English 1050 - Essay 1 Othering Part 1 To say that othering can be completely extinct, I think would be a lie.

. Othering is nearly inevitable; it is subject to so many different forms from the smallest to the largest othering issues. Othering is something that I think many people have faced in one-way or another, because it happens to people of different race, ethnicity, beliefs, traditions, value, etc. Without othering in our world history, we would have not been able to accomplish many of the things we have, which in turn, we would also not have had as many tragedies as we have/had. These types of examples are still proven in our day-to-day lives, and around the world. Diana George and John Trimbur said it perfectly, To make the multitudes of people who had been ignored in the selective tradition visible in American history complicates the way we see the past and understand its aftermath in the class relations and racial, ethnic, and sexual hierarchies that form American culture (431). It might not be as straight forward in this statement as some may think, but this proves that without having othering in our history, we would not be able to understand the different cultures that surround our world and make up our world/s. There is another standpoint from this, which othering becomes very conflicting and when taken to the level that often our world does, it becomes a threat to our society and people. Then in turn, wars are created and assassinations begin happening, etc. Othering needs to be taken advantage of; it can bring new values, beliefs, and traditions to our own lives and open up so many doors of opportunity for people. If people could just take a step back, and realize that just because someone has a different color tone, or speaks differently then you does not mean that they are any less of an

English 1050 - Essay 1 individual. The same creator created them when you put all differences aside, and all they have different is their upbringings. By allowing ourselves to open up to others backgrounds and histories, it would help us as a society; become more of a strong union. There is no reason why someone should be singled out of the world because of his or her ethnic background or race. Much like one of our readings by Gloria Anzaldua, she talks about being punished for speaking her own language. She states, I remember being caught speaking Spanish at recess-that was good for three licks on the knuckles with a sharp ruler. I remember being sent to the corner of the classroom for talking back to the Anglo teacher when all I was trying to do was tell her how to pronounce my name. If you want to be a American, speak American. If you dont like it, go back to Mexico where you belong (521). This is a example of othering, that I see and hear very frequently. In President Obamas speech, A More Perfect Union, he brought up amazing points. Now do not get me wrong; I know that he, and generally all politicians, do not write their own speeches. But I would think that almost all of us could agree, that President Obama knows how to give a darn good speech, and one that makes us often become believers of all his promises. President Obama is such a good speaker, that millions and millions of people changed which political party they were on when he ran for President the first time. This is another example of othering; people get so wrapped up in others beliefs and values and want to fit in so badly that they go against their own beliefs and values. That example is present on people switching to a different political party because everyone else was going to be voting for President Obama. When I was in high school, and everyone was becoming legal to vote. It was truly astonishing to me to

English 1050 - Essay 1 see the amount of my classmates that voted for President Obama because all their friends were. They could not even give you a good explanation why, other than Everyone else was doing it so they were going to. President Obama said, This time we want to talk about how the lines in the Emergency Rooms are filled with whites and blacks and Hispanics who do not have health care. This time we want to talk about the shuttered mills that once provided a decent life for men and women of every race, and the homes for sale that once belonged to Americans from every religion, every region, every walk of life. This time we want to talk about the fact that the real problem is not that someone who doesn't look like you might take your job. This time we want to talk about the men and women of every color and creed who serve together, and fight together, and bleed together under the same proud flag (482). I truly enjoyed and loved how this was put into his speech. It brings such light that we are all in this together, and that a person that you think is so different from you because of their color could be going through the exact same problems as you. That same person could be suffering from the same disease, same financials problems, and same relationship battles. That people that serve and flight for our freedom are people from all walks of life, color, religion, etc. I know that our biggest struggle as a society is that we are all talk and no action, and a lot of the times I feel that way about President Obamas speech. Seth Miller stated in his response, I believe this challenge is a challenge to be accepted, but not just for race. This is a good point because with othering will most likely always be present in our society, and it is something that needs to be accepted. And I think that once our society can accept this, then change may come.

English 1050 - Essay 1 I do not think that othering will ever be something that will become extinct, it is just too hard for some people to put aside their differences and histories and work together. There are days that go by that myself, and probably many others are guilty of othering someone or something. But I think it is a good Year-End-Resolution for people to become more open to people that arent like you or your group. The way of living should not be like the way that June Jordan said, As we learn our way around this environment, either we hide our original word habits, or we completely surrender our own voice, hoping to please those who will never respect anyone different from themselves (158). I challenge everyone, next time someone you meet isnt like you or your group be open to them and their ways of living and traditions. You just might surprise yourself on what you can become and learn.

Works Cited George, Diana, and John Trimbur. Reading Culture; Contexts for Critical Reading and Writing. 2012. 431. Print Obama, Barack. A More Perfect Union. 476-484. Print Anzaldua, Gloria. How to Tame a Wild Tongue. 521-529. Print Jordan, June. Nobody Mean More to Me Than you and the Future Life of Willie Jordan. 157-167. Print

English 1050 - Essay 1 Rhetorical Analysis Part 2 We Are All Third Generation Margaret Mead In Margaret Meads, We Are All Third Generation, the author has provided examples of real life scenarios of people in our society that most people can relate to. She has provided the reader ways to relate to her story with pathos. She reminds people of either themselves or others they may know by stating, these people who are always moving, always readjusting, always hoping to buy a better car and a better radio (96). She knows that this is a common thing for most Americans to experience throughout the generations of their lives. Throughout the reading she expressed how many people are unaware of theyre past generations, after either their parents or possibly grandparents generations. People have choose to not become aware of their past generations, and for the ones that have chosen to go back on their generations has realized how much they vary. The newer more current generations are always looking for ways to better their lives or to become less like their parents. These people feel like there parents or grandparents lived the wrong way and they are going to live the right way- the American way. Margaret Mead states in her readings, He cannot see the generations of women who have worn such kerchiefs. He sees only the American women who wear hats, and he pities and rejects his mother who has failed to become- an American. And so there enters into the attitude of the secondgeneration American- an attitude which again is woven through our folkways, our attitude towards other languages, towards anything foreign, towards anything Europeana combination of contempt and avoidance, a fear of yielding, and a sense that to yield

English 1050 - Essay 1 would be weakness (99). By this statement, she is telling her readers that the new generations are extremely varied from that of their pasts and have a different mentality of their past generations.

Works Cited Mead, Margaret. We are all Third Generation. 94-103. Print