TOW #24- Nonfiction: "Guns are designed to kill. So why do we express shock when they do?"

Our global guns problem

School shootings. Accidental deaths. Mass killings. Guns in America have recently led to a number of national controversies arguably tearing our nation apart. On one hand we have a large number of Americans who argue that these weapons are necessary for our own safety and according to the constitution everyone with the proper intent has the rights to one. All the while, that side is backed by the brick wall force that is the NRA advocating for the right to bear arms. On the other hand we have a mass amount of Americans, broken families, concerned citizens, people in fear of their lives and the lives of their loved ones in our country where death by gun has occurred so often lately it is almost expected. These people are fighting to raise gun control and at the very least ensure they don't get into the wrong hands. However, preventing deaths from a weapon specifically designed to kill is extremely hard to do, and it poses the question; if guns are designed to kill, why do we express shock when they do? Peter Manseau, author of several books, including "Melancholy Accidents: Three Centuries of Stray Bullets and Bad Luck" and editorial writer of the New York Times addressed this very question in this weeks TOW. Manseau's use of vivid imagery and amplitude of disastrous accident stories help express a common pattern in the stray bullets of bad luck which continue to take the lives of many Americans. He successfully proves that while each death is a tragedy, we should not be surprised when these weapons of destruction, destroy. Manseau begins his piece with two very descriptive antidotes about a woman in California who accidentally shot herself while moving a gun from her husbands closet and a mother who lost her two year old daughter after she accidentally got a hold of the family's means of "protection" and accidentally took her own life. Manseau also mentions that these two incidents had not only happened in the last three months, but they also happened withing 24 hours of each other. His use of description helps the reader place themselves in the shoes of the people involved. When he describes "the sound of a gunshot in a Sacramento home" that "led a mother to discover her 2-year-old daughter bleeding on the floor", it puts the reader at the scene and brands them with the devastating image a single gunshot can induce. The number of cases that Manseau mentions is terrifying, revealing and dauntingly unsurprising. He also continuously talks about each one in a very nonchalant manor, making them seem repetitive and normal. Whether he is discussing "a man who 'somehow' caught the bullet intended for a bulls eye at a shooting range" or "a butcher in Philadelphia who accidental got his brains shot out of his own head by a shop hand gun" he does in a way that makes each death appear frightening a chillingly normal. In doing this, Manseau points out a major flaw in our country which often looks to guns a symbol of "liberty and autonomy, self-determination and control". While each death effects every person in a different way, many Americans have grown numb to the thought of death, even the cruel misfortune of an accidental death by our own means of "protection".

TOW #23- Argument: Cleveland Indians Offensive Logo

American baseball. One of our country's biggest providers of joy. Also, one of our country's biggest providers of conflict. Most recently an argument over the acceptability of the Clevland Indians baseball team's logo has come to the surface. Derived from a 1930's strip laden, this teams logo features "Chief Wahoo" a red skinned, grinning, Native American chalked full of racial stereotypes. This image has brought a lot of controversy as many find it downright offensive, while the Indians have taken steps toward reformation and less frequent use of the image, it is due time they remove it completely as it is still used in their souvenirs and uniforms conveying a lack of empathy toward those effected. Despite the teams recent use of a "C" on their caps as a replacement for the previous logo, they still present it on the arms of their jerseys. This shows people that this logo is still a large part of their team image and culture. Not only does this provide a bad reputation for the Indians, it also makes it look as if they are desensitized to the racial stereotypes portrayed. This same image is represented on numerous memorabilia, anything from watches to bumper stickers, each representing the team and each portraying the sensitive imagery. Perhaps worst of all is the reaction of the owners who claim they do not see anything wrong in the logo and they feel free to represent this part of the team history. Despite the fact that the teams history could just as easily be respesented in a museum rather than on the field and in front of the world.

TOW #22- Visual- V-J Day Kiss

This week I decided to analyze a picture taken on V-J Day in 1945. The picture depicts a couple during a strong embrace in the middle of time square. The man, dressed as a sailor, is embracing a woman, dressed as a nurse, and kissing her in the street. This image is one of the most infamous in history as it shows the celebration of many following President Truman's announcement of the end of the war with Japan. The use of positive facial expressions, representation of a passionate kiss, and the contrast between black and white all formulate a good feeling for the viewer who can tell that this was a wonderful time for our nation. The man dressed as a sailor in the image is also wearing black almost completely. By showing this, the image shows the evidence of a dark time, the terrible war with Japan, however, when met by the woman, dressed totally in white, the view sees that

is a positive environment in which the war has ended and better things can now be embraced. The image also centers around a focused emotional kiss between the man in the woman who have probably been apart for very long due to the war. The image makes these two seem familiar, and the passion of the kiss appeals to the viewers pathos, making this a heartwarming moment. Despite the fact that a war had occurred, this pivitol kiss shows the possibility for pomposity once again in a scattered nation. Finally, the images representation of other civilians makes the viewer even happier and proves this was a great time for our country. Each person in the back is shown smiling approvingly and clapping as they watch the couple kiss. However, the image is clearing showing the approval of more than just a kiss, it represents the approval of an end to harsh times and war. Everyone is excited to see that the good moments in America and starting to return.