To the Editor

This is an open letter to the Editor,

            I’ve just returned from Akron, Ohio. Where I was in attendance for the Women’s Rights Convention the year is 1851. The hall was full of women all white and one colored woman by the name of Sojourner Truth, she was a tall woman weathered in the face from the sun her features however soft. Most of the white women gasp at seeing this woman, Sojourner Truth though none had the nerve to have her removed from the hall. So she stayed as she was a woman and was this not a place for women’s interests?

During the first day of the many sermons that filled hall we mostly heard from ministers from many religious sects that were men. They had been there to remind us women of our duties and of duties of men. As I was just thinking that I had not come so far and risking my marriage to hear the sermons of a man’s view. On the duties of women to her family and Church. It is of the second day of speeches that Ms. Sojourner Truth rose and took to the podium. Many of the women were offended and even suggested that she not speak. Though no one intervene nor prevented her taking the podium.  

It is of this that I write to you, of the moving speech she delivered. I have never been so moved by such reasoning as when she stood there with such strong convictions when she addressed the hall of women. She was loud and powerful commanding the room for undivided attention. Ms. Truth compared the lines between men and women to those that stood there before her preaching to us women about having “Intellect,”  and what would we do if vote or own property.

Ms. Sojourner Truth stated that she had, “borne thirteen children most had been taken and sold off into slavery.” She was commanding by addressing the hall “Ain’t I a woman.” For she bore the marks of child birth but had to endure seeing almost all wrenched from her and sold.

Again she became louder when she belted out, “Ain’t I woman…for wanting to help into carriages and lifted over puddles…for having to plough and plant.” And here these men that spoke before her about a women’s place and the duties of a man to perform such tasks. Yet she continued to address the room of women and men about the origins of Christ. Explaining this she said, “Where did your God come from? From God came woman. Man had nothing to do with him.” To address the statement made, “women can’t have as much rights, ‘cause Christ wasn’t a woman.”

I was moved by Sojourner Truth her speech to the hall of women, she was powerful and moving. She had the courage to step forward and deliver an inspiring speech. When no other woman had step up to address the issues and the purpose for convening this Women’s Convention. I was truly inspired to advocate change to the life of the colored women. The realization came to me that we women have the same common interests of equality fighting for the same freedoms.

Thank You

Being Illiterate

I believe we all have felt helpless and incapable of being unable to read directions in a foreign language. This is how I would think of being illiterate might feel, like being lost or being unable to communicate through speech. It is frightening to even consider of being illiterate. Especially after looking back at every book, magazine or yes gossip magazines as filthy trash as we know them to be that I’ve read. Not to mention how someone might not be able to function in a world like ours today where a person could easily be swindled out of their homes if they were illiterate.

            For me being illiterate would be immensely scary as I love to read books. As cliché as it may sound I’ve read books to my children when they were little right before bedtime. It’s almost like a right of passage that a child may later say they were read to as a child. I enjoy this time with them and being able to bond through reading. I believe introducing books early while children are small and helping them to read is encouraging. Especially since now that we have an overload of electronic devices at their fingers. Being illiterate would rob me of my time with my children and helping them to learn to read and expanded their minds. It may sound ridiculous that a story about farm animals can help expanded a child’s mind. I see only that it enables them make dreams of their own, use their imagination to create and be able to write and understand what they are writing. Being illiterate would not only hurt me but my children because as parents it’s our responsibility to ensure that we provide them with the tools to become whomever they are suppose to be. Illiteracy robs both a parent and child.

            I believe we all have taken literacy for granted we become careless with the belief that others have our best interest at heart. Isn’t that what we also teach to our children to help and assist others?  Though it’s ridiculous to even consider this because many people do not think of others but themselves how others behave towards one another should be proof of this. I recently was chastised by my brother for Text Speech on my Facebook account. It’s now in writing this that I understand even though this is a nifty way for abbreviating what we say, should we. Should a person who is literate make themselves sound and be perceived by others as being illiterate or are we all just hurting ourselves. My belief is that we are hurting ourselves because potential employers now have access to such sites as MySpace and Facebook. Our comments and thoughts can and in some recent cases may have been the decision for obtaining employment. Though these social sites are a way to express our own individuality it may also go further by hurting those who are illiterate. As these people require help from programs from public libraries that may receive funds through monies from Federal grants.

            For me being illiterate would be frustrating and scary. It would defiantly hurt my dreams of being a detective with the Sheriffs and especially bonding with my children by reading to them or helping them with homework. I would feel as though I were disabled unable to further any chances of being employed in a career that I’m interested in or provide for my family. This is why I strive not only for myself but for my family the importance it is to write and read.  

My Critical Thinking Skills

I had the belief long ago that to think critically you had to be some brainy person or someone with a degree. Then I started college and professors would say, “I want you to think critically before writing your paper.” I must admit I had to look it up in the dictionary my first year in college. Though I finally came to understand in my own terms what it truly means to think critically. Critical thinking means to be an investigator, a gather of information, then to evaluate the weigh all evidence that will help you arrive at a logical and reasonable answer through analysis.

            As they say people have different learning styles I believe it’s important for a student or individual to be aware of this. How we learn is important so that we apply it when thinking critically. In order for me to evaluate any material I read I often underline words, dates, and names. I often make notes in the margins of books and write down any thoughts I may have at the time. Usually writing down my thoughts while evaluating any reading material helps greatly. As many times your first initial thoughts may be clearer to understanding the outcome. I say this because many times we over analyze a lot of the time and arrive completely at different place then what is being asked or what the information actually is.  

This is the problem when critical thinking becomes a flaw within my personal life. As I’m sure with most of us we are all emotions and less reasoning at times in our life. I am not great using my critical thinking skills with those close to me but rather with other aspects in my life. This is because I over analyze and possibly misconstrue things. But honestly how many of us haven’t done this. Some things do make sense like to think critically about how we feel about political parties, education and career options. As like many of us I put my skills to use when it comes to voting on propositions. To me they can be very confusing. I do not know if anyone has read those darn booklets all the way through but I have! Simple things, ideas and situations where I do not have to consider others into the process makes it less complicated. I am able to make a concise decision after considering all aspects and where my decisions are best. There are some things in life you can just do though I tend to believe we all use our critical thinking skills most of the time.

I do expect my critical thinking skills to get better over time. Possibly even with those select few in my personal life where emotions get the best of me. I have to honestly say that over the course of my time in college they have gotten better and enable me to evaluate many of my beliefs. At this time my critical thinking skills have grown however I tend to arrive at too many ideas. My belief is that English 103 will help my analysis skills by organizing my thoughts and ideas systematically that would allow me a better understanding of what I write, read and how I view it. As a person I stand for what I believe and unwavering. Though at times my beliefs have changed at times and I might have been wrong in making decisions. I suspect by the end of this term I may have reevaluate some other beliefs if the logic can justified of course. But change is good if its for the best so I will embrace what ever may come.