TOW #19 - Why Trump's Wall Won't Keep Out Heroin

On February 16th of 2017, the New York Times published an article by Sam Quinones, a writer that focuses on criminal justice and the US-opiate epidemic, that tells of the reason that Donald Trump’s proposed border wall will not be able to keep drugs like heroin from entering the country. Quinones is an expert on the many ways that drugs like heroin are able to enter the US and spread sporadically, having written many works on the subject including a book titled, Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic. In the article, Quinones is able to prove the ineffectiveness of “the wall” through the employment of personal anecdotes as well as powerful factual and statistical evidence.

Quinones opens his article by talking of an interaction that he had with a farmer living in Sinaloa, Mexico. During an interview with the farmer, he had told Quinones that “he was caught smuggling black-tar heroin in his shoes at the Tijuana-San Diego border crossing.” (Quinones). This is hugely significant as the US Mexico border is already patrolled day and night by border officers and drug enforcement officers. Despite the great amount of protection that already exists at the border, these substances are able to pass through. The plan to construct a wall at the border will not do anything to keep these drugs out. If those that smuggle them have found ways to transport them with the current level of protection, there is nothing to stop them from doing the same again.

Furthering this point, Quinones later discusses the incentives that these smugglers have to continue to their operations. In the case of the farmer that he was interviewing, “he put a little more than a pound and a half of heroin in his shoes, clearing as much as $12,000 in a single trip to the States.” (Quinones). Since people just like this farmer have the ability to make a massive amount of money without very much product, there is clearly great incentive for these people to continue their operations. A simple farmer, many of whom are poor, can gain great money from smuggling. With such an easy job at present with such a large return, the people who have been smuggling drugs across the US-Mexico border for as long as it has existed, will continue to do so and will continue to find new ways to do so, despite what Donald Trump does.

Overall, I do believe that Quinones does effectively prove that there is no way that a simple wall is going to be enough to quell the opiate drug epidemic that is growing within the United States. Afterall, it will only temporarily slow the transportation.

TOW #18 - How We Overcame Tyranny Before

On February 11th of 2017, the New York Times published an article written by professor of literature at Duke University, Ariel Dorfman, which speaks of the revolutionary period in Chile and how the themes of this time apply to the modern world. Dorfman begins her text by first describing the movement for revolution within Chile in a depth timeline beginning February 12th of 1817. Through her employment of unifying word choice and hopeful symbolism, she is able to demonstrate the timelessness of these revolutionary ideas.

Following the recalling of the history of the Chilean revolution for independence, Dorfman uses her article to tell how the ideas of needing to stand up for one’s beliefs exists today. Most important to note in the article is her usage of the words ‘we’ and ‘us’ such as in the statement “The mountains of Chile tell us that if we are brave enough, resourceful enough, imaginative enough, then nothing in this miraculous world is impossible.” (Dorfman). The inclusion of these words is significant to the message of the text as it shows the unification that the fight for rights garners. Just as people fought against tyranny in Chile 200 years ago, thousands stand together across the globe to fight government corruption and unfair treatment in countries such as Romania and the United States. This displays the relevancy of these ideas of unification as the world moves forward.

In order to achieve her purpose, Dorfman also creates powerful symbolism, such as comparing the army that fought for Chile to the people of the world fighting against the infringement of their rights today. She writes that “a group of men crossed these very Andes, impenetrable, colossal, majestic”. (Dorfman). By telling the reader that those that crossed the Andes mountains to come fight for the people of Chile overcame fierce opposition of the ‘impenetrable’ mountains, Dorfman shows that despite obstacles, it is possible to achieve results. This serves as a message for all of those struggling throughout the world that they CAN stand up for their beliefs and be successful. It only takes determination.

Overall, I do believe that Dorfman was able to effectively achieve her purpose. I do believe that it is extremely important that people stand up for their rights and for their beliefs and do not let any outside force take away their freedoms. This is essential for the modern world moving forward.

IRB Introduction #3 - Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival (Anderson Cooper)

For my third IRB of the 2016/2017 school year, I am choosing to read Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival written by Anderson Cooper. The book follows Anderson Cooper’s vast coverage of major events around the world, and as the title suggests, these include wars and disasters. I am choosing to read this book because it was recommended to me by a classmate as an IRB selection and also because I believe it will be very interesting to read a first hand account of many of the locations Cooper has gone to and the events that he has witnessed. For this reason, I believe I will greatly enjoy it and am excited to begin reading!

TOW #17 - Donald Trump: Day 15

On the third of February, 2017, the New York Times published yet another political cartoon by artist Patrick Chappatte titled “Donald Trump: Day 15”. The cartoon created by Chappatte, a repeating political cartoonist for the New York Times that has made cartoons nearly everyday focusing on the events of the election and the presidency of Donald Trump, aims to display many of the things that Trump has done as president within his first weeks of office. Through his exhibition of clever symbolism and allusion, Chappatte is able to show the destructiveness of Trump’s first days.

Most obvious to a viewer is that the White House oval office appears to be in shambles around Donald Trump. This unorganized mess symbolizes how Trump has been essentially “tearing up” Washington and the rest of the world with shattered glass on the floor, and a telephone tipped over. On a deeper level, the items such as the NATO poster with darts through it and the tearing of a European Union flag allude to Trump’s clear disdain for NATO as well as the EU. These feelings stir fear in the minds of many millions of people across the globe who are protected in some way or another under the provisions of NATO and those within the EU fear financial backfiring from the seemingly eventually disbanding of the organization. These feelings have only become more apparent as Trump continues his leadership.

Along with the items scattered about, Trump is seen speaking into a cell phone, uttering the words “give me another order to sign.” This is done in order to highlight how active he has been with in his first days in office, signing many executive orders, such as those that have removed the US from the TPP as well as the ban of thousands of refugees from entering the country. The backlash against these decisions is visible as there are many protesters outside the window into the oval office.

Overall I do believe that Chappatte displays some of the destructiveness of Trump within just his first days of office. Clearly, both his cartoon and my writing are biased, but I believe it is not difficult to see how much Trump has been changing the US, and as a result the world, in a matter of days.

TOW #16 - The Gilded Razor (Sam Lansky) 2

In Sam Lansky’s memoir, The Gilded Razor, Lansky recounts his almost lifelong struggle of dealing with severe addiction to multiple drugs. A rather talented writer for multiple outlets like Time and the New York Magazine, Lansky tells the reader of his story in vivid and explicit detail in order to show the true horrors of addiction and the devastating effects that it can have on a person. To do this, Lansky utilizes intense personal anecdotes.

In the final pages of the book’s eighth chapter, Lansky tells of a time that he had gone to meet up with an old acquaintance of his at his New York apartment. As he entered he wrote, “a pile of cocaine sat on a silver mirror. ‘Have some candy,’ he said. I did a line. ‘More,’ he said. I did another.” (Lansky 232). At this point in Lansky’s story, he has been struggling for many many years and he is quite aware of his struggles. However, despite this, he is unable to break from the peer pressure that he experiences when entering the apartment. This is only one way that Lansky’s intense addiction is displayed. It becomes more obvious just how affected Lansky truly is when he states that he chose to do another line of cocaine, showing that he could not tell himself no after doing one. He needed more. The struggles of his addiction are highlighted in more detailed images of his past.

Towards the conclusion of the memoir, disaster strikes Sam’s family when his father suddenly has a heart attack. Sam tells the reader how he felt at this time stating “I woke up every morning with a tunnel vision that I found perplexing but didn’t think to question. The only goal was to get high and change the way I felt, which was lonely and afraid.” (Lansky 253). Through this horribly depressing statement, it is clear how desperate Lansky found himself at this point. Because of all that he had experienced, all that he had to endure, he was broken. He did not care for his well being or anything else. All that concerned him was getting high. This truly highlights just how drastically the drugs had affected him.

Thankfully, Sam Lansky did eventually come clean and no longer suffers from the severe drug addiction that he experienced. His memoir not only shows readers how horrible addiction is, but it also shows that it is possible to get help and to improve if one is already struggling with addiction. Overall, I really did enjoy reading this book and would absolutely recommend it to anyone.

TOW #15 - JB Poster

On November 11th and 12th of 2016, Wissahickon High School held its performances of the annual fall drama. The show this year was titled JB and followed a successful, but god-fearing man who has everything taken from him in order for him to appreciate the things that he has in his life. In order to advertise the performances, the drama department hung posters for the show around the high school and the surrounding areas nearby. The posters use dull colors in order to show the dark tone of the show and also provide information about the performances to convince a viewer to come to see the show.

The most obvious features of the poster that can be easily seen from a distance, are the dull colors that it utilizes. The poster includes a black rectangular border that goes around the expanse of its edges. In the center, there is a grey/black radial gradient with the center being the brightest gray, and the edges being the darkest. The use of this dark to light transition is used in order to symbolize the dark and emotional tone of the play’s story. On the outside layer of the plot, it seems as though everything that exists in JB’s life is a horrible and depressing reality. However, as the story progresses, things begin to change for the better, primarily as his family returns to him. This is the metaphorical “light at the end of the tunnel” for JB. On top of this, the poster also features a large red calligraphic lettering of “JB” to symbolize the sophisticated nature of JB and how he was able to retain this nature despite how bad things got for him. This sort of symbolism could create an emotional response within a viewer that they may feel able to relate to, so they will feel more interested in coming to see the show.

In addition to these colors, the poster also features red lettering at the bottom of the poster with all sorts of information about the performance. This information includes the location, showtimes, and ticket prices. These are included obviously as it provides the essential information that an audience member would need in order to see the show. This ultimately convinces a viewer of whether or not they can go because they will be able to plan accordingly.

Ultimately, I do believe that this poster effectively convinced people to come see the show as there was a good turn-out of over 150 audience members each night.

TOW #14 - What the Muck of Walden Pond Tells Us About Our Planet

In What the Muck of Walden Pond Tells Us About Our Planet, frequent editorial author for the New York Times, Curt Stager, speaks of how the various layers of soil of Walden Pond in Massachusetts can reveal information about the way that human interaction affects the environment. Through his use of detailed facts as well as personal anecdotes, Stager is able to convince the reader that humans must be conscious of the ways that they impact the world around them to secure a healthier future. Stager begins his editorial piece by speaking briefly about the history of the pond and how it was made famous primarily by the famed philosopher, Henry David Thoreau. He then proceeds to talk about his own time spent at the pond writing that, “in 2015, two students and I lowered weighed plastic tubes through 45 feet of water near the center of the pond and hauled up several sediment cores [...] Tiny shells of diatom algae glittered like frost under the lens.” (Stager 5). By telling the reader of this specific type of algae cell that he and his students had uncovered below the pond’s bottom, Stager reveals that this type of algae has since been covered up by many layers of different types of sediment. This is hugely significant as diatom algae is most typically found in cool clean lakes, taking in sunlight. With this algae no longer actively appearing, it can be inferred that Walden Pond is no longer a cool or clear pond. And unfortunately, this is exactly the case, as Walden Pond has been subject to human development of boat houses as well as contamination from humans swimming in the waters. Not only did humans affect the pond through contamination by building but also, if you “thrust your hand wrist-deep into the mud, your fingertips would brush a layer that emits radiation. It is laced with cesium-137.” (Stager 9). This fact is not only somewhat terrifying, but a blatant display of how humans have been ignorant of the global impact throughout history. The reason this soil contains cesium-137 is because it is a byproduct of nuclear fallout that is created by the detonation of nuclear weapons during the massive number of tests that occurred through the 1960’s and later. The people of this time were more concerned with creating more and more powerful weapons without stopping to consider the adverse effects that they would have on the environment, which seems to be a general theme that is shared by all of mankind. Ultimately, I do believe that Stager was able to effectively display some of the ways that humans are able to impact the environment, and I personally hope that more and more people become conscious about their footprint on this planet.