Sound and Fury

It is hard to take a side on such a subject as the in ability to hear, and so I chose not to. I myself am happy that I have been fortunate with my own ability to hear, but I will not try to assume that it is necessarily better to have such an ability, nor are people who are deft any less capable. So instead I choose to examine the different Discourses that were presented in the film.

To start with the hearing perspective (of which I have a bit more experience), it is hard for the family to understand why their relatives are hesitant to get the cochlear implants. They have been able to hear all their lives and it is hard to imagine what life would be like without it. It has become so much a part of their daily lives that if it were taken away, they would not be able to function nearly as well in daily society. They feel that preventing their children from being able to hear would hold them back. As the Grandmother asks her daughter-in-law about her ability to read a simple recipe, it seems obvious that if deftness hinders ones ability to read, it should be treated for the child's sake. At the same time the deft father also admits that he may have gotten as far as he could in his job because of his deftness, so why wouldn't he want more for his daughter? Finally their is the fear of ridicule. Though the deft father and mother do not remember, the Grandmother feels that her son was isolated from everyone else because of his inability to communicate with them and she does not wish the same for her grandchildren. They see deftness as nature's mistake that can now be fixed.

On the other side there are many factors that must be considered as well. From the deft perspective, it seems offensive that their relatives are so forceful about getting the cochlear implant. They have been deft all their lives and they have done relatively well with themselves in spite of what many call a disability. They don't think of it as a disability, but as the way nature intended them to be. The deft family (and community for that manner) often seems to feel that they are under appreciated and seen as inferior or less intelligent. This fuels a pride for their deft heritage and a sense to prove that they are just as capable and to stop the destruction of this way of life. At the same time there is a fear of the parents that their daughter will lose touch from them. Sure, she may be able to sign well-enough now, but when she is able to speak, will she begin to abandon this way of life--will they lose touch with their own daughter. They also fear that the implant may not even work. As they met with the other deft family whose daughter had had the implant, from their perspective, the daughter seemed to be speaking perfectly, but as they found out, her speech was still odd and difficult to understand. Would it be better for her to be good at one type of language, or average with two?

Last Breath

For neary nine years now I have been a member of a swim team, and I love it. I love the competition, the excitement of racing, of cheering on my teammates, of my teammates cheering on me. I love the feeling of accomplishing something great, whether a new best time, trying a new event, or even just finishing a hard practice. I have done demanding sets that have forced me to practice sprinting with all of my might but without taking a breath, so I ask if it is rational that one of my greatest fears is drowning?

Now, I am not worried everyday as I show up for practice and take my dive off the blocks. I have great confidence in my ability to keep myself afloat on top of the water and I always know that if I need a breath, I can simply turn my head to the side. If I am underwater and I get some water running up my nose, it is no big deal, I have gotten used to it.

Still, perhaps this prolonged exposure to the experience of losing oxygen has done its toll. As we practice holding our breath at the bottom of the pool, my fear grows, the longer I stay down there. As I wait, I can feel the tips of my fingers and toes go numb. My arms began to feel weak as the oxygen leaves them. I feel a frog forming in my throat as my lungs try to ask for more oxygen and try to pull it in, but there is nothing to pull. The pressure builds in my chest as the oxygen is being replaced by carbon dioxide and I begin to feel heavy. I try to relieve the pressure, and just let a little bit out at a time, but then it shifts and suddenly the water is pushing on my lungs trying to squeeze every last bit of breath I have out of me. I feel heavy in the water and I know that I have to work to get to the surface. I use the bottom to push off towards the surface, each second another bit of torture, but finally I break the water to end the pain and fear. One breath, and back down I go...

Semiotic Analysis: Headphones

Headphones are a very basic item that have been constantly evolving over the last few years. Most commonly they are used for listening to music through the radio, CD players, ipods, etc, but also at computers for watching shows or videos. It is a part of the ever-expanding media industry and has adapted over the years. As it was most commonly used with CD players before the Ipod, it existed as a large and bulky set that fit over a person's ears with padding for comfort and a connecting section that would go over the top of the head. They were made adjusable to fit heads of different sizes and had wires that were thin and easily breakable. As they advanced they came thinner, lighter, and more comfortable, but still easily breakable. Eventually they returned to the much more bulky version, but had much thicker cords and more soundproof padding to keep other sounds out. Much like headphones that come with the ipod are earbuds that were ment for portability and flexibility.

They are structured as they are to block out outside sound so the person can have privacy as they listen to their music/movie. The added padding has been key to try and provide comfort for the ears to prevent them from pressing to hard on the side of the head. However, one thing that they don't allow often is for more than one person to listen to them at a time and they could be adjusted to fit this.

The way headphones are used reveals both a positive and a negative side to society. On the negative side, the ability of only one person to use them shows a detachment of people. These headphones are used for either keeping something to ones self or for drowning out sounds of the outside, creating a solitude. However, on the positive side it celebrates societies high value on music and musical arts to expand creativity and imagination.

Inaugurations

Every four years, a single person steps forward to deliver a speech. A speech of acceptance of the responsibility to lead our unified body of a single nation. It is fitting that over the course of 230 years, that every president has used this word, "NATION" to express our unification. Obama himself used this word most in his speech, a total of 15 times. But looking to where we've come in our government, how true is this?

In a sense, it is true. We are united as 50 states under one single large government. In this sense I guess it is politically correct to call ourselves a nation. However, we must also consider how much we are apart. The seperations between the upper and lower classes, and between the different cultures that exist apart from one another, neither with the perspective of problems that the others go through. In politics we see the constant feuding between two political parties, seeming to fight over who has control over rather than what should be done for the good of the people. More and more we see the government coming to a standstill, not willing to act.

I question: Are the consequences worse if the government passes a law that has some negatives and positives but does something, or if nothing is done at all?