Comparing Patron Saints Of Nothing By Ribay And Bryan Stevenson

1293 Words3 Pages

Combat Prejudice Through Truth Randy Ribay and Bryan Stevenson teach that when individuals take personal risks to pursue truth, they combat injustices brought upon discriminated groups in society. Pursuing the truth is a courageous act that forces us to take personal risks. In “Patron Saints of Nothing”, when Jay confronts his uncle about the true cause of Jun’s death, Tito responds, “‘Why do you ask a question, then, to which you already know the answer?’ I take a deep breath. ‘Is that the truth?’ He looks at me now. His eyes are the thick black clouds that precede a volcanic eruption” (Ribay, 132). The author likens Tito Maning’s feelings to a “volcanic eruption”, implying how Tito Maning has experienced a surge of sudden anger that has spewed …show more content…

“In “True Crimes, The Leila de Lima”, Lima, a politician who was jailed for speaking out against authoritarian leader Duterte, says ‘she has lost her freedom because of vengeance.’ She says it demonstrates how ‘a fragile democracy can be dismantled in the bat of an eye.”’ (McCarthy). Although Lima has pursued the truth by combating a false story largely made by the government, the world around her is the opposite of what a free world should look like. Without a free expression of ideas, there is no acceptance of truthful facts and opinions. By describing Duterte’s motives as being “vengeful”, similarly to how Tito Maning seeks to punish Jay for a desire for the truth, Lima states how Duerte intentionally sought to incarcerate her, describing an intentional desire to punish her for speaking the truth. Her example emphasizes how easily a fragile democracy can quickly transform into an authoritarian regime, a testament to how fragile the expression of truth is. Lima states the importance of confronting injustice, and exemplifies how the erosion of human rights is directly tied to the loss of …show more content…

The juxtaposition of “hope” in a “hopeless place” underscores the overlooked impact that one act of justice can have on those that are suffering. Although situations can often seem hopeless, a tiny act of hope has the power to change the lives of others. Steve Johnson highlights the importance of hope and resilience when fighting for those who are discriminated against, and his belief is that truth will ultimately prevail, even in the most difficult situations. In the TedTalk “Why children of immigrants experience guilt–and strategies to cope” by Sahaj Kohli, Kohli describes the correct method to challenge prejudice against immigrants: “Healthy guilt alerts us to our morality, to the pain and hurt that we might be causing to other people, to the social and cultural standards that we may have crossed” (Kohli, 2:35). Although guilt is often associated with a negative sense of self-discipline after one commits a mistake, healthy guilt is connected to a reorientation of one’s values. In other words, self-reflection allows us to grow and improve next

Open Document