Exemplification: Animal Rights

Scientists who perform life-threatening experiments on any particular animal species should not have permission to do so, because all animals deserve rights, and should be treated equally. Animals have every right to live and be free. They should not be locked up in cages and used for experiments. An example would be lab rats, which are small, furry, creatures that are experimented on horrifically in scientific labs.  All species should be treated equally; no matter what shape, size, color or behavior they may dictate.

            Animals are not able to speak up as humans do; if they could it is imaginable and almost guaranteed that scientists would not dare touch another animal. This is a horrendous act of unfair cruelty towards millions of innocent animals. “Meanwhile, scientists routinely perform experiments on fruit flies, frogs, pigs, fish, rabbits, dogs and cats. But the most common subjects are rats, mice and birds, which make up about 95 percent of all lab animals” (Fehr-Snyder and Hart). The fact these animals are small in size, and produce babies by the hundreds does not give any one the right to kill and torture animals of any species.

            The scientists who are performing these experiments are actually causing unnecessary torture to animals. “Isn't it immoral to breed creatures for the sole purpose of killing them, to raise them so they can be sliced, diced and studied?” (Fehr-Snyder and Hart).  It is wrong, and noticed the animals experimented on are of only certain species. Don’t lab rats and birds deserve rights as any other species? Why not perform such experiments on horses, dolphins, giraffes, and lions or any animal of that sort? Are they not suggestible creatures to use for the daily research in labs? Isn’t this an unfair decision towards certain species? These creatures have emotional, physical, and sensory feelings, which is what the human being feels as well. Yet, why do we neglect those points?

            There are so many people fighting for animal rights. Only time can tell when their voices will be heard. The sad part is that animal cruelty can be ended right now; yet no one takes a stand. “It still surprises many people to learn that non-animal testing methods are not only more ethical, they are also more applicable to human health. The differences in biology, chemistry and physiology mean that research conducted on animals doesn't always translate effectively to humans” (Barnard). This statement demonstrates two points; the first point is that there are more efficient ways of doing experiments rather than causing the deaths of innocent bystanders. Secondly, the research done on animals don’t relate to humans in certain aspects, such as biologically, physiologically, and through chemistry. This makes the experiments performed on animals unnecessary and cruel.

            In conclusion, animals deserve special rights that should be directly announced to scientists and action should take place. Those who are creating cruel experiments towards animals of any species and cause unnecessary deaths should be stopped. Such people should understand that animals have emotions, and feelings just as humans do. We must take this into consideration for the well being of the animal kingdom and each individual species as a whole. Whether it’s a goat, monkey, dog, tiger, zebra, bear or any creature in the world, they should all be treated fairly, equally and with respect. “ It's been called our next big moral challenge. Over the next century, activists say, we will come to see animals in a different way and recognize that we can no longer use them for our own ends” (Fehr-Snyder and Hart). One day we will see animals differently, and develop and understanding that animals can no longer be tortured or harmed, but loved; no species will be left behind. 

Works Cited

Barnard, Neal. "Ask the Doc: What Are Alternatives to Animal Testing?." Vegetarian Times.

March 2007: 19-21. SIRS Researcher. Web. 20 Oct 2010.

Fehr-Snyder, Kerry, and others. "Almost Human." Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ). Dec. 10  

2000: J1-J2. SIRS Researcher. Web. 20 Oct 2010.

Assignment #3 Descriptive Writing – Sensory; The Greatest Halloween Party

            It’s the night of October 31, Halloween night. The uncanny feeling of the night gives chills to my tender body. I feel scared but excited at the same time. How can one feel two things at once you ask? Simple, the scary creatures that are roaming around at night frighten the hell out of me, and I am excited to go to a Halloween party. I have been looking forward to this weekend all year!

            Getting ready that night brought so much thrill that I went a little overboard. I couldn’t help being extra creative with the glitter, blood, and Halloween masks. I even went all out with my house and decorated the outside with lights, spider webs and even spooky music.  As I made my way to this Halloween party I couldn’t wait to see how they designed it. I looked extraordinary in my vampire queen costume.

            As I enter into the house for the Halloween party, I hear the spine chilling music in the hallway leading to the entrance. I take a nice look around the room. My eyes glance upon a statue of Dracula to my left, as I make my way across the room, counterclockwise. Next, I smell the cookies, which are right next to Dracula on a set table. I walk over to the cookie stand and eagerly grab four. I spot my friend named Alexandra and I couldn’t help but touch her alligator suit. It felt so rough and real that it amazed me.

            Next to my friend, I see a Halloween cake. It looks so beautiful with the orange and black colors and immense at size! I have to take a taste of the icing. It feels soft on my tongue and melts right in my mouth. I take in the sweet taste of the icing and as I open my eyes I see the DJ and the dance floor. I think to myself, “man, this party is grand”.

As my eyes wander, lingering its way back to the Dracula statue, the host comes right up behind me and pokes me. “AHHHHHH! I screamed.” Wow, it's my worst nightmare, a character called “the ring girl”. I blankly stare at the unidentified person behind the outrageously terrifying costume. The long black hair going down to the floor, the cold hands, the color of blue and that gruesome face that takes your soul away. I soon notice the unidentified “ring girl” is a man. He offers me lemonade and I politely take it. I blink, smile, and the next thing you know I scurry off to the bathroom.

With my heart beating, sweat dripping, and brain pounding, I feel like I’m going crazy. I take a deep breath and forget all that happened in order for me to enjoy the rest of my night. “Of course it’s not real”, I thought to myself. I marched right back to the dance floor and boogied down. I couldn’t believe I got so caught up in what was happening that I missed out on all the costumes. Glancing around I saw witches, dwarves, wizards, black cats and a pirate costume, which caught my eye. The way the sword fits in the brown belt pocket and the size astonished me. I run over to greet the man in the pirate costume his name is William and he asks me to dance. I feel so secure in his arms as we swiftly dance across the floor. The music matching every step we make and the lights flickering at all the right times.     

What a great night, I haven’t been to a party so detailed in years. The moon is full and radiant, and everyone is having fun. I wish everyday could bring joy and festive fun like today. I walk out towards the balcony, feeling the crisp windy air, as I stare right at the moon. The music starts to slow down as the party is coming to an end. I smile and turn around to feel my hair blow me in the direction of the party. “What an extraordinary evening, I tell the host”. He takes me to the wooden door where the music is softly playing the Halloween melodies. I walk into the night, back to my car, and drive peacefully home.   

          

Brent Staples "Just Walk on By" (Reading Journal)

          The essay, Just Walk on By, written by Brent Staples, is an informative essay in my opinion. The essay announces the topic of racial profiling and how it is affecting specific races and ethnicities. The author makes a point that specifically black males are consistently accused of being a mugger, rapist or any criminal of that sort. When first reading this essay, I was moved by the pain of him simply walking through the streets, or entering in a store and being pointed at and questioned by police.

          The women whom the author runs into while walking in a neighborhood is alarmed and walks away just because of his race. I can understand being a woman and fearing a man late at night; however, this is constantly in effect in blaming “black men”. Racial profiling is still in society today and in my opinion, it increases people of those specific races to be involved in more criminal activity. This author however stood up for himself and decided that a change was needed. He says, “ I began to take precautions to make myself less threatening. I move about with care, particularly late in the evening. I give a wide berth to nervous people on subway platforms during the wee hours, particularly when I have exchanged business clothes for jeans.” He is changing himself to look better in society and not having to worry about being accused of something he is not.

          Just by walking around in the streets, if someone glanced upon him and notices his race, they automatically freak out and profile the innocent man just because of his ethnicity. The poll of how mostly Hispanics and Blacks are most likely to commit a crime is just ridiculous. People to this day stereotype different ethnicities because of past occurrences that may have happened. The 9/11 attack points fingers at Arabs and the media promotes this by constantly reminding people of the tragic event and which race is responsible.

          Racial profiling is an important topic in the world today and people ignore it. So many people have to hide in their houses; several Arabs are afraid and avoid airports. This is outrageous and should be stopped. I can relate to this essay. Being Indian, I am mistaken as being a terrorist yet they know nothing of my cultures background. I believed those who have committed a crime should be punished reasonably; however, the innocent ones who share the same race should not have to turn away in shame. It is so sad that people have to change themselves, just as staples did to look better in the eyes of society. He says, “ I learned to smother the rage I felt so often being taken for a criminal. Not to do so would surely have led to madness.” Different races are being emotionally hurt and someone needs to speak up or before we know it everyone will be pointing fingers at each other. 

Exercise #2 Autobiographical Paragraphs

My first day of school feels almost as if it was yesterday. Waking up to the bright sun shining through my windowpanes in the room. Hearing the sweet call of my mother to get out of bed. After numerous shouts my mother would have no other choice than to head to my room and rip the covers off my tired body. The mornings were never something to look forward to. As a matter of fact not many of the kids my age would disagree. After pulling my five year old body out of bed and doing all the general necessities that my mother would have to help me with, such as brushing my teeth, taking a shower, and slipping on either the blue or brown overalls that I dreaded wearing. It would be off to breakfast and out the front door to the big yellow scary bus.

My sister would torment me by telling me all kinds of creepy stories of things happening in the bus. Anything any five year old would go screaming and running for their mommy. For example, my sister said the bus driver lady has four eyes and how she takes new kindergartners to her secret layer and the thought would always give me the heebie-jeebies. Good thing my mother was waiting along side me with my barney backpack and lunch box. There was a sense of security and reassurance with her presence that everything would be just fine. My senses told me my mom wouldn’t be so crazy to put me in a bus with a four eyed scary monster lady. As the big yellow bus approaches my stop, the sound of my future fellow acquaintances chattering voices could be heard from a distance, which made me super excited. Once you got me talking it would take forever to shut me up. This made me forget the four-eyed monster lady for the five seconds that the bus took to reach my mom and I.

            Standing and waiting for the doors of the big yellow bus to open drove me crazy. The fact that what was behind those doors would reveal my sisters taunting stories. The doors open and my eyes are shocked to see the monster driver actually having four eyes. However, to my astonishment at a closer look the lady was only wearing glasses just as myself. Gleefully stepping onto the bus I waved my mother goodbye. The first day of school seems like such an adventure already. The big yellow bus went from street to street picking up kids whose faces looked so lost and confused. They must have big brothers and sisters who tormented them about the monster. This made me laugh.

            The kids in the bus were very playful and the bus lady had to tell them to settle down in their seats several times. It annoyed the bus driving so much that she stopped the bus and had some kids sit in the front. No one said a single word since then. After what felt like hours, the bus arrives at E.A Jones elementary school. It looks so much bigger than my house. Hopefully I wouldn’t get too lost. The kids of my age were squirming in packs everywhere. The car pools were lined up with honking horns and parents late for work. One young girl was crying, her mother was in a rush and she was left her with the teacher. This reminded me of my sweet mom, which made me wish she were with me. Life was going by so fast; I was already starting school, and it feels as if yesterday I was in diapers. The feeling of being homesick is taking over me too soon.

            Entering the doors of E.A Jones elementary school sent shivers down my spine as to what to expect next. After I cross those doors, I'll wander about all day, waiting to greet the lady on the bus once again. Where will she take me? Who will I see? These curious questions will linger in my head to the suspenseful thought of what is next? As the clock ticks by I can only sit patiently and wait to get back on the big yellow bus.

Suzanne Berne “Ground Zero” (Reading Journal)

          In the essay, Ground Zero, written by Suzanne Berne, her intentions are to capture the reader with the notion that they are actually there on this trip to ground zero. Berne wanted us to imagine ourselves being right there but seeing nothing, only the thought of what was there before.  The author uses words that are very descriptive and paints a picture of what is actually being seen.  Suzanne Berne says, “Ground zero is a great bowl of light, and emptiness that seems weirdly spacious and grand, like a vast plaza amid the dense tangle of streets in lower Manhattan.” She also writes of the absence of the Twin Towers, she exclaims “this is the moment when absence begins to assume a material form, when what is not there becomes visible.

I noticed this piece of writing covered all of the five senses, which again helped the reader feel a connection to everything that was happening. She describes this feeling of being in ground zero by the smell of fish, the sounds of people in mourning and awe, as well the touch of people writing their names on the new foundation. In my opinion, the essay was informative because she is informing us about the tragedy and the feelings of her trip to the twin towers. Berne wanted her point to come across that where there is nothing says everything. She feels humbled and ashamed that she receives her ticket as she eats her sandwich and looks outside the glass window and the ambulance takes the remains of what was once a human’s body. I agree with the author in the sense that she felt for the people who have lost their lives in 9/11.

The descriptions and the emotions of the people along with herself just gave the essay a whole new meaning. I liked the essay because it was very well laid out.  Instead of just reading about some tourist, you were put into the shoes of actually being there and feeling the pain that people suffered through the event that took place in ground zero. The major strength was that final view that Berne was waiting for to look upon the pit of ground zero and the emotion that was felt to visit such a place that to millions should not be a tourist attraction, but a place of remembrance. I can very much relate to this authors experience. I imagine myself going to this place as a tourist not knowing what to expect. Just hearing, touching and seeing all of these senses adds to the tragedy. I can just picture myself standing in a place that brings sadness to the hearts of millions. Seeing nothing but remembering that “something” was once in its place.

Sandra Cisneros “Only Daughter” (Reading Journal)

           In the essay, Only Daughter, written by Sandra Cisneros, her intentions are to get the reader to demonstrate that she is being seen as the “oddball” in the family but she finally comes through to her father. Her brothers are not willing to play with her in public and she feels as if her father is slowly erasing her by saying, “ I have only seven sons.” She tugs and tries to persuade her father that she is more than what she seems to be. That she is capable of doing just as much as her brothers are. She wants to be noticed and treated equally but her father refuses to until he reads her published story. The author repeatedly shows that she can stand up for her gender and will strive to receive acceptance from her father. 

            This piece in my opinion is an informative essay, serving the purpose of showing that women should not be underestimated. They should be respected and treated just as sons and  they can accomplish the unaccomplished. I agree with the author because she stood up till the finish. She completed her goal of showing her father that she is not worthless. The fact that she strives for full potential by saying, “Everything I have ever written has been for him, to win his approval even though I know my father can’t read English words.” The emotion that she is letting in shows the audience that even though her father of Mexican heritage can’t understand English, she feels she must jot down these thoughts as an act of convincing herself.

However, she manages to pull herself through. She gets her book sold to a major New York publishing house. Her father who doubted her abilities to come to this point is finally proud. He wants to show his daughter’s writing to people. He wants her to be heard. I enjoyed this essay for a variety of reasons; the author approaches this essay with a sense of sadness that her father does not accept her due to her gender. The catch however, is the conclusion itself.

Her hope did not fade even though several countries and backgrounds of diverse people disapproved of having a female child. The fact that her father had high expectations from her helped her remain positive. I can relate to this essay, being raised in an Indian family the culture is strict and certain things are expected of us. In the Indian culture, women are meant to show the utmost respect to their husband and surrender as expected to. An example in the Muslim culture is that women are hidden beneath clothes that cover their entire bodies, only showing their eyes. Not only is this part of their religion but also it is a law in their culture and society. In my opinion, women are just capable as men. They are able to do all things common and should not be shunned in society.