Friendswood pp. 31-62

Taylor Gudenkauf
English 1101
5 September 2016
Prof. Young

Who should speak? (Citizens of Friendswood? An esteemed institution?) When is it permissible to dissent?

Instead of asking the question, "Who should speak?", we should ask the question, "Who shouldn't speak?"  The answer is nobody.  Everyone should be speaking up and be an activist.  The more voices there are, the more powerful the movement.  When the problem is life altering, it is even more imperative for more people to stand together to create change.  

Esteemed institutions exhume a lot of power when it comes to speaking up and speaking out.  With this power, it is their responsibility to uphold morals and make sure that citizens’ best interest is always at the forefront. 

For example, in East Chicago, there are threatening levels of lead in the soil that can impact children’s health.  The amplitude of the contamination surprised many citizens.  Residents were “not informed until last month that even the top six inches of soil in their yards had up to 30 times more lead than the level considered safe for children to play in” (Goodnough 2).  The E.P.A. blamed the contractor they hired for taking so long.  The E.P.A. could have been more effective by speeding up the contractor, hiring a different contractor, and/ or give the residents updates.  It was essential for the E.P.A. to speak up and validate residents’ concerns.  However, now the residents should be speaking up against the E.P.A.’s lengthy and delayed process.  They should also be speaking up for more money to help aide in their moving and relocation.

When the government fails its people, it calls for folks to voice their concern.  For instance, In the Stanford rape case, rapist, Brock Turner received 6 months in prison for three felonies.  He was given a light sentence due to him being a white, affluent, attractive male with a bright future in swimming.  The judge feared that a longer sentence would have a “severe impact” on him.  But what about the victim?  She will be forever changed by that night.  That night will have a severe impact on her for as long as she will live.  A man, who does not admit to his mistakes, does not deserve a lesser sentence.

This victim is using her voice, to help heal other victims and herself.  She is speaking out against the broken system- “…in public news, I learned that my ass and vagina were completely exposed outside, my breasts had been groped, fingers had been jabbed inside me along with pine needles and debris, my bare skin and head had been rubbing against the ground behind a dumpster, while an erect freshman was humping my half naked, unconscious body” (Baker 5). Her and her family should have been notified by the police instead of finding out at the same time as the rest of the world on news stations.  She also explains throughout her letter to her attacker that because she was drunk there was no consent.  There was definitely not consent in this case as she says, “I was too drunk to speak English, too drunk to consent way before I was on the ground.  I should have never been touched in the first place” (Baker 8).  It is imperative that society learns what qualifies as consent, and just because the attacker was drunk does not excuse his actions- “alcohol was not the one who stripped me, fingered me, had my head dragging against the ground, with me almost fully naked” (Baker 9).

One of the rights of being an American citizen is the freedom of speech.  Therefore, when witnessing a problem, it is important to take a stand even if it means that you have to dissent.  

In Friendswood, Lee Knowles, is trying to ensure the safety of all children since her daughter died from the chemicals in the ground causing blood disease.  Although the town has moved on, Lee continues to do her own testing to prove that the land is not safe.  Since no institution is taking action, the citizens of Friendswood should be speaking out; however, “People’s eyes glazed over, reading the data, but when she could get someone’s attention at an agency, or on the city council, she felt the ground steady beneath her” (Steinke 35).  When government and institutions fail the people, the people must rise above.

Friendswood pp1-30

Taylor Gudenkauf
English 1101
4 September 2016
Prof. Young

Who are the main characters thus far? How do you know? How is Friendswood described? 

Friendswood by Rene Steinke takes place in a small town in Texas that is filled with fields.  Due to chemicals in the chemical runoff, the ground has areas of sludge that are causing health problems that the EPA is not taking care of.  In a town where everyone knows everyone, this town is held together by their faith.  For example, Sy Turner's friend preaches to Lee, "Let every soul be subject to the higher powers.  For there is no power but of God" (4).   It seems that years after the chemical episode, the town is left in ruins- "there were still a few abandoned homes left standing" (6).

Lee is an activist who is motivated by the death of her daughter.   Her husband Jack left her due to her consumption of Rosemont.  She is the "unofficial guardian, filling up empty, sterilized jelly jars with dirt" (6).   She seems to always be lost in her thoughts.  Jess, Lee and Jack's daughter died from cancer that was caused by the chemicals in the ground and seeping into the air.  Lee feels helpless because she could not save her daughter.

Hal is a realtor who is not making sales.  He is very unhappy, is an alcoholic, and had a seven week affair.  He really wants to be successful, but is currently struggling.  Hal and his son Cully connect through football.

Willa seems to be shy and has hallucinations.  It can be assumed that Willa may have been raped- "That night in the spring, at the stadium near the concession stand, she and Dani had been talking to him, and he jokingly put his arm around Willa, let his hand rest on her shoulder for a few seconds, and when his fingers flicked at the seam of her shirt, it knocked the breath out of her" (21).  It should also be noted that Willa may have a crush on Cully.