Reflections; Beauty, the Death Penalty, Japan and Universally Unique

Reflections from Wanny
Am I really Beautiful?


Today, for the first time I attended a R.I.S.E meeting on campus. As I walked to Duffy I saw the rush of women of color walking in the same direction. An image that is rare at Stonehill College. Walking into a room full of people who looked like me was relieving. Every time I walk into a meeting or a classroom at this school I mentally unconsciously prepare myself for being the only person of color sitting in that room. Today, I didn’t have to do that and it felt amazing. I wasn’t alone in my insecurities, thoughts and I wasn’t alone in a room. We spoke about relationships in general and then specifically at Stonehill. As the conversation progressed I began to think about my beliefs and thoughts before I got to Stonehill and how they have changed now that I have been here for two years.

Everyone has their own insecurities regardless of how beautiful those around you think you are. Before Stonehill I was so accustomed to the meaning of beautiful being long black curly hair, big brown eyes, curvaceous, brown skin, full of life and being able to rock your sweats while still somehow looking irresistibly stunning. When I got to Stonehill that all changed. I noticed that around here beautiful meant you were a size 3 with blonde hair, a pair of blue eyes. Of course the lighter your skin is the better and looking picture ready everyday even on Sunday is a must. All of the sudden I no longer felt beautiful, in fact I felt like I was the complete opposite. My hair was far from straight, there were no specks of green or blue in these eyes and I haven’t fit into a size three since freshmen year of high school. It was extremely difficult to continue being the confident, strong young lady I had always been.

It’s a difficult transition to go through when you think you are alone in how you feel. It’s also a difficult concept to grasp if you don’t truly believe your natural beauty. Having sex does not mean you are any more beautiful than that girl standing next to at the club. Having a man by your side doesn’t prove that either. Being beautiful is all about you. I realized that I had begun to give in to this society’s ideals as a cause of being in a new environment. I have never been one to follow anyone else’s rules or cave into peer-pressure, let alone let what others thought affect how I saw myself as a person. If I did not stop and remind myself of whom I was and what I believed in, I would have never believed I was beautiful again. But I did remind myself and I stood in front of that mirror everyday embracing every stretch mark, curve, pigment of color and texture of hair I saw. No relationship, no man, nobody can ever be the cause of your beauty. You are beautiful because you are you.

So, yes, I really am beautiful.


Reflections from Astopheline
Death Penalty Abolished in Illinois


On March 09 2011, Illinois became the fourth state in the last four years to abolish the death penalty. This was a big step for the state as the death penalty has always been a controversial topic in our country. Some people support the punishment for different reasons, including that prisoners cost our government system a lot money. On the other hand, other people are against the punishment because innocent people are sometimes executed. Some individuals also think that the punishment is too severe no matter what crime was committed. The penalty can sometimes seem ineffective because it does not really change anything as well. For instance, sentencing someone to death for committing murder does not really make the situation any better. However, there are cases when the murder victims’ families support a death penalty for the killers, and their wishes should be respected if they suit the situation. At the end of the day, these families are the ones that are affected by the loss of a loved one. At the same time, one cannot ignore the possibility of executing an innocent person, and this is what complicates the death penalty subject. In addition, there is the cost burden prisons put to our system, and with no death penalty there comes more life in prison. There is not a clear cut when it comes to this topic. In a few words, the death penalty generates heated arguments, and either side always seems to have justifiable arguments.


Reflection from Chauncey
Disaster Overseas


The recent nuclear and natural catastrophes have raised numerous questions about Japan’s sustainability. Trade is a big concern for Japan and its partners. Japan’s economy is characterized by industrial development producing cars, steel, electronics and other mass produced imports in exchange for raw materials and other natural resources the country lacks. The power used from the reactors is no longer in service and the economic implications for Japan are troubling. In addition, Japanese residents are in panic, rushing to markets for bottled water in Tokyo while others are starving from food shortages in coastal areas such as in Ayukawahama. Japan is in great need and those with the resources, time and wealth should contribute to organizations collecting donations and supplies. Also awareness of the issue can spark selflessness, either amongst friends or family. The world will continue to watch Japan from a safe distance. Much prayer goes out to the individuals suffering.




Reflections from Randall
Uniquely Me, Universally Us
Several weeks ago, I attended a program sponsored by the Hip-Hop Club which featured Kilusan Bautista. Currently based in New York, Kilusan is a highly respected actor, director, educator, cultural writer and community organizer. His production entitled “Universal Filipino,” touches on themes ranging from drug addiction to “identity politics.” Kilusan, whose stage name means “movement,” depicted very vivid experiences living as a Filipino-American through Hip-Hop Theater, spoken word, and martial arts. His story, though uniquely his, had many universal components to it.



Kilusan’s performance caused me to reflect on multiple aspects of my own upbringing. Specifically, he reminded me that even seemingly insignificant phenomena in our lives play a role in how we develop our identities. Often times, we run so fast in life that we forget about those who were walking alongside of us. We minimize the magnitude of experiences (both negative and positive), events, and people that shaped and continue to shape who we are as person. If we take the time to pause and reflect on life, we can even trace certain characteristics back to our cultural traditions and values practiced in our households. However, what resonated with me the most came during the question and answer section of Kilusan’s performance. When discussing his purpose and motivation for his work he referred to his “sweat…as self-work.” It made me really think about the fact that we all have to bear the weight of loss, struggle, despair, and insecurity. However, as we “unpack” many of us find ourselves adopting a victim’s mentality; a mindset that creates an expectation that things will always go wrong. It is a very crippling complex, which leaves many feeling powerless and vulnerable. As Kilusan can attest, the solution is self-empowerment; embracing one’s circumstances then reclaiming and exercising your ability to choose how you respond to them. According to author and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl, “Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”


As Kilusan put it, we must figure out how to “turn your experiences into power.” However, I believe many people (myself included) struggle with discovering what power looks like for them. For Kilusan, uses various art forms to not only share his experiences, but to empower others along the way. I believe that an individual’s purpose in life is as unique as the circumstances by which they realize it. The medium through which I share my experiences is “uniquely me.” However, the project of turning them into power, thus creating purpose in life, is “universally us.” Power is progress. Power is growth. Power is freedom.


Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. Viktor Frankl

FEATURED WORK STUDY POSTS

Each month, we feature posts written by the work study students in the Intercultural Resource Center. These works are unedited and are in their own words.

Why I Chose Stonehill by Johnny Josephy

I chose Stonehill College because it is a beautiful campus, I like the competiveness of the classes, and most importantly Stonehill really helps people financially. I did not really know the reality of Stonehill College until a few weeks of experience.  I have notice that people are friendly and willing to help you, and this school is not really for those who love to party all the time and hates doing school work. There are not a lot of people of color at Stonehill College, and certainly not a lot of French people of color.  I feel like in certain occasion, being as diverse as I am helps me accomplish things that I have accomplished at Stonehill.  For example, when I applied to be a peer mentor, I did not look at how many people applied for it.  All I had to do was to be myself and let my inside voice speak for itself both on my essay and interview. 

            The only “down side” of being French and having a French accent is sometime having to repeat what you  are trying to say a couple times before someone gets the message.  Some students here at Stonehill, mostly my teammates and close friends, enjoy imitating the way I speak.  I do not mind that at all because it is who I am and I cannot change the fact that I grew up with French and not English.

             Being a black student-athlete, mostly a football player here at Stonehill, I feel like everyone is trying to get you and at the same time respect you. I say that because every time something bad happens on campus, I heard that some of the questions they ask are and I quote, “Was he a football player?” And when the answer is “yes”, their reaction pretty much says, I knew it.  Being one of the few black kids in my classes, the professors easily know when I am participating or not participating.

            At the end of the day, I am proud to be a French black student-athlete. It does not matter of who you are, the color of your skin, or your background, it all comes down to who wants to be successful.  I strive to perfection. I use my culture diversity to my own advantage.

By Wanny Munoz:

“Listen, Digest, Speak”

Written By: Wanny Munoz

Think about all the people you come in contact with throughout your lifetime

Hundreds, thousands even millions

From your bank teller to your mechanic, they all have an identity.

A story.

One they can call their own

Within those stories roots Diversity.

Ever thought that maybe life would be a little easier

If half the time you spent judging a person, you were asking them a valid question

Every question would be taking one step closer to their reality

Another step to education and understanding

People are afraid of the unknown

But avoiding what we call unknown is never expanding, never learning, never living

Why else do we live if not for those very things?

Within those fears roots Diversity.

I know I am not the only one that didn’t choose the family I was born into,

Didn’t choose to be the daughter of two immigrants either

The same way I didn’t choose to be a bisexual woman

Some parts of our identity are out of our hands

Within those traits roots Diversity

Who doesn’t seek acceptance?

No one.

Acceptance from family, peers, even mere strangers, but most importantly from ourselves.

The image a mirror reflects can be difficult to embrace,

The perceptions others have are always hard to erase

Who we are and who we want to be don’t always correlate

The changes you seek aren’t the ones you might necessarily need

But still you search and move along towards who you believe you want to be

Within this constant search roots Diversity

Diversity is the compilation of stories

Those that have been past down for centuries

Each narrator along with its audience filled with fear.

A fear that never sleeps,

A fear that comes hand in hand with judgement

A judgement that only sleeps once it’s faced with acceptance

An acceptance we all long for and seek

And from all that emerges another story

Giving another narrator the chance to speak

Within this cycle roots the meaning of Diversity

From Randall Phyall, Coordinator of Intercultural Affairs

What’s in a name?

In a speech I gave a few weeks ago at the Black History Month Convocation, I made reference to my name and its significance throughout my identity development. My name was given to me by my parents, whom sought to create a world in which my every goal was attainable. Whether they did so consciously or subconsciously, my name played an integral role in the construction of this world—my world.

Meaning

Growing up, my name did not have as much significance to me. On the occasion that it was misspelled or mispronounced, I tended to excuse it rather quickly. In fact, I appreciated it when my friends would use variations of my name such as “Ran, Pholly, Randoo, or Rizza” because I viewed them all as terms of endearment. I felt like I was a part of the “in-group” and therefore felt validated.

Context

In our last M.O.S.A.I.C. (men of color group) meeting, we did an activity that asked members to reflect on the significance of a name and the role that it played in identity development. The activity required them to list their reactions to each of the nine names listed. The names were not fabricated and ranged from outlandish to culturally-specific. The activity was rather simple, but the dialogue to follow was substantial. When asked to share their reactions, the men were able to offer myriad perspectives. Some of the responses referred to the status, ethnicity, reputation, values, profession, character, family background, culture, and many other distinguishing characteristics. It was rather interesting to see how much was drawn out of simply reading someone’s name.

If we apply it to real-world contexts, how often do we make assumptions of or pass judgment on others based on their name? This seemingly insignificant nuance has a lot more power to it than I thought. A name alone has the ability to divide, marginalize, and oppress people. On the other hand, a name has the ability to communicate status, authority, ownership, and honor. This activity helped to heighten my level of appreciation for my name and my parents who gave it to me.          

Identity

 Over the past few years, I have developed a deeper sense of attachment to my name; my “government name” so to speak. When I use the name Randall Laurence Phyall, I am representing my family as well as me. I have a feeling of pride and responsibility when I think about how intentional my parents were in choosing each part of my name. For example, “Laurence” is the extended version of my father’s first name Larry. I often envision my father entrusting it to me almost as if it’s an artifact being passed down from generation to generation. Therefore, it is my responsibility to portray an image of myself that is a testament to the values, beliefs, and culture in which I was raised.

Ultimately, I take ownership of my name.  Despite the many ways in which others can misperceive me because of it. Taking ownership, affords me the right to create my own sense of meaning behind my name. My name is the foundation on which I base my identity. Therefore, a name is something that I seek to legitimize not minimize.   

-Randall Phyall