Ideas in Antiquity Journal #7

Chapter Seven. How (Not) to Be an Advocate for Others in Larry Kramer’s *The Normal Heart*

October 5th, 2020

5:00pm

In this weeks chapter we were asked to “explore what it means to be an advocate for others, how one finds oneself in this role and the complex motivations that go into it.”

I started this weeks Kallion assignments as I usually do, reading the Introduction and listed assignments. After having finished reading “The Normal Heart,” earlier in the day I read over Larry Kramer’s obituary that was linked in the introduction. From reading the obituary, it is obvious that Kramer is a passionate, ground-breaking leader.

October 6th, 2020

12:35pm

Class://

In class today we reviewed what we had read in “The Normal Heart” by Larry Kramer. After going over the reading we discussed how we individually raise awareness in our communities.

Dr.S made a good point of mentioning that “Even babies raise awareness to the problems they face.” This example caught my attention. As a mother to a three year old I am very familiar with small people bringing awareness to their problems, and loudly at that. I then thought about how we are all at one point babies, and as we grow and mature we are expected to bring awareness to our problems more quietly. For example, If I’m having a problem with the laptop I am on now, I don’t throw a tantrum, I schedule an appointment at the genius bar.

Assignments

How do we figure out how other people see us? What are the behaviors and traits of a person who is good at recognizing how others see them?

• I think that we figure out how other people see us by seeing how they respond to us. Someone who is good at recognizing how others see them will have traits that establish that they are self aware, and observant of different situations.

Reflect on three times in your life you’ve chosen to take a chance by speak up about a problem that you feel is a problem with your organization, your community, or the world more generally. How did it go? Were you well-received? Did your speech change anything? To what extent was your speech timely, relevant, clearly, and compelling? Was there any discrepancy between how you felt the speech went and how it was received?

In your opinion how true are the following statements about you?

• I generally have a better sense of right and wrong than those around me. Very True
• I am generally more willing to stand up and fight for what’s right than those around me. More or Less True
• I am as critical of others as I am of myself. Moderately True

Now read The Normal Heart and consider the main character, Ned Weeks’, strengths and weaknesses as someone who speaks up about the AIDS epidemic.

Passage that stood out to me:

October 6th, 2020

8:27pm

Plotting my own Leadership Development

Make a list of the behaviors or character traits that you believe get in the way of Ned Weeks being an effective advocate for the needs of others. Consider whether you agree that these behaviors work against him:

• Ned does not always seem to care about the feelings of others especially when he feels that he is right.
• Ned thinks less of others who don’t fight for causes as strongly as he does.
• Ned expects too much of himself.
• Ned is afraid of being–or seeming–weak. Or, to put it another way, Ned does not seem comfortable with his status as an outsider/gay man.
• Ned cannot work with those he does not respect.
• Ned does not seem to be very aware of how he comes across to other people.

What are the traits and behaviors that can get in the way of you being a better advocate for others? Being someone that is not personable with the group wouldHow many of these traits and behaviors of Ned do you see in yourself? Identify one or two of these traits that you feel you could improve upon and announce either to a group or privately to a trusted friend your intention and your plan to work on these traits. If necessary, ask them to give you advice or at least hold you accountable.

Finally, what have been the issues in life you have cared about most so far and have even advocated for? How did you come to care about these issues? Do you feel satisfied in your advocacy at this point? Are there any decisions you could make right now, in order to become a better advocate or get behind a better cause? Which of the following statements best characterize how you see yourself?

• I believe that I could be a good advocate for a cause but I don’t know what my cause is yet.
• I care deeply about a lot of issues but I find it difficult to advocate for them.
• I feel that I am supporting important causes with all of my talents and energy.
• I don’t feel much like an advocate right now and I don’t have any causes. I’m still working on me.

October 8, 2020

12:31pm

In class today we discussed our names. Surprisingly a name change was something that has been on my mind for a few weeks, so this additional insight into how other people view and own their names was inspiring.

I usually don’t add onto my journals, but I felt as if the conversation we had to day was worth noting.

1. Do you like your name? Have you always liked your name? I do not like my name, I’m named after an Uncle.
2. Does your name sound to you like the name of someone who shows leadership often and well? What does a leadership name need to sound like? I don’t think so, I feel as if the name Lauryn is one that sounds very docilile. I think leadership names need to have a strong meaning or origin.
3. Have you ever gone by a different name, maybe your middle name or a nickname? Did that different name affect your leadership, either how you saw yourself or how you know/imagined how others saw you? I have never gone by a different name.
4. Do you enjoy telling people your name? Not really, I have a hard time pronouncing my name on the spot lol.
5. What would you like people to think of when they hear your name? I don’t think people really think of anything when thinking of my name itself. I think that my name is just a name.
6. Have you ever felt embarrassed, ashamed, or self-conscious about your name? No
7. What is the difference between your first name vs. your full name in terms of leadership? I think that my first name accompanied by my last name sounds more like a leadership name, where as just my first name standing alone sounds faint.
8. If it were customary for everyone to choose their own name once they turned eighteen, what name would you choose?