Papa Song's Golden Ark Analysis

In Rudy Francisco’s poem “Rifle II,” the author uses diction and irony to express resentment towards both society and himself. The overall message of the poem is clear: a criticism of the glorification of violence. However, it is harder to pin down Francisco’s exact attitude about how the glorification of violence has affected him personally. A closer examination of the language and devices he uses reveals an underlying bitterness about what society has made him into, and who he has become.

Early yesterday morning, not too long after midnight, the body of teenage Andrew Freeman, was found lying in an alley near Washington and Jefferson, after a brutal stabbing. The police highly suspect that this is act of supremacy from the local gang called the ‘guardians’, adding to the violence in the area. Andrew, known by his peers as “Andy”, was recognized as a foot soldier of the ‘Royals’, the Guardian’s opposition in the area.

Law and Order’s portrayal of the justice system further validated my preexisting notions of the flaws of the justice system, and also led me to an interesting realization; the episode seems to imply that the justice system’s spiteful, irrational response to violent crimes is, above all else, an indictment on society. Following the execution, District Attorney Adam Schiff is asked why he changed his stance on capital punishment. His response is clear: it wasn’t he who changed his mind; instead, “the people changed theirs” (“Aftershock”). The criminal justice system didn’t shape itself into the flawed institution that it has become; conversely, it was the general population’s insecurity and vengeance that really gave birth to this system. But why? As

Outside, a deep silence fell over the neighborhood. This silence crept into every household. Members of the community had a guise of anger and pain expressed on their faces. Everyone locked themselves inside, to lament such a tragedy that has brought sorrow to a twelve years old’s family. Parents fell on their knees with tears in their eyes. This last murder represented the final straw. So many of their own had been murdered by the malicious, metallic, monsters that were supposed to be the defenders of their community. They felt insecure, threatened by the

In “Chi-Raq,” a film directed by Spike Lee, the audience follows Lysistrata, the girlfriend of a gang leader, as she leads and inspires a group of women to abstain from sex in order to stop the endless gun violence running rampant throughout the southside of Chicago. Not only will this essay discuss her protest as a demonstration of the important theme of gender and power, but it will also push the viewer to notice and acknowledge the detrimental effects gun violence can have on a community. In the beginning part of the film, Lysistrata stumbles upon the crime scene of a little girl who was shot and killed by a stray bullet during a drive-by shoot out. She is then forced to watch as the mother begs for someone to come forward with information about the shooter after being denied access to cross the yellow police tape, which is keeping her away from her child’s body.

Henderson shifts to a sentimental tone by describing the emotional effect this trial would have on the community. He appeals to sympathetic emotions by using the hyperbole “…the worst day this community has ever experienced” and macabre diction of “…portray this multiple murder as gruesomely as possible…,” to represent the horrific memories that the witnesses and surviving victims would have to go through if the case continues. The specific diction and hyperbole shock the reader and to create a sense of abstract tortures that the community would have to go through if the general attorney proceeded with the capital punishment. The author juxtaposes the negative effects with the ] positive decision of accepting Dylann Roof's plea and sentencing him to a life in prison without parole, which would include “tribute to the victims, focusing on the value of their lives and the consequences of their loss,” a description that has everything the community wants but the final decision the author, stresses, belongs to General Loretta E. Lynch. By mentioning the name and the statement that “The attorney general need only agree,” she becomes the audience for a few moments, pressuring her decision and asserting all the consequences of her decision if she decides to continue with the capital case.

In April 1985, Edward I. Koch published his essay on capital punishment in the liberal magazine New Republic. Koch was a hardworking congressman who eventually became the gutsy mayor of New York between 1978 and 1989. In his essay “Death and Justice”, he addresses common arguments liberals make against the death penalty. According to Koch, “Life is indeed precious.... had the death penalty been a real possibility in the minds of these murderers, they might well have stayed their hand” (3). Koch wants to guide his readers to see that the justice system is failing innocent people whose lives are of tremendous value. He undeniably stirs things up for the strong sided liberal party readers who tend to protect murderers from being executed. However, as someone who was once a congressman, his modes of persuasion with ethos, logos, and pathos, are incredibly effective and on point.

As I frantically got my lunch, books, and backpack together for school, I heard the news in the living room ringing in my ears. Another shooting down in American history, this one at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The news reporter began to talk about Adam Lanza, the shooter, who was deeply troubled in his teenage years. As the reporter elaborated, he revealed details that Lanza had access to guns. I felt my chest begin to tighten as I thought about dangerous people having the ability to purchase guns with no struggle. With each word spilling out of the reporter’s mouth I suddenly felt like oxygen was escaping my body and a sense of fear came over me. Out of nowhere, like a train hitting a car, I heard my mom yell, “It’s time to go, it’s 7:35.” I say, “Okay I’m coming!” even though

The Song is considered the absolute law of the Yami with no room for gray areas or interpretation and their myths, unlike in western culture where the word myth is understood as false, are considered as the only real truths and never to be questioned. It holds all the taboos, rituals, and social reasoning of the Yami, and the history of the family reciting until present time. This genealogy component of the song is why each family has their own version of creation in the Song.

“After abandoning everything in our home, everything my parents had worked for, I was met by assault rifles, searchlights and quarters too small for the amount of people it accommodated” my grandfather assured. The property, belongings, jobs and businesses were all left behind in the rash fear

scene to you, the sun has now disappeared and darkness has taken the sky, but the city is light with bright orange light. The heat from blaze of a fire from the riots are spreading wildly. Sirens and lights are flashing, as Baltimore firefighters battle a three-alarm fire at Gay and Chester Streets in East Baltimore. The water from the fire trucks leak onto the ground branching off like rivers on the road. The fire I see it as an inner burning or the silent cry of the oppressed, the water in the streets the tears from the faces of the oppressed, as they watch their city burn and their loved ones cry for a savior that may never come.

“For every good reason there is to tell a lie, there is a better one to tell the truth”

This story keeps the reader in suspense as they don’t know when the gun will go off. They should also feel horrified at how the gangs in America used to settle arguments and that the boys kept adding bullets into the gun, putting their life at risk just so that they wouldn’t let the other gang members down.

With time violence may become such a commonplace that even seemingly sane people will see no problem murdering a store clerk, opening fire on someone that cut them off on the highway, or killing a disobedient child. "A society that chooses violent death as a solution to a social problem gives official sanction to a climate of violence." (Prejean, 57)

It is full summer and upon the horizon, I see soldiers coming, they are forever coming, it seems. Though they will soon leave us alone. For some insane reason, crazy people, scare them away. This place, has become my haven. You would think, after a hundred and forty years, I would have grown tired of this place and moved on; but when my Henry, was killed at Vicksburg, I completely lost my mind.