Upon reading my paper, “Sometimes Slips Are Good”, Teju Cole, the author of “The White- Savior Industrial Complex” would disagree with my agreement that slips may benefit a part of society. In Cole’s article he argues that people, especially white privileged people, go out of their way to help others merely to satisfy their own needs of making themselves feel better. In other words, it is only based on selfish motives that people go out of their way to give others aid. In addition to that, many times people also do not try to fix the root problem of an issue, which therefore does not alleviate an issue in a substantial way.

“His good heart does not allow him to think constellationally. He does not connect the dots or see the patterns of power behind the isolated “disasters.” All he sees are hungry mouths, and he, in his own advocacy-by-journalism way is, putting food in those mouths as fast as he can. All he sees is need, and he sees no need to reason out the need for need.” (Cole 7)

At first when I watched the Kony 2012 video, I supported Jason Russell’s non-profit organization, the Invisible Children. I mean, it would be so cruel not to agree that appropriate measures had to be taken to eradicate the atrocities caused by the warlord, Joseph Kony. Placing myself in the Cole’s shoes, would I give a donation in support of the emaciated children? Yes, I would.

Slipping through the Lens of Bloodchild

              In Butler’s Bloodchild, slippage was utilized as a method in which unspoken species-specific values were revealed to the audience. Slippage allowed the readers to witness a side of both species that was not directly indicated, and furthermore showed how corrosive the shown interspecies relationship was. Slippage also revealed a disturbing truth about those who were caught between the vastly different beliefs held between differing species. In all, the different types of slippage in Bloodchild exposed an underlying message about the dangerous nature of forcing different cultures to merge in order to hasten progress.

“A singer may be innocent; never the song.” What does this mean? In my opinion, the song stands for any issue like racism, sexism, classism, etc.  The singers are the activist or not so active participants who contribute to the cause in a large range of ways.  This can mean the people simply putting $5 in the donation box behind the cash register at McDonalds to those protesting in their communities.  Teju Cole writes The White- Savior Industrial Complex stating not only the everyday American’s involvement, but his own, in fighting for a cause to alleviate their own emotional distress with an issue. This distress to a disturbing issue is generally alleviated by giving money to the issue or participate in various ways that fall into the “making a difference” banner.

Kate Weiler

         Many children have once played in some sort of ruin. This does not always mean they have played in a dump or construction ground or old building; this means they have played and laughed in an environment that was harsh, an environment we typically try to hide them from. When children are given the opportunity to play, they are able to do so in many different conditions that can be safe, unsafe, regulated by a guardian, or unregulated. There are many different types of play as Tim Edensor describes in “Playing in Industrial Ruins”. He divides play into four categories: destructive play, hedonistic play, artistic play, and adventurous play. But play is complicated and can be placed in even more categories or subcategories.

Growing up as a military child, I’ve been able to experience a variety of different contact zones. Contact zones in the various countries I’ve lived in, in the countless schools I’ve attended, and even in military bases. One of the most striking contact zones that I’ve had the chance to encounter was the one between the American embassy community in Armenia and the Armenian people. This contact zone taught me an incredible amount; but, most importantly, it taught me that foreigners are able to help individuals of a different country if they are willing to delve deep and understand the culture that they are guests in.

            According to Mary Louise Pratt in her article, “Arts of the Contact Zone,” contact zones are “Social spaces where cultures meet, clash, and grapple with each other…” (Pratt 34).  Almost any situation where two entities come in contact with each other can be seen as a contact zone, whether it has positive or negative outcomes.  These two entities will probably represent different levels of power which could be expressed by two different individuals, cultures, or even different species.  Even though these two sides may have an uncomfortable first encounter, this is the kind of situation where they can learn and grow in the best possible manner, setting aside their differences and living in harmony.

Me, Myself, & Teju Cole

“Hypocrite.”