Evolution of Lies

While reading the article, “How To Talk To Kids About Thanksgiving,” naturally I had to compare Crystal Brunelle's and Rebecca Valbuena’s teaching strategies to “The History Teacher.” Both of these teachers realize that it is vital to inform these children with historically accurate info, without having to take away their innocence. There is a fine line between “softening up” the harsh truths of history and lying to students.

Throughout my life, I have been told the common lies that everyone tell their kids. For example, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, Leprechauns, etc. At first, of course I had to believe my parents. I was just a kid, I would have never thought my parents would have been LYING to me. Lying when I was a kid, was unfathomable, there was no way my parents could lie to me.

When I got older, I started to question how logical Santa and all of these made up characters were. I used to constantly try to calculate the strict time schedule Santa had, and if it were even possible. I came to the conclusion that it had to be real. Why would adults pour millions of dollars into decorations, books, and movies, for it to be about a fake character? It just seemed like too much effort was put into idolizing this figure, so it had to be real. Today, I still sympathize for kids that are in that “middle stage,” that I was once in. Having the ability to recognize that this fantasy holiday world may just be a million dollar brand, is one of the most confusing stages to be in.

Even now, I still encounter these false truths that are forced upon me by adults. In school, we are taught things to be one way. For example, in our history books, there is a clear bias to America. In every war, America is looked to have the best interest at heart. In WWII America we were the “saviors” that liberated the concentration camps. But we also wiped out 129,000 humans. Naturally, teachers don’t want to spend as much time discussing the disturbing wrongdoings of America. Teachers and parents need to realize that it is inevitable that children will grow up, but it is the student’s duty to recognize the biases and lies that we have constantly been exposed to throughout our lives.

Therapeutic Chaos in The Glass Castle

Although fire may seem extremely dangerous to most people, to Jeannette Walls, fire was seen as therapeutic. The book starts off with one of her very first memories, at the age of three she was burnt while trying to make hot dogs. “I smelled burning and heard a horrible crackling sound as the fire singed my hair and eyeballs”(Walls 9.) This seemingly traumatic event was actually the least of Jeannette’s worries, and actually sparked her interest in fire. It hurt her physically, but also gave her a sense of confidence because she was praised for being strong,”She has already fought the fire once and won” (Walls 15.) This gave her a sense of achievement and positive attention from her parents.

After she burned Tinkerbell I first thought that she was a straight up a psychotic kid, but as I kept reading, I realized that any kid living in her environment would have to be a little bit crazy to cope with her family’s unorthodox lifestyle. This event showed that she didn’t care for materialistic objects, even though she barely had anything in the first place. This also introduced Jeannette as being rebellious, and showed that her inconsistent parents barely set any boundaries.

I also noticed that fire in The Glass Castle, gives a sense of order in Jeannette’s life. She definitely had a crazy childhood though, constantly moving between states, while her family was struggling to sustain a stable income. She takes pleasure into watching the flames engulf her toy, and in some odd way, is very therapeutic to her. It shows the line between turbulence and order. In that moment, she can choose to either blow out the flames to restore order, or let the fire keep burning until the brink of turbulence. It seems like her father taught her this risky habit through his actions as well. He would restore order just before chaos unleashed, by picking up and driving off to another “adventure.” Being able to control fire was the only thing that she could control in her crazy childhood.

The Destructive Social Construction

“If you're going to hold someone down you're going to have to hold on by the other end of the chain. You are confined by your own repression.” - Toni Morrison

When I heard the horrific news about Paris Friday night, I was on my way to a friend’s house. I got in the car to go, but I couldn’t help but to just sit for a second and cry. I cried because obviously I felt horrible for all of the victims and their families. I was trying to make sense of it all but then I thought of a quote from The Bluest Eye, “There is really nothing more to say-except why. But since why is difficult to handle, one must take refuge in how.” These actions are so disgustingly unfathomable, that the question of “why” is unanswerable.  Trying to answer this question can put yourself in such an evil mindset. This quote made me realize that asking the question “why” sometimes is bad for your own mental state.

On the other hand, part of my emotions was due to frustration. Here I am, a 16 year old, middle class, white girl. I have faced no major adversities in my life. No major financial troubles. No discrimination. No abusive stereotypes. I used to think that I will never be able to understand what it would be like to be discriminated against or a victim of terror. But, these attacks sheds light on the cold truth that nobody is safe in today's world. These victims were picked at random.

Reading this book and having these terrible acts of terrorism happen nearly simultaneously, I feel a sense of helplessness. Helplessness due to the fact that different religions and races have been discriminated against for hundreds of years, and this issue is still going on today. Not only this, but also the fact that these horrific acts are a result of society’s own -in Morrison’s own words- “social construct.” That is the most frustrating part, all of these deaths are due to a mere social construction that we, as humans, all have the ability to control.

Why is white beautiful?

While reading the novel, The Bluest Eye, I was really taken aback from the strong self-hatred Pecola, just a young girl, had for herself. Of course, most of her self hatred is a result of society’s extreme influence on our adolescents. Toni Morrison even says that that African American beauty is considered to be ugly, “ support for it leaning at [African Americans] from every billboard, every movie, every glance.” Although this book takes place in 1941, even today we consider white skin to be better when it comes to beauty.

Even celebrity idols that we look up to put on makeup to appear to have whiter skin. If these faces are constantly being thrown at us through TV screens, magazines, and billboards, what is that saying to african american people girls over the world? That they must try to appear to be as white as possible to be seen as “beautiful?” These women should be an example for younger girls and be  proud of their own genetic makeup, not try to cover up their true skin color.

Toni Morrison also said that, “Beauty was not simply something to behold; it was something one could do.” This quote really struck me because I had always thought of beauty as being something that someone could physically achieve. I always hear, “Her hair is beautiful,” but I have never heard that the way someone treats others or carries themselves as being beautiful. I agree with Morrison that beauty should not just be a physical characteristic, because somebody could be beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside. Morrison is ultimately saying that inner beauty is what truly matters.

It is vital that the people that we look up to, like Beyonce, Nicki, and many other celebrities realize that they too are playing a huge role in the typical “beauty standards” that we set for our youth. At the end of the day, white or black beauty doesn’t even matter at all because beauty is an action, not a skin color.

Negative Influences of Barbie

In Our Barbies, Ourselves, Prager suggests that no matter what Barbie does, she would never be able to please Ken. I agree with Pager but I also find this to be ironic, considering manufacturers have designed her an excessive amount of accessories and dream houses, you would think Barbie would be just fine without Ken. Instead, the makers of this doll suggest to young girls that having a boyfriend is necessary in order to obtain a happy life.

This doll’s influences have even brainwashed adults to think that she is, in fact, perfection. Valeria Lukyanova frequently makes headlines due to her never ending amount of plastic surgeries to transform herself into Barbie. Barbie’s influence creates this preconception to children that in order to be happy, you must have the cutest boyfriend, the newest car, and the biggest closet. It is truly devastating that this toy has created our society’s beauty standard. Since when has plastic become perfection?  

As if I couldn’t have gotten any more appalled through realizing that by playing with this oversexualized doll-she had basically robbed me off my innocence. But, instead, the company blames moms for their daughter’s body issues. http://newsfeed.time.com/2014/02/06/barbie-lead-designer-blames-moms-not-dolls-crazy-proportions-for-girls-body-issues/

Barbie may look like she has the perfect life. In reality, she will continue on never being enough for Ken. Barbie is just plastic from the inside out. Her fabricated smile will never portray her true feelings of loneliness- just a deceiving image of what little girls think happiness looks like.