Peppers

Un-Pretty Pictures

This article is about an upcoming photography exhibit that focuses on the lives of the homeless in Houston, Texas. Ben Tecumseh DeSoto has worked as a photojournalist for the Houston Chronicle and now works as a photographer. Two people, Judy Pruitt and Ben White, are the main subjects of the exhibit. The exhibit tells their stories, as well as pointing out problems that homeless people have in getting government assistance. The curator of the exhibit explains that it is difficult to get healthcare if you are homeless, and one of the photographer's aims was to point out failures of the institutions that are supposed to provide aid. DeSoto says that his goal was to point out that homelessness is not a problem, but merely a symptom of a deeper problem. This article reminds us that photographs are one of the most expressive mediums for inspiring sympathy and encouraging people to take action to end a problem. Pictures are not always of flowers and pretty things that we want to see. They also show us the flaws and sadness that we need to see in order to make the world a better place for everyone. This idea reminded me of the photograph of the three WWII soldiers lying dead on a beach. They say that pictures are worth a thousand words, and that is certianly true.

Britt, Douglas. "A Photographer's View of the Homeless." Cron.com. 22 Oct 2008. *

*Not sure why the link won't show up.

The Seafarer

The Seafarer is an ancient English poem. It is told from the voice of a lonely sailor, suffering the hardships and trails of the sea. However, he willingly suffers, knowing that a blessed eternal life is a much better existence than a happy, material life on earth. The poem tells about the uselessness of material goods, because you cannot take them with you into the afterlife. The author thinks that it is much better to live a frugal and humble life on earth to ensure a peaceful afterlife than to live a gluttonous life and be doomed to hell. This reminded me of Siddhartha's journey. Siddhartha amasses great wealth, but is unhappy with himself. He feels shallow and finds his new habits disgusting, so much that he almost commits suicide. Instead, he decides to give up his possessions and focus on gaining spiritual comfort rather than living in material luxury. The idea of a humble life seems to parallel many religious ideals, from Buddhism to Christianity.

"The Seafarer." Beowulf and Other Old English Poems. Trans. Constance B. Hieatt. 2nd Ed. New York: Bantam Books, 1988. 117-20.

A Journey to Recovery

Three weeks after hurricane Ike stormed over the Bolivar Peninsula in Texas, at least 34 people are unaccounted for, and many are presumed dead. Relatives of those missing have been calling shelters and hospitals, frantically trying to locate their loved ones. Some of those relatives received calls from victims who were trapped by the floods, saying goodbye. As horrible as it must be to receive a call from a relative who knows they are going to die, there are also miraculous stories of survival. People survived by floating on coolers, debris or anything else they could find. However, the journey to recovery will be long and difficult, both physically and emotionally. Physically, people have lost homes and valued property. Emotionally, the scars are much deeper. Some relatives listened as victims called to tell them they were going to drown, and others were expecting evacuees who never arrived. A grandson listened to his grandmother describe how the floods had washed the neighbors' houses away, then experienced the silence when his grandmother's cell phone went dead. A boyfriend watched as his girlfriend was swept out to sea. These traumatic experiences will take years and much pain to heal. Much like Odysseus, who struggles to get home, these people will take a long time to return to normal. Likewise, those whose relatives are still missing may never find out their loved one's fate, like Penelope has no idea when or if Odysseus will return home. The journey back to normalcy will be long and difficult, and some might never achieve it.

"Three Weeks After Storm, a Grim Task of Recovery." The New York Times 5 Oct. 2008: A20.

*Does anyone know how to get an underline? I have tried both ctrl u and copying it from Word, but neither seems to work.

Homer: Feminist or Sexist?

The women in Homer's The Odyssey, like women today, are as different from each other as a rose is from a corpse flower. However, in Greek society as Homer depicts it, most of the women seem to be undervalued. There are women with strong characters; however they are not always shown in the best light. Calypso, through her beauty and power, traps Odysseus on her island though he longs to sail home. By keeping Odysseus on her island, she shows that she is a powerful and capable woman. Yet, Homer casts her as the hated jail warden when she does not release him. Circe is another woman who is called evil by Homer. In fact, evil is the very word Homer uses when he describes the meeting between Odysseus and Circe. Circe is a sorceress, so she is not incapable, but she too is shown as devious. In The Odyssey, many women who are independent and intelligent are portrayed as deceitful.
If strong women are, in Homer's mind, evil, then meek and obedient women must be good. Penelope, Odysseus' wife, stays at home and remains faithful to Odysseus. She takes care of running the palace and cries her heart out for her lost husband. When Telemachus returns from his journey, she tells him of the pain she feels for missing Odysseus and her disgust at the suitors. She is often described as loyal, good, and faithful, showing that Homer thought of her as a good wife and proper woman. When Telemachus arrives in Sparta to see Menelaus, Helen is shown doing normal household chores: spinning and greeting guests. Homer grants her the gifts of beauty and great standing. Homer's commending of weak women and less than flattering depiction of strong ones show that his view of women was traditional and sexist.