Peter Menzel: Food Around The World

     On Peter Menzel's online gallery, his section on food aims to enlighten the world about foreign eating habits. Just by looking at the differences portrayed between an American family's weeks worth of food and that of an African family, it is very saddening to see the meager amounts of food some people have to eat. Some of the pictures of foreign delicacies such as marinated grasshopper are meant to shock the audience, and show the interesting tendencies of foreign cultures. Although I am an American, it was shocking to see the food choices of the American choices. It seemed that some lower class families abroad had healthier meals than people that could afford to eat lavishly.

A criticism of Wrangham's "Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human"

     Although there is a general consensus that Richard Wrangham delivers a well-written analysis of human eating habits over the years, I did find one thorough criticism of his book that was written on Amazon by "JDT" in Anchorage. JDT claims that Wrangham's claim that "'we [humans] fare poorly on raw diets' (p. 53) are rife with bad science and logical fallacies, and he does not substantiate his claim."
     JDT demonstrates two particular instances where Wrangham's research falls short. In his first attack on raw foodists, Wrangham writes about a study  done where nine unhealthy participants were put on a raw food diet for only 12 days, and they saw unhealthy decreases in weight as well as bad balances of cholesterol and blood pressure. JDT points out that the evidence is ridiculous considering the participants were unhealthy to begin from, and the diet lasted for only 12 days- very little time to collect any sufficient evidence. In Wrangham's second study, scientists ran a study of 513 people in Germany. In their transition to raw food, they lost an average of 21.9 pounds, and "scientists thus concluded that 'a strict raw food diet cannot guarantee an adequate energy supply.' JDT suggests this study is too broad- each of these 513 people undoubtedly had different diets, and it is unclear what outside factors affected their weight loss.

Source: http://www.amazon.com/Catching-Fire-Cooking-Made-Human/product-reviews/0465013627/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_summary?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

Dorm-Dwellers and "The Pleasures of Eating": A Revised List

1. Participate in food production to the extent that you can. Although living in a dormitory limits your ability to grow food, there are still things you can do to overcome your lack of space. Herbs such as basil and rosemary are easy to grow, and are compact enough to fit into your dorm room. Perhaps try to ask the college to permit students to have plots to grow their own food (if available). Any opportunity for a "green initiative" makes an institution look good.
2. Prepare your own food. Purchase a smaller meal plan, and make use of communal kitchens to cook your own food. You will be healthier, your food will taste better, and you should encourage other students to do the same.
3. Learn the origins of the food you buy AND the food that is served to you in the cafeteria. Schools should be encouraged to incorporate local produce into their food, to keep students healthy and support the local economy.
4. Learn everything you can about the food economy and the technology of industrial food production. You may not know what you are putting into your body. On average, food travels 1500 miles to make it to your table. Eating locally would also lessen fossil fuel impact on the earth.
5. Learn what you can about nutrition. Most students eat whatever sounds good, not is good. You might suffer from it in the future...for example; did you know your body can no longer digest milk fats? All that excess milk you drink stores deposits of calcium in your joints, contributing to arthritis later in life.

Richard Wrangham: How Cooking Makes Us Who We Are

     In this interview, Richard Wrangham discusses the discrepancies of modern homo sapiens and early apes/human ancestors. Because the author now dedicates his life to research the evolution of eating habits and cooking in particular, he makes some connections between the identity of human beings and our use of fire to cook foods.
     Although it is unclear when or why human beings adopted the practice of cooking, the author states that he believes our species started using fire about 1.9 million years ago. It is a known fact that earlier humans had different bodies- they were smaller, and had smaller brains. Wrangham attributes this to their need for energy to digest raw foods, and therefore lack of "expensive organs" such as the human brain. Cooking food makes it easier to eat and digest, and increases our caloric intake. The author makes the observation that humans travel much farther than apes, justifying our need for fast calories. The implications of cooking also created a need for social structure. Males expected women to provide food for them at all times, and in return, protected women from being harassed by other males.

Some questions and concerns for the reviewer:

• Does my essay have a concrete working thesis?
• Do I address all the points that I offer in my introduction?
• Are the quotations I take from the essay explained thoroughly, and reasonably?
• Do I address the author's use of logos, ethos, and pathos?
• Am I using too many opinionated statements, or do I provide enough evidence to support my claims?
• Is my conclusion too long/drawn out, or does it give an accurate summary/ending to the essay?
• Is the formatting of my essay correct, in accordance with MLA guidelines?

Formal Outline

The Story Of A Snitch: the unwillingness of the ‘Civilian’ to testify

Thesis: In Baltimore and in surrounding suburbs, it has become increasingly difficult for authorities to unfold crimes and persecute suspects due to an unwillingness of the community to come forward as witnesses. Jeremy Kahn, the author of “The Story Of A Snitch”, connects this enigma to witness intimidation and perceived danger. Through his detailed analysis of prominent cases, interviews of Baltimore residents, and the perspective of the trials and tribulations of John Dowery Jr., Kahn is able to bring the issue to the public’s view and suggest an issue of ethics in the response of the public to violent crime in their neighborhood. The author specifically uses pertinent colloquialisms, detailed narration and lavish descriptions, and a seemingly neutral presentation of evidence to convince the reader of the significance of the issue.

I.                   Word choice always plays an important role in appealing to a perceived audience. In this article, the author includes terms and phrases that are commonly used on “the street” to appeal to the audience’s pathos.

a.       Specific words used

b.      “Snitches and rats” / underground DVD

II.                “Only the skilled hands of the surgeons at Johns Hopkins spared his life” (56).

a.       The use of narration to appeal to peak the interest of the audience

b.      Phrases Kahn uses that are instrumental in delivering the argument

                                                              i.      i.e. “climate of fear,” “culture of silence,” “double standard,” etc.

III.             The author uses a more neutral perspective to relay his argument to the audience. Instead of taking a strong biased position, he effectively uses evidence to convince the reader.

"The Story of A Snitch"; a brief Rhetorical Analysis

       I believe that "The Story Of A Snitch" by Jeremy Kahn would be a fascinating article to use for my rhetorical analysis essay. This is especially because I like Kahn's writing style and use similar methods when I write articles and essays. Through this article, Kahn thoroughly depicts a component of American society that is rarely talked about. In lower class communities, where crimes such as the distribution of drugs and theft are common, treason committed to any member of the community is considered a huge transgression. The author depicts the case of John Dowery Jr., who decided to "snitch" and testify against two men who had murdered one of his friends.
       Because this case depicts extreme lawlessness, it makes it an interesting topic to mainland America. Not only does Kahn's raises issues of ethics in the case of the law, but also in gang culture. Kahn builds his argument through his use of narration, his depiction of the life of Dowery, his effective use of first-hand interviews, and a broader analysis of the issue by including the part about the video "Stop Fuckin Snitching". Because middle and upper class America have very little outside perspective on the issue, Dowery does a great job of placing the reader in Dowery's shoes and sympathizing with a criminal. In addition, the author uses a broad spectrum of diction to make his narrations more appealing, as well as explains some colloquialisms to make the story more understandable.
       The author establishes ethos through his vested interest in the matter, how much evidence he provides on the issue, and lastly through being an established author; writing for many sources including Newsweek International, The New York Times, The New Republic, Slate, and the Atlantic (my personal favorite). Although the author does not make any bold claims in this article, he establishes Pathos through his effective story-telling abilities; allowing for the audience to make their own judgement on the issue. I believe the overall message that Kahn is trying to deliver to upper-class America is that violence and lawlessness in "the hood" is increasingly becoming a problem, with the use of technology such as film and a widespread mentality that reporting violent crimes would be an act of treason, i.e. "snitching". I would even go on to make the claim that Kahn avoids making any objective argument on the issue due to the sensitivity of the information he reveals, including names. I believe that although Kahn relays these issues to mainland America, he himself is afraid to say what is "right" or "wrong" because he is afraid for his life--he's afraid to "snitch". In the end, Jeremy Kahn still labels John Dowery Jr. a snitch, leaving the floor open to society to debate and sympathize about his case and the issue in general. The Atlantic, the literary review where this article was originally published, usually contains articles that address certain issues such as George Bush's presidency with strong and objective opinions.

The Pregnancy Market

     Although Ellen Goodman believes that the use of surrogate mother is in some cases very beneficial to couples, she also says that there should be "something uncomfortable about a free market approach to baby-making." This is because she believes the rich are taking advantage of the monetary needs of the poor. Goodman's appeal to the audience (pathos) is that we are essentially crossing ethical boundaries and overuse the surrogate process--we are distorting natural processes and making baby making into a business, a marketplace. The fact that she includes that women in Anand make $25 a month crushing glass, and are forced to endure surrogacy makes the projected audience feel uneasy about the process. 

     Something that make's Goodman's argument particularly effective is that she takes the argument from a more casual perspective and also acknowledges why surrogate mothers could be a good thing. If she instead rambled on about how much she despised the process, the audience of the article would not be as open to what she had to say. She points out what is going on, and suggests why this may be problematic. 

     Something that really struck me in this article was when she included the part about women from Anand. When you think of it in the sense that these mothers from Anand rely on having somebody else's child to make a living--you become really sympathetic. I therefore went from being indifferent to the article to really being disturbed by the issue.

SWA #4

Through her excerpt “On The Preservation Of A Good Temper In A Housekeeper”, Catherine Beecher aims to define and put emphasis on the duties and importance of a good “housekeeper” in the American household. For Beecher, a housekeeper is a woman that plans, controls, and performs common household duties as well as tasks such as raising the children, as well as enforces obedience and good behavior. Although most women in the middle class were housekeepers, Beecher seeks to define and encourage proper behavior and mannerisms of such women. An “equable and cheerful temper” in such women is crucial because the feeling manifests itself in the children and husband, and duties are performed in a more thorough manner. Beecher claims that “a sorrowful, a discontented, or an angry, countenance, produces a silent, sympathetic influence, imparting a somber shade to the mind…” (249).

Beecher makes a list of considerations to prepare women to deal with daily “crosses.” The first consideration is that a woman should make her mind to “regard her duties as dignified, important, and difficult” (250). A woman must also prepare her arranged duties so that she will be ready to meet difficulty with “a cheerful and quiet spirit” (251). Next, a woman needs to formulate her plans in way that meets the needs and character of those around her; particularly her husband and children. Finally, a family needs to live by a mother’s example. More specifically, a woman must never lash out in temper; she must do resolve everything with a calm, cool sense so that the children live in a sense of calm and follow the mother’s example.

It is difficult to connect the themes and assumptions of this excerpt to all women in 19^th century society because this article is clearly aiming at the middle class, white woman. Beecher writes this article assuming that all women are “stay at home moms” and have the time to really rationalize the sciences and theories presented. To provide an example, a woman of the upper class might hire a “housekeeper” and “nanny” to resolve all the duties involved in taking care of the home and family. In contrast, a lower class woman may not have the time to care for her own children or make meals consistently. In addition, the author fails to explore more strict tactics in raising children where mothers are stern and demanding of their children. Beecher has a very specific outlook on the role of women in society, and seems to ignore alternate possibilities.

Catherine Beecher; her background

Although Beecher's views on the roles of women in society are biased and sexist, it is also important to acknowledge the time period in which she lived. In the mid 1800's, women were becoming increasingly involved in societal positions other than that of a housekeeper. Beecher did not degrade the position of women in society, yet asserted that their nature made them better housekeepers and teachers. Although she openly did not want women to be involved in the evils of politics, her views were unique and gave women their own position that stressed their importance in the household.

I am my brother's keeper.

Ellie Wiesel isn’t just a Professor, a Nobel Laureate, an author of 57 books, and a Holocaust survivor of three concentration camps. He is a man with a cause; or in his view, he is “his brother’s keeper” (42). Through his answers to Richard D. Heffner’s questions, Wiesel makes the point that we see the evil actions and the suffering of others—yet we do not act on it. One day our attention is focused on one apartheid, and then the media switches the interest to another. Yet we simply watch and do nothing (43). Wiesel explains, “if we ignore suffering, we become accomplices, as so many did during the Holocaust” (49). Although Wiesel acknowledges that one person cannot change everything, his main point in this dialogue is that the first step humanity must take to change the world is simply to listen. The author makes this very clear through his analysis of the story of Cain and Abel, as well as through his own actions.

The traditional biblical analysis of the story of Cain and Abel usually puts an emphasis on the fact that jealousy played a large role in the murder. God refused Cain’s offering (and therefore his marriage), and Cain slew his brother in a fit of jealousy. Wiesel instead takes the story from a more human perspective and says “in the Bible it’s said, ‘And Cain spoke to Abel. And we don’t even know if Abel listened…the first act, really, among brothers, was a lack of communication” (44). Although it is unclear what Cain’s motives were for killing his brother, Wiesel makes the point that clear communication could have changed things. The author then goes on to say that he believes in clear communication—in respectful, sincere, conversation. Only good will come of it; and even if you cannot suffer for another, you can be there for them.

When asked whether he is “his brother’s keeper,” Wiesel recalls that “there were times when I needed people, and they were not there” (45). Even to a homeless man who has his hand outreached Wiesel cannot deny a dollar, despite the fact that the dollar may be used to purchase alcohol. The author makes the point that all the newspapers and magazines in America in 1945 showed pictures of the Holocaust, yet nobody took action. The author, who lived through this unspeakable tragedy, makes himself the advocate of those who suffer—of those whose voices are not heard. Although there are monetary and political boundaries to what we can do, Wiesel maintains that the most important thing is to not be ignorant—to acknowledge the horror that goes on in the world and make it a high priority to do something about it. This is what he asks of his students, and this is what he asks of the readers. “‘We can therefore we must.’ There is so much forgetfulness, so much indifference today, that we must fight it. We must for the sake of our own future” (45).

In my view, Ellie Wiesel makes an excellent insight about humanity and existence. We are so involved with our own lives that we choose to ignore what goes on around the world. It is very evident to me that I cannot solve Haiti’s political and economic problems, nor can I find a cure for the AIDS epidemic in Africa. But what makes us human is to pay attention—to be open-minded and do what we are capable of doing. For what difference does it make that I can’t afford name brand clothing when people cannot afford food to nourish themselves? We must do what we can.