Serving in Silence

1. Describe these reactions:

A. Military: A law had been established years earlier stating that homosexuals would be discharged. They were surprised when Margarethe willingly admitted that she was a lesbian.

B. Father: He as just a little shocked, but he took it well, even though he had mixed feelings. He said: "I'm sorry you had to say anything about this. I hope it doesn't hurt your carrier."
.
C. Children Each Son (s): The three oldest ones are completely okay with it, and they even say that they already knew. The youngest, however, is in denial right up until the end of the movie, when he finally re-conciliates with his mother.


2. Margarethe's decision to tell:

A. the military: She was being interviewed to be a general ad when she was asked if she had committed immoral practices she asked what they meant by that. She answered  that she was a lesbian, but that it was only an emotional connection to women, it was who she is, her identity, not because of the physical contact of sexuality.

B. her children: She was almost forced to resign from the army or she would be discharged. Before anything happened, she decided to tell her children so that they heard it first from her.

C. her father: Her father wanted to move in with her, so she felt it was the moment to tell him.


3. What is your reaction to this true story? Do you believe that she should have kept her secret or told it to everyone? Explain your reasons why.

As a group, we came to the conclusion that this true story was inspiring because she was very brave by accepting who she was. We believe that she made the right decision, because it is better to be at peace with yourself and be honest rather than having to hide how you feel and being dishonest. To fight for her and every other homosexual rights was a good quality for her to have. Having told everyone she made a difference, sure at first there were some consequences but it was worth it at the end. 

4. (?) How would Dr. Kinsey explain the Margarethe Cammermeyer's sexuality?
She is a mother of 4 boys so how can she be lesbian? Is it her choice?

As a group, we find it hard to use this scale because one moves through it. It's possible that she didn't know she was homosexual until she fell in love with a woman; this could help explain how she is a mother despite being a lesbian. I don't think she is "any less of a lesbian" (as odd and ridiculous as that sounds) because she has kids; if she feels she is a lesbian, then she is. Ultimately, I believe she would be a 4 on the Kinsey Scale due to the fact that she lived as a heterosexual woman until the events in the story. Finally, I don't think anyone chooses to be heterosexual or homosexual; I certainly don't remember choosing to be heterosexual. Therefore, I don't think it's her choice, it's just who she is.

5. Personally I find that she had no other choice but to face it all, if you believe in something  you must be willing to face the world and defend it. In the end she did exactly that.

Synopsis of the movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114395/plotsummary 

I leave this song here that suits the mood

Literary Contest

Victory

Humans through the flow of time compete, they wage wars and fight for a just cause in order to prove their superiority. One can change the name of it, whether it’s a fight, war or competition it’s all the same. All of these things are just different ways of people trying to be superior in some aspects, whether is a physical superiority or an intellectual kind. It is a natural phenomenon that is born as we are children, one can try to draw a nice Crayola picture of mommy and daddy, but when the child sees how the other child is doing the same exact thing there is a certain sense of unease if not anger. The child wants to be better than the other one due to him looking to the side, had he not done so, there would be no need for him to work harder, but there would also be no need for him to see how far he can go. In general, the need of competition is born out of observing another being, there is a dominant psychological trait in the human being that makes them want to dominate and submit others to their will, hence proving superiority. Of course a child won’t have it to that extent, but if left to time everything grows exponentially. This being said, in the past month our teacher Professor Pittman  made us participate in a literary contest, in which the author of this essay participated in the poetry category. Now what could have possibly made me actually participate?

                First, the psychological implications, well in the beginning I told you about the child and what not. Well that’s the case with me as well, I wanted to prove that I was the best at what I do, to receive a prize for my efforts. It’s a certain sense of satisfaction one feels when they reach a goal, in my case it’s winning. I feel there is a general desire I want to appease, a certain longing is felt if I don’t fulfill it. To explain it further lets create an example: Imagine you are a boxer fighting for a world title. You trained your whole life for this moment, you beat your body dry in order to reach this goal you set out to do. Your opponent wants this just as much as you, the person trained and worked hard just as you to reach this moment. The bell rings and the fight breaks out, you both seize each other up trading blows and it slowly becomes a slug-fest. By the sixth round both of you are exhausted, his last left hook took a chunk out of your ribs and your last jab took a swing at his eye. By now both of you are at the critical point in fatigue, in an effort to finish the match you both entrust the last of the energy left into one fist and swing. At the last second the lights go out, you feel a sudden impact beside your ear followed by another on the back of the head. All of the s sudden the body feels too heavy and you can almost hear the blurred sound of a man saying some words. When you finally get up it is over, your opponent won the match and the world tittle you worked for so hard, there is anger, and there is frustration as well as fury. It doesn't matter to you that you tried the hard and gave it your all, he won the match and world attention, as for you, you won nothing and came back empty handed. There is no satisfaction in defeat, this situation is the general event that happens in the everyday life of people as well as the natural psychological reaction of a person. When I participated, I had only one intention: Win.

               

                In conclusion, after all the effort I made I was ‘knocked out’ (reference of the second paragraph) my poem didn’t even received a mentioning. In a way I knew it wouldn’t, criticizing the government isn’t really a beautiful or raw emotional thing about myself, it only portrayed a frustrating I have with the system that seems to forget who made them happen. At first it hit me hard, the want I had for winning was high and it took me a while to absorb the blow. In the end I realized that the only person that needed to like my work was me that no amounts of prize could ever replace the love I have for my own poetry and this was the result of a psychological impulse.

link to examples of speeches: http://www.speechanddebate.org/competitionevents

 this song suits the mood

Skitt

Well the making of the skitt was ardous, honestly I really did not like doing it for the fact that I felt rushed and forced to do so, I mean it was fun, but at the expense of losing sleep and feeling like I wasted valuable time. None the less, here it is.

Title: Keeping up with the Normans

Group: The Zodiacs

Plot summary: In this short drama we have a typical dinner of a southern family turn into a huge tension fit. All of this due to the news the kids and wife have for the idealist husband…

Poem: Epitaph – Timothy Steele

Characters:

Edward Norman (father): Chris Aquino

Rebecca Norman (mother): Jessica Robles

Margaret Norman (daughter): Valerie Orlando

John Norman (son): Lemuel Rivera

Mathew Norman (son): Raúl Vargas

José Gonzalez (boyfriend): José Gonzalez

*The family is seated for as usual for dinner.*

Edward: Alright family, dinner is ready. (Walks in scene)

Margaret: Umm, Dad? I forgot to tell you that my boyfriend is coming over to eat with us.

Edward:  Erm, well it’s alright. I guess it’s somewhat unannounced, but we have enough food to share. What is he like? Where is he from? Where did you meet him?

Rebeca: Edward, honey, relax. Have some faith in our daughter. I’m sure she takes from me; she knows how to pick ‘em.

Edward: Alright, alright. I’ll just ask him when he gets here.

*knocking on door*

Margaret: That must be him, I’ll get it.

*The rest of the family resumes small talk*

Margaret: Well, family this is Jose. Jose, this is my father, mother, and my two brothers John and Mathew.

Jose: It’s an honor to be here, thank you for having me here Mr. Norman. (Proceeds to shake hand)

*Edward looks at him in a strange way*

Edward: Thank you, sit down. (As an order)

John: Well, Dad, there was this football game yesterday and our team completely clobbered the other school’s team. I mean, you should’ve been there. We grinded them to dust.

*Edward remains with his stare fixated on Jose*

Edward: Yeah, son. Sure sounds like a game. How about you Jose? Do you play any sports?

Jose: Yeah, I guess I dabble with some soccer.

Edward: Dabble? So, you don’t like commitment? Where did you learn this dabble?

Jose: Well, from my family. They learned back home.

Edward: Hm, where are you from?

Jose: Well, I am from here, but my family migrated from Mexico.

Edward: As illegal immigrants!?

Margaret: Dad!!

Edward: I have to ask for our own good!

Jose: No, sir. My family migrated legally.

Matthew: Dad, I think you should calm down.

John: Mat has a point, Dad. You’re taking it too far.

Edward: Too far!? Have I not raised you kids better than this? You are pure American, just like me. It is our job to defend the point of which our country is based.

Margaret: Dad, this is enough, you’re being a bigot.

Edward: Don’t you dare talk to your father that way, miss!

Rebeca: Hun, you’ve gotten too far. Sit down and apologize to Jose.

Edward: Oh, you’re defending the outsider too?

Jose: Don’t worry, I can just leave.

Margaret: No, Jose!

Rebecca: Please stay, dear.

Edward: Rebecca!

Rebecca: Edward.

John: Dad!

Edward: John!

Margaret: Dad!

Edward: Margaret!

Matthew: I’m gay…

Edward: WHAT!?

Matthew: Hm? Oh, nothing. The pasta is really good.

Edward: What did you say, son?

Mathew: Well, Dad. Honestly, I wouldn’t know how to tell you this, but I am gay.

Edward: What!? I thought I raised you better than this! You dare insult me like this, son? After all I’ve done for you?

John: Well, now that we’re confessing our thoughts, Dad, I’m an atheist.

Edward: You too? No, don’t tell me my whole family has gone rouge on me. Rebecca, please make some sense of this.

Rebeca: Honestly, I can’t help. I have been meaning to tell you this, but my father was African American.

Edward: So, you’re telling me filth runs in my bloodline? Oh, no! You know what? I need some air.

*storms out furious*

*stops and looks at the audience*

Edward: As the poet Timothy Steele would say: “Here lies my family’s dignity, it wasn’t golden, not even yellow”.

*leaves* *Family resumes dinner*

Margaret: I am so sorry for what happened. Really, he isn’t a bad man. He just thinks he still lives in that old world of his.

Jose: It’s alright. I am sure he will come around eventually.

Rebeca: It is either that or he won’t step a foot in here. Knowing him, it’ll take a while before he cools off.

John: Dad will be dad, though. Mat, how long have you been gay?

Mathew: Remember when I went skinny dipping in the lake with the lacrosse team?

John: Yeah?

Mathew: Use your imagination. How about you?

John: Remember the burnt pile of bibles in the nun’s locker room?

Mathew: You didn’t!

John: Nope, but I paid someone else to do it and framed the school bully.

*Everyone starts laughing*

Scene ends

link to examples of plays http://www.10-minute-plays.com/dramas/

goes with the theme