The topics of my posts share a common theme: me. It may seem conceded, but what better can an author comment on more truthfully than themselves? My passion for the subjects I write on, I hope, shows. My post with the most comments, Shana Tova, connects to my religious freedom. It allowed me to transition to a national news story; blogging makes clear to me my own connectedness to the larger world. "A Different Kind of Lashes,"* my favorite and most recent post, shares some personal information. However, I do not feel violated because my issues connect with those of other people, as depicted in America the Beautiful. To quote:
People feel compelled to alter themselves to achieve a conjured "perfect." I myself am guilty of this. I consider myself a "slave" to the beauty industry.
This post allows me to connect further with Frederick Douglass, as at times we both feel trapped and hindered. Blogging, whether for leisure or work, does not connect people directly. Blogging allows authors to realize their similarities with and differences from the world around them. Readers may feel the same or different, or even feel a connection to the author.
School, in theory, prepares students for the life they will face in the coming years. People will face just that: people. Just because I, for example, did not suffer directly in result to threats of Koran burnings, does not mean I am not involved. Blogging has allowed me to self-reflect with lose structure, so that I can recognize that the world is separated not by oceans but by closed minds. I may not be able to change other people right away, but I can open my own mind and get be one person closer to global understanding.
*http://americanstudies89.blogspot.com/2010/10/different-kind-of-lashes.html
*http://americanstudies89.blogspot.com/2010/10/different-kind-of-lashes.html
Eloquent response here, Glenna. Your blog has been very thoughtful and you've covered an impressive range of topics. The "lashes" post makes an invidious comparison to Douglass. I would not lead with Frederick Douglass here since it sounds as if you are equating institutional black slavery with the advertizing machinery of the beauty industry. The latter is horrific on its own; don't conflate these issues. (or at least I'd wait until the middle of the post for the analogy). You provide fascinating info. and insights. I would have liked to see a link that would allow readers to peruse the data as well. you do a nice job of that elsewhere on your blog.
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