A Lasting Footprint

In the End, the decision is entirely yours. The decision to stand on the sideline and allow actions (positive or negative) to take place without your input is a personal choice. However, I for one refuse to remain a bystander, from now on, personally, I will be more active in my community. Service projects and helping others is such a great way to get involved and make an impact. When people graduate or move on in life, they often wonder if they ever made an impact on...well anything. Taking action and raising your voice allows you to leave that lasting footprint and take a stand on issues important to you. Again, the decision to be remembered is a personal one, but a great one.



Picture Citations:

"Footprints - Bing Images." Bing. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. <http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=footprints&FORM=BIFD#focal=8c5b639cb96f24799cb8b6d9f2733cb3&furl=http://www.cothrun.com/gallery/albums

/Misc/footprints.sized.jpg>.

Much like a Nutri-Grain Bar...

Yes, the "Bystander Effect" does seem to be spreading, but occasionally one can catch a good deed that completely rebels to the idea of the B.E. For example, I was riding in the car with my dad the other day when I saw something completely amazing and unexpected, complete strangers helping one another.

On the way to Palio's Pizza, my favorite, my dad and I saw an elderly man stuggling to overturn some trashcans that the trashmen had carelessly thrown into his muddy driveway. My dad sighed with a sorrowful expression on his face, "Should I help him?" he asked me, just as I was about to answer, another man pulled off the road. A young man, in his nice business attire stepped out a new Mercedes Benz and made his way to the elderly man. The young man uprighted the trashcans from the mud, smiled and shook the elderly man's hand and then went on his way. An act so simple, yet it sparked millions of thoughts in my head.

We are taught to stay on our guard, not to trust anyone, be aware of our surroundings, don't talk to strangers; but yet this man, not knowing anything about the elderly man took the time to stop and help. Maybe we are all too fearful of one another, the reprocussional effects of our decisions. Maybe if we all just stopped and took a breath to realize there is more to this life than just surviving.

Like the Nutri-Grain commercial, the ad claims that one good nutritional decision will lead to another, maybe one good act will lead to more. After seeing the young man, I was inspired to get out there and not be so fearful of everything, to take action and help those who clearly need help, to not be a Bystander.


Picture Citations:

"Nutri-Grain Ad." Bing.com/NutriGrainAd. Web. 9 Oct. 2010. <http://www.couponing101.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/nutri-grain-strawberry-8ct.jpg>.

A Helping Hand in America

Lately crime, violence, and tragedy are the main topics in the news today. However, in the recent past a movie revealed the story behind a teenage boy's struggle of living in rough conditions and a family who went the extra mile in order to help him. The movie, "The Blind Side", depicts Michael Oher growing up in the projects of Memphis, Tennessee where the young teen, at fifteen years of age, was subject to gang violence and the use of drugs. However, as he was enrolled into a private school, his life abruptly changed. Leigh Anne Tuohey welcomed Michael into her home after she realized he had no place to stay, and made him a part of her own family. Michael, motivated by his new family, went on to play division one football at the University of Mississippi with a full ride scholarship where he became an All-American. After four years at Ole Miss., Michael entered the NFL Draft and became a Baltimore Ravens starting offensive tackle. Leigh Anne Tuohey, the mother of the family, extended a helping hand to Michael showing the selfless attitude that everyone in society should demontrate. Without the guidance that the Tuohey family gave to Michael Oher, he could have very well been caught up in the gang lifestyle. The generosity displayed by this family has inspired many people to make an effort to act positively in their own community. Even though there will always be a person who chooses to stand by and watch as a problem or crime occurs, the Touhey family shows the endless potential for people to act positively in someone else's life.

Picture Citation:

"'The Blind Side': How Michael Oher Made It" - ABC news. ABCnews.com. Web. 13 Oct. 2010.

What would you do?

Unlike the shows like Extreme makeover: Home edition that illustrate the positive bystanders that are willing to help those in need, are shows like “What would you do?” that reveal negative bystanders. This ABC news show features newsman John Quiñones, who tests human nature through hidden camera scenarios. These scenarios include a 15 year old being pressured to agree to marry a man ten years older before a restaurant, a Mexican man being beaten in broad daylight by a group of racists, and group of teens vandalizing a car while people just walk on by (“What would You Do?”). This TV show is different than others because it actually made me think “what would I do?” Would I stand up to someone who was being bullied? Would I intervene even if others were around, or rather, if no one was around? Would I do the right thing simply because it was the “right thing” to do? I have heard it said that the right thing to do is what one does when no one else is watching, when it is just as easy to walk away. These thoughts have crossed my mind since watching this show, and I respect the producers for giving viewers an opportunity to witness these negative bystanders first hand without a script. Maybe after seeing this tv show I will think twice about my actions and act in some helpful way. Such might have saved the life of a terrified woman who died alone on the streets of New York almost a half-century ago.
So, what would you do?

picture and content citation Information:
"What Would You Do? - ABC News." ABCNews.com. Web. 10 Oct. 2010. .

Bystanders Negative Effect on Society

In American society, being a bystander is becoming more relevant than in the past. People are avoiding opportunities to help others who face problems, and evidence of this can be seen from the news to daily life. Personally, I've experienced being a bystander. Last summer, while I walked home at around eleven p.m., I heard a shattering sound in the distance. At the moment I didn't think too much of it, I just assumed that someone may have broken glass on the concrete. As I walked closer to the origin of the sound, I saw someone in one of my neighbor's cars scouring through it with shards of glass on the ground. Enveloped with fear, I sprinted away towards my house. I ran never looking back, I didn't even know if he was following me. As soon as I entered my house I went straight into my room to my bed. I was so afraid that the person was pursuing me, I didn't want to move. That night I fell asleep with the crime fresh on my mind and untold. The next morning I awoke to startling news. My mom had told me that my neighbor had sent an email out explaining how someone had broken into her son's car and stolen his radio and sound system. She sent a warning out as well as asking for any information regarding the situation. At the time I was glad to have gotten away safely, so I didn't tell my mom anything. I decided to keep silent which I knew was the wrong choice, but I had no interest in getting more involved. I feel situations like these are more prevalent among Americans where they choose not to speak up. If someone had broken into my car, I would hope that someone would have enough courage to tell me what they had seen. After this experience I now realize how difficult it is to stand up and do the right thing; however, if America expects to move forward as a society, people need to make an effort to help one another as much as possible.

Picture Citation:

"Car Thief" Blog. Web. 7 Oct. 2010
http://readinguponthejones.blogspot.com/

Positive Bystanders in Extreme Makeover Home Edition

There are many reasons why bystanders fail to act in emergency situations. This reasoning is called the Bystander Effect, which causes people to assume that other bystanders are more qualified to help, and that their assistance would be unneeded. But there are those who do step out of their comfort zone in order to help. We all know of the inspiring reality hit television show Extreme Makeover:Home Edition that rebuilds deserving families' homes in less than a week, and changes the lives of families by bringing the community together. While I was flipping through the channels, I came across this very emotional episode in which the Extreme Makeover Team rebuilt a house for siblings who returned home after the death of their parents to care for their six adopted siblings with Down syndrome. Unable to have any children of their own, loving couple Grace and John Lutz gave their hearts to 18 adopted kids in all, including seven with Down syndrome. After the couple passed away, their daughter Kathleen willingly gave up her career and came home to take care of her six siblings with Down syndrome. Soon after, Kathleen unexpectedly had a grand mal seizure and was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. Her brother John Jr stepped in and sacrificed his successful career as a gymnastics coach to move home and care for his sister and other siblings. Although faced with trauma, nothing could dampen the spirits of this cheerful group; however, the crumbling condition of their 40-year-old became a concern. The electrical wires were unsafe, the water leaked, and there was mold and rotting wood everywhere. They needed their home to be a safe and permanent one in order to accommodate their special needs. And that’s exactly what Extreme Makeover: Home Edition helped fix. Instead of Ty Pennington's traditional morning wake up call, he stormed onto a baseball field and announced the news right before the Yankees and New York Mets baseball game. In just five days, the team along with more than 100 volunteers completely demolished the family's old house and built a brand new, cherry-red one in its place. Sporting a new swimming pool and a gigantic skylight, the new house is a huge upgrade for the Lutz family. Because the family would be spending a lot of the time in the house, it was furnished with tons of games and activities, like a giant chess set and jungle gym outside along with a New York theme in a hallway outside the kids' bedrooms, which was made to look like a New York City street. This special family is a local celebrity, and community rallies have taken place to help them in every way. However, because there are certain things that people aren’t qualified to fix, this show provides the hope and the ability that with a little bit of work and a lot of positive support from bystanders, anything can be done.

Citation Information:
"Lutz Family." Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. ABC. 03 Oct. 2010. Television

Lutz Family Photos. Photograph. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. 03 Oct. 2010. Web. 03 Oct. 2010.

Part of the Crowd

Why do so many people do nothing while watching someone else endanger? Or is it that bystanders should morally be objected to step in? Who would want to involve themselves into something that could turn out dangerous for their own life? Or even to just not want to get involved? But with every action are consequences. In November of last year, 2009, I was in the parking lot minding my own business walking to my car. Little did I know from a ninety degree angle there was a car blaring music straight down the parking lot. I, being curious as I usually am, stopped to just watch this naive kid who obviously just got their license, try to pull into a tiny parking spot. While he was pulling into a parking spot, he hit the side of a brand new Honda. Of course what does he do next? He just pulls on out and speeds away from the damage he just caused. I didn't know what to do, I just stood there. Sure I should have said something, but I didn't want to be a "tattle-tell". That kid was so inconsiderate by just zooming on out without leaving a note for what he has done, someone worked hard for that car. But of course me, being the bystander, stood there hopelessly and went on about my everyday daily life. I should have spoke up, but I didn't. I know if that was my car, I would have wanted for someone to leave me a not on my car with the licenses plate number of who caused the damage. But nobody did, and I was a witness who joined the crowd of the silent.

Picture Citation:

"A Parking Lot." Night Drive Through Moscow: View for a Car Window. Web. 3 Oct 2010. http://www.russiablog.org/2007/01/_one_of_the_older.php