by Veeana SinghOne of the teachers in his high school once said, "When you tell Dakota he can't do something, he's going to do it.” Sergeant Dakota Meyer, a US Marine, made several choices on September 8th, 2009. On this day, Meyer was supporting a patrol in a village within the Ganjgal Valley during Afghanistan War. All of a sudden, the lights in the village went out and the familiar sound of gunshots were heard. Turns out, approximately 50 Taliban insurgents had started shooting and throwing grenades in a sneak attack. Meyer, taking immediate notice, called in asking his superiors if he had permission to head into the attack zone and help -- they said he was to stay put. It would be a suicide mission to set foot into the zone that was taking heavy fire. Not willing to leave his fellow men to die, Meyer asked three more times if he could help. Each time his request was denied but that did not stop Meyer and Staff Sgt. Juan Rodriguez-Chavez, whom Meyer was with, from taking action. What happened next could have been predicted by his high school teacher, who had summed Myer’s character up so well: Myer and Chavez ended up jumping into a humvee and driving straight into the attack zone -- against orders. Sgt. Chavez was at the wheel and Meyer, who then held the rank of Corporal, provided covering fire and rescue. They went in and Corporal Meyer immediately began loading fallen soldiers and Afghan troops onto the humvee. During this first attempt, Corporal Meyer was able to rescue around five fellow Marines and Afghan Troops. He didn’t stop there. The second time he was able to load about four other marines onto the humvee, while dodging fire from the 50 taliban insurgents, and bring them to the safety zone. Meyer was also firing back at the insurgents and went through gun after gun, one would empty and he would go right back for another. The Taliban men would run guns blazing right up to the humvee and Meyer would do his best to kill them, not backing down for a second. The gun truck they used the first two times was far too damaged from the gunfire and grenades to make a third trip. This did not stop the two from wanting to go back in for a third time. Sgt. Chavez and Corporal Meyer had to switch into another gun truck. Sometime during this attempt, Corporal Meyer suffered a shrapnel injury on his arm. Knowing their fellow Marines and men were trapped, they made a fourth and fifth trip. They were surrounded but went house to house, and alley to alley searching for those alive and physically picking up the bodies of the fallen. The gunfire was still ongoing and grenades still exploding yet Corporal Meyer made every effort to leave no man behind. In honor of his bravery, President Barack Obama awarded Dakota Meyer the highest military honor, the Medal of Honor. Meyer was the first living Marine to receive the award since 1973. In his speech President Obama said “[Dakota Meyer] 'placed himself in the thick of the fight... again, again, and again.” Meyer has always been insistent that he is not a hero just a Marine and that he did what any other Marine would do. Dakota Meyer can teach us all a valuable lesson on how we should treat people. When he was picking up wounded Marines and Afghan troops up off the ground to bring them safety he was also not doing a lot of things. He was not looking at the race of who he was helping. He did not care about their gender. And he was not concerned with who they were or what he had heard about them. He didn’t turn them over to look at the name or rank pinned to their chests to decide who to help. He just helped, plain and simple. Dakota knew he had to help and in total he saved 36 lives. Dakota’s story takes place over a timeline of just about eight hours. To think that in these hours Dakota did something that most don’t do in their entire lives. He went back 5 times. 5 times he put his life on the line to save his fellow soldiers. Most of us don’t help people in minor ways in our everyday lives. We don’t hold the door open, we judge people and we walk by the homeless. To think if everyone on Earth, in the span of their lives, would put someone else first just 5 times, we would have a much better world. Just 5 times, if we could all put someone else before ourselves, no matter how small the deed, we can begin to have a better world. The issue is that we get caught up in our ‘stuff.’ We all have this massive amount of stuff to do. We are always doing something and forgetting to take a moment and do something for someone else, for someone less fortunate or for someone in need. The purpose of sharing Dakota’s story is to show that if there is someone willing to do something that brave, 5 times, there is no excuse for the rest of us to sit back and just go along for the ride.
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by Connor GilliganAs an American, I can say, with much sorrow, that I live in the loneliest, most depressed, disconnected, over-prescribed country in the world. Why would this be the case, with all the comforts of modern life? In this country, we have a more-than-decent medical care system, an abundance of material comforts, a great rate of life expectancy, and a high quality of living in general. So why are we so unhappy? In this article, I will attempt to answer this question as best I can. In addition, I will provide evidence of alternative and natural treatments for depression. This month’s theme is “What Really Matters?!” Happiness was the word that immediately came to mind. Far too often, we let objects and other people determine our own happiness. We also seem to be convinced that we need antidepressants to be happy, when they may not be the most effective treatment for our depression. With the amount of antidepressant medication being prescribed steadily increasing, it would be logical to conclude that the number of individuals suffering from depression has decreased. Sadly, and surprisingly, this is far from the truth. In reality, the number of individuals suffering from depression, in America, has also been increasing. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than 1 in 10 Americans are currently taking antidepressant medication to treat depression or anxiety. With all the amenities and comforts of life in America, we are still somehow unhappier than ever. This may prove that the adage “money can’t buy happiness” really does have some truth to it. In fact, nothing can buy happiness. It is something that must come from within, not from without. We want everything quick, fast, and in a hurry, happiness included. We have the notion that it can be bought or attained instantly. The truth is: we have to work hard to be happy, and as terrible as that sounds, it is reality (unless you are lucky enough to be in a constant state of glee). Depression can, and will, get worse if nothing is done to combat it. Many of us have live harried lives and we believe that we don’t have time get happy; this may be the reason why people turn to antidepressant medication so quickly. We overlook many treatment options for depression such as Ginseng, Lavender, St. John’s Wort Vitamin D, Fish oil, multivitamins, a good night’s sleep, being in nature, exercise, sunlight, and human interaction, because of our busy lives. These treatment options are, in many cases, more effective than antidepressant medication. In his book, The Depression Cure, Dr. Stephen S. Ilardi states that using some of these anti-depression alternatives, alone or in conjunction with each other, have been proven to be more effective than traditional antidepressant medication in many circumstances. He claims that exercise is the most effective antidepressant medication known to man. In his TED Talk Speech Dr. Ilardi claims that “Exercise is medicine; it enhances brain function as powerfully as any medication. And trust me if big Pharma could somehow capture the neurochemical benefit of exercise, put it in a pill and sell it to you, they would do it in a heartbeat. And then they would finally have a blockbuster drug completely free of any difficult side effects.” Although exercise is the most effective treatment for depression, there is another treatment option that has finally begun to be studied as an all-natural treatment for depression, and escalation of overall mood and happiness (instead of being looked at as a pseudoscience). This treatment is the consumption of psychedelics/hallucinogens such as Psilocybin Mushrooms, LSD, DMT, and more. In this article, I will focus on only Psilocybin. Consuming a single dose of psilocybin mushrooms ranging from 10mg to 3,500mg can cause an almost instant change in mood. This elevated mood level can last over a month without having to re-consume the drug. A single dose has been proven to increase levels of overall happiness and mental well-being, especially if a small to moderate dose is taken in a safe and secure environment. A scientific study directed by The Medical Research Council (a UK medical science advancement organization), conducted last year, focusing 12 patients with severe depression. The study was conducted in the United Kingdom by a group of medical doctors, psychiatrists, professors, and psychologists. The study was performed by giving a group of 12 people (6 men, 6 women), two doses of 10mg and 25mg of psilocybin mushrooms over the span of 1 week. The findings showed that all 12 people saw improvement in the level of their depression lasting from 1 week to 3 months. According to the individuals involved in the study “This study provides preliminary support for the safety and efficacy of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression and motivates further trials, with more rigorous designs, to better examine the therapeutic potential of this approach.” (You can view the study by clicking here.) The reason I write about this topic is because prescription medication can be dangerous and can have adverse side effects (especially antidepressants). More people should be aware of the effectiveness of not just psilocybin mushrooms but all other forms of natural antidepressant treatments. Psilocybin mushrooms do not cause physical or psychological addiction and have minimal side effects after the drug has run its course. This is almost the exact opposite of antidepressant medication which are both physically and mentally addicting, cause withdrawal symptoms, and have a long lists of adverse effects. I am not recommending that anyone stop taking their prescribed medication, as it can cause severe withdrawal effects and thoughts of suicide. In fact, I am not recommending anything except: do some research of your own before deciding how to treat your depression (always consult with your doctor before changing depression treatment options). I just want people to be happy. The reason I wrote this article was to inform people on how to remain happy without taking dangerous medication. You do not have to take magic mushrooms to be happy, but maybe you can: spend time with friends, go for a bike ride, call a loved one, compliment a stranger, or just smile for no reason. As a society, we can regain our happiness by doing any of the things I mentioned in this article, and most importantly by connecting with each other. Why are we so sad? This is a question that we must ask ourselves. Imagine how much better of a place the world would be if everyone was just a little bit happier. We can all make the word a better place by increasing our happiness. This is something that I have struggled with for many years and it is a topic that I am passionate about. I try my best to stay happy and make other happy in the process. The reason I wrote this article is to spark a conversation about why we are so unhappy and what we can do to change that. It would be unfair for me to tell you how to be happy without telling you what makes me happy. Some of the things that make me happy are: the outdoors, woodworking, fishing, candle making, spending time with friends and family, making and listening to music, and writing. So, what makes you happy? by Erick GarciaI sit down in my room, pick up my guitar, place it on my lap, and begin to play. Not sure where I’m going with the ideas in my head, I play and play. And then, I just stop. For some reason, I just can’t bring myself to continue to play. The desire is there, and it is very strong, but I don’t continue. I feel like a ship just stalling at sea on a very calm day. Is it because I have writer’s block? Is it because I have to think for a bit in order to continue? Or is it simply because I feel discouraged? Whatever the reason, something in me is missing, and it bothers me. I have found that for some reason, even though someone does something that he or she loves passionately, sometimes he or she loses his or her way and that thing that usually brings him or her joy doesn’t seem to do so anymore. If you have ever felt this way and are someone who is artistically inclined, let me be the first to say that you aren’t alone. We can’t explain it, but sometimes we become disenchanted with the specific art form that we choose to express ourselves with, whether it’s writing, painting, drawing, or in my case, playing an instrument. However, there is one thing that I find is the only thing that matters above anything else, and what really matters is that you have fun with what you’re doing. It sounds very bland, but allow me to explain. Whenever we enjoy doing something, particularly if it’s a hobby, we do it because we feel good and fulfilled when we do it right? If your hobby is an artistic form of expression, you don’t just do it because you love it, you do it because to a certain degree it’s an extension of you. You paint, draw, write, play an instrument or what have you, not just because you enjoy it, but also because it’s how you express yourself best when regular words fail to say how you feel about something. And when you really want to express yourself, sometimes you even create something beautiful out of nothing with those artistic talents that you have, which is probably an artist’s greatest dream. Unfortunately, sometimes you hit a roadblock, and all of a sudden you feel discouraged and no longer want to engage in that artistic form of expression that made you feel so happy. Why is this? In my case, I play the guitar, or at least try to as much as I can. As I mentioned in my previous article on career choices, one of my dreams is to play in a band and to write music. However, sometimes I will completely abandon the guitar for prolonged periods of time, even if the desire to actually play is there. This is something that I feel happens from time to time to people who artistically inclined. Even though they love to express themselves in a certain artistic way, sometimes that form of expression can become joyless and even tedious, and in the worst cases, can feel like work instead of something that makes you feel happy, which in my opinion is the absolute worst thing that can happen, because anything that makes you feel happy shouldn’t feel like a chore. Speaking about myself and my flaws, I guess one of the reasons why I can become so disenchanted with the guitar and with playing music in general is because of my level of experience. I am by no means an expert, and I still consider myself a beginner in a lot of ways, partially because I’m so on and off with playing the guitar. I know that practice makes perfect and that no abilities worth possessing are developed overnight, but sometimes when I look at the multiple posters and album covers of my musical heroes that adorn my room, I can’t help but feel discouraged and even intimidated at how far behind I am in my journey to be like them. Any artist will tell you that he or she has heroes or idols, and more often than not, anything that he or she does will be inspired by his or her heroes. The thing about heroes is that sometimes their achievements seem so monumental to us that just the thought of trying to achieve a level of greatness similar to theirs all of a sudden becomes impossible and far away, and therefore we sometimes ask ourselves “why am I even trying” or “what’s the point of doing this if I’ll never be like them?” I know I’ve asked myself this question many more times that I cared to. If you are an aspiring artist reading this article, or if you’re someone who expresses yourself through an art form and is looking for a little bit of inspiration, I have some advice for you. First of all, you should always try to be yourself. Before you roll your eyes and say “oh great, another person telling me to be myself,” stop and think about it for a bit. Why is this so important? And what does this even mean? Well, in my experience, it means that however you end up expressing yourself artistically belongs to you and only you! No one has ever expressed themselves that way before you, and that alone is gratifying in itself. One of the most important things I learned from my music theory teacher in high school was that even though influence is great, technique never fails. To me, this means that there’s nothing wrong with trying to be like our heroes, but if we really want to be like them, we have to be unlike anyone else, because that’s how one creates a legacy worth respecting: by being bold enough to be different. Second, nothing worth having comes easy, and it certainly doesn’t come overnight, in a day, a week, a month, maybe not even a year. I say this not to discourage you, but to tell you that just like life is continuous, so is art! You can only get better at what you do if you keep on practicing, but that can only happen over time. Life in general is one huge learning experience: it never stops! So don’t put a time limit on something that’s always evolving and getting better. The more you develop your skills, the more powerful you become. And third, and perhaps the most important thing of all, even more important than being original or having experience: what really matters in all of this is to have fun!
Yes, there are artists who want to push the boundaries and create beauty out of nothing with their skills, but if you’re someone who draws, paints, writes, acts, plays an instrument (the list goes on), not so much to create, but to simply express yourself as a hobby, having fun is your driving force. If you ever find yourself in a situation like mine, do what I eventually did, and ask yourself this: why did I fall in love with this in the first place? This goes for anyone who is a writer, painter, photographer, sketch artist, musician, etc. What made you fall in love with what you do? If you ask yourself this and you’re still at a loss for words, try going back to the roots of why you express yourself in the way you do artistically, and if you find that what made it so much fun in the first place is still there, if that something still burns just as passionately as it did on the first day, then bring that with you into the present and get back into it! If you’re into art for the hedonistic value it can provide, have fun and enjoy it to the fullest. And if you’re in it to leave your mark on the world, don’t ever be afraid to fail and don’t let yourself be intimidated by your heroes, because just like you, they had these very same doubts at some point themselves. Being an artist isn’t hard. What is hard is convincing yourself that you can be one. Be yourself, work hard, love what you do, but most importantly, have fun while you do it! As long as you have fun, the rest will work itself out. by Cindy GuiracochaPregunta 1:
Primeramente le quiero decir muchas gracias por haberme llevado al museo del 9/11. Yo se que el tema del 9/11 siempre a tenido una clase de atracción emocional para usted. Para comenzar esta conversación yo quiero que lo hagamos como si solo estuviéramos casualmente hablando como padre e hija. Lo que yo quiero obtener de esta conversación es solo aprender, escuchar, y entender su historia sobre lo que le pasó durante el tiempo del 9/11 y el tiempo después del 9/11. Para comenzar yo quisiera preguntarle con todo cariño, que vio, sintió, y escuchó en el dia 11 de Septiembre del 2001? J: Yo vi un acontecimiento catastrófico que me dejó lleno de terror al ver destruirse todo con gente inocente. Fue algo terrible e inexplicable. Pregunta 2: Exactamente en dónde estaba usted en el momento que todo este evento trágico estaba sucediendo? Si usted puede, me quiere explicar exactamente lo que usted estaba sintiendo en el primer momento que usted se enteró sobre el evento trágico del 9/11? J: En ese momento yo estaba dormido porque en ese tiempo yo trabajaba en la noche, cuando un amigo me llamó diciendo que ocurrio un accidente y que cayó un avión en Manhattan. J: Primeramente yo pense que era un accidente de aviación. Luego me enteré que era un ataque del terrorismo que existe en el mundo. En el momento que yo me enteré del evento sentí tristeza por la gente que estaba alrededor del accidente. Segundo, yo sentí temor por la razón de que si algo más puede venir. Pregunta 3: Si puede usted ser sinceramente honesto conmigo, yo quiero saber si usted sintió miedo saber que esto está pasando en una ciudad tan cerca de su casa? En cualquier momento usted tuvo miedo por su vida, o por la vida de mi mama, o por los de mis hermanos y yo? J: Pues si yo tenía temor y miedo por lo que pudiera ocurrir con mi familia. Pregunta 4: Papi, usted sabe que en esos tiempos yo estaba muy pequeña para entender lo que estaba pasando, me podria explicar que paso en ese dia? Si usted vio las reacciones de la gente, es verdad que la emoción de tristeza y miedo se notaba en las caras de la mayoría de la gente? J: Claro si, entiendo que en esos dias tu estabas muy pequeña para entender de lo que sucedía. Pero si, en ese día ocurrió un trágico y un acto muy cobarde de parte de los que no aman a la humanidad. Como son esa gente que cometieron ese acto tan nefasto. Y si la tristeza se veía en los rostros de todos los seres humanos no solamente de esta ciudad sino del país y el mundo entero. Pregunta 5: Ese dia usted noto una diferencia entre la vida Americana? J: Creo que si, vi la unión de toda la gente. Vi la tristeza no en una persona sino en toda la gente. La gente se unió sentimentalmente en su dolor y tristeza por lo ocurrido. También en su unión laboral para retirar los escombros y levantar una nueva construcción. Pregunta 6: En aquel tiempo usted noto un cambio en su vida en los Estados Unidos? J: Oh Claro que si. Si senti un cambio en las cuales empecé a sentir temor hacia lo que pudiese ocurrir en un futuro. Debido a que el terrorismo a un existe. Pregunta 7: En este momento yo quisiera pedirle que por favor sea honesto conmigo. Usted casi cada año nos lleva ver la locación en donde antes estaba los torres gemelos. Me puede explicar por qué usted nos lleva a ver los? J: Yo los llevo cada año para recordar lo ocurrido y porque ahora tu tienes la edad suficiente como para entender todo lo sucedido. Pregunta 8: Usted cree que tiene una atracción emocional con lo sucedido en el evento trágico del 9/11? J: Si ocurrencias como estas dejan secuelas mentales en el ser humano y una de ellas es que aun siento temor de recorrer la ciudad sin evitar de pensar de todo lo que pasó. Pregunta 9: Si es cierto, me puede explicar como esta tragedia le cambio a usted como un hombre, un padre, o como un ser humano? J: Yo creo que el cambio fue como un padre y como un ser humano. Como padre me a enseñando a indicar a mis hijos cuál es el bien y el mal y como un ser humano me enseñando a respetar al ser humano y toda la sociedad. Pregunta 10: Si yo cambiara la pregunta número 9 a, me puede explicar como esta tragedia le cambio a usted como un hombre inmigrante en los Estados Unidos, hacer esto hace un cambio a su respuesta anterior? J: Talvez sí porque como inmigrante respeto y amo a este país pero como ser humano no me cambiaría porque respeto al ser humano. Pregunta 11: Yo quisiera saber el momento que usted se recuerda cuando escucha la fecha 11 de Septiembre del 2001? Hay algo en su vida que cada vez que usted ve o escucha le recuerda lo que pasó en el 11 de Septiembre? J: Cuando yo escucho el 11 de Septiembre del 2001 me recuerda todas las vidas perdidas en esa fecha. Cada vez que escucho que hay un accidente de avión me recuerda al 9/11. Pregunta 12: Usted me contó una vez las historias que usted pasó como un trabajador en una compañía de reciclaje después de lo sucedido en el 9/11. Me puede explicar sus experiencias trabajando ahí? J: Experiencias tristes por las cuales pase al trabajar en esa compañía por lo que ahí llegaba todo lo destruido de los edificios y como también de los seres humanos. Habia que recojer pertenencias que quedaban ahi. Pregunta 13: En este momento quiero preguntarle si se siente bien, o si se siente cómodo? Ya mismo terminas con nuestra conversación, puede usted continuar? J: Sí me siento cómodo y si podemos continuar. Pregunta 14: Hoy en día, yéndose a ver la locación en donde antes estaba los torres gemelos le trae memorias positivas o negativas? Le gusta visitar esa locación? J: Yendo a esa locación me trae memorias negativas porque no se pudo hacer nada para prevenir todo esto. Y si, lo visito esa locacion ,lo hago como para rendirles un homenaje a los seres cáidos en esos dias. Pregunta 15: Siendo un hombre hispano en los Estados Unidos, usted piensa que aquel evento le sigue cambiando de alguna manera? J: Yo pienso que siendo hispano o no hispano no hace la diferencia porque un ser humano siempre tendrá un sentimiento igual a un evento como este. Pregunta 16: Usted sigue sintiendo las mismas emociones que usted sintió en el dia 11 de Septiembre del 2001? J: No de la misma forma porque con el tiempo me a enseñado a superarla de cierta forma. Pregunta 17: Qué sentimientos usted pasó por cuando entró en el museo del 9/11? J: Cuando me voy al museo tengo un sentimiento de nostalgia al ver y recordar a los seres humanos inocentes fallecidos en ese tragico dia. Pregunta 18: Que momento, objeto, o historia, usted se recuerda más del museo? J: Del museo yo me recuerdo mas de los camiones de los bomberos destruidos porque fueron usados por los héroes que acudieron a tratar de salvar las vidas de los seres que se encontraban en los edificios. Pregunta 19: En este momento usted tiene la oportunidad de decir cualquier cosa sobre el 9/11. Si quiere puede hablar sobre lo que usted piensa del 9/11, o lo que siente ahora, o si usted tiene un consejo lo puede decir. J: Para mi pensar yo quisiera que haya un cambio en la mentalidad del ser humano para bien y esta clase de eventos no vuelvan a repetirse jamás en ninguna parte del mundo. Pregunta 20: Usted tiene alguna pregunta para mi? J: Después de haber conversado todo acerca de esto que piensas? C: Después de ver que usted pudo tomar su tiempo para hablar conmigo le quiero decir muchas gracias. Hoy yo aprendí mucho de usted, de mí, y de lo que paso ese dia. Creo que aun tenemos muchas posibilidades de hablar sobre más cosas que paso en el 11 de Septiembre. Muchas gracias por ser honesto conmigo y ojalá podamos continuar nuestra conversación algun otro dia. Final de la conversación. by Joseph "Joey" ButtsA couple days ago, a documentary entitled The Witness was recommended to me. If you aren’t familiar with it, it is about the 1964 murder of a girl named Kitty Genovese in Kew Gardens, Queens. Kitty’s brother, William, who was 16 at the time, now goes on to explore her controversial death. A reported 37 or 38 witnesses to the murder, yet none of them offered to help, shockingly, or even called the police. This was what the New York Times reported back then. This incident is thought to be the birth of the famous Bystander Effect. The Bystander Effect deals with situations where an individual does not help a victim in a public/populated place. Living in New York, you’ve probably seen and even participated in this effect at some point in the City. For example, if you're walking down an avenue and see a homeless man, asking for money or help, chances are you won’t help him or her. If others in front of you are concerned, being attentive, and acting on it, then maybe you would feel more inclined to act as well. I was raised in a small town with a population of about 2,000 people on the far east of Long Island. Life was much different there than here in the Big Apple. But for the most part back home, everybody knows everybody. If a person was struggling and needed help, the chances of someone seeing it may be lower but if someone does see something, the chances are greater that they will take action. There is more of a sense of community in small towns across America. When the New York Times first covered Kitty’s murder back in 1964 they choose some very particular things to omit in their coverage of the story. The documentary seemed to expose this, but I’m sure that was not their primary goal. It turned out that many people did in fact claim to help. The New York Times seemed to not include names or follow up on many leads at the time, probably because they wanted higher ratings. They were looking for a story to tell; and found a very opportune way to tell it. What captures a big city more than a violent killer on the loose killing women? Maybe that is the problem right there. As a specie, we enjoy excitement and scandal too much. To many journalists and reporters, they are just stories. Another face in the crowd. The documentary showcases the aftermath of Kitty’s death on the Genovese family, especially her brother William; who narrates the story. Her death led William to make drastic decisions in his young life, for example, he enlisted in the military and sadly, during his tour in Vietnam, he lost both legs after stepping on a landmine. For many in the media and the news business, it is just that, a business and a way to make money which requires adding or forgetting a little detail here and there in hopes of getting more readers and viewers. It is a sad and inconvenient truth. The title of the documentary was interesting to me. The Witness. Singular. When there were as many as 38 potential witnesses, why not have the title plural? Maybe because they are grouping all 38 into one? Because they didn’t do anything to have any individual worth? I don’t mean in life, I just mean in this particular situation. The poor coverage by the New York Times makes me question journalism because they play a huge role in many people’s lives. If they are simply skewing information to benefit their personal wealth, how well can they be trusted? It is a tough situation, because journalism is a field I want to pursue. I wouldn’t want to have to change or provide false information on a subject, just so it appeals to a broader audience. The documentary opened my eyes to the Bystander Effect, journalism, and humanity at large. A few months ago I was sitting alone, minding my own business. Suddenly, something happened. A man was screaming. I barely heard it, with my headphones plugged into my ears and my eyes closed. But somehow I did, and I did whatever I could do to help, even if I couldn’t do too much. A woman was choking, and a man was asking for someone to help him while he helped her. I helped but I didn’t feel any gratification from it, it just felt natural, like an instinct. It wasn’t until I had an in depth conversation with a friend and watching The Witness that I understood what these moments are like for some people. Looking back at it, if I had just sat there and ignored the situation like many people had done, then I don’t know what I would think of myself. I would have to try to make conscious decisions and actions to feel better about myself. I’m thankful that I do not have to do that. There are ways in which I do though, try to make myself feel like a better person, but everyone does in their own way as well. People always feel the need to better themselves. But it’s their motives to do so that are in question. People will claim that they help just out of the goodness of their heart, and many people probably do. But there are also many people who just want to appear to be good. It reminds me of a line from the 2006 Scorsese film, The Departed. Martin Sheen’s character says to Leonardo DiCaprio; “Do you want to be a cop, or do you want to appear to be a cop?” People are always so concerned with being, or at least appearing to be, a good person. Yet, situations like this just prove that they won't step out of the comfort zone to do so. Ultimately, how concerned can they be then? Maybe it doesn't matter what they appear to be in front of people they might never see again. This could be especially true in the city of New York with 8.5 million people because chances are, you may never see them again. Unless you are in your neighborhood and even then, the chances are slim. But put people in a room full of people they know and I'm sure the outcome would be different. I don't mean their closest friends and family, but maybe co-workers, classmates or people they see in church. I'm positive their reactions to emergency and high stress situations would be much different. The necessity of many narcissists to feel like they are just as “good” as the man or woman sitting next to them is uncanny. I learned at a young age a very important concept, which I’m sure many have heard before: character is who you are when nobody's watching. This article is acting as a prelude to a bigger, and more in depth project that I have been working on since December. The larger project will be presented at the 1st Annual Anthropology Conference at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, on March 16th, where I will delve into the Bystander Effect. I am looking at people I know and how willing or quick they are to come forth with their actions in situations that maybe aren’t as traumatic or severe as Kitty Genovese, but similar. In New York City, everyday millions are subject to the Bystander Effect. I want to explore why, and what can be done to help this. by Maksuder RahamanIt's Sunday afternoon and I just got off the subway at Battery Park with my friends. It's a sunny day, but with a little chill. There are thousands of people from different ethnicities standing around. You might think it's another nice day to have a walk and enjoy the beauty of Battery Park or others trying to get to Ellis Island to visit the Statue of Liberty, but no, people aren't there to enjoy another nice ordinary day or admire the beauty. It's about something else related to the recent political acts dictated by President Trump. The gathering of people is around the rights of immigrants and humanity, which goes beyond politics, religion and ethnicity. It's a perfect setting to have a demonstration or protest against the recent law banning Muslims and refugees. The Statue of Liberty, in all her majestic glory, stands still reminding us of what makes America great. She, the Statue of Liberty, represents American values and a united nation built on slave and immigrant labor. The United States of America, is a nation of immigrants and their native children and the Statue of Liberty is a memorial and a reminder of the values we adhere to and should be practicing, though, we sometimes forget, sadly. Joining the protest was instant and a spontaneous response from me because I did not plan to protest. I was returning from lunch and I was just browsing the web and catching up on the news about the recent ban on Muslims. I never thought in 2017 this kind of event would be taking place. While I was browsing the web, I saw a post on Facebook about the protest going on in Battery Park. Suddenly, I received a call from my cousin and he asked me “would you like to join the protest?” and my initial reply was “no” and I hung up the phone. Immediately after the phone call, I realized that this law affects me; though not immediately but it might affect me someday, therefore I decided to join the protest. The experience protesting was amazing because I was with my cousin and friends and there were thousands of people chanting who stood up against the recent government decision. The most interesting thing about the protest was the dynamics of people because even though it was a protest about the Muslim and refugee bans, I thought most of the people would be of Muslim or Middle Eastern decent, but I was wrong. On the way to the protest, on the train to the park, there were all different kinds of people with posters and banners which made it clear that it wasn't just about one group of people. It seemed like it was about all types of people who live in this society. Even though the recent law doesn't affect these people directly, the way they were supporting the Muslim and immigrant communities made it seemed like it was a law against them, too. After the protest in Battery Park, we headed to JFK to join and observe another protest happening at JFK. There wasn't that many people but there were a good amount of people to show their support and solidarity for the immigrants and more specifically, Muslim immigrants. On the way to JFK and back from JFK, we had conversations in the car about the recent political acts and protests. While we were talking about it, my cousin found out on social media that there was a shooting at a mosque in Canada. Immediately, there was a moment of silence and self-reflection because we are all Muslims, and this could happen to anyone of us, sitting here. We resumed our previous conversation and at that point I felt like it is the new dark era for Muslim immigrants, which could lead to another event like Nazi Germany of 20th century. People are living in fear; I am living in fear. People don't know what to do anymore. Despite all these things happening against Muslims, immigrants and now, Indians are being shot. There is still hope and I remain hopeful in light of these horrible racial and prejudicial violence because there are people within this society who stand with Muslims or any community who is being threatened unfairly by certain political interests groups. These people who support and go on the streets to show their solidarity in the time of crisis are the real representation of America. The experience was an eye-opener and I was reminded of what makes America great. by Linda CheriyanI remember laughter filling the hallways as kids laughed when I looked a little too ethnic.
I remember I held pride in wearing my cultural clothes, but not long after being bullied. People felt terrified to sit next to me because of their lack of knowledge, which led them to thinking; I was a terrorist due to the color of my skin and clothes. I remember wearing a cross visible for my entire school to see to prove that I was not Muslim. I did it in hopes to gain friends so I didn’t have to sit alone once again. I remember the white girl wore the salwar kameez and was praised for how “beautiful” she looked. I remember I brought Indian food to school Because I have not yet accustomed to American food, This to my tongue tasted of flavorless boiled chicken with no spices. Of course the kids made fun of me for that too, The smell of curry wasn’t too pleasing to their non-ethnic noses, And told me I smelled like the nasty food. So I had to force myself to get used to the tasteless chicken served in the cafeteria, So once again I wouldn’t have to sit alone. I remember kids laughing at the color of my skin Because I was too dark for their colorless eyes and I remember shutting myself in the bathroom doors and crying why I wasn’t made pale and “beautiful” I remember searching on Google “homemade remedies to make your skin lighter” Came out with millions of searches and thought wow I’m not alone But not thinking we were all brainwashed by the false portrayal of beauty Which is all centered on the Eurocentric values that white men have created. None of the remedies worked and felt the need to get the stain of my skin. Ironic how they go to tanning salons to be the color I was born with. I remember wanting to educate people about my culture But I was not able to find the words to. I was quickly silenced and said to pay attention to the fake history that was being taught in my history classes. I remember hoping one day I will find the voice to speak out against the lies Hoping I will one day be able to re-introduce myself to my own culture It feels as if that hopeful day had finally come, Where I have learned to appreciate my beautiful skin tone and Where I understood my culture is truly something special to me Where the hues of culture are more appealing than the colorless society I’m surrounded by. Even though it came to me, I seem to be stuck in a world that still doesn’t see. by Michele BukhariI took this picture in an abandon hospital in Staten Island. I went on a trip in high school with my photography class. It was an amazing experience; all the walls were covered with graffiti and I couldn’t stop looking at them. I honestly didn’t know I would like this picture, I just took it, just to take it. But after going through the pictures I took that day I like the angle this picture was taken in. So I just edited it a little. This is another picture from the abandon seaview hospital trip. I loved how many colorful graffiti art there was. This one was the biggest piece I seen in the area I walked into. This picture is of a ceiling in the abandoned Seaview Hospital. I love this picture because no one knows what those little orbs are. When I entered the room and took the picture I didn’t see anything but the ceiling but when I pulled it up on a computer I saw these little orbs and everyone just assumed they were spirts or something of that sort. This picture was taken outside of the many Seaview Hospital buildings. This was under a bridge of some sort that you could walk straight into one of the buildings. I took this picture last summer when I was in Brownsville, BK. It was after a long day of surveying people on the streets of Brownsville for my Anthropology class. My friends and I were looking for someplace to go and eat since we weren’t familiar with the place we just kept walking. While we were on our little adventure to find a place to eat, we saw these murals of graffiti. This specific one just caught all of our eyes. It looked so perfectly made. This picture was taken at East River Park. I was there with my sister and the view just looked nice to me, so I took the picture. This was at East River Park. I did edit this picture through photoshop because when I did take the picture, it was too bright and I really couldn’t see the clouds or anything in the back. This picture was taken at Sunset Park, BK. During the summer of 2016, for my Anthropology class, we had to walk around and survey people on crime rates and police involvement in the community. I took this picture because that was the first time in 2 days I had seen any police cars in the neighborhood.
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