TED Talk/This American Life Reviews

TED Talks/This American Life: While listening to a few of these, I found 3 particularly that I'd like to tell you about.

1. How Schools Kill Creativity: 
• Creativity is as important as literacy.
• We're too frightened of being "wrong"
• Mistakes are the worst thing you can make in education
• All children are born artists. The problem is to remain artists growing up.
• We grow out of creativity, not into it.
• We are limiting human capacity!
• We need to acknowledge multiple kinds of intelligence.
2. Extrasensory: The spotlighted man cannot see color. But he hears it! Each color has a corresponding note, with red as the lowest and violet as highest. He shared a lot of life experiences, but one thing that interested me was when he went to art school. There he noticed that he didn't see the world the same as everyone else. This got me thinking: while I may be able to see color, I have a different paradigm of the world than anyone else. I can do my part to make the world better in only ways I can make the world better. 
• Extending your senses extends your knowledge. 
• Technology can help to stretch human senses. 
• We only retain about 25% of what we hear. 
• Conscious listening creates understanding. 
• 3 minutes a day of silence to reset your ears.
• Listening is the most generous gift you can give to another human being.
3. How Great Leaders Inspire Action
1. Those who lead inspire us.
2. We want to follow who we actually follow; we follow for ourselves.
3. We don't work with people who can just do the job, we work for those who believe what we believe. 

New York Times Article Response

The New York Times recently published an article titled "Missions Signal a Growing Role for Mormon Women." I loved the response the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's hard to voice an opinion on these topics, but I personally didn't like the article. A few things bothered me: 

• The interview with the missionary- I'm sure she is a great missionary, but I wonder about her interview and whether it is taken out of context. The Times stated that the reason she wanted to go on a mission was because a mission would "not only please God but also give her the organizational and persuasive skills to succeed professionally." This could have been meant in a harmless way, but I think the reason one should go on a mission is solely to please God. It shouldn't be because you think it will help you get skills for your future career success.
• The tone- "Church leaders have been forced to reassess their views because Mormon women are increasingly supporting households, marrying later and less frequently, and having fewer children."
• The article makes the women sound like they are in charge of the church officials. 
• Overall, I feel like the article promotes the idea that the change in mission age change for sisters is due to the "movement" of the Mormon Women Project.

I personally have never felt discriminated against in the Church. I believe that men and women have separate roles, but that this does not make us unequal.

Elizabeth Smart

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to listen to Elizabeth Smart speak as part of BYU's Voices of Courage Campaign. As she shared her story and insights, I gained my own insight and recognized what an opportunity it was to hear her speak.

As Elizabeth captivated her audience by sharing her experience, she testified of her knowledge that God loves all of us--no matter what. The advice she received from her mother upon being rescued is applicable to us all in our own trials. Her captor stole 9 months of her life, but she refuses to let him steal anymore. Instead of letting her horrific experience hold her back, she chose to be happy, be thankful, and live her life to the fullest. So can we--our trials don't define us, but how we react to them does. 

Now, you may be wondering: "What does this post have to do with service?!" I'd be happy to tell you!

You can serve more efficiently and to the best of your ability if you first become what you can yourself. For example, how would a doctor be able to help and assist patients if he hadn't first gone through years of schooling and training? Elizabeth smart has become a voice for courage through her experience of being kidnapped. Now she is an example to us all, as she is using her talents to serve and touch the hearts of so many others. 

Movie Review

God Grew Tired of Us

The Lost Boys shown in the film screening arrived at a refugee camp in Kakuma, Kenya, which was designed to help them for three years. There the UN provided basic education, and then the boys were “waiting for [their] grave”(“God Grew Tired of Us). The United States accepted some refugees and allowed them three months federal assistance until their work visas and social security cards were processed.

            This screening documented two particular Lost Boys and their adventures, thoughts, fears, joys, and hopes as refugees. Their story was documented as each found a job, learned about the technology found in a first world country, and discovered a new culture. Throughout this experience, the two men gave insight on the hardship of transitioning from African to American culture. For example, the meaning of Santa Claus and a Christmas tree were confusing to them. They felt discouraged and bombarded with the interesting traditions and meanings that were unknown to them in Africa.
          Throughout the story of the Lost Boys coming as refugees to America, their struggles are represented in daily activities. While eating dinner with their hands, they explained their feelings of a duty to keep up their African traditions, saying that “a person without culture is like a human being without land.” The lost boys did not want to forget their identity, especially as they did not understand American culture and the Americans they met did not understand African culture. Understanding is a common characteristic that society often neglects.

          Should the documentary prompt us to action? Should it make us feel uncomfortable? Should guilt be a resulting factor? Is the sole purpose for people of the world to become more aware? What does this screening teach us? These feelings generate a desire to act. The ultimate question is, “What now?” The film should prompt an increased desire to help--to serve--but does not suggest a specific way. Part of the discomfort and guilt we feel comes from not knowing what we should do as a result of becoming aware. One small way we can help is even just remembering what we have learned, as our attitudes will change and our awareness will affect the paradigm we hold. 

             Be aware! Serve!