Peaceful (and not so peaceful) protests have been a way for Americans to express their feelings and ideas en masse for years. Oftentimes, when a problem arises that affects many people in an unjust way, people take to the streets to show the authorities what they think.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the first major proponents of non-violence during the Civil Rights Movement and his ideas have left a lasting impact.
In the last assignment, you listened to a song about the Vietnam War. This war was no very popular in the USA (that's why they had to draft young men to go to the war!), and there were many protests in cities throughout the country. A lot of the peaceful protests turned violent when the police lost control.
If you're interested, you can check out The Kent State Incident to read more about how the police opened fire at a university war-protest.
In October of 1967, anti-Vietnam War protesters gathered at the Pentagon. The police were there in riot gear. The picture below shows a young woman, Jane Rose Kasmir, placing a daisy in the barrel of a gun.
La jeune fille a la fleur, Marc Ribauld
Protests don't just happen at war time. In recent history, there have been HUGE gatherings in Washington to protest the legalization of abortion, the defunding of public schools and even to protest racism.
Very recently, there have been protests throughout the country against police brutality and racism. You may have seen pictures of famous people, especially famous African-Americans, with their hands in the air saying "hands up, don't shoot", or have seen the hashtag #wecantbreathe. Events in Ferguson, Missouri and New York City have led people to attend "die - ins" and to gather in protest in large cities. The protests have not been 100% peaceful, but, like in the picture above, there are glimpses of humanity and peace in them.
Below is a picture of a twelve year old boy hugging a police officer. The boy had been holding a sign saying "free hugs," and, as the story goes, the police officer started a conversation with him. When they finished speaking, the officer said "well, don't I get a hug?"
Assignment: Prepare a well-thought out narrative paragraph of 4-6 sentences that tells the story of ONE of the people in these pictures. (For example, you could write the perspective of the police officer receiving a hug.) Make sure you have an introduction sentence AND a conclusion sentence.
Publish your paragraph in the comments below.
I would like to talk about the women in the red jacket using her camara in the second picture. Maybe one of you will say: "Is he crazy? that girl does not represent anything in the matter in question". Well, I think she does. The problem between the police and the black community in NY is a problem that we all share because racism is a world wide issue so in that picture you have a man representing the police and a kid representing the black community but the girl represent Us. "Us" as the rest of the world watching what is happening and hoping for that problem to stop, she is right there with a cartel in her hands supporting the "Hug activity" and you can see the joy in her attitude when she see the hug between the two parts because she is taking a picture that symbolize peace probably for share it with the rest of the world. Who of us do not want the war finally ends? Even if is not our war we want that to happen because that is the meaning of been human and that is what that girl represents.
ReplyDeleteI would talk about the kid hugging the officer. One day an officer was patrolling and saw a kid carrying a message that said “free hugs”. Instantly, the officer approached the kid and they started a conversation. The kid explained his message because it was very unusual. He said that in the world existed a lot of hate, anger and the people needed a sparkle of kind and gentle love; be it in the form of a little hug. The officer asked him why, and the kid responded by saying “I lost my father in the war and my mother died of a disease”. Minutes later the kid started to cry, saying that he felt alone and he didn´t how to go on. The officer decided to help the kid and told him that he will never be alone again and that god was always with us. Later the officer asked for his hug, and the kid smiled and said “Thank you”.
ReplyDeleteI'll talk about the child who had the poster free hugs
ReplyDeleteAmid violence, destruction, protests, and division nationally since the failure of a grand jury to indict a white policeman who killed a black teenager decommissioned on November 25, hope in humanity has restored through, what is called, the embrace shared around the world.
During an emotional rally in Portland, Oregon, Johnny Nguyen freelance photographer took a picture of a black 12-year-old Devonte Hart hugging white policeman, Sergeant Portland Police. Bret Barnum with tears in his eyes, according to the Oregonian.
"I met this guy who had tears in his eyes and knew it was the place to be," Nguyen told the Oregonian ', so I followed him into the crowd.
'Then he met the police officer. They spoke and gave him a hug.
this article refers to the Black or White people are human beings first and foremost must prevail peace, solidarity between them. racism does not lead anywhere a human being only self-destruction thereof. Free Hugs is a gesture of this child to live in harmony as brothers we are.
I would like to talk about the officer hugging the kid. I talk about this because these days the authorities have lost their humanity, and watch as there are still officials who care about the welfare of others, is very rewarding. Is very important to know that if each of us puts something, it doesn´t matter what it is, to end with so many civil wars, we were sorry for less death, and remember: ''The world does not change with your opinion, but with your example'' Paulo Coelho
ReplyDeleteNowadays it's difficult to find people who cares about others feelings. We live in a selfish society, without peace and love. But even with the circumstances of our live it is true that we can find kind persons, who are really interesting about care others like we see in this picture. Its nice to see this officer hugging the boy who maybe has no people who shows the love that he needs. Its time to stop talking and judge others and start to do something to change this situation, its time to start to see the needs that others have, giving all we can give.
ReplyDeleteI think The police officer needed to do his job that is avoid the violence, but he thinks about the people who live in his country and know that they need his helps. If he has a son like that little boy and he is crying too he hasn’t courage to attack him or says bad words. He can get confuse because his friends can say: “YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR JOB, FORGET EMOTIONS”, but he is a police officer and he has to take care us even when he doesn’t like what we do. We have to be more humanistic , if we will do that we can have a better world.
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ReplyDeleteIt is sad to see, nowadays, how people have forgotten the values and feelings and focused more on appearances, religion, race, color of skin, nationality, and many other aspects that lead to divide the world. In the image of the police and the child I can see how this man despite his responsibility to create the order is also aware that the world needs more hugs and fewer weapons. Positive emotion is more contagious than negative emotions. Giving free hugs you really see how easy it is to change someone’s day, even if they take a bit of encouragement to get over an initial negative reaction to your invitation. Finally, I conclude with this beautiful phrase of Mother Teresa of Calcutta: "Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier".
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