Speech Comm

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[Today CJ teaches class in a pair of jeans and a man's tshirt that is five sizes too big for her. She looks well rested, but tense.]


201--Speech
Deliver the speeches you've been working on.
**************************************


301--Register and Grief

Ok, gang. Sorry about yesterday. Didn't meant to just cut out on you. This topic is going to be unavoidable, so let's just work with it. How do we talk about grief? Death? Sadness?Everyone copes differently, but what is the register we use to speak to each other? To superiors, such as teachers, counselors, doctors, or clergy? How do euphemisms infulence how we see death? I know we have a lot of different backgrounds in here, would you like to explain death in your culture? We're going to keep this professional people. If you need to leave, do so. I honestly can't deal with this today, so we're going to play normal, all right?

Comments

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

*Elizabeth hesitates as she enters the room, handing across the coffee to CJ*

*thinks for a moment, then leans in and says quietly, mindful of the other students*

Je sais que vous avez obtenu des autres pour parler à, mais j'ai voulu vous permettez de sais juste que si vous avez eu besoin de quelqu'un d'autre... bien, vous savez où je suis.

*takes her seat*


((I know you've got others to talk to, but I just wanted to let you know that if you needed someone else... well, you know where I am.))

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Merci beaucoup, E. I will, I do. [She smiles weakly]

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

*returns the smile, and considers the assignment*

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

[Jack chews on his lip. No one is talking.] I, um, never lost anyone, so I don't know what to do with this.

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

It helps to talk.

Or at least, I've found that it does.

Death is one of the things that can unify you. It cuts across classes and status roles.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Does it really, E.? How does the death of, say, a secretary compare to the death of a political figure such as Lenin?

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

On a smaller scale, yes. A secretary tends to be one of the most involved, and known figures in a group or company, so his or her death can potentially cause an impact.

A political figure is a bit more contraversal, especially one such as Lenin. The cult of Lenin was a fusion of political and religious ritual, inspired by both genuine reverence and a political desire to mobilize the masses around a potent symbol. Zinoviev, Stalin and Trotsky sought to enhance their own credentials and cast aspersions on their rivals by utilizing Lenin, and by quoting from his works, showing how even after his death, he had a great impact on communication in the Soviet Union.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

And do you recall the details of his death? When he was lying in State?

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

*leans back, thinking for a moment*

Lenin died January 21st 1924, aged fifty-three, due to complications from three strokes. He was emalmed and put on display in Red Square. In three days, more than one million people visited to say their farewells.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Now, what does that say about grief and register?

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

It says a lot about the need to express grief.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Could you imagine that some of those milliion visitors were expressing grief, not for Lenin himself, but perhaps for their own loved ones who had died? A projection, a transferance of grief, perhaps? [As she questions Elizabeth, her voice keeps dropping, until she's almost whispering when she mentions projection and transferance.]

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

*starts to nod*

CJ? *places a gentle hand on her arm* Are you okay?

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She smiles weakly] Non....Oui...Je'suis fatigue.

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Voulez-vous que j'aie continué avec le reste de la classe ? Je n'ai pas des objections

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

No, Elizabeth. I need normal. I need routine. Thank you though.

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

*nods, and gently squeezes CJ's arm comfortingly*

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

What does your heart tell you to do with it, Chip?

[wannabelawyer.livejournal.com]

A lot of people won't talk about it. People get hung up sometimes on the idea that showing grief is a sign of weakness. I think, especially when you're dealing with superiors, you end up insisting you're fine because you don't want to appear weak.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

And an outward appearance of weakness to superiors is bad why, Lindsey?

[wannabelawyer.livejournal.com]

You want them to respect you. Nobody respects weakness.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

And can grieving be seen as anything other than weakness, Lindsey?

[wannabelawyer.livejournal.com]

Course it can. You need to grieve. Bottling it all up isn't healthy at all.

Depending on who's making the judgements, being able to show that you are grieving could be a good thing. Shows that you care, and that you're willing to let people know you're not invulnerable.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Good to know you think that, Lindsey. I was afraid you thought I was weak.

[wannabelawyer.livejournal.com]

I would never make that mistake.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Because I could see how it would happen. The sender/message/receiver paradigm is fragile, do you agree?

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

201

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

First speech:

"Representatives of the United Nations. Thank you for allowing me to speak today. As you know, my project, the Displaced Children's Fund, desperately needs money in order to continue relocating, sheltering, and protecting children who have lost their families due to natural disasters or armed conflict. While we receive millions in donations each year, that is barely enough to meet our usual annual operating costs, and in a year like this, with hurricanes and tsunamis on an unexpected rise, it's simply not enough. State and Federal services around the world can't meet the need. It's up to you, as members of our global community, to help protect the most helpless among us. We estimate that $20 million will be enough for this fiscal year to set up shelter and services in the areas classified as most endangered. When these programs are established, no further donations will be required from the U.N. -- the local governments will have the manpower to maintain these services. Please, consider the benefit to the future, and allow these funds to be distributed to our program. Thank you."

Second speech:
"Hey guys. I'm hoping you can donate some money to the project I'm working on, the Displaced Children's Fund. We're trying to get a shelter set up in Pakistan for kids who've been orphaned or separated from their parents temporarily. We've got everything we need but the money to get the supplies and doctors there, so whatever you can give, five dollars, twenty, fifty-- would be great. They really need your help, and the sooner you can donate, the better. I wouldn't ask, except this is an emergency. Let me know if you can help. Thanks."

Re: 201

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Perfect, Parker. Thank you very much.

201

[http://users.livejournal.com/sydney_bristow_/]

Sydney delivers both of her speeches nicely and professionally.

301

[http://users.livejournal.com/sydney_bristow_/]

Sydney comes in and listens to what was going on. It is clear she is not comfortable with this topic.

[absolutesnark]

Piper wanders into class and quietly listens to the discussion. She is unsure of what to say.

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica takes her regular seat next to Piper.

"I never thought I'd have to go through this again," she says quietly.

[absolutesnark]

Piper gave Veronica a sympathetic smile. "I wish you didn't have to."

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

"I mean, I didn't know Kitty, but just the idea of being at another school where someone was killed." She shakes her head and wonders how Lilly is dealing with this.

[absolutesnark]

"I've never had to deal with anything like this before," Piper said somberly.

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

"It doesn't get easier."

201

[wraithbaitjohn.livejournal.com]

*John delivers his speeches. It's obvious that he's not completely comfortable with the first, as the language is a little high-handed and he looks like he's desperately trying not to roll his eyes through it. The second is lighter, and funny and obviously more off the cuff and relaxed. When he's done speaking he sits and half listens, poking listlessly at his laptop.*

201, 301

[dbiers.livejournal.com]

201

When her turn comes up, D'anna delivers a very convincing speech for the politicians on feeding the hungry. Her second is less stellar, maybe B or C level, as she's less sure of how to convince her friends to do the same other actually speaking with them. She takes her seat once finished and listens to the speeches given thereafter.


301

D bites her lower lip as she mulls over her answer. "I think most keep their register as professional as possible so as not to upset others or perhaps themselves, Miss."

[not-an-ex-demon.livejournal.com]

Anya shows up and listens to Professor Cregg's speech.

She knows all to well how to deal with Death on a professional level, but somehow she gets the feeling that the Professor meant something else.

She sits back and listens to the human side of things.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

[not-an-ex-demon.livejournal.com]