Life's Reactions

For every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction. The following three essays describe people's reactions to various situations and life events. The first essay is written by Judith Ortiz Cofer, a professor of English at the University of Georgia; the second essay is written by Nora Ephron a reporter for the New York Post and senior editor for Esquire. The last essay is written by Eric Schlosser a correspondent for the Atlantic Monthly.

In “The Story of my Body” Cofer depicts growing up first in Puerto Rico and then the United States and describes people’s reaction to her ethnicity and skin color. While growing up everyone around Cofer is categorized and labeled as “blanca“, "prieto” or “negra.” Cofer’s struggles to understand the reaction of why someone would accuse her of being dirty when her skin color was “leche con café” in color. It is interesting that Cofer is attracted to fair skin and blond hair people such as the youngest of the Italian brothers and later Ted. In time, Cofer develops poor self esteem and does not seem to fit in at school, even though she desperately wants to belong and participate. Cofer was short, not much of an athlete and was too often addressed as “shrimp” during PE class. She also refers to herself as “skinny bones” and wishes she could put on weight and miraculously transform herself. After a long year of “maneuvering to be within his periphery vision,” Ted reacts by asking Cofer to the Saturday night dance. Cofer was not permitted to casually date and was concerned about asking for permission to attend the school dance with Ted “the pretty white boy”. Cofer’s mother gently warned her, “You better be ready for disappointment” which initially confused her until Ted called to cancel their date because his father did not want him dating a “spic”. Cofer was concerned about her parent’s reaction to dating Ted, but in fact it was Ted's father’s reaction to her that was surprisingly shocking.

The article on “The Boston Photographs” by Nora Ephron illustrates a woman falling to her death from a burning building and the readers reaction to the photographs. As mentioned, the series of photographs picture a woman, child and fireman on a fire escape that gives way and results in both falling. Fortunately, the child falls on the mother and survives the fall. People’s reactions to the photographs are that of outrage, with claims that the editors were “invading the privacy of death.” However, Ephron takes the position that while the photographs are sensational they are perfect examples of photojournalism; the editors described the photographs as “interesting”, “riveting” and “gripping.” The editors of The Seattle Times received over sixty disapproving letters and calls from readers. The negative responses were led by the “death” factor, had the woman survived the fall the readers reaction would have been very different. Subsequently, editors continue to censor pictures of death because of negative reactions and puritanical views of death. Ephron reminds us that death just like birth is a life event and it is therefore “irresponsible” and “inaccurate” for reporters to censor these pictures. Photographing relatives walking in out of hospitals, morgues and funerals or photographing a mangled car accident grants the victim their privacy but does not accurately report the event or news. The fact that they caused such a reaction from the readers is good photojournalism and more powerful than written journalism.

In the essay by Eric Schlosser titled “What we Eat,” Schlosser describes our reaction to fast food and its effect on our lives. As a result of changing lifestyles and stagnant wages, American’s have reacted by becoming dependent on fast foods. Working mothers have made fast foods a necessity and part of American culture. Fast food has proven to be revolutionary in America, its effects far reaching and a major cause of obesity in our society. Consequently, the need for cheap food has given rise to the McDonald’s phenomenon. McDonald’s is the largest employer, largest real estate holder, and largest purchaser of beef, pork and potatoes and the second largest purchaser of chicken in the nation. American schoolchildren identify and react to Ronald McDonald and “the golden arches are more widely recognized than the Christian cross.” Subsequently, fast food has required “uniformity” and brought about industrialization. As a consequence of efficiency communities, farmers and ranchers are becoming hired hands losing their independence and becoming socially stratified. The fast food industry’s power and influence have changed farming completely. Americans need to react and think about what they eat in an effort to be healthy.

In summary, we all tend to react to actions and events, Cofer later learned that the criteria for her self-worth was to concentrate on being loved and respected by people who recognized her as an individual. In the essay “The Boston Photographs” by Ephron, we know people were outraged by the photographs as we do not want to be confronted with death as it reminds us of our own mortality. Finally, in the essay titled “What We Eat” by Eric Schlosser, we are reminded that unless we react and start eating healthy; fast food franchising will wreck our health and continue to have devastating socioeconomic results.