“Stumbling Upon Something Inspiring”
In a vague attempt to seem more knowledgeable of current events and tragedies, the author of this post at first contemplated reporting on recent political situations. However, after a 3-hour long search and several comfort foods later, this misguided mission was aborted.
Option #2 involved writing about news in the animal kingdom or about various biological discoveries. Unfortunately, for her own mental health and that of her readers, the author discarded the topics of grieving killer whales, mysteriously washed-ashore dead giant squids, and tortured (for the sake of tourism) baby elephants.
It was during her hour-long search for a reason not to hide away from the world under a blanket with a large cake (in wait of better times) that the author stumbled upon an adorably inspirational news story. In it, 4-year-old Caleb Stewart from Tallahassee, Florida gives an extraordinarily eloquent speech on the importance of reading, especially during the development years (see below video of speech and link to an article for more information).
Sharply dressed and ready for anything, Mr. Stewart delivered his speech to a group of preschool teachers, trying (and succeeding) to convince them of the seriousness of encouraging more children to read (be it billboards or books, independently or together with their parents/caregivers). Speaking from experience, Mr. Stewart details the various benefits of reading, which include the expansion of long-term memory and increased literacy and language skills. “Kids should be encouraged to cultivate their imagination,” – Stewart explains. And truer words have rarely ever been spoken and coming from such a young speaker… Though when it comes to reading we are all both children and adults.
Frank Serafini once said: “There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not found the right book”. And I believe something Katherine Patterson once said compliments this notion: “It is not enough to simply teach children to read; we have to give them something worth reading. Something that will stretch their imaginations, something that will help them make sense of their own lives and encourage them to reach out toward people whose lives are quite different from their own”.
And there is no better proof of these words than Mr. Caleb Stewart. And only time will tell what great things this developing mind will accomplish and inspire in both younger and older generations.
Video Credit: Kang-Xing Jin
https://www.inspiremore.com/caleb-stewart-reading-speech/
-L.L.L.
Protests in Bangladesh
What I will write about happened about a month ago. Although it is not totally current I felt the need to write about it. It harkened back to a time when similar protests were the pride of American college students. It showed the terrors of unilateral power structures that suppress the voices of their citizens if those voices do not match their agenda. It reminds us of the importance of protest and free speech. Altogether it is key.
On July 29th, in the capital of Bangladesh, two schoolchildren were hit by a speeding bus. The bus was driving recklessly in an attempt to pick up more passengers than the bus directly in front of it. The schoolchildren were killed almost upon impact.
Normally, this event wouldn’t spark particular outrage. Bangladesh has one of the most dangerous road systems in the world. Over four thousand people die in car accidents every year on the congested often unpaved roads. However, this time a string of outrage initially surged through social media.
Eventually the online protests took to the streets and tens of thousands of students came out to protest the shoddy conditions within the countries traffic system. Students demanded stricter vetting of Drivers Licenses, actual policing without bribes, and enforcement of traffic laws.
The student’s protest was so powerful that all bus services within the sprawling city were cancelled and traffic was almost completely slowed to a halt. Student’s initially checked for ID’s and safe driving conditions. The protest was initially peaceful and students attempted to get their demands without employing violence. 
The non-violence didn’t last however. Soon, the ruling party the Awami League brough in their police force and launched tear gas and rubber bullets into crowds of unarmed students. Within the week of the protest up to 140 students were injured . A Bengali citizen went out to Reddit to give a first person account, commenting that there were rumors of several female protesters being raped. The terror within the protest rapidly spread. Students were getting injured but the protest was not getting quelled.
The BCL (a different student organisation linked to the Awami League) harassed journalists and reporters that were speaking about the protest. They threatened anyone who recorded videos and one journalist from the Associated Press was arrested and beaten.
The use of such disproportionate force against a protest that was simply demanding fairer safer roads is terrifying. It was a terrific show of courage from the students but the government’s response was unquestionably brutal.
Eytan
Aimee Stephens and the Fight for Transgender Rights
The U.S. has a history of mistreating those who defy societal norms in terms of gender expression. Trans-women especially are disproportionately the targets of violence and discrimination across the country for choosing to express their gender identities proudly. According to the 2015 National Transgender Survey 30% of those who took place in the survey reported that they were “denied a promotion, or experienc[ed] some other form of mistreatment related to their gender identity or expression.” while 77% of those who responded reported that they “took steps to avoid mistreatment in the workplace, such as hiding or delaying their gender transition or quitting their job.”. Trans-women across the country are losing their livelihood through either intimidation or discrimination.
The case of Aimee Stephens hopes to put an end to this discrimination in a case that has followed her since 2013.
In July of 2013 Stephens handed her boss at Harris Funeral Homes a letter stating that she would no longer be presenting as a male at work and would dress according to her actual gender identity as a woman. Riding on the back of a six year career at the funeral home with a spotless record, Stephens assumed that her job would be safe and hoped that her bosses would respect her decision. They did not. In August of 2013 Harris Funeral Homes fired Aimee, stating their “Christian” values wouldn’t permit them to employ a transgender woman. Stephens then filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity commission which led to a multiyear lawsuit which has made its way to the supreme court.
At the heart of this case is the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act which prohibits discriminatory hiring practices based on an individual’s “Sex, race, color, national origin, and religion.”. The representation for the funeral homes makes the defense that Title VII cannot apply in this case because it does not specify “gender representation”. I want to lay it out plain and clear right now that this is wrong and a willful misunderstanding of the Civil Rights Act on the part of the defense. This act was drafted and put into effect in 1964, during a time where transgender individuals were not nearly as free to be open about their gender identity. The idea and most importantly the language of transgender individuals was not yet a part of the public consciousness is the way that it is today. We cannot base contemporary decisions on the exact language of laws which were not written with certain individuals in mind because of a societal oversight. It is in the spirit of the Civil Rights Act to protect those who need it against the face of discrimination, and in 2018 transgender individuals need that protection just as much as ever.
The future of this case is unfortunately unclear with Brett Kavanaugh, whose record is decidedly unfriendly toward the LGBTQ+ community, as the supreme court nominee. At this time we can only hope that justice will prevail and that the precedent will be established that hiring discrimination against transgender individuals will not be tolerated.
-Tim Caston
The Junction Journal 