Weekly Post

For my final project Julianne and I are talking about what effect Social Media has on society. I personally don't think social media has many pros too it. Social Media is something to look at when you're bored but I don't think many positive things come out of it. For one false information can get spread very quickly which isn't good in any case and can start unnecessary drama. My generation of kids is very on top of all social media sites; snapchat, instagram, twitter, facebook. It's kinda crazy now because I feel like social media is a way for people to get to know each other now and can give a false sense of who that person is.
Which also leads into how someones social media can be looked at when considering that person as an employe or a student. I think thats a bit ridiculous because people are doing all the same things that kids did back in the day and they are using the evidence on social media as a factor when considering someone for a position.
Social media also made bullying so much easier. Its easy to make of someone behind a screen and it happens way too often. Cyber bullying is a huge deal and had lead to too many suicides. If there wasn't all these cites that make it so easy to talk down on somebody the world would be a better place and kids would be happier.

Madison Rasmussen

Ms.Menough

Senior Lit and Comp

November 18

The Matthew Shepard Case

The Matthew Shepard case was displayed as a hate crime in The Laramie Project but looking further into the case ABC’s 20/20 report, and The Book of Matt prove that Matthew Shepard’s death was caused by methamphetamine.  

Laramie, Wyoming’s culture is more on the conservative side. Most people in the town assume its a hate crime because they don’t agree with the homosexual lifestyle. Someone with that view will automatically have the bias opinion that Matt’s death was motivated by hate towards homosexuals. “Now as for the victim, I know that the lifestyle is legal, but I will tell you one thing: I hope that Matthew Shepard as he was tied to that fence that he had some time to reflect on a moment when someone spoke a word of the Lord with him- and that before he slipped into a coma he had a chance to reflect on his lifestyle”(Minister, 66). The Baptist Minister believes that Matt’s death was a hate crime and he thinks it happened because of his lifestyle. A conservative town like Laramie will provoke bias opinions like the Minster’s.

In The Laramie Project, Moises Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project went to Wyoming to find what truth about the Matthew Shepard case, Laramie had to offer. They found that the people there were in denial that a crime like this could happen in their home town. “Were a good community and we are, a majority of the people here are, good people”(Engen, 47). The people in Laramie were shocked that a hate crime could have happened in their town and they are scared to come to terms with it. They were hoping the men who committed this crime were just passing through Laramie, not residents who lived and grew up there. “ You get bad apples once in a while”(Engen 47). In every group there is bound to be some bad apples. Gil Engen is saying Aaron and Russle are the bad apples in Laramie. The town as a whole is a welcoming and accepting place but the two men are the exception.The interviews consisting in the play are based off of the death of Shepard being a hate crime. Laramie doesn’t want to see the truth and they would rather believe the lies that they are telling themselves. Which gives people who have read the play a bias opinion that the case was a hate crime.

In ABC’s 20/20 report they show another side of Matt and facts that were not exploited in The Laramie Project.  Laramie was a major part of the meth ring that connected to Denver. While interviewing Aaron he talks about meth and how it connects the young men. “Meth made the world go around in Laramie”(McKenney, 20/20). Aaron was a frequent meth user and was using around two or three grams a day. Matt had become depressed after finding out he was HIV positive and turned to drugs. By the time Aaron was 18 he had a serious meth addiction and was a head dealer in Laramie. Aaron and Matt were friends who partied often together, and even had a intimate relationship. Meth was such a big part of both of their lives and was the main reason Matt got killed. The effect meth had on Aaron’s brain and the desperation for the drug lead Aaron to be violent and Matt just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when he was killed.

The murder of Matthew Shepard was proven not a hate crime evidence found in the 20/20 report and the Book of Matt show that there were other motives behind Matt’s death. He  had mental problems because of the extreme meth use. His superego was extremely weakened. The super ego is the part of the brain that controls urges and plays a moralizing role. “ ‘How did Matt react when you were beating him?’ ‘He was very cooperative” (McKenny 20/20 report). When Aaron is talking in his interview he is very comfortable with talking about killing Matt. He acts as if he is above everything and its clear to see that he isn’t emotionally invested in anything, which are signs of a true sociopath. The only thing that Matt invested in was meth. Matt would buy meth from Aaron and if he didn’t have the money for meth he would exchange sexual favors for it. “Matt owed Aaron money for meth ...I believe Aaron threatened Matt about it” (Henson, Book of Matt). He was coming off of the high and was looking for more meth at the time he killed Matt. The possibility of Aaron getting heated because Matt owed him money is very likely. Aaron had anger issues aswell, “I have attacked my best friends coming off of meth binges”(McKenny, 20/20 report). Matt and Aaron were friends and sexual partners but clearly Aaron doesn’t have any remorse when it comes to others. Aaron was bisexual and didn’t have anything against heterosexuals. “Aaron was Doc’s little whore, his little plaything”(Baker, The Book of Matt). Aaron, being an escort, would travel in Doc O’Connors limo to Denver to sell meth and his body, and many times Matt was with them. The facts that were provided in the 20/20 interview and Stephen Jimenez’s The Book of Matt prove that Matthew Shepard’s death wasn’t a hate crime but meth induced rage turned for the worst.

In the 20/20 Interview they talk about the “mythology of Matthew Shepard” that was formed from The Laramie Project and the media. The “myth of Matt” is that Matt’s death was a hate crime. The media took this story from a small town and blew it up. They ran with the idea that is was a hate crime and brought attention to the gay community. “ People really do want to mythologize important events in history...” (Maloney, Book of Matt). The town of Laramie didn’t want to know the truth and let Matt’s death be a hate crime. The Laramie Project  altered the way people view the Matthew Shepard case because of their strong believes that it was a hate crime. The play was written with the bias’s the people in Laramie had. On one hand it had some positive outcomes in spreading awareness for the LGBTQ community. It also brought Laramie closer as a town, when looking for support from one another. On the other hand the case wasn’t looked at as closely as it should have been and was closed after they decided it was a hate crime and that was the end of it.

Matthew Shepard’s case can be taken from many different perspectives based on one’s beliefs. If someone wants to believe the mythology of Matthew Shepard they will, but the evidence proves that Matt’s death was not a hate crime but drug related.

Weekly Blog

I think that the death of Matthew Shepard had a lot to do with the use of meth between these young men. It is known that Aaron hadn't slept in day before he killed Matt because of all the meth he was on. Sleep deprivation would mess with anyone's brain chemistry and I think it caused Aaron to be more irritable which lead into the rage he had towards Matt.

Aaron was a meth addict and was using 2 - 3 grams of meth a day and was having withdrawals at the time he killed Matt. Being such a frequent and high dosage meth user his withdrawals had to have been really intense and most definitely would have increased his rage. 

Aaron's brain chemistry being so messed up his super ego has extremely weakened which controls ones ability to resist urges and to keep ones morals in mind. At the time he killed Matt, Aaron's superego wasn't working which would have made him stop hurting Matt, but without that sense he had no control. 

The Laramie Project

After we have looked further into the Mathew Shepard case I know am sure that this wasn't a hate crime, but it was a meth induced rage gone for the worst. Aaron Mickeney told his girlfriend as he was hiding the drugs in his house to tell the cops that the reason he killed Mathew Shepard was because of the fact he was gay. One officer that did meth with Aaron warned him when the police were coming to his house.  Aaron said "meth made the world go round in Laramie".  Aaron Mickeney was a key component in a drug ring and if the truth behind Matts death was found out it could have brought down a huge drug cartel.
The police didn't even dig for the truth when it came to this case. They let it be a hate crime. "As I told you many times Aaron is not telling the truth. He did know Matt...Aaron does not want people knowing the truth". Matt and Aaron were friends they partied together, they were even intimate with each other. The crime was not a hatred towards gay people because Aaron was bisexual. Aaron sold Matt drugs and they would do them together in the back of Doc O'Connor's limo, he was a prostitute, he did not have hate for gay people. He had a rage for meth.

Matthew Shepard

Based on my findings so far I do believe that Matthew Shepard's assault was a hate crime. For one, Arron Mickey confessed to the beating of Matthew being a hate crime. He told his girlfriend about all the hate and rage he had towards Matt and that he needed to teach him a lesson. The brutality of the beating was definitely caused by a rage that Arron had for Matthew.
The media brought a negative vibe to the town of Laramie, WY. I think that the media only focused on the crime and not on the person Matt was. Which made it harder on the family and friends grieving on Matt's death. The media also gave the town of Laramie a really bad name. The focus was on what was wrong with the town and not what was wrong with Arron Mickey. The town of Laramie was a small town and most of the people interviewed in the Laramie Project said that the town was comfortable with people being gay. The town mostly consisted of people with minimum wage and everybody knew each other. In one interview the news broadcaster was asking a women about the crime and they were it was the most beautiful day and all the news caster could focus on was the crime.

Memoir's 2

Positive

This is a story about a girl Paige Rawl who has been HIV positive since birth. The story starts with her talking about how she has always taken medication and always had doctor checkups often, but never really knew what it was for. She eventually learns its because she is HIV positive. Growing up she never let the illness define her. When she felt close enough to her good friend she confided in her and told her about this. Two weeks later the whole school knew and Paige was mortified. Paige said everyday at school was like walking through a minefield. The kids in her school would leave nasty notes on her locker and gave her the nickname "Paids". She fights through the battles of being bullied and the depression. Later on Paige goes to a camp with other HIV infected kids. At first she was very skeptical of this because Paige is. now, a closed person, and doesn't open up easily. However she became very close with the people she meet. 

She wanted to be a role model for people with HIV and to show people it's just something they have to accept and they can have the life they want regardless. 

A Long Way Gone the memories of a Boy Soldier

This book is memories from a boy who first hand dealt with being a child soldier in Sierra Leone written by Ishmael Beah. Beah ran away from his village at age 12 after it was attacked by rebels. He wandered the country and was forced into the army who brainwashed him into guns and drugs.He refers to the drugs he was given "brown pills" and " white pills". By the age of 13 he already participated in and witnessed many violent crimes. However at age 16 he was removed from the group by UNICEF, and was put into a rehab center. He suffered terrible drug withdrawals and post traumatic stress from the war . He travels the United States telling his story. 

Memoir's 1

Running with Scissors 
Augusten Burroughs memoir "Running with Scissors" covers his chaotic adolescent years, starting at age 12 when he moves in with his mothers psychologist, Dr.Finch . Augusten shares the house with other children too, some of who were adopted and others who are the Dr.Finch's patients. The household has hardly any rules and Dr.Finch believes that children are capable of being in charge of their own lives at age 13. At one point the have a mentally unstable patient, Cesar, live with them who attempts to rape Augusten, and pays one of the girls in the house for sex. Augusten was forced to perform oral sex on a 33 year old adopted man. Which he later tells the man that he is gay. They had a very open sexual relationship and Burroughs loves the power he has over this man knowing he can charge him with statutory rape. Later the man moves to New York city, and they were never in contact after that. Burroughs forms a friendship with Dr.Finch's daughter, Natalie, and they begin to do everything together. As the book is coming to and end Burroughs is forced to chose between his mother and Dr.Finch knowing that the Doctor raped his mother. He still considers Dr. Finch family because of the previous years together, and can't chose sides. Augusten decides to leave for New York, not knowing what he plans to do there but he is determined to make it.


Two Kisses for Maddy
This is a beautiful story a man wrote about his love and loss. Matt and Liz Logelin were high school sweethearts and had a long distance relationship for quite some time, until they finally settled down together in Los Angeles.  They become pregnant and welcome their little girl Maddy into the world on March 24, 2008. Just 27 hours later Liz suffered a pulmonary embolism and died instantly, without ever being able to hold her daughter. Devastated and grieving the loss of his wife, Matt knows he needs to move forward and make a life for Maddy. He tries to keep his wife's spirit in the life he is providing for Maddy; when buying clothes for Maddy he buys things he knows Liz would like, and always gives Maddy two kisses one for him and one for Liz. Matt creates a beautiful and heartfelt story in two kisses for Maddy.

The War

In the film we see cases of PTS. The first being with Stephen, the dad. He was in the war and lost his friend Dodge. Dodge was already suffering from too much blood loss to survive and was left on the battleground while a helicopter took the surviving soldiers to safe ground. He suffered terrible PTS from the war and that moment of leaving his friend to die. Later on in the movie Stephen was put in a similar situation with his new friend from work. The two men were working underground and a rush of water pushed rocks from the walls and it fell on his friend. The man was going to die but he didn't have the heart to leave him and save himself. He already did that once in the war and the PTS from that incident was to traumatizing to do that again. While trying to save his friend more rocks caved in and injured Stephen which injured him badly enough where he passed away days later.
At this time Stephens son was trying to cope with the thought that he might lose his dad. He was in denial and wouldn't face the situation, he distracted himself. Which is one of the first signs of PTS.

In this film when bad incidents would happen the setting was all similar.
When the dad, Stephen, was hit with the rocks which lead to his death they were in a dark wet setting. They were underground in a cave, it was dark, and flooded with water.
When Dodge was killed in the war it was dark outside in a muddy environment. Its
The little boy Buddy from the other family almost died drowning in an old water tower. He was climbing on this wooden roof on top of the water tower and fell through. Luckily Stew was there and jumped in a saved him a helped resuscitate him back to life.
All of these incidents have a dark, wet, dirty, environment.
In all of these cases the people who lost or almost lost their lives were put in that position doing the right thing. Stephen was there for his friend and didn't want to leave him there to die and suffered death from trying to save his friend.
Dodge was just a man brave enough to fight for his country and died.
The little boy was trying to get the key for Stew for his lock that his brother threw up on the water tower and by trying to do the right thing he almost lost his life.
It seems like the natural course of life takes over and kills these people anyways. Because that's the cycle.

Weekly post

This week we worked on our college essays. I wrote mine about a time in my life where I felt like I was coming into adulthood. I like my essay a lot. I wish it could be longer then 650 words though.I liked writing my college essay I'm really looking forward to college and writing the essay made me realize how little of high school we have left. Its such a bitter sweet feeling. The last three years went by sooo fast and I know senior year will be over in a blink of an eye.
We also read our memoirs I pretty much finished my memoir. I've never read a book so fast. I probably sat down to read it less then ten times and finished the book its such an easy and interesting read. It got a little confusing towards the end, he jumps back and fourth between present time and flashbacks and its hard to fallow and tell the difference between them. Its a sad book too. There's a part I read last week where he comes home from a trip with his mom and the dad had killed the little boys hamster when they were gone and it broke the kids heart. It was so sad! I can't believe that this book is a memoir, its terrible how messed up Augusten Burroughs childhood was. It made me realize how good I have it. It somewhat surprised me that someone would be so comfortable sharing these experiences with the world.

Learning from life experiences

Through out my life I have learned that everything tends to work itself out. When my parents got divorced I had it pretty nasty for three years and thought my world was coming to an end. I was constantly  fighting with my mom and felt like I didn't have anyone I could go to and trust anymore. I eventually moved in with my dad after a bad fight with her and am now spending a few hours a month with my mom. I have learned to accept that this is the way its going to be now and I'm happy and comfortable again. It was really hard at first when I was fighting with my mom I thought we weren't ever going to be the same again and even though its not the same between us anymore, we have a good relationship in a different way. I need her in my life because she understands me and never judges me and is the only person in my family like that. I now feel like I could go to her for anything again three years later and with time everything fell back into place.

Blog 3

This week we've learned about memoirs and what a memoir is. A memoir is an event from the past written in first person told from memory. We also watched a very powerful performance of a Slam Poem "I'm taking my ball and going home" by Panama Soweto. He is a great speaker and he shared this poem that talks about this boy who would throw a fit when kids weren't listening to him and would say "I'm taking my ball and going home" he talks about how this kid just wanted to be taken seriously and how he is a poem. Panama talks about how everyone feels alone and just want to be listened to. In his Slam Poem he talks with so a lot of emotion and is very inspiring.
We also had a book talk and got to pick out what memoir we want to read at first I chose a book from the library "Wish You Happy Forever". Its about a couple who adopt a little girl from China. It takes awhile for this little girl to break out of her shell because of how harsh her living conditions were in China. The mom of this little girl feels bad for the children in China and how they are treated at the orphanages. But then we had a book talk and Mrs.Menoue showed us a book "A wolf at the Table" about this twisted family and it interested me so much I switched books.
We also wrote out own 6 word memoirs.
"Hey Trav, I'm glad you're home"

Me

I use music to get away. One of my favorite artists to listen to when I'm just hanging out is Atmosphere. I think my favorite song is "Yesterday". I also really like Grieves he has somewhat the same style as Slug. However I am also a Country fan I love the country twang sound; the guitar and deep voices the men have.  I'm obsessed with the song " I don't dance" by Lee Brice right now it has that country twang I love. I really love country because every song truly has a story in it and I really like that. When I am in a upbeat mood I like listening to Flume, Sound Remedy, Bassnectar, Big Gigantic, artists with that type of sound. I put a picture of Red Rocks because I'm in love with Red Rocks and all the best shows I've been to have been there. I have seen too many shows there to name but my favorite show I've gone to was definitely Rowdy Town last September. I am seeing Rowdy Town this September as well and couldn't be more stoked! In a few days my best friend and I are going to go see Atmosphere at Red Rocks and we've been counting down the days for months now. My favorite thing about music though is how it helps people connect. I feel like the people I am closest with have the same taste in music as I do. I think music is the easiest way to meet new people too and realizing you already have something in common gives you and instant connection. 

This picture is my friends/soccer teammates at prom last year. The one thing that keeps me grounded in this world is my amazing friends I have. I have a few friends I tell everything to and would do anything for. I think the most important thing in life is having a solid loving support group and I have that with my friends. There is also something different about being best friends with someone and being teammates with them as well. My best friend Renae and I were friends we had a few classes together but then when we became teammates at Monarch we literally were inseperble. It creates a bond with two people when they have to push themselves to achieve something as shitty as the 9 min drill we do for fitness or win a game in double overtime to qualify for playoffs like we did last year. Its a special kind of friendship. I'm lucky enough to have friends in my life like I do. My best friend Julianne I've known as long as I can remember, she has stood by my side since fifth grade. We've had our ups and downs but we always are the same goofy carefree girls when we are together. Every time we hang out it can be from seeing Jay-Z in concert or sitting in her room eating kettle corn we have a great time. 

One thing that has really made me who I am is definitely where I live. Living ten min outside of boulder in Superior has been a blessing. I have a close friend that live in Philly and every time he visits he talks about how beautiful and clean it is out here and how lucky we all are. I don't think people realize how lucky we are to be able to go out at 10pm and walk around boulder and get food or go explore flagstaff and go on night hikes where you can see as far as the eye can. Boulder is different and definitely weird but living here has shaped me and I'm so happy I got tot grow up in such a beautiful safe area. I was influenced by Boulder because I really have a little hippie in me from living here for sure and so do some of my friends if we grew up anywhere else I don't think we would be like we are. My friend from Michigan who lived here most of her life talks about how different it is there and conservative and how awesome it is here to be able to drive ten min and be in a place like Boulder and then to drive 30 min the other way and able to be at red rocks or just 20min East and be able to be in Denver. We are in the middle of everything and I absoulutley love it.