoint; if you accept the premise that everything we do from a reproductive standpoint is to better our gene pool, ie. everything affects our “fitness” and homosexuality has been proven have been around for 2000 years, why hasn’t this “poor gene” or “abomination” been weeded out? To put in simpler terms, it does not affect our ability to survive in any negative way. If it did, we would not be able to survive as a species and therefore, that undesirable trait would have died off. However, since it clearly has not died off yet, the trait cannot be awful from an evolutionary standpoint. (Larsen, 96)

Correspondingly, one of the biggest concerns facing our world today is over population. Why would we try to ban something that not only diminishes population (since two people of the same gender cannot reproduce) but also increases quality of living for those people who are already on this planet? Regardless of what you think about homosexuality, you must agree that taking kids out of foster homes and other unsavory conditions improves quality of life for them. As a religious person, you are supposed to be in support of generous and loving acts. Raising a child that is not biologically your own can definitely be considered an act of kindness.

Essentially, we both can agree that we should choose the good of an individual over an ideal. We can have our own ideals and hold true to them in ourselves, but what other people do to pursuit their happiness, which is protected by the 5th Amendment, is not something that we should impede on.

So, perhaps we can come to the compromise that, at the bare minimum, good effects of same sex marriage can outweigh the pitfalls. Parents who cannot have kids of their own get to raise children that are in desperate of said home. You can still respect your religion by not loving a man yourself and you can let other people be happy in their own lives and help the living conditions of children in need.

Can’t wait to see you again,

Jess

Works Cited

Alfano, Sean. "Kids Of Same-Sex Parents Do Fine - CBS News." Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News - CBS News. 12 Oct. 2005. Web. Mar. 2011.

Cathy, Smith A. "The History of Gays in the Military – The Sacred Band of Thebes." Suite101.com: Online Magazine and Writers' Network. 19 Dec. 2010. Web. Mar. 2011.

Giordano, Scott A. "Barack Responds to Human Rights Campaign Questionnaire." Organizing For America. 14 June 2007. Web. Mar. 2011.

Larsen, Clark Spencer. Our Origins: Discovering Physical Anthropology. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2008. Print.

White, Rev. Mel. "What the Bible Says - And Doesn't Say - About Homosexuality." Soulforce. 2011. Web. Mar. 2011.

Reflection 2.2

I'm not sure how I feel about this paper. I mean, I know my final draft is much better than the rough draft I've been struggling to write for weeks now, I still believe I could have done better. I think what I have trouble most with is that I have so many ideas about what I want to do with my paper and I don't know how to make it all flow. I find plenty of useful sources that I know will benefit my paper but again, I have a hard time with trying to make it all connect. Hopefully, my paper doesn't appear to be too sporadic, like I think it does.

Final Draft: Essay 2.2 Rebuttal Against Amy Chua's "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior

Dear Amy Chua,
         After reading your article, “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior”, written for the January 8th issue of the Wall Street Journal, I must say that I’m quite offended at how you boldly state that “Chinese” mothering techniques are far more successful than the more nurturing “Western” mothering. I find your sweeping generalizations of American parenting offensive particularly because an American mother, whom I believe to have done a wonderful job of raising her children, raised me. Just because a child does not grow up to become a mechanical engineer or the president of a well-known company does not mean that they are “unsuccessful” and certainly should not entirely be blamed on the parents.
        It has come to my attention, over the past few years, that the Chinese style of child rearing often creates psychologically unstable, socially maladjusted, nervous wrecks. The constant insistence (from their “Chinese” mothers) of meeting impossibly high standards with the threat of a “screaming, hair-tearing explosion” (par. 12) for the return of anything less than flawless perfection, brings impressionable children up into a “pressure cooker” of hostility and fear. (Vongs, 1).
You are quick to judge the parents who are concerned with damaging their child’s self-esteem but fail to understand why they feel that it is necessary to do so. Society has led us to believe that the road to success leads to going to college, getting a good paying job, raising a family, etc. The pressure of trying to meet all of these set standards can be quite overwhelming for anyone, hence the reason why American parents feel that it is necessary for their children to sleep over their friend’s house every once in a while or join a new sport.
        Not only do these activities create an outlet from the constant stress being thrown at the kids, but they are surprisingly more beneficial to the child than you might think. Kids who actively participate in events such as sleepovers or team sports have an earlier chance at enhancing these social skills.
Growing up, I have always been a shy person growing up and sleepovers had always made me a bit uneasy. I can tell you though, that I was able to gain a new type of confidence and understanding in others after attending each one. Sleepovers can easily teach kids how to interact and co-operate with others. For example, there were many times were I didn’t even want to sleep over a friend’s house because I wasn’t getting along with that person or any other petty reason, but was not able to have my parents pick me up. Those kinds of sleepovers taught me the most, to be honest, because I was able to learn how to deal with being stuck with people I did not want to be around and remain patient until the next morning when my parents came to take me home.

Sports have a similar type of affect on kids, especially when it comes to working with others. As a student, I’ve always been told that one of the most important thing companies look for in a worker is someone who can work in a team and can easily interact with other people. I believe that people should begin to build their social skills as early as possible in order to ready themselves for the “real world” and joining a sport or a sleepover is an easy way to do so.

Additionally, there are many downsides to not having these types of extra-circular activities in one’s life. Not only will kids not have the advantage of knowing how to interact with others but they also will not have a way to let out all of the stress being built inside if them from the pressures that come with success. This can lead to countless amounts of problems that frequently has me questioning whether this type of “success” is really worth the consequences.

Currently studying at Ithaca College, sometimes referred to as the “sister school” of the Ivy League Cornell University, I am constantly able to compare the two schools and the pressures placed upon the students’ shoulders. Within the two years that I’ve been studying here, I’ve heard endless stories of the number of Cornell students that commit suicide. A recent study I came across stated that 13 of the 21 students that committed suicide between 1996-2006 were of Asian decent. The fact that Asian students only make up 14 percent of the students population has brought up concerns to people across the globe. (Ramanujan, 1) (Vongs, 5)

        Jane Chin, a Ph.D. and former student of Cornell University, was very quick to rebuke your teaching style. The daughter of two “Tiger” parents, she often doubts whether her success was really worth all of the “scars” she has been left with by her parents. I could not agree more with her as she listed the types of societies that would benefit from your teaching style. Just a few from her list that stood out are the following:
“[A society that] considers outward success based on a standard of “winning” and “better than” as the only form of success, considers parents’ “face” and “pride” and “ego” as synonymous with love for their own children, believes that human beings experience contentment, satisfaction, and fulfillment the exact same way.”
        To me, the Eastern teaching style may have “good intentions” but should not be forced upon anyone. What “Chinese” parents seem to have trouble most with is understanding that not everyone wants to be an engineer or business owner. So, when someone is being forced to do something they don't want to do, it is easy to get stressed and feel as if there is no way out.


Amy, I am not trying to change your mind in anyway but just trying to make you understand that there cannot be a superior parenting style because we all handle pressure differently.


Sincerely,
Jessica Burgos


Works Cited:


Jane, Chin. "Asian Students, Depression, and Suicide: Begin with the Parents!"Chinspirations.com — Jane Chin . Practical Idealist Seeker Action-hero-mom Entrepreneur. Web. 20 Mar. 2011.
Ramanujan, Krishna. "Asian Students." Cornell Chronicle Online. 19 Apr. 2006. Web. 20 Mar. 2011. 
Vongs, Pueng. "Inside the Asian Pressure Cooker." IMDiversity.com Career Center, Job Bank and Multicultural Villages - Where Careers, Opportunities and Diversity Connect. 23 Aug. 2005. Web. 20 Mar. 2011.

Rough Draft

Dear Amy Chua,


After reading your article, “Why Chinese Mother Are Superior”, written for the January 8th issue of the Wall Street Journal, I must say that I’m quite offended at how you boldly state that “Chinese” mothering techniques are far more successful than the more nurturing “Western” mothering. I find your sweeping generalizations of American parenting offensive particularly because I was raised by an American mother, whom I believe has done a wonderful job of raising her children. Just because a child does not grow up to become a Mechanical engineer or the president of a well-known company does not mean that they are “unsuccessful” and certainly should not entirely be blamed on the parents. The Chinese style of child rearing produces psychologically unstable, socially maladjusted, nervous wrecks, who from the constant insistence (from their “Chinese” mothers) of meeting impossibly high standards with the threat of a “screaming, hair-tearing explosion” (par. __)  with the return of anything less than flawless perfection, bring impressionable children up into a “pressure cooker” of hostility and fear. (Vongs, ___).
You are quick to judge the parents who are concerned with damaging their child’s self-esteem but fail to understand why they feel that it is necessary to do so. Every parent’s dream is to have their child become something great, but we all have different opinions of what “great” stands for. Society has led us to believe that being successful means going to college, getting a good paying job, raising a family, etc. The pressure of trying to meet  all of these set standards can be quite overwhelming for anyone. From personal experience, I can tell you that I have never been good at handling pressure and

it really _______ and is it worth all of the dedication when there are many consequences that come into play? Jane Chin,  a Chinese Ph.D. woman who had grown up with “Tiger” parents, was very quick to rebuke your teaching style because of all of the scars she claims to be left with.

Companies say that the second most important thing that they look for in a worker is someone who can work in a team and can easily interact with other people. I believe that person should begin to build their social skills as early as possible in order to ready themselves for the “real world”. Kids who actively participate in events such as sleepovers or team sports have an earlier chance at enhancing their social skills. I have always been told

What are sleepovers good for? They teach kids how to interact with other kids and teach them how to co-operate.

Brainstorming Essay 3.1

Gay & Lesbian Adoption

I came across the following quote this morning:

UPPORTS EQUALITY GOAL: SAME SEX PARENTING RIGHTS

Obama supports Same Sex Adoption 

Barack Obama Quotes on Same Sex Adoption: "I believe there are too many children who need loving parents to deny one group of people adoption rights. A child will benefit from a healthy, loving home, whether the parents are gay or not." [from the Human Rights Campaign's 2008 Presidential questionnaire]

I'm all for LGBT rights but I definitely see why people would be against gay homosexuals adopting children. In some ways, I agree with the cons because the mentality of the child is at "stake"but then again, the adoption process is so complicated that I feel like anyone who would be willing to go through it, should  be considered to do so. 

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/gay-lesbian-adoption-parenting-29790.html

Gay Adoption Debate and Poll: http://www.youdebate.com/DEBATES/gay_adoption.HTM

Ten Arguments From Social Science Against Same-Sex 'Marriage': http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=if04g01

Reflection 2.1

For some reason, I'm never completely confident in my rough drafts as I should be. The research process was/is a bit difficult for me because I'm still not exactly sure my reasons are as strong as they could be. I feel as though I need to bring up more reasons to support my claim that are more diverse than similar to each other. That way I will be able to disprove the author of the article from different directions rather than from the same angle. (Not sure if this makes sense entirely. Hope so!)