Would You Have A Gay Baby?

The movie "Twilight of the Golds" brought up a serious topic that I never thought of. "Would you have an abortion if you knew you child would turn out to be gay?" My immediate answer is "absolutely not," but that is just my opinion. I love all babies and I could not see myself killing a baby just because the would be attracted to the same sex.

The ability to know the sexual preferences of babies before they are born was a huge achievement in the movie, but it sparked up serious questions. I have to admit that I was rather skeptical if the test would be accurate, but at the same time I was amazed at the discovery. Suzanne Stein, who was the pregnant mom with that found out her baby would be gay, shocked me at the end when she ultimately decided to keep the baby. My astonishment of her decision came from the uncertainty she possessed throughout the entire movie. By her being close to her brother, David, i figured she would not have contemplate the birth of her first child. It was clear that she admired her brother and thought very highly of him. Knowing that, I could not see why she thought having a gay child would be a bad idea.

When you step back and think about the discrimination and hardship gays have to face, I see how she might not want her child to experience the obstacles her brother faced. Another factor was her parents, they were not very accepting of her brother's preference, and I feel that made her also consider abortion. By choosing to have an abortion, she was in essence taking her baby's life away and depriving him/her the choice to be attracted to either sex. I believe all parents want to remove the things that would cause discrimination against their children, but they would rather have their child alive than dead.

I believe our world would be alot better if everyone could try accepting others for who they are inside and not who they are attracted to or what they look like. I have family members and friends that are gay and does not make a difference to me. They are just as loving if not more than those who are not gay. There is a stigma that places negativity on being gay and is so far gone that a mother would consider killing her unborn child just so she would not have to deal with the hardships gays face in our society. I think that is horrible, but at one point in time being an African American was viewed as the equivalent as not a real person. Hopefully in the near future being gay will be accepted just as African Americans were looked at as actual human beings.

Are They Really Family???

The bond of a family is unlike any other. For most people, their family is the backbone for all of their decisions. The well being of their loved ones is considered before making any serious choices. I know that whenever I am having any tpe of problem my family will be there to support me. We are there for each other someone is graduating, getting married, having their fourth child, or going through financial difficulties. The bond seems to get stronger the closer you get to the parents. For example, the bond between two brothers tends to be stronger than an uncle and nephew. I am not sure if it has something to do with them having at least one biological parent in common or the fact that they probably spend alot of time together.

When I compare the stories of the Ramayana and "As You Like It," I notice that the relationship between brothers is put to the test. The story of Ramayana portrays how I feel brothers should treat each other. The exile of Rama at his stepmother's request reminds me alot of the story of Swallow. In both instances the mother figure expressed the most desire to have the children gone. "'There is no alternative,' said her mother. 'Our field is already mortgaged. We must offer her to them.'" (1006) In this instance, the mother was no thinking about the well being of her dcaughter. She was considering the health of the rest of her family, but the feelings of Swallow was not considered. The father on the other hand did show a little concern for the Swallow's future. "'But what will happen to her?' he complained in feeble misery'" (1006). The father eventually gave in to the wishes of his wife and sold his daughter.

Rama being exiled was a surprise to his younger brother, who would become King. Once Bhararta learned what his mother had done, he retreated to the forest to ritfully give up his position as King. Rama's loyality to their father permitted him to deny the offer of his younger brother. The fact that Bhararta was willing to give up his throne to his older brother shows the love that exist between the two. I am sure that the two grew up together and developed a bond that could not be broken by the evil antics of a woman. Rama and Bhararta illustrates a strong and traditional family bond.

On the other hand the story "As You Like It" shows the feud between two brothers. In this case, the younger brother, Duke Frederick, banishes his older brother, Duke Senior, into the Forest of Arden. This is not an example of a family; having the audacity to banish your older brother shows lack of respect and loyality that is engraved in families. While in the forest Duke Senior says, "Now, my co-mates and brothers in exile,

Hath not old custom made this life more sweet

Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods

More free from peril than the envious court?" (1079)

He doesn't think very highly of his family the "envious court," which shows how the effect of being betrayed by one can family member can change your whole perception of the entire family. In essence, the family also exiled Duke Senior because they did not stand up for him against the wrath of Duke Frederick.

You can not chose the family you are born into, but you can determine the strength of the bond you have with each of your family members.

Non-Greek Step Show

The Non-Greek Step Show that was hosted by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at the University of Texas was the first time I had attended a step show. I really enjoyed myself and appreciated the hard work each organization put into their presentation. Step shows were originally started by black sororities and fraternities, but they have started to spread around the world and show up in universities around the nation.

At the particular step show I attended, it was non-Greek meaning that the participators were not in a sorority of fraternity but from organizations around UT and other neighboring colleges. I attended the step show with three of my friends, who had previously attended a step show earlier in the year. Since I had never attended a step show before, I was anxious to see what would happen. Once the first act came on, my undivided attention was on the stage and the ten young men dressed in black and white. After I witnessed my first step show presentation, I was amused. The way their hands and feet move in unison and how they are able to move around one another with out loosing their rythum was extremely fascinating. There were at least seven different organizations that stepped that night to the theme of their choice. The criteria for the step show was to come up with a theme and provide a step routine to music and have props to illustrate their theme.

Themes included Christmas, Super Mario, and a graveyard scene.

My favorite theme was Super Mario, which was the winner, and it was performed by the female group Immosia. Despite the fact that I was a big fan of Super Mario when I was younger, the organization was really entertaining. You could tell that they put alot of work into their performance. When it came time for the oral part of their performance, it involved comedy and made the whole audience laugh. I could not keep my eye off them. I really enjoyed watching the step show and see the results of weeks of hard work. Another thing that intrigued me about the step show was that they attempted to have a diverse audience. There weren't just college students in the audience, but children and Alumni were also spectators.

My favorite part of the night was at the end when the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity revealed their new members. I was shocked to see that one of my friends was one of those guys dressed in white and gold behind the masks. After the show, I went and congratulated Kevin and told him "I felt like a proud mother." It was really exciting to see him perform and show off what he had practiced so hard for.

Overall, I had an amazing time at the step show. It was nice to see different organizations come together and do excellent performances. I can't wait until the next step show!!!!!

Ramayana and Nature

The power of nature can be wrathful or relaxing. The devastation mother earth inflicts upon us can change the physical boundaries of a country or wipe out people by the thousands. As Hurricane Katrina passed over New Orleans and nearby cities, the aftermath left 90% of its residents displaced from their homes and over 1,000 people lossed their life. Whatever the actual reason for 80% of the city being flooded, mother nature was responsible for the catastrophe that occurred in New Orleans.

In comparison, the tsunami that hit Thailand illustrates the devasting effect nature can have. As the second largest earthquake ever recorded, the lost of over 200,000 lives sparked a world wide relief effoert to aid those suffering from the devastation. The wrath of natural forces like hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, tornadoes, and tsunamis cannot be escaped, and their appearance cannot be avoided.

On the other hand, nature can be as soothing and protective as a mother hence the name "mother nature." I find myself being nothing but relaxed when I am surrounded by nature. At times I feel trapped when I'm in the confines of four walls. In the story of Swallow, she found herself "happier than she had ever been" when she was in the mountains (1017). "At home her mood used to be wistful content, [in the mountains] it overflowed" (1017). Nature has the power to put someone's happiness into overdrive and bring it to its highest level. Whenever I get a chance to visit the beach, my spirits are high and I am really happy. Once I arrive to beach and feel the sand between my toes, my happiness is undescribable and reaches it full potential.

Even when someone is exiled into the forest like in "As You Like It," nature allows you to "[find] tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones and good in every thing" (1079). In the story of the Ramayana and "As You Like It" the characters made the best of their exile situation by giving in to the nurturing powers of mother nature.

The Value of a Woman

Growing up in the 21st Century, I have not been subjected to gender discrimination from the opposite sex. The occasional comments from my male friends does not even come close to what women had to face decades centuries ago. I'm not sure if it's stupidity or a biological trait men possess, but they have an authoritative demeanor about them when it comes to women. As a young woman, it is nice to know that the opposite sex believe that it is their duty to take care of the women. But that duty comes with some boundaries; it does not give men the excuse to physically and mentally abuse women.

History has established the roles of both sexes as "bread-winner husband" and "home-maker wife." But in some places, the discrimination doesn't stop there; it starts from the birth of a female child. In places like China and Japan, female babies are killed because of their gender. Manuel Gamio's novel Life Story of the Mexican Immigrant describes that in the Mexican culture "neighbors congratulated...parents for having another strong boy, one that would, as he grew older, certainly improve the family’s economic situation." It was as if females weren’t capable enough to help their family succeed in the future and that they were not expected to succeed at all. The value of a son being more important than the value of a daughter is also expressed in the story of Swallow. Chapter One: The Sale describes how Swallow was sold off by her family because of lack of food any money. Whenever the family was on the line of starvation, they gave in to a cruel practice that existed in their society. 'To save our sons we must sacrifice our daugther,' said Swallow's mother (1006). It is ironic that a mother would say such a thing regarding her daughter, but that's the mentality of some people due to the society they live in. The story of Swallow has a deeper meaning than a young woman being sold off by her parents; it shows the strength of a young woman who would the best of her unpredictable situation.

The typical view of a woman staying at home and taking care of her family is exactly what she does but it does not define her. Since the times have changed and the traditional family has changed, women have been able to take on additional roles such as head of the household and successful career woman. But ever decision she makes is for the best of her family. At age eighteen Swallow possessed this trait. The second verse of the song she sang when she realized she was going to be sold went as follows: That others may eat,

'Tis I must pay;

That others may prosper,

'Tis I must go. (1006)

She was willing to accept that giving up her life was the best for her family. She really did not have a choice about being sold, but it was her decision of how to deal with the situation. This a great example of what women do all of the time for their families, make sacrifices. Their sacrifices are mistaken as "a woman's role," but the truth of the matter is if she doesn't do it then it won't get done.

A woman's role as cleaning the house and taking care of the family does not determine her value. The value of a woman is a priceless because her actions are natural and in the best interest of her family.

Gardens of Peace

Even though our visit to the Taniguchi Gardens was a couple of months ago, I still remember everything. I was a little anxious on the car ride there because I did not know what to expect. So many images flashed through my mind as I looked out the car window, but my imagination did not even come close to the beauty of the Taniguchi Oriental Gardens.

The first place we visisted was the Hartman Prehistoric Garden, which was found by following the dinosaur feet along the fence. At the beginning of the path there was a huge sign that read "Hartman Prehistoric Garden." Then the path led us to the right, which was made of sand and rocks that I could feel everytime I took a step. I was surrounded by flowers and green plants as walked along the perfectly aligned path. We stopped at a little turn in the path that allowed us to look over to water and see a dinosaur statue in the middle. The dinosaur was not overbearing but the correct size to portray its presence during Prehistoric times. Before leaving this particular garden, we ran into the most beautiful waterfall I have ever seen. I loved the cascading water hit the stream of water below it; it was so peaceful and different from the bodies of water I am use to seeing. The Hartman Prehistoric Garden made a lasting impression on me and made eager to see what "working feverishly for 18 long months without a salary" could produce (767).

Walking all around the gardens and looking at the beuatiful architecture I couldn't help but to feel the peacefulness that filled the air. It seemed as if all of the flowers and structures blended in with each other and all of the bodies of water flowed with each other. Another feature of the gardens that stuck with me was the bamboo pipe we came across as we crossed the bridge. I washed my hands in the "pure, clean water splashing from [the] bamboo pipe" hoping to have "a deeper appreciation of the garden-the symbol of peace" (769).

Isamu Taniguchi's intention of creating the gardens was to provide a peaceful alternative to the turmoil that was going on during the late 1900s. As an Asian American, Mr. Taniguchi faced racial stigmas as well as other minorities during the years after WWII. Being an Oriental, he was personally touched by the devastation caused by the atomic bombs that struck Hiroshima and Nagasaki and saw how individuals lost their entire families. The Taniguchi Oriental Gardens was not only a gift to the city of Austin but a way for him to honor his Oriental heritage.

Gardens and parks come in all different sizes and no two are the same. They all provide an open space that doesn't force things upon you but contain objects that brings people together. In gardens and parks, there are benches and other accommodations that are in place to unite individuals. By Taniguchi creating a garden, he is showing that he wants people to come together and deal with turmoil of the times together in a peaceful manner

What does Nature mean to me

When I hear the word nature, I immediately think of all the greens and blues. Greens meaning the grass that blows in the wind and the tree tops that shadows the ground and sheds its leaves. Blues meaning the day sky that hovers above us and the waters that come in the forms of oceans, streams, rivers, and lakes. Even though most bodies of water do not have a blue color to them, I will always associate them with the color blue as learned in preschool.

As I began to grow older, nature became more than the place to run around in with my friends, but it "has served as excellent therapy" for me (745). I now seek out the elements of nature, especially its bodies of water and the shadows of the trees, to nurture me in my time of need. Since I have moved to Austin, I have realized just how much I was dependent on the presence of my mother. She was like my comfort zone, my shield from all harm. Just to have her sleeping on the living room couch was enough for me to feel protected from all wrongdoings that could be inflicted on me. Well fortunately she could not move to college with me, which left me searching for a new comfort zone. Someone or something I can run to if needed. The nature that surrounds the University of Texas has become my "mother." The phrase mother nature is used alot to emphasize the rapture nature can have all over the world. I never really understood where "mother nature" came from, but I feel that nature does share similar qualities with mothers.

I have been really happy since I moved to Austin, but there has been one occasion where I had to turn to the surrounding nature to comfort me. I did not stray to Waller Creek that night; water tends to be my favorite place to release tension and clear my head. Instead, cold night I settled for walking around campus and observing nature. I eventually ended up near the big fountain next to the Winship Theatre building. I sat on a nearby bench and just listened to the sound of the water going through its constant cycle of overflowing. All around me "in the midst rises a mass of mighty buildings" I was surrounded by buildings but more importantly trees (317). While the constant flow of water in the fountain went along with all of the thoughts going through my head, I felt the security of the trees that were bearing over my head. Even though, I was sitting at a bench during the late hours when I should have been in my dorm room, I felt safe with the trees "hugging" me like my mother does when she knows something is wrong and was calm by the flow of water in the fountain.

"Not the fruit of experience, but experience itself, is the end." (635) I believe this to be true; what I take from nature every time I interact with it will stay with forever. Even though I can never go back to that particular second I felt rejuvenated or the sense of purity, those feelings can never be taken away from me. I think that is why I seek refuge in nature; it is an emotion that can not be described which overwhelms me when I am in a garden or sitting at the beach glaring at the waves.

Being at the University of Texas, I am able to find comfort all over campus. There are so many naturally beautiful places to visit and there are some places that were designed to evoke a beautiful presence, but it doesn't matter how it was created I still feel the same sensation in both. Waller Creek and other relaxing places on campus like the Tower Gardens are "a good and pleasant site where there is a wholesome and temperate constitution of the air; composed with waters, springs or wells, woods and pleasant fields; which being obtained, those commodities are enough to invite students to stay and abide there" (316).