Is the "A" the True Punishment?

            "Ah, but," interposed, more softly, a young wife, holding a child by the hand, "let her cover the mark ash she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart." (Hawthorne, Pg. 36) 

          A kind-hearted lady amidst the hoard of gossipy Puritan women does not wish the worst for Hester Prynne unlike the rest. She does not believe that any ugly or painful abuse will bring justice to the female name. She understands the dark and beaten soul of the adulteress. She realizes that the true punishment is not within the embroidery of the scarlet letter, but within the mind fostering many years of guilt and regret. Hester will bear emotional torture for the rest of her life by taking care of her lovely daughter, Pearl. For she does not look at the "A" on her chest, but at the offspring born out of her sin. The cheeky three-year old is a constant reminder of the mother's shame. Yet Pearl has become Hester's everything, her treasure. To withstand society's pressure, she brushes off her remorse with dignity. Not only she has decorated the scarlet letter with golden threat, but has sewn extravagant dresses for her little "imf". Pearl, through her mother, has become the living scarlet letter. Hester by doing this, has given off the impression that she is not embarrassed. However, nothing will be able to take away the fault of her crime that will be woven around her heart forever.

One of New York's Beautiful Graffiti Walls Gets Torn Down

                Huffington's Post, "Artists Bid Sad Farewell To 5 Pointz, New York City's Graffiti Mecca" article was written on November 21, 2013 by Mallika Rao.

             One of New York's most marveled iconic walls of graffiti art is torn down to the ground, leaving all of its city's artists weeping. 5 Pointz was a towering 200,000 foot abandoned complex where painters gathered from all around the world to master their skills with the neon colors of the spray cans. It was also a notorious tour stop, where many absorbed the true "big city" spirit by gazing at the never-ending mural. Marie Cecile Flageul, one of the lead supporters of the wall, with her cohorts petitioned the Brooklyn Federal Court for weeks in attempt to stop the property's landlord, Jerry Wolkoff, from knocking down the building and replacing it with a pair of high risers. Even a mob of furious artists crowded the courtyard of 5 Pointz in protest to spook Wolkoff. But sadly by Tuesday morning, a dozen hired men whitewashed the property's facade, stripping off years of unique work and culture. In memory, all the veteran graffiti artists of the fallen wall lit candles along its side. Now, R.I.P posters rest against the building, making a statement... The tragic reality is that art so frequently seems to be the most discriminated in the world. The horrid lies in which philistine moguls hold the power to pursue such prejudice to what gives color and character to the environment. 

Puritan Clothing

            Boston in the 1600s was the new home to the incoming Puritans of the time. These people had fled England to find independence in the Americas where they can create a world of their own. The society they had established forced its citizens to lead a "pure" and religious life. Therefore, their humbleness had them wear plain and conservative clothing. 
            Dressing to Puritan uniform consisted of many layers. A woman first slipped on stockings and underpants. Then, she threw on her petticoat, followed by the bodice and skirt. Next, she costumes the skirt with an outer gown. Afterwards, she puts on a chemise, like a collared shirt with long sleeves. Finally, she garbs the outfit with an apron on the dress and a bonnet for the head. For the men, it is a slightly different story. First, he routinely clothes himself in stockings and underpants like the women do. Then, he attires over knee-length breeches. Next, he puts on a loosed cuffed shirt. Finally, he suits his costume with a vest, as a hat would cover his head too.
           Contrary to popular opinion, Puritans did not always wear black. Only the wealthy wore black as black dye was very costly. Most Puritans dressed in brown or indigo because brown vegetable and indigo dyes were plentiful. However, vibrant hues were frowned upon wearing due to the attention they attracted. 

Sources:
http://www.ehow.com/info_8451215_description-puritans-wore.html
endtimepilgrim.org/puritans.htm

The Philippines Typhoon

          The Huffington Post's "Philippines Typhoon Death Toll Rises in Storm's Aftermath" was written by the Associated Press on November 10, 2013. 
          The record-breaking tsunami, Haiyfan, swept through the Philippines Islands setting terrifying death tolls. As many as 10,000 citizens have died in one city alone, Tacloban. Monster waves pounded into the shores washing away homes, schools, airports, and airports. Ferocious winds buried masses in debris and left corpses hanging on trees. Regional police chief, Elmer Soria, reports that most died from either drowning or being crushed under collapsing buildings. The storm had sea waters rise up twenty feet, causing floods to rush in and engulf the streets.

           One Tacloban resident said he and others took refuge inside a parked Jeep to protect themselves from the storm, but the vehicle was swept away by a surging wall of water. "The water was as high as a coconut tree," said the 44-year-old bicycle taxi driver. "I got out of the car and I was swept away by the rampaging water with logs, trees and our house," he described. "When we were being swept by the water, many people were floating and raising their hands and yelling for help. But what can we do? We also needed to be helped".

         Thankfully, aid has arrived and rescued many. However, there is nothing that can recover the thousands of innocent lives that were taken in by Haiyfan's fury. 

          

SOAPST of "I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read"

             The literary piece "I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read" gives a bias yet strong perspective upon the wrongdoings of what teachers give their students to read. The Speaker is Francine Prose. She is a reporter, essayist, critic, and editor born in the late 1940s. The occasion is set for Harper's magazine in 1999. The audience includes everyone; parents, teachers, and students. The purpose is to inform on the dry and uninteresting reading curriculum the schools enforce, and to persuade the authority to change that curriculum into a more sensual and diverse range of books. The subject is about giving critique upon the quality of required reading in American high schools. Her tone is sassy and witty. Already based upon the title, Prose cleverly uses Angelou's novel "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" as a comeback to her own opinion, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read". In effect, the twisted title clearly states Prose's side on how high school students learn to loathe literature. Other than that, her tone is also familiar. Through anecdotes and personal experience, Prose also relates to the audience. She explains how her two sons gone through the same story, reading the same books and going through the same routine as every student as experienced. Finally, Prose's tone is as well disappointed. As evidence, she declares, "But rather than exposing students to works of literature that expand their capacities and vocabularies, sharpen their comprehension, and deepen the level at which they think and feel, we either offer them 'easy books' that 'anyone' can understand, or we serve up the tougher works predigested". 

Unlikely Couple Turns Heads

              The Huffington Post's "Billboard Of U.S. Soldier And Muslim Woman Commands Attention" article was written on November 1, 2013 by Ron Dicker. 
              Most have the ideal future photo in their heads, the typical American family - a couple and two kids. However, not all destinies are as clear-crisp and well-framed. Relationships range in all different forms. Therefore, the Snore Stop business displayed a U.S martial and a Muslim woman embracing each other on an ad. The company sells a spray that reduces snoring. One major problem the product solved was spouses unable to rest with each other due to loud snoring. In result, couples are now able to #staytogether, as the corporation endorses. The idea behind showing such an unlikely pair was that if they can #staytogether, anyone can! 
             Sadly enough, the ad turned heads in a negative way. First spotted on the Los Angeles Sunset Boulevard, it picked up sharp media attention concerning if it disrespects the motives of the U.S military. However, the American-Islamic Relations Council argues otherwise, "If you have Muslims in an ad for a product that's not about religion or not a PSA, it's a sign that we're accepted as a cultural norm". Snore Stop not only wanted to campaign their product, but also celebrate cultural diversity.