17. Controversial Symbol: Pro Life Ribbon

Should we allow baby-killing? Is a fetus a form of life? Can he/she/it feel anything? Does removal of  fetus mean killing a life? What about the women that were sexually harassed? Are they allowed to abort? What about teenage mothers? Is abortion ethical?

These are just a few questions that surrounds the issue of abortion. Groups have been debating on this issue since the technology made it possible. Some believe that the fetus is indeed a form of life, which makes abortion unethical and similar to murder. Others, however, see the teenage mother and women and think that those people should have a chance to choose their future. Still, there is a group that believes fetuses do not have feelings, therefore, abortion is acceptable. Government and political parties of different countries take different sides on this issue, so countries differ in the policy of abortion.

The Pro Life Ribbon is a symbol for the group that disapproves of abortion. Its little white feet, baby blue color and baby pink color all signifies the baby. "Choose life" and "Let there be life" urges people to let the baby live on. This symbol is controversial because of its link to abortion.

16. Journal Writing: Araby - Joyce

What do you remember about your first love? What was special about the person you were attracted to?

I proof of my first love is the hearts scratched on a name beside my phonebook since kindergarten. Even though I now save phone numbers in my cell phone, I still use my Mickey Mouse phonebook to record down all the important people and phone number in my life since kindergarten. On the forth page of the phone book, after my family members and my best friend in kindergarten was a boy’s name: Keven. Even though the name was spelled incorrectly and the 2s looked more like ‘S’s, there are two lopsided hearts written in crayons beside his name.

I don’t remember much of him. In fact, I can’t even recall his face. All I remember is that we were close friends. We carpooled together along with my best friend Ingrid. Every morning, I was excited to see my two best friends before school even started. I thought he was the funniest guy in school and giggled at all of his jokes.

I never told anyone about my secret crush, not even my mom. It was a secret between my phonebook and me.

15. Journal Writing: My Face - Benchley

How do you think other people see you? Consider not just your outward appearance but also your personality.

I think most people would describe me as a small, cheerful and energetic. I am indeed petite both in height and in weight. As long as I could remember, I have always been one of the shortest in my class. My relatively “youthful” facial features did not really help in defining my age. Often, store owners or distant relatives would ask if I was in middle school when in fact I am already a senior in high school. Once, my mother’s friend even asked if I was a fifth or a sixth grader.

I think I am described as cheerful and energetic because I tend to laugh pretty often.  I find many things funny and would laugh hysterically to things that most people find not especially amusing. I smile a lot when people are around, sometimes excessively. However, I think I am better characterized as emotional because I have me downs as well, I just don’t tend to show them. However, at home, I could get grumpy at times when the day just isn’t right. Even though I guess most people wouldn’t know about this, I cry easily too. It is one way in which I relieve my pressure. When too many things are going badly, I would cry my heart out.    

14. Journal Writing: Orange Crush - Li

What food or drink hold a special place in your childhood memories? 

I could still remember vividly the time my cousins introduced the chewing gum lollipop to me. They had brought it back from the United States and the two of them, my sister, and I ate it on the car ride home. We each ate a different flavor of lollipop. We opened up the wrapper so that our lollipops looked like superman, each with a different color head. Then, each lollipop super man was labeled with a certain sickness or injury. The red cherry had a bloody head; the green apply was carsick and about to throw up; the blackish-purple one was bruised, and my pink watermelon one was scratched on the face. When we reached the center of the lollipop, there was a chewing gum in the middle. It was a combination of my two favorite types of candy and I instantly fell in love with the sweet tangy flavor. Ever since, I would buy a bag of chewing gum lollipop and store it at home. I would eat it whenever I feel low. Because there was such a limited supply of it, I considered it my sacred mood candy and would only dare each them when I really had to or couldn't resist the temptation.

13. Journal Writing: Shooting Dad - Vowell

To me, the father in “Shooting Dad” sounds pretty immature. What kind of dads would call up their daughter just to tell them he had canceled out her vote on Election Day? I can relate to the author because I feel like my relationship with my father is similar the one described by Vowell. Although we can agree on certain things, I feel like our logic and thinking pattern just doesn’t seem very compatible. While I tend to do things more slowly, one step at a time, he finishes things fast and hates waiting for others. Take eating for example. I probably take half and hour or more to eat a proper meal, but my dad could finish his food in ten minutes. Very often, when we eat in a restaurant, my dad would jus walk out after he is done, leaving the rest of the family to finish by ourselves. He says the room is too stuffy and he can’t stay for long. When he does that, I feel a pressure to finish my lunch because someone if waiting outside. These differences sometimes get me really frustrated like Vowell does with her father.

12. Journal Writing: Arm Wresting with My Father - Manning

The conflicting emotions that Manning experience are a mix of competitions and love. When he was young, he didn’t feel much of the love. He only felt the competition and the bitterness of always loosing to his father. Although his father spent time with him as a boy and a teenager, he never thought that his father’s actions came out of love, he only saw his father as an obstacle that he wants to win over.

From what I learned in psychology, most males tend to find it hard to express feelings through words or tender actions like hugs. However, this does not mean that they do not feel. Most of their feelings are hidden behind what seemed to be rough interactions. As Manning grew older, though, he realized at the same time as his father, that the arm wrestling was actually a way they communicated their love: tough way to express love, but an expression nonetheless. Also as he grew older, he began to learn to express love through more affectionate ways.

11. Journal Writing: The Lottery - Shirley Jackson

Think about rituals in which you participate, such as those involving holidays, meals, religious observances, family vacations, sporting events - anything that is repeated and traditional. List some of those in your journal and write about their significance.


Even though we are not told to do so in the journal prompt, I would like to comment about the story itself before I start the prompt. Though a little confused with the numerous names, the short story was an interesting read with a surprising ending. Because of what lotteries are like in my context (usually drawing for a gift of some sort), I was expecting the lottery to be something nice. However, as I read on, there was an uneasy feeling that told me that this wasn't the usual lottery. The last few lines were utterly horrifying, as I finally knew what the whole process was about.
Now onto the journal prompt: 
On the times when we go back to Ping Doing for Chinese New Year, the family would go to the temple for worship. When I was younger, the whole family of my grandparents, my uncle and aunt, cousins, parents and my sister would walk together, each carrying something to put on the worship table. Three things that would always be on the list were fruits, a kind of new year cake, and a whole chicken. I've always flinched with the sight of the chicken. Even though I see it every year, I still feel uneasy seeing a whole chicken with its feathers plucked tied together on a tray. When we get to the temple, we would all get incense to worship. This year would be my last year spending Chinese New Year in Taiwan for at least four years. I hope to keep all of these rituals locked up in my memory.

10. Journal Writing: The Market of a Yale Woman's Eggs - Jessica Cohen

Would you consider offering your eggs to a person or a couple who could not have a biological chid? What conditions and relationship do you have to have with the child?

Considering what I learned from the essay: the troublesome and onerous tasks involved with donating an egg, I would not want to donate an egg unless absolutely necessary. There are also certain risks behind it that puts off the notion. Even though the chances are extremely low, there is still a possibility that one might get terribly hurt or even die form the process. I would definitely not want to go through that process and potentially hurt myself.

However, if hypothetically I was to donate my eggs, I would prefer to donate it to a couple that I am at least acquainted with, preferably a couple that I am close with. I would actually want to be part of the child’s life and watch the child grow seeing that the child is very much genetically connected with me. However, it doesn’t matter as much weather the child knows that I am his or her biological mother. I think I will leave that to the decision of the parents. They might be uncomfortable explaining the whole complicated process. I am content to just know the child (as a godmother or just a family friend) and secretly know that I have a special connection with the child.