The Flare Magazine KI LG O RE C O LLE G E
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SPRING 2016
F E AT U R E S
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Fear of the Unknown
editorial by Elijah Banks; photography by Richard Nguyen
This I Believe
editorial by Sam Rodriguez; photography by Tina Marie Reed
International Attraction portfolio by Tina Marie Reed
Mind Over Money
editorial by Richard Nguyen; photography by Tina Marie Reed
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Get on Board editorial by Kayla Terrazas;
photography by Tina Marie Reed
Au Naturale editorial by Lucia Lopez;
photography by Richard Nguyen
Body of Work editorial and photography by
Meaghan Morton
White Privilege editorial by Alex Bridges;
photography by Tina Marie Reed
Photo Gallery photography by photography
portraiture class
Photographers: Meaghan Morton, Richard Nguyen, Tina Marie Reed. Writers: Elijah Banks, Alex Bridges, Lucia Lopez, Meaghan Morton, Richard Nguyen, Sam Rodriguez, Kayla Terrazas. Ad Managers............Leah Bryce, Hunter Lohr Photography Adviser.............O. Rufus Lovett Editorial Adviser.....................Rachel Stallard Design Adviser....................Jamie Maldanado Printed by Hudson Graphics, Inc. Longview, Texas
The Flare Magazine 1100 Broadway Kilgore, Texas 75662 kc_flare@yahoo.com www.theflareonline.com Š 2016 by Kilgore College Flare
DISCLAIMER: Staff positions are held by Kilgore College communications students. Comments and views expressed in The Flare Magazine reflect the thoughts of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or opinions of other students, staff members, faculty members, administrative officers or the Board of Trustees.
Cover photograph by Tina Marie Reed • Endsheet photographs by Richard Nguyen
Clowns • Being afraid of the dark because I can’t see anything • Failing at my goals and being a disappointment. • being alone •
My biggest fear in life is not being able to have children • Failing,
disappointing my parents • That everything I’ve worked and lived for will have been in vain • Losing my mom •
not knowing what the future holds for me • Heights • To
fail in life • That one day I’ll wake up and feel that I’ve wasted my life • junebugs • Death • going hungry • Being blind • That
the people I love will decide to stop loving me • My biggest fear in life is
that I won’t be able to help the ones I love when they need me most, that I’ll either not be present or worse yet I will fail in the moment of truth • Losing my parents • To
not be successful
•
Not achieve my goals • Not being able to pursue my dreams in life as a result of the economy failing in America • Being a failure to my children • Losing another child • Nothing • Flying insects • My biggest fear in life is not seeing a positive change in humanity’s acceptance of one another • Feeling alone • My family passing away • Not
succeeding • My biggest fear in life is not being successful • That I will not live long
Failure
enough to see my grandchildren • Snakes • Spiders or something to happen to my little one • Failing at something I’m passionate about. • That
I
Not going to heaven • Losing the ones I love and trust
will let my family down • Losing the ones I care about most • • My parents passing • Not being able
to provide my kids with a good life so they don’t have to struggle the way I have • Drowning • Not getting through nursing school to provide for my kids •
Losing my children • Cancer • To be truly alone • Not
achieving my goals • Liberalism destroying America • Being homeless • Losing my loved ones • Not moving forward • Dying • Loneliness • Living in oblivion, not living out my dreams. Being fearful to take chances • Being
unsuccessful financially • Death by fire • To never make an impact in society • Confrontation • Not
being accepted by guys • Financially cutting it close the rest of my life and losing my love • None, because my God is with me and I have faith in him • My Not reaching my dreams • Fear •
biggest fear in life is not being faithful to God •
Not knowing • Losing the people I love • Aging • Public speaking •
Ending up alone • Failing a test/class, being late • That I will fail to become the person I know I can be • Something happen to my kids • Losing the ones I love • Loss of family member • MY BIGGEST FEAR IN MY LIFE
Losing my daughter to an unnatural cause due to a high increase of racism towards biracial children. • Losing my kids. • Going to Hell IS TO DIE •
My mom dying •
After compiling a list of fears from 114 students on campus, we realized we are all scared of something. What that something comes down to is the fear of the unknown, or not having a place. Maybe we are not used to something or someone new in our environment. We shouldn’t be scared of change but learn from it. Our mission for this magazine is to teach, and help people understand what they do not understand and why they fear. The Flare Magazine • 1
Fear of the unkn
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nown
Story by Elijah Banks Photograph by Richard Nguyen
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ear is not uncommon in people’s lives. Everyone has feared, or still fears, something. But the most relatable fear among people is fear of the unknown. The reason why this is the biggest fear is because people like to be prepared for any situation that comes their way. Being prepared for those situations keeps you in control and keeps you in the know. But when you don’t know what’s coming your way it is out of your hands which opens the door to fear. An example of this fear could be worrying about meeting a deadline, stressing over how things are going to happen in the future, or even worrying about what you are going to wear for a job or school. Worrying is associated with fear, and that is why in the Bible Matthew 6:31 says, “So do not start worrying: ‘Where will my food come from? Or my drink? Or my clothes?” It also continues to address worrying in verse 34. “Therefore take no thought for tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has trouble of its own.” Whenever you look into the future it can paralyze you with fear; and the sad thing is people don’t understand that tomorrow is not promised. So why not focus on today and enjoy every minute you do have? Worrying about the future is not the only form of fearing the unknown — another part connected to it is fearing what you don’t understand or what is different from you. This fear drives people to commit foolish acts. When people don’t understand something it goes back to what I mentioned previously when I said some people prefer to know everything in order to stay in control. The problem is, no one will ever be able to understand everything because no one else is Jesus; so the things we don’t understand tend to get people labeled an outcast or misfit. Another problem with fearing the things we don’t understand is that we don’t try to understand it. This is why racism took place in the past and even in the present. It is understandable that some people are unapologetically cruel, but the thing that pushes them to that point, although they won’t admit it, is fear! And it does not necessarily have anything to do with race or color; anything that is considered different is frowned upon. When you’re different it puts a target on you and makes you prey to the fearful ones. If people took the liberty of getting to know an individual or understanding them, they wouldn’t have to deal with fear. Instead of making someone a victim it is better to give them an ear and a voice. That way they can open up to you. Not only can it be a help to them, it can also be a service for you as well. Although fear of the unknown can be consuming, there is a solution. The first step of getting over the fear is by admitting that fear is present. The most important step is faith in God. -30The Flare Magazine • 3
‘This I Believe’ 4 • The Flare Magazine
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Story by Sam Rodriguez Photographs by Tina Marie Reed
believe in work ethic. According to Google, it is “the principle that hard work is worthy of reward.” But it is much more than that. To me, work ethic means to have the determination, ambition and stamina it takes to achieve an objective. For the most part, immigrants admire a strong work ethic, mostly out of necessity. I read an article on www.army.mil about a Mexican immigrant named Oscar Vazquez. He was a high school student who wanted nothing more than to enlist in the U.S. Army. However he was unsuccessful in doing so because of his foreign citizenship. Vazquez did not let his foreign credentials keep him from performing as an excellent student. Vazquez’s robotics team defeated collegiate groups from across the country, including MIT, in a robotics competition. He accepted a scholarship from Arizona State University and earned his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. After all his accomplishments, Vazquez still had illegal status. He later returned to Mexico to apply for U.S. residency. His application was denied. After a year in Mexico, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin recommended his waiver be approved. “Out of nowhere I was approved for a visa, a green card, and a social security number,” Vazquez said. He used his newly gained qualifications to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a soldier. As a combat veteran, Vazquez has earned his citizenship. Without his resilient aspiration, he would have never managed half of what he accomplished. His story is an inspiration to me as well as many other immigrants, but it is not the reason I have aspired to maintain an exceptional work ethic. I hold work ethic in high regard because of a strong woman. This woman is an immigrant from Mexico, who came to America with nothing but a child holding her hand. She overcame tough obstacles in order to feed herself and her daughter.
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Eventually, she found a minimum wage job, but worked her way to the top. Now she has a husband, three children, a home and a rewarding life. This woman is my mother. She raised me to believe that hard work and dedication pay off in the long run; although, there are challenges to be faced on the way there. As an immigrant myself, I have been in grueling situations. I was brought to America at the age of two, with nothing but the clothes on my back. Simple tasks such as getting a state issued ID or a job have become nearly impossible. Fortunately, the Dream Act was passed, allowing me temporary citizenship and eligibility to attend college. I may not have reached my goal yet, but I am fighting to get there. I have made it this far on pure willpower, but I am aiming further than what any citizen could ever imagine. Reminding myself of the restrictions my family and other immigrants, such as Oscar Vazquez had, allow me to remain strong and persistent. Sure it would have been easier to be born in America, but I would not be the person I am today if it were not for the disadvantages I have had to confront. If all immigrants had given up on their American dream, America would not exist as we know it. -30-
The Flare Magazine •7
International Attraction
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Photographs by Tina Marie Reed
his body of photographs was inspired by my appreciation for the universality discovered among the international students at KC. The students I photographed in this series were very aware of their cultural backgrounds and wished to hold on to that part of their culture by proudly displaying the traditional apparel of their homelands. Each student was so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this work and I was even more grateful to share these special moments photographically. I fear that our cultural differences will be lost in the chase for acceptance among our peers. I feel that every culture must embrace that which makes them special. It is equally important to love who we are as it is to love others. My greatest hope is to continue to see a positive change in humanity’s acceptance of one another.
“My greatest hope is to continue to see a positive change in humanity’s acceptance of one another.”
The Flare Magazine • 11
Mind over Money Story by Richard Nguyen
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Photographs by Tina Marie Reed
or there to be a solution, there must first be a problem. Let’s start there. The problem that most people think we have today is that there are not enough jobs. When actually, the problem isn’t that we don’t have enough jobs in America. The problem is that we don’t have enough qualified workers for the jobs that need filling. There are more than enough jobs in the market for high paying positions. If that’s what it’s all about. Money. Right? I mean that’s the ultimate goal, right? To work hard and make a lot of money in the process. If that is the goal, then why waste time working at a dead end job blaming another person for not being able to move up in the world. Today’s society does not make the get-richquick scheme seem plausible. It just doesn’t make sense anymore. Things take time and money doesn’t grow on trees. Invest your time in yourself, not in money. Don’t spend your time looking for jobs that make you a lot of money. If that [money] is happiness to you, then sadness is upon the horizon, my friend. Find what you love. Seriously. It sounds cliché, but truer words have never been spoken. Find out what just makes you go bananas and shake the hell out of that tree. The money will follow behind.
This all doesn’t happen overnight though. Not saying it can’t, but it’s not very likely. It’s a process. A process takes time and it’s going to be difficult some days. Then just remember your passion that you have for whatever it is you’re doing, and it will lift you up. It’s not easy pursuing what you love. But if you don’t love the process then you probably don’t love the prize. I promise you that the person you become in the process is more satisfying than the prize itself. Best part about all of this? There’s no time line or schedule. There are people who just know what they are supposed to do in life and do it really well. Then there are people who may never find what their passion is. It’s sad to think that could happen to someone, but it does. Pretty often too. The problem is not that we don’t have enough jobs in America. Jobs are everywhere in America on all levels of entry. continued on page 14
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The problem in America is that we don’t have enough people qualified for the jobs that need filling. Imagine if you could find your passion, pursue it and then make a living off of it. News flash: you can! If you find yourself constantly complaining about your situation and never finding peace in what you do, then you may be in the wrong field. The thing about doing what you love is that you love to do it. It’s not supposed to be hard on you mentally. If you love to do something, it is hard to be bad at it. People are so worried about all of the stuff that goes on around them that they are not able to walk their walk. Change your external thoughts into internal motivations. There is a famous quote by National Football League Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin: “You can’t shine like a diamond unless you’re willing to be cut like one.” Let me tell you something — If you love what you do and work hard at it, there is nothing that can stop you. Society has made us believe that if we are not born on base we can never get home. “No” has been used as a rejecter instead of a motivator. Imagine a world where every time someone was told they couldn’t or they can’t, they didn’t. We are all going to have hard times in our life. We will all struggle, some more than others. The truth is, if you keep letting the world decide your fate you’ll never get the chance to enjoy the life that you built. You cannot use those roadblocks as excuses. Use them as reasons for your success. Let failure and hard times be the fuel to your success train. Do not be afraid to step out in your passion because society is telling you that you can’t. I promise you there will be people who doubt you every step of the way. Here is the reality, though: nobody can doubt greatness. If you are tired of all the negativity and doubt in your life, then go achieve your form of greatness and there will be no room left for that doubt. So there it is. It’s not going to be easy, and it won’t happen overnight. But like the old cliché goes, love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life. -3014 • The Flare Magazine
“You can’t shine like a diamond unless you’re willing to be cut like one.” - Michael Irvin, NFL Hall of Famer
The Flare Magazine • 15
Get on board Story by Kayla Terrazas
Photograph by Tina Marie Reed
The Flare Magazine • 17
Girls Just Want to Have …
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s I have grown older, I have become more aware of issues in the world, and where I stand on their behalf. I have also learned that not everyone can see these problems in the way I do. We all read the same thing in a different way, and we all experience life in an individual manner. I am a feminist. This means I believe in women’s rights, and I also believe that men suffer from gender imprisonment. I chose to be an advocate for this issue. Feminism is defined as: The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. It is the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes. Supporting the issue came naturally to me, though I have learned that others do not share my perception. The word “feminism” has become a difficult one. Why? The word feminism has too often been confused as an insult or a bad word. I can tell you that this is not the case. This is not something to be ashamed of. Feminism is irrelevant to man-hating or believing that women should deserve more than men. It is the true belief that we are all equal - that we all as humans deserve to be treated the same. I am here to help remove the stigma that men are superior to women, to do away with the sense that feminists are trying to belittle men. Politically, I think women should be involved in policies and decisions made on their behalf. I believe I should be able to make decisions about my own body. In 2015, 20 percent of women made up the U.S. Congress, according to the Center For American Women and Politics. Economically, I think we deserve equal pay for equal work. Socially, I think that I should be given the same respect and rights as men. These rights are what I consider to be basic human rights. “We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back,” said Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani activist for female education and the youngestever Nobel Prize laureate. I do not believe that society is allowed to decide what constitutes appropriateness for a gender. We should be evolved enough to rule out things like double standards and the imprisonment of gender stereotypes. Stereotypes instill girls must be perfect in all aspects of life. Boys have to be “macho” to be considered a man. Phrases like: “Boys
want a society that takes men’s rape cases just as seriously as women’s. Each year, 237,863 people are victims of sexual assault in the U.S. One in six victims are women. One in 33 victims are men. We need a society that acknowledges both men and women suffer from domestic abuse and both need help. We need a world that doesn’t teach women to make their main priority marriage; and where men are not threatened by the success of women. There is a lot to learn, and I may not have answered all your questions. I may not have convinced you to join me in ending inequality, but that’s where your responsibility begins to be better informed. In the speech at a special event for the HeForShe campaign at the United Nation Headquarters, Goodwill Ambassador and actress Emma Watson extended an invitation to men to join in. “Gender equality is your issue too.” she said. We need men to advocate for the issue. The other half of the world has to be a part of the conversation if we truly want to affect change in the world. Men should also not be imprisoned by gender norms. Men are subjected to feeling that being sensitive makes them less of a man. They should not have to be seen as aggressive beings. Men are pressured into thinking they must provide for their family. That they must protect their family. If men cannot meet all of these standards then they are shunned and seen as less of themselves. We are not fighting against men. We are fighting for them. Contrary to popular belief, feminists care about men’s issues too. Desmond Tutu, South African social rights activist said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” You may not believe in the word, but that is not what matters here. If you believe in equality, you may be an inadvertent feminist. If you think it is right to be free from gender imprisonment, we may be on the same page – different perspective but same page.
don’t cry;” “You throw like a girl;” “Man up;” or “They only hit you because they like you,” perpetuate the mental and physical expectations society has set upon us. I want a society that doesn’t ask, “What were you wearing?” during cases of rape, as if that gives any indication of consent in the case. I
As Watson added: “We are struggling for a uniting word but the good news is we have a uniting movement. I am inviting you to step forward, to be seen, to speak up, to be the ‘he for she’ and to ask yourself, ‘If not me, who? If not now, when?’”-30-
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FUNdamental Human Rights
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In response to KC students surveyed: Do the same opportunities for personal/professional advancement exist for both men and women? Why or why not? We make our own paths.”
– Tara King
When women are in charge they are looked at as overly aggressive”
- Delandrea Webster
The opportunities are there, but it’s harder in some cases than others to take advantage of those opportunities.” - Jennifer Bassett
Women are increasingly being represented in all facets of business, social, and political contexts. We are moving toward an era where merit, not gender, is the indicator of success.”
– Petar Badzic
Because no matter what gender you are, as long as you have the determination and the motivation to work hard at those opportunities, you can surpass anything that comes your way. Your life. Your body. Your chance.”
They exist, but not necessarily as easily obtainable for women.”
- Brandy Lachney
It depends on the people involved and the choices they make. Personal responsibility is a BIG factor.” – John Hartley
– Daelon Welling
There is no law governing what jobs people of different biological genders are allowed to perform.”
Men still have the upper hand. Take a look at a few businesses and see how many men are managers then take a look and see how many women are employees. Employers take men more seriously and already have a high standard of them.”
- Bridget Verderber
- Thomas Druschke
The Flare Magazine • 19
Au Naturale
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our years ago, I witnessed someone with an abundance of energy, exuberance and joy transform into a person who was drained and suffered with chronic pain every second of her life. Can you imagine the feeling of knowing that a simple hug could cause someone so much physical pain? It is never easy seeing someone go through a chronic illness – especially when that person is your own mother. My mom has lived with fibromyalgia for a little over four years. Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness which causes immense pain all over the body. There is no cure for it, and it does not have a specific origin or cause. It took three different doctors to get a diagnosis, given that it is difficult to diagnose. When she was finally told what she had, her doctor immediately gave her muscle relaxants that were used for fibromyalgia. These relaxants only helped her with the pain slightly and had many more negative side effects. Some of these side effects included insomnia and dry eyes, and also caused her feet to peel. The doctor’s solution was to give her sleeping pills. At this point, she was taking four different medications. This cocktail of prescriptions harmed her more than benefited her, and she went through a period of depression. Not knowing what I could do to help my own mom is one of the worst things I have experienced. It broke my heart to see a strong woman like her in such a state – so tough that she had natural births for all four of her children and took it like a champ. Yes, she said her pain at times is worse than giving birth. After a year of this, my mom said enough was enough and decided to take a different approach to better her quality of life. Once she stopped taking the medications she actually felt better, but the chronic pain was still there. She needed something to help, but she refused to keep taking the
Story by Lucia Lopez Photographs by Richard Nguyen
drugs that were making her sicker. She spent a lot of time researching her illness and decided to take a natural route. We have always eaten relatively healthy at home due to my dad’s diabetes, but my mom became much more proactive in buying and preparing natural foods. She also began buying essential oils and made her own blends to use for the pain. For the first time in a long time, I saw her come back to life. I saw a spark that had abandoned her years ago. This led her to frequent The Granary often, a natural foods store in Longview. It was there that an employee suggested she see Donna Bradley, a biofeedback specialist, at Health Unique in Gladewater. Bradley specializes in using natural healing to help with both physical and mental health. She uses a Biofeedback machine to identify different frequencies in the body, which determine any instability, including emotional instability. “The Biofeedback machine is used like when someone takes his or her blood pressure. Checking your blood pressure is a form of Biofeedback,” Bradley said. “Our bodies are frequency and water and when I hook you up to the machine, it scans your body. It’s designed to tell us what’s going on in the body. It picks up all the minerals, vitamins, and the hormones. It looks for parasites, checks all the organs, and even reads the emotions through frequency.” In the course of the interview, Bradley explored some of the benefits of using essential oils and natural remedies as opposed to modern medications.
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“There are no negative side effects,” Bradley said. “Our bodies were not designed to process all these synthetic chemicals in prescription drugs. The oils and herbs are natural. They come from the plants and trees of the earth.” She has been practicing natural health for 12 years and has used essential oils for nine. She was inspired by helping her grandson. “My grandson was seven years old when they put him on ADHD medicine and it was horrible so I set out to find something to help him,” she said. “There was a girl in Gilmer that had a Biofeedback machine. Within six months, she had him off the medication. That’s when I got interested in the machine and natural healing. I bought the Biofeedback machine and the oils just went right along with it.” She also cited instances where an essential oil offered benefits in different ways, such as regulating blood pressure, providing pain relief for cancer patients, and even saving someone from a scar caused by a 3rd degree burn. “My sister’s grandson was playing with a fire and the embers popped up and got stuck in between his sock and shoe,” Bradley said. “We doused him in lavender oil. He has never had a minute’s pain from that burn and he doesn’t have a scar. The lavender regenerated his skin.” One of her students, Antonio Pedrosa, offered insight on the cost of essential oils as opposed to prescription medication and talked about finding a balance in your body. “Medications cost a lot more than using the oils,” Pedrosa said. “When oils are put into your system, your body recognizes them because they’re natural so you don’t need a to use a lot of them. Your body starts taking care of your illness and tells you when you need to stop using them, but it also requests them when they are needed.” Bradley addressed skepticisms that people may have when it comes to alternative medicine and remedies, and explained that this isn’t to discredit doctors who practice modern medicine, but to educate people on natural options. “I would just say you need to try it and offer them some oils,” she said. “I would suggest starting with whatever is affecting them and trying an oil and see how it works for them. We have an oil for that, whatever it is.” -30-
Essential Oils • Melissa Oil (Lemon Balm) – the Holy Grail of essential oils. It can be used for pretty much anything from depression, anxiety, and menstrual problems to stomach problems and nervous system problems. It can also be used to treat infections such as UTIs. • Frankincense – slightly below Melissa Oil but many practical uses such as: pain relief, relaxation, skin imperfections, healthy cellular function, and iy has been known to help with tumors. • Lavender Oil – eases feelings of tension, promotes healthy sleeping, can be used for cooking and as air freshener. It is also great for skin lesions such as burns, cuts, and eczema and dandruff problems. • Peppermint Oil – soothing, helps with nausea, oral hygiene, keeps spiders/rodents away from home, pain reliever, can be used to bring down a fever. • Lemon Oil – allergies, cleanser, digestive problems/ discomfort. • Chamomile Oil – helps treat parasites and insomnia, promotes relaxation, detoxifies the body, good for skin conditions, helps with depression, good for hair, heals wounds • Cinnamon Oil – oral hygiene, healthy immune system, healthy metabolic function, cooking, helps regulate insulin for people with diabetes, anti-inflammatory • Coconut Oil – hair, skin, cooking, oral hygiene, cleaner, deodorant, massage oil, soap, promotes metabolic health; the list goes on • Oregano Oil – healthy immune function, healthy respiratory function, antioxidant, can be used for infections such as gum infection • Melaleuca Oil – Skin irritations, healthy immune system, acne, cleaner, allergies
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Body of work. Body modifications are becoming more present everyday with the proliferation of tattoos, piercings and plastic surgery. In America, about 42 percent of adults have tattoos.
Story and Photographs by Meaghan Morton
The Flare Magazine • 23
My entire life I have changed my body. I have gained weight, lost weight, gotten tattoos, been pierced, dyed my hair various shades of blue, pink and purple and applied makeup to my face. Whether I do this for myself or others is my personal business; but others (and I’m sure tattooed and pierced people have encountered this) always feel the need to comment on what is wrong or what I should do with my very own, God-given body. People have modified their bodies in many ways over thousands of years with tattoos, dyes, paints, piercings and, in more modern times, plastic surgery and other types of implants. Why do we do this? Or a better question, why do people care? The one that always gets me are the older men that comment on how I look. I have a septum piercing so almost every time I go out or I visit my very conservative, Christian family, I hear, “You been rootin’ up the ground with the hogs?” Then they laugh and explain to me for the 50th time an agricultural fact I already know. Yes, I know, I won’t have my septum piercing in forever. I’ve realized that; but why can’t I have fun when I can? Body modifications are not a big deal everybody! Do I need to say it louder for the people in the back? The oldest, physical body, known as the “Ice Man,” lived around the time of 3300 – 3200 B.C. On his skin are the oldest tattoos that have been preserved. These tattoos consist of a black cross, six straight lines on his lower back and parallel lines on his ankles, wrists and a leg. It has been said that the tattoos were over areas of his body that had been worn down and were thought to cure or help with joint pain. While this probably didn’t work, it was thought to be a remedy and not ugly or taboo.
Other cultures have different ideas of what the body should look like. The Bodi tribe in Ethiopia believe that fat is beautiful. For a span of six months, select men from the tribe sit in isolation and eat nothing but a mixture of cow blood and milk. At the end of the ceremony, the man does not win a prize but is looked upon as a hero for the rest of his life within the tribe. In other places, people use rings to make their necks longer for the beauty of it. Every place has a different opinion of beauty and what the body should look like. These traditions and modifications have been going on for many years, so why do we find them scary or different? One of the modifications Americans do find pleasing is plastic surgery, or certain forms of plastic surgery. Women and men both go under the knife. Rhinoplasty (nose job), breast augmentation and liposuction are some of the most popular types of plastic surgery. Before you judge, not all plastic surgeries are for cosmetic reasons. Burn victims, cancer patients and so many others receive plastic surgery for medical reasons and not just beautiful, full lips. And as for tattoos and piercings, they can be used for traditional purposes and aesthetic purposes, as well as to help remember loved ones and other moments in our lives. Bottom line: Be and love yourself. You are you and that is ultimately all you have in this physical world. It’s hard, but you can do it. Take extra time in your day to “treat yo self.” Take a hot shower or bubble bath, have that hot tea to soothe you and read your favorite book. Just please, love yourself. -30The Flare Magazine • 25
White Privilege Story by Alex Bridges / Photograph by Tina Marie Reed
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ome days, I feel discriminated against. And I have a feeling I may offend some by claiming it, but it is an undeniable truth that I am discriminated against in
my life. My father is my “Papa,” my best friend, and a justice on the Texas Fifth Court of Appeals. He attended law school, is an elected official, and makes a decent amount of money to support our family alongside my mother’s teaching career. “So you’re privileged? Wow, I bet you vote against increasing the minimum wage.” My heritage, which has not been genealogically traced, is what I can only assume a combination of English, Scottish and Irish. I burn very easily any time I am outdoors, and I go red in the face when I work out. “White girl problems, huh? Sorry you spilled your Starbucks on your Chaco sandals. Maybe you would be more understood if you learned not to speak with ‘like’ being a buffer between every word.” I can now say that, in my life, I will have been feature twirler at three institutions, KC’s Homecoming Queen, and will most likely earn my associate’s degree with a 4.0 GPA. “I bet you’re pretty. Man, those types of girls don’t have to work for anything. People just hand them things because they’re pretty.” My generation has created a limitation, a box in which we place girls who like things considered popular. They label them as unoriginal. Limitations are placed on every stereotype made and assumed. But if we looked beyond the surface, we would see motive behind each decision made. Everyone has different motivators. My personal drive is my desire to work hard — that creates my true identity. When will we, as a society, understand? It doesn’t matter if your father was a jail-bird or a Rockefeller. Whether you are of African, Asian, Latin, Middle Eastern or European descent. What you look like, how much you weigh, the type of hair you have or the color of your eyes. We are all discriminated against.
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If we could just take a moment and realize that we are all in this together, that no one is safe from the judgments and clichés, then maybe we could truly find that evolution we’ve been hoping for. It seems to be our own culture, the force of people who want to find power in opposition, that pushes us to separate ourselves and divide out into better and worse. At this very moment, our country is on a great precipice as social issues are being handled left and right. From marriage to healthcare, there is a great divide in America cut even deeper by our upcoming presidential election. The efforts of these partisan politics seem to be totally aimed at highlighting our differences instead of uniting us by our similarities. They claim they are the only hope to fix our broken society as they continue to bludgeon it with the Louisville Slugger of our racially, ethically, economically divided background. Is this not what brought so many countries and empires down before us? Are we scared for a future without hate and prejudice, where we no longer have to fight the good fight for equality? A child is not born thinking one race, job, or face shape is superior to another. It is not innate. It is learned. So let us jump off of this ignorant bandwagon and move into a future where all lives matter. Not because some politician wants to rally us behind them for power, but because we desire to be better global citizens. Ralph Waldo Emerson stated in his essay, Self-Reliance, “In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts; they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty.” In each human being, there lies a central desire for happiness, love, and respect. Let’s find this “alienated majesty” that is the uniting tie for the human race. Let’s find that compassion for one another. Let’s find that golden rule for do unto others what you would have them do unto you. Above all, let us see that, in the grand scheme of life, humanity has more similarities than differences. Are we all discriminated against? Yes. Do we all have the power to change this fact? Most definitely. -30-
Do you believe you fall in line with your ethnicity’s stereotype? Strongly agree 7% Agree 40% Disagree 38% Strongly disagree 15% from survey conducted of 114 KC students
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PHOTO GALLERY
T
he selected
photographs include
student work from the KC Photography Portraiture and Photojournalism classes reflecting editorial and other applied portrait assignments.
Cat, Outdoor Portrait – TIFFANY JOHNSON
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Editorial Portrait – PAULIN LIBEBELE
Joey, Editorial Portrait – RICHARD NGUYEN
Veronica, Outdoor Portrait – ALMA CEDILLO
Kilgore Mayor Ronnie Spradlin, Executive Portrait – PAULIN LIBEBELE Trevor, Editorial Fashion – TIFFANI BRANCH The Flare Magazine • 29
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