Writing as a tool for change

As I read White Guys Send My Uncle to Prison, I was struck by the statement of how minorities often don't directly challenge their place of disadvantage, but can do "linguistic strategizing." This made me think about how the US has reacted to events on a rhetorical level.
The reaction to recent police violence in Ferguson, Chicago, and other cities was met with an interest public reaction. People across the US, who were not directly involved, began to engage in rhetoric about the issues that caused these cases of violence. I began to wonder why people who don't have a direct connection to an event take an interest in it. This goes back to the "linguistic strategizing." It is clear that publications across the US began to react to these events. Opinion pieces as well as direct coverage was across the internet, and news print. Even tech websites wrote about how social media was engaged in the issue. This showed me how society can react to an issue that may not directly affect them, but does affect the society they live in. Today, they can learn and bare witness to these events through the rhetorical efforts of social media, news, and even activists in their local area.

Status updates, and other related news...

I struggled with what I was going to do for the "going public" assignment. I am disappointing uninvolved in the community, and upon the assigning of this project I began to panic. However, I decided to engage with a public that I have consciously avoided. I am a Type 1 diabetic, and I have always choose to avoid being a part of any group associated with the disease. It is a way I limit its intrusion on my life. Many groups are active in spreading information and providing a outlet for those with diabetes to engage in. I hope to speak to some younger individuals who suffer from the disease, and tell them of my experiences and how I dealt with it in my youth. I am currently in contact with the hospital, and hope to arrange something in the next week.

For the Montana Rhetoric project, we seem to be working towards a focus on the "Americanization" of cultures in Montana. In particular, we hope to focus on American Indian tribes, and how many were stripped of their cultures and languages. I am in a group with Eric and Peter.

Rand Paul Speech

I think his method of argument is very interesting. He doesn't follow many of the trends of Right-Wing politicians. Multiple times, he calls out both parties for their hypocrisies. Although I don't agree with all of his policies, I do admire his passion when it comes to his beliefs. Ultimately it may have been his honesty that doomed his Presidential bid.