Blog Post #4

Good versus evil. An ages old tale that has stood the test of time and continues to be passed down through each generation. Heroes and villains, and the roles that they play not only in films, but everyday text was the focus of chapter 14. Chapter 14 discusses heroes ranging from fictional ones such as Superman, to real life heroes that have changed the world such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. What is it that is so mesmerizing about heroes? Maybe, it is the fact that they have shown such courage and fortitude, fictional or not, and that these heroes inspire people to better themselves. One hero that was discussed in chapter 14 was Jason Collins. Jason Collins became the first openly homosexual professional basketball player in history in April of 2013. I remember watching ESPN, and for about two weeks or so Jason Collins was the biggest story. What I remember most about Jason Collins’ announcement of his homosexuality was the reaction of his teammates. His teammates continued to show him the love and support that he deserved and never let his sexuality change the way that they looked at him. For a 14-year-old version of myself, this was life altering. To witness this much unconditional love and support for someone who, at the time seemed so incredibly different, made me realize that it is okay to be who you are.

Be that as it may, I chose to write about chapter 14 since I believe people victimize themselves far too often while writing a personal narrative. It is not uncommon to take your own side of the story while writing a personal narrative. However, it is not unreasonable in many conflict situations that are eventually written about that the person who claims to be the hero or victim of the story, could be the villain in the eyes of someone else. I have realized that it is important to look at yourself as the villain in every clash, and try to see where the other person is coming from. Understanding a different perspective and respecting that perspective can be challenging, but in the long run, help not only with writing personal narratives, research papers, and argumentative essays. It can help better us as human beings, and improve some of our most basic traits such as morality and integrity.