______

Special Smart People v2

2011-02-01T15:20:00.001-08:00

Can people who suffer neurological disease be smart? Unquestionably, they can be smart. Daniel Tammett who is the writer of the book, Born on a Blue Day : inside the extraordinary mind of an autistic savant : a memoir , is capable of speaking ten languages and calculates power multiplication without using any assistance from external source despite his savant syndrome . In the same way, in “A surgeon's life” from Anthropologist on Mars, a man named Dr. Carl Bennett who suffers Tourette's Syndrome, is a fascinating surgeon. Tammett is considered a genius because of his mild savant syndrome. Eventually, his rare syndrome makes him think in different way, in other words, he “sees” answers. Whereas Dr. Carl Bennett, who suffers Tourette's syndrome, tends to repeat an action many times, indirectly, the number of time he reads a book increases drastically. Both of them are not overwhelmed by the diseases they suffer from. Yet, they cope the difficulties in their lives and even make their lives even better and exciting.

Numbers might appear to bore many people. Though, it appears to be very important to some people, especially Tammett who is suffering savant syndrome. This is because he asserts in his book, Born on a Blue Day, “numbers are [his] friends, and they are always around [him]” (2). Savant syndrome is “a rare neurological mixing of the senses, which mist commonly results in the ability to see alphabetical letters and/or number in color” (Tammett 2) . However, Tammett sees “numbers as shapes, colors, textures and motions” (Tammett 2), which make him superior in calculating. In addition, Tammett likes most persons with savant syndrome, has Asperger's syndrome too. Asperger's syndrome is defined by the “ presence of impairments affecting social interaction, communication, and imagination” (Tammett 6). On the contrary, he is not totally affected by the Asperger's syndrome and encounters no problems in communicating with other people, neither social interaction. For instance, he attended a popular talk show as a guest , hosted by David Letterman, in New York. Besides that, Tammett has a “specific” habit, he tends to count almost everything in his life, to make him to feel more in order. Numbers have merged with Tammett's life, without numbers, his life would be miserable. As he says, “numbers are my first language”(7).

Where there is a loss, there will be a gain. Tammett cannot see things as normal people does, but he can answer a complex mathematical question in a very short period. One of his specialties, “is seeing answer” during calculation. In his mind, he will see “ two numbers as distinct shapes …changes and third shape emerges – the correct answer” (5). Hence, the “[calculating] process takes a matter of seconds and happens spontaneously”( Tammett 5). Similarly, Tammett is capable to tell the day of a particular date. This is because he can “elicit different colors and emotions in [his] head [for different days] ”(8). Not only that, Tammett has strong memory which allows him to learn. For instance, he learns each language: English, Finnish, French, German, Lithuanian, Romanian, Icelandic, and Welsh in a short period . Tammett is nothing but a normal man, same to Dr. Carl Bennett.

On the other hand, Dr. Carl Bennett from Oliver Sacks, “ A Surgeon Life” was a famous surgeon in small town of Branford, in British Columbia, who has Tourette's syndrome. The Tourette's syndrome has following symptoms, echolalia, echopraxia , and coprolalia. Due to his Tourette's syndrome, he always repeats a word many time, fling a object into the air or ground, tics ,and wants everything in symmetry. For example, “his mustache had constantly to be smoothed and checked for symmetry”(Sacks 80). When Dr. Bennett served as a surgeon, at the very beginning, in Branford, he encountered some difficulties due to his syndrome. No one put trust in him, even his colleagues. They did not believe a person who tics all the time could carry out operation. As time went by, Dr. Bennett proved his professional medical skills and gained confidences from people of his town. He became the famous surgeon in his town. Though Dr. Bennett often did some unpredictable actions in front his colleagues, family ,and his friends, no one seen to be surprised by his actions. In other words, Dr. Bennett Tourette's syndrome reactions were used to them.

Tourette's syndrome cannot provide different kind of thinking method to raise the particular patient's memory, nor calculation, unlike savant syndrome. In medical school, Dr. Bennett have to read each line many times because “of strange difficulties and obsessions that obstructed that act of reading”(Sacks 86). Although it was annoying and wasted a lot time, but it naturally allowed Dr. Bennett to memorize and to understand the contexts of his reading. During Dr. Bennett's operation, he set a rule, no one was allowed to disturb him because he needed to pay full concentration to his operation. Meanwhile, his Tourette's syndrome would surprisingly disappear and became a normal human being for that particular period. “Some of the transformation while Bennett was operating …, was occurring at this elementary, 'musical' level” (Sacks 97).

To sum up, Tammett who has savant syndrome, is able to see his surrounding as colors , shapes ,and movement. Whereas Dr. Bennett Tourette's syndrome caused him to repeat a word many times, fling objects into the air or ground, tics ,and want everything in symmetry. Tammett's savant syndrome makes him to calculate and memorize better than normal people do. On the other hand, Dr. Bennett's obsessive to the symmetrical things makes him to read many times. Indirectly, the 'obsessive' reading method causes him to memory and to understand the reading. Obviously, both of them have adapted the neurological diseases. Better still, they are happy with their lives.

Special Smart People .

2011-01-30T10:29:00.001-08:00

Can people who suffer neurological disease be smart? Unquestionably, they can be smart. Daniel Tammett who is the writer of the book, Born on a Blue Day : inside the extraordinary mind of an autistic savant : a memoir , capable of speaking ten languages and calculate power multiplication without using any assistance from external source despite of his savant syndrome . In the same way, in “A surgeon's life” from Anthropologist on Mars, a man names Dr. Carl Bennett who suffers Tourette's Syndrome, is a fascinating surgeon. Tammett is considered a genius because of his mild savant syndrome. Eventually, his rare syndrome makes him think in different way, in other words, he “sees” answers. Whereas Dr. Carl Bennett who suffers Tourette's syndrome, tends to repeat an action many times, indirectly, the number of time he reads a book increases drastically. Both of them do not overwhelm by the disease that they are suffering. Yet, they cope the difficulties in their life; they make their life even better and exciting.

Numbers might appear to be bored to many people. Though, it appears to be very important to some people, especially Tammett who is suffering savant syndrome. This is because he asserts in his book, Born on a Blue Day, “numbers are [his] friends, and they are always around [him]” (2). Savant syndrome is “a rare neurological mixing of the senses, which mist commonly results in the ability to see alphabetical letters and/or number in color” (2) . However, Tammett sees “numbers as shapes, colors, textures and motions” (Tammett 2), which make him superior in calculating. In addition, Tammett likes most persons with savant syndrome, he has Asperger's syndrome too. Asperger's syndrome is defined by the “ presence of impairments affecting social interaction, communication, and imagination” (Tammett 6). On the contrary, he is not totally affected by the Asperger's syndrome and encounters no problems in communicating with other people, neither social interaction. For instance, he attended a popular talk show as a guest , hosted by David Letterman, in New York. Besides that, Tammett has a “specific” habit, he tends to count almost everything in his life, to make him to feel more in order. Numbers have merged with Tammett's life, without numbers, his life would be miserable. As he says, “numbers are my first language”(7).

Where there is a lost, there will be a gain. Tammett cannot see things as normal people does, but he can count a complex mathematical question in a very short period. One of his specialty, “see answer”, during calculation, in his mind, he will see “ two numbers as distinct shapes …changes and third shape emerges – the correct answer” (5). Hence, the “[calculating] process takes a matter of seconds and happens spontaneously”( Tammett 5). Similarly, Tammett is capable to tell the day of a particular date. This is because he can “elicit different colors and emotions in [his] head [for different days] ”(8). Not only that, Tammett also poses with strong memory power due his seeing of colors and textures in his head. Therefore, this specialty allows him to learn ten or more languages in a quick phase. English, Finnish, French, German, Lithuanian, Romanian, Icelandic, and Welsh are the ten languages that he learn. Tammett is nothing but a normal man, same to Dr. Carl Bennett.

Dr. Carl Bennett was a famous surgeon in small town of Branford, in British Columbia. He was also one of the Tourette's surgeons. The Tourette's syndrome has following symptoms, echolalia, echopraxia , and coprolalia. Due to his Tourette's syndrome, he always repeats a word many time, fling a object into the air or ground, tics ,and wants everything in symmetry. For example, “his mustache had constantly to be smoothed and checked for symmetry”(Sacks 80). When Dr. Bennett served as a surgeon, at the very beginning, in Branford, he encountered some difficulties due to his syndrome. No one put trustworthy on him, even his colleagues. They did not believe a person who tic all the time, could carry out operation. As time went by, Dr. Bennett proved his professional medical skills ,and gained confidences from people of his town, and became the famous surgeon in his town. Though Dr. Bennett often did some unpredictable actions in front his colleagues, family ,and his friends, no one seen to be surprised by his actions. In other words, surprisingly, Dr. Bennett Tourette's syndrome reactions were used to them.

Tourette's syndrome is incapable to provide different kind of thinking method to raise the particular patient's memory, nor calculation, unlike savant syndrome. Dr. Bennett have to read each line many times because “of strange difficulties and obsessions that obstructed that act of reading”(Sacks 86). Although it was annoying and wasted a lot time, but it naturally allowed Dr. Bennett to memory and to understand the contexts . During Dr. Bennett's operation, he set a rule, no one was allowed to disturb him because he needed to pay full concentration to his operation. Meanwhile, his Tourette's syndrome would surprisingly disappear and became a normal human being for that particular period. “Some of the transformation while Bennett was operating …, was occurring at this elementary, 'musical' level” (Sacks 97).

To sum up, Tammett who has savant syndrome, is able to see his surrounding as colors , shapes ,and movement. Whereas Dr. Bennett Tourette's syndrome caused him to repeat a word many time, fling a object into the air or ground, tics ,and want everything in symmetry. Tammett's savant syndrome makes him to calculate and memorize better than normal people do. On the other hand, Dr. Bennett's obsessive to the symmetrical things makes him to read many times. Indirectly, the 'obsessive' reading method causes him to memory and to understand the reading. Obviously, both of them have adapted the neurological diseases. Better still, they are happy with their life. Enjoy the life, not hate the life.

Employee Screenings Do Have More Benefits. v.2

2011-01-23T09:38:00.000-08:00

America is a country full of opportunities. Wall Street, one of America’s famous streets, is where all the business centers and global companies are located. Therefore, many people dream of working at Wall Street. How do the bosses from Wall Street hire their employees to work for them? One simple method they use is employee screenings. They want their employees to be free of drugs, and have nice personalities and a good background. Although some people do not like employee screenings, it is the fastest and most convenient way for employers to comprehend their future employees in a short period. Some people do not prefer employee screenings as part of the process of getting a job because they feel that their privacy are being invaded. If employee screenings are used correctly, it will not be a problem. According to the director of consulting services at Assess Systems, Michael Goldman, “you'll never achieve 100 percent perfection, but if you put the right [employees] screening processes in place, you'll see your quality for hire climb over the long term. And your company will be stronger for it” (qtd. in Hedger). Thus, employee screening methods, which include drug testing and background checks, play an important role in this society. There is no doubt that these employee screening methods have benefits .

One of the most common methods of employee screening is drug testing. Not only drug testing is required by most companies but it is also required in professional fields, such as sports. Athletes will be tested before and after matches and games to ensure that they are not taking any performance enhancing drugs in competition. In essence, it makes competition fair. This shows the importance of drug testing in different areas. Whereas, in the process of hiring an employee, drug testing is to examine whether a person takes illegal drugs. As many people know, drug abuse can lead to many bad effects. For instance, the over usage of marijuana can cause anxiety to the drug addict and interfere with work. Consequently, the productivity of the company may decrease. Employers want to provide a good atmospheres and drug free environment for their employees. Working under a good environment, employees production will increase compared to those workers who work in a corrupted environment. High productivity from workers can increase company profit margin. In addition, Douglas G. Jacobs, from the Department of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, asserts that “early [employee] screening and intervention may help prevent or reduce the damaging health” (159). Eventually, drug testing acts as a good barrier to protect workers, maintain a healthy working environment for the workers , and block those who are unable to pass the drug test. Prohibiting applicants who are unable to pass the drug from getting a job is not an act of discrimination, but an act of “responsibility”.

According to the article, Benchmarks on Background Checks as A Security Tool, “a printing plant in California ... year [2007] a 67-year-old veteran worker wounded three coworkers and shot himself because management had scaled back hours.” Shown by this incident, running background checks are important prior to hiring a unknown person, although background checks cannot fully prevent tragedies from happening. At the very least, background checks can lower the possibility of unwanted incidents occurring in the workplace. Similarly, Debra Shipman and Jack Hooten write on their book, Nursing Older people,“performing thorough background checks on staff helps to protect residents' and patients' safety and an organization’s reputation” (23). The job hiring market is shrinking due to the collapse of the economy. This leads to more cases of people giving out fake “information” in an attempt to get the job. In other words, background checks can minimize the possibility of violence and misdemeanors happening in the workplace. Indirectly, this screening can help create a harmonious working environment which every employer hopes to have for his or her company. As mentioned earlier, high productivity from workers can increase company profit margin. Even though, “background checks can be costly and time consuming, [it is worth it]” (Shipman, and Hooten 25). This allows employer to predict how the employee will work in the future. “Protection of your work environment should not be taken for granted” ( Benchmarks on Background Checks as A Security Tool).

To sum up, two of the employee screening methods, which are drug testing and background checks have benefits. Drug testing ensures the proper performance of employees. Employees are the most valuable asset of a company. Therefore, in the process of hiring a worker, the company should take it seriously. The other employee screening methods is background checks and they play an important role in acquiring a job. Background checks can really minimize the possibility of violence and misdemeanors happening in workplace. Once again, it solidifies the thesis, which is that employee screenings have more benefits than costs. Employee are not the only most valuable asset to a company, but to the whole country. Without them, there would be no production.

Employee Screenings Do Have More Benefits.

2011-01-22T18:38:00.000-08:00

America is a country full of opportunities. One of its famous streets, Wall Street is where all the business centers and world famous companies are located. Therefore, many poeple is dreaming to work at Wall Street. How do the bosses from Wall Street hire their employees to work for them? Perhaps, one simple method, employee screenings. They want their employees to be free of drugs, nice personalities, and have a good background. Although some people do not like the employee screenings methods, but it is the fastest and most convenient ways for the bosses to comprehend their future-employees in a short period. Why don't some of them prefer employee screenings as part of process getting a job? This is because employees feel that their privacy have been invaded. If employee screenings method is used correctly, it will not be a problem. According to the director of consulting services Assess Systems, Michael Goldman, “you'll never achieve 100 percent perfection, but if you put the right [ employees ] screening processes in place, you'll see your quality for hire climb over the long term. And your company will be stronger for it” ( qtd. in Hedger). Thus, employee screening methods , which are drug testing, and background checks, play an important role in this society. No doubt, these employee screening methods do have more benefits .

One of the most common methods of employee screening is drug testing. Not only drug testing is required by most companies but it is also required in some of professional fields. For example, sports. Athletes will be tested before and after matches and games , to ensure that they do not take any performance enhancing drugs in competition. In essence, it makes the competition fair. This shows the important of drug testing on different eras. Whereas, in the process of hiring an employee, drug testing is to examine whether he or she does take illegal drugs. As many people know, drug abusive can lead to many bad effects. For instance, the over usage of marijuana can cause anxiety to the drug addict and interfere the working phase. Consequently, the productivity of the company may decrease. Employers want to provide a good atmospheres ,and drug free environment for their employees. Working under a good environment, employees production will increase compared to those workers who work in a corrupted environment. High productivity from workers can increase company profit margin. In addiction, Douglas G. Jacobs, from the Department of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, asserts that “early [employee] screening and intervention may help prevent or reduce the damaging health” (159). Eventually, drug testing acts as a good barrier , to protect workers safety, to maintain a healthy working environment for the workers , and to block those who are unable to pass the drug test. Prohibiting of applicants, who are unable to pass the drug from getting a job, is not an act of discrimination ,but an act of “responsibility”.

According to the article, Benchmarks on Background Checks as A Security Tool, “ a printing plant in California ... year [2007] a 67-year-old veteran worker wounded three coworkers and shot himself because management had scaled back hours.” Therefore, significantly, background checks are important prior to hiring a unknown person ,albeit background checks cannot fully prevent tragedies from happening. At least, background checks can lower the possibility of unwanted incidents occurring at workplace. Similarly , Debra Shipman and Jack Hooten write on their book, Nursing Older people, “ performing thorough background checks on staff helps to protect residents' and patients' safety and an organization’s reputation” (23). The job hiring market is shrinking due to economy collapsed, there are many cases of a fake “information” in an attempt to get the job. In other words, background checks can minimize the possibility of violence , and misdemeanor happening in workplace. Indirectly , this screening can help create a harmonious working environment which every employer hopes to have for his or her company. As mentioned earlier, high productivity from workers can increase company profit margin. Even though, “background checks can be costly and time consuming, [but it is worth it]” (Shipman, and Hooten 25). This allows employer to predict how the employee will work in the future. “Protection of your work environment should not be taken for granted” ( Benchmarks on Background Checks as A Security Tool).

To sum up, two of the employee screening methods, which are background checks ,and drug testing do have more benefits. Drug testing ensures the proper performance of employees. Employees are the most valuable asset of a company. Therefore, in the process of hiring a worker, the company should take it seriously. Besides, one of the employee screening methods, background checks, also play an important role in acquiring a job. Background checks can really minimize the possibility of violence ,and misdemeanors happening in workplace. Once again, it solidifies my thesis, which is employee screenings do have more benefits. Employee are not the only most valuable asset to a company, but to the whole country. Without them, there would be no productions.

"Protection"

2010-12-04T17:05:00.000-08:00

In Voices of Self : A Study of Language Competence, Gilyard states, “ a street most aptly named for it served as a border between two neighborhoods, Corona and Jackson Height , and between two worlds – a Black one and a White one” (42). At that time, Gilyard was undergoing the segregation of White and Black. In public school, the educators ,which consisted mainly of White people, forbid the Black students from using their English, Black English in reading , speaking ,and writing. This is because White people could not accept Black culture in their own society albeit Black people and White people were living at the same town. For Gilyard, the clash of two cultures helped him to understand the crisis happening around him. He knew that he needed to build a bunker to protect his identity from the missiles of both cultures. Like Tanehi-Si Coates puts, “ the streets are like any other world - we all assume an armor, a garment to suit that world. ” Therefore, Gilyard developed a protective nature toward his culture and his identity due to the segregation and discrimination based on races.

Gilyard remarks, “ I know that I, had been asked in, say, 1964, could have told someone something about this clash between cultures, this problem of being Black and attempting to cope with the instruction offered in school controlled by those of another background” (10). In 60s, public school were dominated and controlled by White people ; they believed that only one kind of English, Standard English should be used in school system to prevent Black culture from invading their society. Besides, Black English was perceived as a language used only by people of the lower end of the society, Black people. “ The treatment they have received has been particularly harsh, but not unique” ( Gilyard 62 ). Therefore, the segregation in public school caused Gilyard to acquire some “self-defense techniques” to protect his identity and his culture. “ And indeed, in every world, some people wear the armor better than others, and thus reap considerable social reward” (Coates). For example, Black people who were capable of using both Englishes , which were Black English and Standard English, would gain more equalities, retained their identities and their culture.

“ From their poor outlook poor reading and writing score by Black English speakers are understood to be the direct result of these students' inability to abandon their own delimiting dialect” ( Gilyard 70 ). Black students were judged incapable of acquire good academic skills because they could not discrete Black English , which was part of their culture, from them. Thus , “[Black] students seem less then enthusiastic about formal education, they are portrayed as slow learners” ( Gilyard 9 ). According to Harvard Professor and MacArthur prize winner, William Julius Wilson states that “the district's history of segregation and inequality undermined the schools' legitimate in the eyes of its Black students” (22). Black students and their parents had no faith on the schools that segregated , suppressed , and discriminated them . Consequently, Black students who felt that they had been segregated and discriminated , abandoned their studies and moved to the street. This showed that the act of segregation had succeeded. For those who wanted to stay in schools to gain knowledge , they needed some sort of “code” to protect themselves from the segregation and discrimination, which tried to chase them back to where they belonged. “As Anderson puts it, ' the code of the street is actually a cultural adaption to a profound lack of faith in the police and the judicial system- and in others who would champion one's personal security '” (Wilson 18).

Gilyard learned the code of switching between Black English and Standard English and his name to protect his culture and his identity. As he recalls, “We [ Gilyard and his mother] already know that I went to P.S. 149 armed with some sense of the benefits of code-switching , as my name-switching technique illustrates” (68). Gilyard and his mother realized in the first place that Gilyard, himself needed some kind of “skills” to protect his identity and his culture at those merciless time. The “skills” are the code-switching of language and code-switching of names. Hence, both code-switching skills are closely related. How so? Gilyard mentions, “ my classmates had Raymond's allegiance, and he could communicate much like them. He could not exactly speak like the child of middle-class Jewish parents, but he certainly could avoid sounding like the average kids from Harlem”(68). Raymond was the name he used in school , and thus this Raymond spoke Standard English and also earned good grade in academic. Likewise, he asserts, “ they [ white kids in school ] cannot meet Keith now. I will put someone else together for them and he will be their classmate until further notice” (43). Keith was the same person of Raymond, but Keith only appeared outside the school. He spoke Black English, hung out with his street friend ,and watched people fight as a source of entertainment. Though both Keith and Raymond were the same person and shared the same physical appearance , but they shared no similar communicative skills and attitudes . He successfully carried out the “ 'acting black' or 'acting white' ” ( Wilson 17) methods , not to lose his culture and his identity.

To sum up, Gilyard had “protected” his culture and his identity from the segregation and discrimination at those time. Gilyard encountered segregation and discrimination mostly in school. But Gilyard did not despair in the process of his learning. This is because he knew that his culture and his identity as a Black people could not be suppressed by other culture, White culture. He needed to “protect” his culture and his identity. Thereupon, he learned the code-switching of Englishes and his names to encounter or to “protect” his culture and his identity. Albeit Gilyard used the name Raymond and acted like a White kid in school, but he successfully preserve his culture and his identity within himself. Nobel Peace Prize-Winner, Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote am inspiring sentence to his children in his book, Why We Can't Wait , “ To my children, Yolanda – Martin III – Dexter – Bernice, for whom I dream that one day they will no longer be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”(V).

Surviving skills

2010-12-04T06:40:00.000-08:00

In Voices of Self : A Study of Language Competence, Gilyard believes, “ the idea of Black English is still controversial despite research dating back three decades, which decuments that it is a legitimate linguistic system and not merely violation” (27). At that time, the education system only allowed Standard English in learning. The restriction of using Black English made Black students felt that they had lost their identities in the process of learning. In his mind, Gilyard has in faith that Black English symbolizes his culture. In other words, Black English represents his culture and identity. In order to retain his culture and identity during that harsh time. Gilyard developed his own skills to survive in the war of segregation and discrimination. He developed a protection toward his culture and himself.

According to Harvard Professor and MacArthur prize winner , William Julius Wilson states that “culture is closely intertwined with social relations in the sense of providing tools (skills, habits, and styles) and creating constraints (restrictions or limits on behavior or outlook) in patterns of social interaction” (17). Similarly, culture is a skills book for us to learn to survive in this community. Gilyard remarks, “ I know that I , had been asked in, say, 1964 , could have told someone something about this clash between cultures, this problem of being Black and attempting to cope with the instruction offered in school controlled by those of another background” (10). In 60s, public schools were dominated and controlled by White people ; they believed that only one kind of English, Standard English could be used within the schools. They believed Standard English indicated the status of speaker. Besides that, at that time, educators believed Black English was a street language and was only to used by lower class people. Yet, Gilyard also says that, “ a street most aptly named for it served as a border between two neighborhoods, Corona and Jackson Height , and between two worlds – a Black one and a White one” (42). For Gilyard, the difference between two cultures helped him to understand the crisis happening around him. He knew that he needed to build a bunker to protect himself from the missiles of both cultures. Like Tanehi-Si Coates puts, “ the streets are like any other world - we all assume an armor, a garment to suit that world. ”

“From their poor outlook poor reading and writing score by Black English speakers are understood to be the direct result of these students' inability to abandon their own delimiting dialect” (Gilyard 70). At that time, Black Students demanded by dominant people, White people, to discrete their Black English, their culture from them. Coates explains, “it , [culture] defies logic to think that any group, in generationally entrenched position, would not develop codes and more for how to survive in that position.” In other words, people who live within multicultural society, need to develop some kind of protection for themselves to survive. In a society which consisted Blacks and Whites, Gilyard learned the code of switching between Black English and Standard English to protect himself in the war of segregation and discrimination. “As Anderson puts it, 'the code of the street is actually a cultural adaption to a profound lack of faith in the police and the judicial system- and in others who would champion one's personal security' ” (Wilson 18).

Wilson mentions that “the decision making is influenced partly by how people come to view their world over time-what we call 'meaning making' ” (18). Mainly, people make their decisions by considering issues happening around them. In 1963 , a New York Times reporter, Tom Wicker, wrote “the president expressed a deep sense of outrage and grief' over the church bombings that killed four Negro children” (1). The bombing act as political weapon to warn Black people, not to cross beyond the boundary. The ultimate reason was to segregate Black people, who had been considered low class people, from White people. As Gilyard states, “ those who are slated to live lower-class are conditioned to accept their fate and taught how to function in their prescribed roles” (63).

Furthermore, code-switching in both languages, Black English and Standard English, Gilyard code-switched his names to protect himself and his culture. In the school, “they [White kids] cannot meet Keith now” (Wilson 43). For the name Keith, he used it only outside the school, street perhaps. On the other hand, Raymond was the only name he used in school. Gilyard says, “ I will put someone together for them and he, [ Raymond] will be their classmates until further notice” (43). There were a lot of difference between Keith and Raymond. Raymond was a boy who spoke Standard English and earned good grades in his academic, whereas Keith was a boy who spoke Black English, hung out with his street friends and watched people fight as a source of entertainment. “That will be the first step in this particular survival plan” (Wilson 43). He needed to have two names to survive at that time.

To survive in the war of segregation and discrimination, Gilyard had developed his own skills which were code-switching of languages and names. He knew that he was living in a community of disarray. Disorder and chaos occurred almost everyday during that time. For example , bombing. Likewise, the skills protected his culture within him. Eventually, he retained his identity as a Black student. No doubt, war of segregation and discrimination had no mercy.

thesis 3

2010-11-22T19:59:00.000-08:00

Affects of Culture

Does anyone know the real definition of the word, culture? Perhaps, not much of us know the real definition of the word, culture. In the Voice of Self, Gilyard believes, “the idea of Black English is still controversial despite research dating back three decades, which documents that it is a legitimate linguistic system and not merely a collection of verbal aberrations arrived by the reckless violation” (27). In his mind, Black English is not just a tool of communication ; it represents his culture. Black English develops a 'culture' within Gilyard and has become a guidebook for Gilyard to elude from the battleground. I believe the culture at that specific time time, plays an important role in Gilyard's developing into a dream fully person. Culture not only affects Gilyard, himself, even us.

According to Wilson, “culture is closely intertwined with social relations in the sense of providing tools (skills, habits, and styles) and creating constraints (restriction or limits on behavior or outlooks) in patterns of social interaction (17). Culture creates rules for us to stay in the community safely. If a person breaks the rules of culture, that person will be prohibited from his or her community. Gilyard and his others like him trying to fit in to the community which built up from African-American and white people, while white people were the dominant. Gilyard's culture was being suppressed by the White culture. It can be seen from the aspect of language. Language was the soul of their culture. At that time, there were two kind of English, which were Black English and Standard English. Gilyard remarks, “ I know that I, had been asked in, say, 1964 , could have told someone something about his clash between cultures, this problem of being Black and attempting to cope with the instruction offered in school controlled by those of another background” (10). In 60s, public schools were dominated and controlled by White people ; they believed only one kind of English, Standard English, should be taught to pupils because they considered Standard English as a formal English, which could represent the status of the speaker. Not only that, at that time, educators believed Black English was a street language, which can only be used by lower class people. Indirectly, a barrier built up around Black culture, prevented African-American from moving up to higher class and poverty. It caused African-American and White people tried to distinct themselves from each other. Therefore, segregation occurred. Gilyard proves, “that was a street most aptly named for it served as a border between two neighborhoods Corona and Jackson Height and between between two worlds - a Black one and a White one (42). For Gilyard, culture helped him to understand the crisis happening around him. He knew that he needed to build bunker to protect himself from the missiles of both cultures. Like Coates says, “ the street are like any other world – we all assume an armor, a garment to suit that world.”

In my opinion, any person who was living in 60s, would share the same thought. Am I living in the hell? This is because tumults occurs almost everyday at that time , more or less. Un deniable, it was a hard time for those people, who were living at that time. Especially, Gilyard was still a elementary school student, when he realized that he was living in disarray community. Can he grow up as a normal kid? No, I don't think so. Gilyard writes, “ I never wished to trade my background or culture (69). His culture was at the edge of a hill. He knew that he had to be tougher that other kids, to protect himself and his culture. Besides, Wilson mentions about, “ the decision making is influenced partly by how people come to view their world over time – what we call 'meaning making' (18). People may change their habits or behavior to suit into the society. For example, Malaysians are capable of speaking of three languages because Malaysia builds up of different races, which means Malaysia consists of different cultures. This is to prevent the happening of segregation. Gilyard applied the Wilson's concept of decision making by referring to his community, to evolve himself to survive from racial segregation. He used his school as a background, to describe his community. If Black students want to gain passes to higher class in society, they are demanded to use Standard English in learning, which totally oppose their culture. In other words, Black students needed to abandon their culture to live in a better life. Gliyard says, “from their poor outlook poor reading and writing scores by Black English speakers are understood to be the direct result of these students' inability to abandon their own deliminating dialect (70). The educators believed that students could not achieve good score if they could not eliminate culture, Black English, from their life. Not only that, in an article A culture of Poverty, Coates argues, “ it, [culture] defies logic to think that nay group, in a generationally entrenched position, would not develop codes and mores for how to survive in that position (2). If one culture didn't make contact with the dominant culture, the culture would have been preserved its origins without generating any codes to alter itself. For survival, Gilyard learnt the code of switching in between Black English and Standard English. The code-switch is like a door to move freely between two sides without been injured by bombs of the culture war. Not only that, the code-switch provided him a temporary pass to higher class, but he chose to stay with his culture.

Gilyard was a smart kid on every aspects, especially his academic. He learnt that he needed a method, code-switch of English to protect himself from the war of culture. Besides, Gilyard states , “that my mother was the chief agent helping me to learn to code-switch should not raise any eyebrows (31). Gilyard's mother taught him the code-switching method of Black English and Standard English because she was a code-switcher and knew that her children need to code-switch to survive at that hard time, otherwise, her children would have no bright future. The war of culture spared no mercy. In 1963, a New York Times reporter , Tom Wicker wrote, “the president expressed a ' deep sense of outrage and grief ' over the church bombings that killed four Negro children.” The war of culture not only suppressed Black culture, it took away four precious life. The deaths of four Negro children worsted the situation of Blacks and Whites. Therefore, Gilyard needed not only code-switch to protect himself and his culture, but, trustworthiness to make friend to have his back. Coates also describes, “to the young people in my neighborhood , friendship was defined by having each other's back. And in that way, the personal shield, the personal willingness to meet violence with violence, combined and become a collective, neighborhood shield - - a neighborhood rep (3). At that time, it was a chaos, young people got to have someone at their back to protect them and to fight along with them. Gilyard noticed the important of friendship; he had to gain trust from people around him and to make friends by using his code-switch method. Gilyard asserts. “ I will put someone together for them and he will be their classmate until further notice. That will be the first step in this particular survival plan (43). In the school, Gilyard used the name, Raymond, whereas, he named himself Keith , outside the school. Raymond was a boy, who spoke Standard English and achieved good grades in his academics, whereas Keith was a boy who spoke Black English, used to hang with his street friends, and watched people fighting as an entertainment. However, both Raymond and Keith are the same person. He code-switched his names to survive in his community. “Code of the street” (Wilson 19). As a result, culture molds a person's behavior.

Gilyard decided to acquire good language skills to save his culture that were been suppressing. Gilyard says, “ a belief I held very dearly throughout the elementary school years, one that reverberates throughout the narrative, is that I was destined to become someone important in mainstream society” (105). he believed to himself that he would become an important person to save other Black pupils like him from the segregation. He saw black students abandoned their studies and remained at the lower class because restriction of using Black English in school and inability in using Standard English in learning. This created a huge obstacles for Black pupils in acquiring knowledge, in other words, they could hardly access to higher class. Gilyard writers, “ I have explored how I, as a native Black English speaker in an urban public environment, acquired Standard English language skills (11). He made a strong decision to help Black people to acquire Standard English skills to move freely in between Black and Whites. Not just gain an access to higher class , but have preserved Black culture and identity of themselves. I agree with Gilyard that we need to adapt different skills in order to survive and to step out from poverty. It is a natural rule that can't be denied.

As a conclusion, culture can affect our life. Culture is a tool to help us make decisions and to know ourselves. Culture represents the soul of a community. Gilyard made a his biggest turning point in his based to his heart to his culture. Gilyard decided to help other pupils like him, who encountered the same problems, preserving culture and surviving in public schools, by teaching them his code-switch. So, they could be able to access a higher class and away from poverty. I believe people are the ones who create the culture ; culture is controlled by us. Culture affects us. And we create culture. It means we control our life with our own bare hands.

thesis 1.2.1

2010-10-09T18:33:00.001-07:00

Can English be a plural term? Englishes. Technically, it cannot be plural. But there is more than one "English" in the world. This idea is supported by Amy Tan who stated “Language is the tool of my trade. And I use them all – all the Englishes I grew up with” (243). Keith Gilyard, author of "Voices of the Self: A Study of Language Competence," came by various voices of his own, which are Black English and Standard English. Not only that, Keith Gilyard also defined psychic payments as the mental trauma that Black students experience. However, the educational system demands us to use standard English in learning. Is the existence of Englishes important? “Englishes” exist and it is important in our life because “Englishes” represent our culture, heritage, and true selves. Therefore, I believe we should embrace it at home and at school. We should not use only standard English because it may hide our personalities and lead to a lack of intimacy..

Amy Tan states “Language is the tool of my trade. And I use them all – all the Englishes I grew up with” (243). She uses more than one kind of English in her writing to show the origins of herself. Tan writes “all the forms of standard English that I had learned in school and through books, the forms of the English I did not use at home with my mother” (243). When she chats with her family members, she uses the English that she did not learn from school or books. She uses her mother tongue, an intimate language. From what I have observed, people seldom notice the switching of languages when they are chatting with their family members. Amy Tan's husband did not even notice the switching of her Englishes. Tan writes, “My husband was with us as well, and he didn't notice any switch in my English” (243). This is because it is one part of her family that can't be thrown out, which is proven by Amy Tan when she writes “It has become our language of intimacy a different sort of English that relates to family talk that I grew up with” (244). For example, in my daily conversation with my parents, I use Cantonese, but with my friends and my sister, I normally use English. It is hard to describe the exact feelings in words, but one word that could represent it all is natural. Family language, which is our mother tongue, is an intimacy language. It bonds our family together.

Amy Tan dislikes the fact that people refer to her mother tongue as "as 'broken' or 'fractured' English." She writes "It has always bothered me that I can think of no way to describe it other than “broken”, as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness and soundness” (244). Amy Tan describes her mother tongue as an imperfect English, which contains a lot of errors and needs to be corrected. However, her mother tongue, which she described as an imperfect English, represents her family. It is an icon of her family. For example, in Malaysia, Malaysians use more than one kind of language in one sentence during conversation. It may sound impossible, but it is the truth. “Bahasa Rojak,” which means mixed of languages in Malay, is the identity of Malaysia people. Malaysians feel more comfortable in using mixed languages in daily conversation. Eventually, “Bahasa Rojak” has become part of Malaysia culture. For Amy Tan, she uses two kind of English in her daily life. Amy Tan uses her mother tongue, which she considered it as an imperfect English, to communicate with her family, whereas, during work, Amy Tan uses “all the forms of standard English that [she] had learned in school and through books” (243). In making conversation with her family members, she feels more comfortable using her mother tongue. It is part of her family. Therefore, Amy Tan's mother tongue is like an identity of her family. She feels proud of her mother tongue, albeit she was ashamed of it when she was immature. She thought her mother's English represented low education level and low status. Amy Tan writes, “I was ashamed of her English. I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say” (245). In spite of that, it was Amy Tan's mother tongue, which changed her own perception toward her mother's English. Tan comes to describe her mother's English as "vivid, direct, full of observation and imagery” (243). Her mother tongue represents her family, and indirectly, it has become her family's culture.

Different languages represent different cultures. Keith Gilyard writes about young urban African-Americans and "Black English" in his book, "Voices of the Self: A Study of Language Competence." "Black English" has become the language that they use in their daily life, in otherwords, it is their mother tongue. This English has become a real form of communication and has been supported in court. Gilyard writes “However, keeping in spirit with Smitherman, Haskins, Butts, Dillard, and the company, Judge Charles W. Joner ruled, in a precedent setting case in 1979, that Black English is indeed a distinct linguistic form and must have an officially established place within the educational environment of the Martin Luther Jr. Elementary School in Ann Arbor, Michigan” (10). In my opinion, Black English is just a different form of English that has been modified throughout the years to adapt to the culture. Eventually, it turns out to be their culture. However, the education system demanded them to use Standard English in schools. This rule can be an obstacle to their learning and culture. Indirectly, the school system made it harder to acquire knowledge and skills because they felt like they were walking in the middle of a heavy snow storm. They had lost themselves. Black English is the language that they use to speak. It is their mother tongue, language that they use in their daily life. Not only that, it gives the feelings of home to them. According to Keith Gilyard, “In their view, this implicit and explicit rejection of language communicates a rejection of both Black children and the culture that has produced them” (9).They would feel more comfortable in school if Black English was allowed to use in school. If schools were to accommodate Black English in teaching, it might yield better results in the curriculum or co-curriculum. Black English is their culture.

Now, I come to a conclusion that Englishes exist and it is important to us. This statement is supported by Amy Tan and Keith Gilyard. Amy Tan describes her mother's English as “broken” English, but she considers it as an one kind of English. In "Voices of the Self: A Study of Language Competence," Keith Gilyard discusses Black English and Standard English. Once again, his writing solidifies my points. I feel that English that we use in our conversation does not have to be so standard. Why? If it is so standard, it may hide the personalities of the speakers and lead to a lack of intimacy. How would you feel if someone is talking with you as if they were reading a grammar book in front of you? “Englishes” represent ourselves and our cultures. “We are who we are”.

thesis 1.2

2010-10-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

Can English be a plural term? Englishes. Technically, it can't be plural. But there is more than one "English" in the world. This idea is supported by Amy Tan who stated “Language is the tool of my trade. And I use them all – all the Englishes I grew up with” (243). Keith Gilyard, author of Voices of the Self: A Study of Language Competence, came by various voices of his own, which are Black English and Standard English. Not only that, Keith Gilyard also defined psychic payments as the mental trauma that Black students experienced. However, the educational system demands us to use standard English in learning. Is the existence of Englishes important? “Englishes” are existed and it is important in our life, precisely, “Englishes” represent ourselves.

her Englishes. Tan writes, “My husband was with us as well, and he didn't notice any switch in my English” (243). This is because it is one part of her family that can't be thrown out, which is proven by Amy Tan when she writes “It has become our language of intimacy a different sort of English that relates to family talk that I grew up with” (244). For example, in my daily conversation with my parents, I use Cantonese, but with my friends and my sister, I normally use English. It is hard to describe the feelings in words; how about, I use a word to represent it all, natural. Family language, which is our mother tongue, is an intimacy language. It bonds our family together.

According to Amy Tan, “Like others I have described it to people as 'broken' or 'fractured' English. It has always bothered me that I can think of no way to describe it other than “broken”, as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness and soundness” (244). Amy Tan describes her mother tongue as an imperfect English, which contains a lot of errors and needs to be corrected. However, her mother tongue, which she described as an imperfect English, represents her family. It is an icon of her family. For example, in Malaysia, Malaysians use more than one kind of

language in one sentence during conversation. It does sound impossible, but it is the truth. “Bahasa Rojak,” which means mixed of languages in Malay, is the identity of Malaysia people. Malaysians feel more comfortable in using mixed languages in daily conversation. Eventually, “Bahasa Rojak” has become part of Malaysia culture. For Amy Tan, she uses two kind of English in her daily life. Amy Tan uses her mother tongue, which she considered it as an imperfect English, to conversate with her family, whereas, during working, Amy Tan uses “all the forms of standard English that I had learned in school

and through books” (243). In making conversation with her family members, she feels more comfortable, using her mother tongue. It is part of her family. Therefore, Amy Tan's mother tongue is like an identity of her family. She feels proud of her mother tongue, albeit she was ashamed of it when she was immature. She thought her mother's English represented low education level and low status. Amy Tan writes, “I was ashamed of her English. I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say” (245). In spite of that, it was Amy Tan's mother tongue, which changed her own perception toward her mother's English, Tan comes to describe her mother's English as "vivid, direct, full of observation and imagery” (243). Her mother tongue represents her family, indirectly, it has become her family's culture.

Different languages represent different cultures. According to Keith Gilyard, “In their view, this implicit and explicit rejection of language communicates a rejection of both Black

children and the culture that has produced them” (9). In the sentence above, the word “them” is referring to young urban African - Americans, who speak Black English. Black English is the language that they use in their daily life, in otherwords, it is their mother tongue. Keith Gilyard writes, “However, keeping in spirit with Smitherman, Haskins, Butts, Dillard, and the company, Judge Charles W. Joner ruled, in a precedent setting case in 1979, that Black English is indeed a distinct linguistic form and must have an officially established place within the educational environment of the Martin Luther Jr. Elementary School in Ann Arbor, Michigan” (10). In my opinion, Black English is just a different form of English that has been modified throughout the years to adapt to the culture. Eventually, it turns out to be their culture. However, the education system demanded them to use Standard English in schools. This rule can be an obstacle to their learning. Indirectly, the school system made it harder to acquire knowledge and skills because they felt like they were walking in the middle of a heavy snow storm. They had lost themselves. Black English is the language that they use to speak. It is their mother tongue, language that they use in their daily life. Not only that, it gives the feelings of home to them. They would feel more comfortable in school if Black English was allowed to use in school. If schools were to accommodate Black English in teaching, it might yield better results in the curriculum or co-curriculum. Black English is their culture.

Now, I come to a conclusion that Englishes exist and it is important to us. This statement is supported by Amy Tan and Keith Gilyard. Amy Tan describes her mother's English as “broken” English, but she considers it as one kind of English. Not only that, in Voices of the Self: A Study of Language Competence, Keith Gilyard discusses Black English and Standard English. Once again, his writing solidifies my points. I feel that English that we use in our conversation does not have to be so standard. Why? If it is so standard, it may hide the personalities of the speakers and lead to a lack of intimacy. How would you feel if someone is talking with you as if they were reading a grammar book in front of you? “Englishes” represent ourselves and our cultures. “We are who we are”.

thesis 1.1

2010-10-08T09:03:00.000-07:00

Can English be a plural term? Englishes. Technically, it can't be plural. But there is more than one "English" in the world. This idea is supported by Amy Tan who stated “Language is the tool of my trade. And I use them all – all the Englishes I grew up with” (243). Keith Gilyard, author of "Voices of the Self: A Study of Language Competence," came by various voices of his own, which are Black English and Standard English. However, the educational system demands us to use standard English in learning. Is the existence of Englishes important?

Amy Tan states “Language is the tool of my trade. And I use them all – all the Englishes I grew up with” (243). She uses more than one kind of English in her writing to show the origin of herself. Tan writes “all the forms of standard English that I had learned in school and through books " are not " the forms of the Englishes I did not use at home with my mother” (243). When she chats with her family members, she uses the English that she didn't learn from school or books. She uses her mother tongue, an intimacy language. From what I have observed, people seldom notice the switching of languages when they are chatting with their family members. Amy Tan's husband didn't even notice her switching of her Englishes. Tan writes, “My husband was with us as well, and he didn't notice any switch in my English” (243). This is because it is one part of her family that can't be thrown out, which is proven by Amy Tan when she writes “It has become our language of intimacy a different sort of English that relates to family talk that I grew up with” (244). For example, in my daily conversation with my parents, I use Cantonese, but with my friends and my sister, I normally use English. It is hard to describe the feelings in words; how about, I use a word to represent it all, natural. Family language, which is our mother tongue, is an intimacy language that bond our family together.

According to Amy Tan, “Like others I have described it to people as “broken” or “fractured” English. It has always bothered me that I can think of no way to describe it other than “broken”, as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness and soundness” (244). Amy Tan describes her mother tongue as an imperfect English, which contains a lot of errors and needs to be corrected. However, her mother tongue, which she described it as an imperfect English, represents her family. It is an icon of her family. For example, in Malaysia, Malaysians use more than one kind of language in one sentence during conversation. It does sound impossible, but it is the truth. “Bahasa Rojak,” which means mixed of languages in Malay, is the identity of Malaysia people. Therefore, Amy Tan's mother tongue is like an identity of her family. She feels proud of her mother tongue, albeit she was ashamed of it when she was immature. She thought her mother's English represented low education level and low status. Amy Tan writes, “I was ashamed of her English. I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say” (245). In spite of that, it was Amy Tan's mother tongue, which changed her own perception toward her mother's English, Tan comes to describe her mother's English as "vivid, direct, full of observation and imagery” (243).

Different languages represent different cultures. According to Keith Gilyard, “In their views, this implicit and explicit rejection of language communicates as a rejection of both Black children and the culture has produced them” (9). In the sentence above, the word “them” is referring to young urban African - American, who speaks Black English. Black English is the language that they use in their daily life, in other words, it is their mother tongue. Keith Gilyard writes, “However, keeping in spirit with Smitherman, Haskins, Butts, Dillard, and the company, Judge Charles W. Joner ruled, in a precedent setting case in 1979, that Black English is indeed a distinct linguistic form and must have an officially established place within the educational environment of the Martin Luther Jr. Elementary School in Ann Arbor, Michigan” (10). In my opinion, Black English is just a different form of English that has been modified throughout the years to adapt to the culture. Eventually, it turns out to be their culture. However, the education system demanded them to use Standard English in schools. This rule can be an obstacle to their learning. Indirectly, the school system made it harder to acquire knowledge and skills because they felt like they were walking in the middle of a heavy snow storm. They had lost themselves. If schools were to accommodate Black English in teaching, it might yield better results in the curriculum or co-curriculum.

Now, I come to a conclusion that Englishes exist and it is important to us. This statement is supported by Amy Tan and Keith Gilyard. Amy Tan describes her mother's English as “broken” English, but she considers it as one kind of English. Not only that, in "Voices of the Self: A Study of Language Competence," Keith Gilyard discusses Black English and Standard English. Once again, his writing solidifies my points. I feel that English that we use in our conversation does not have to be so standard. Why? If it is so standard, it may hide the personalities of the speakers and lead to a lack of intimacy. How would you feel if someone is talking with you as if they were reading a grammar book in front of you? Englishes represents ourselves and our cultures. “We are who we are".

无可奈何

2010-09-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

宠坏的孩子能被救吗？我认识一位朋友，他有一位不知天高地厚的小妹妹，无视父母的存在，无视爸妈的教训。可恶的是每个人都要迁就他，能怎办呢。可说是目中无人。不过，我觉得可悲的是她，并无他人。她那性格能为她找到知己吗？我可以给她一个很确实的答案，不能。他所换来的，只有强迫的友情。并无人当她是好朋友。我的眼泪只能从心里为她流出啊。是不是每个人出生，上天都注定他们的性格了。如果是，我恳求神把每个人都变善良和孝顺。我也为我的朋友痛心啊。但他告诉我，“不能怨天，只能怨人，他觉得这是人为的啊！”我觉得他是一位很有耐力的人。我的友人，小的时候，不听长辈的劝告，而发生了一件他毕生难忘的意外。也就是这起意外，改变了他。由强词夺理。满口谎言的小孩到千依百顺和勤力的小孩。从此，长辈们和老师们都很疼爱他，不是因为他身上的伤口，而是他的改变。知己也多了。可说是因祸得福。他说：“人是可被改变的，看那人要变成怎样，好与坏。”他的妹妹的性格和我小学的一位同学很相似。她做错了，还责备老师，就连她的母亲也袒护她。不但，没矫正她，还纵容她。在学校，惹人讨厌，所做的事人神共愤。但，你们觉得无朋友的小孩‘开心吗？我觉得她很可怜。你说我自大也好，我觉得我自己有一种天赐的“眼睛”，我能知道他人的内心里正在想什么。孩子们请你们孝顺你们的爸妈。正如，柴九所说，“人生有多少个十年。”（来自一部香港无线连续剧的对白）。哈哈哈！谢谢。