OUTRAGE… AND THE MODERN WORLD CONTINUED: WEEK XI
October 27th, 2:00
Reading Dr. Sandridge’s synopsis of The Normal Heart, I had a number of inklings. Living in New York City, I already believe that the inhabitants are hard-headed, rude, and dismissive. Therefore, it was no surprise that Ned Weeks was outraged, for people in these conceited streets disregard the pressing issues, from homelessness to homophobia.

- Reading this book, I instantly realized the similarities between Ida B. Wells and Ned Weeks, starting with their leadership efforts. Both called attention to the need of reform within their communities. Weeks wanted more conversations happening, hoping that were centered on this life-threatening disease that was affecting his own gay community and New York City. His outrage was the opposite, yet a symbol, of the silence that had taken over the dismissive people. Weeks could not wrap his around the fact that a thing such as AIDS was killing people from the inside out and people were silent! Similarly, Ida B. Wells was one of those individuals. She watched in agony as her fellow blacks, both criminals and innocents, were getting lynched by Southern whites at alarming rates. However, she could not stay quiet for long, calling for reform in the racist South! Another key trait that I noticed in both Ida B. Wells and Weeks is that they are one of the first to call out against these topics. Lynching had been tolerated by both the citizens and government of the United States. Still, Wells broke the mold by publishing the Southern Horrors, a pamphlet that would create the conversation that the nation needed to have. In the same token, Weeks attempted to bring awareness to AIDS, a disease that people were underestimating. Moreover, to even identify as a homosexual was an act of bravery and leadership within the time period that this book is set in. Homosexuality was a fairly new concept and not as widely accepted. Despite this fact, Ned Weeks was open about both his sexuality and morality. He not only compares well with Ida B. Wells, but also with Lysistrata. Ned Weeks, as a leader, shares many leadership behaviors with this defiant woman of ancient Greece. The first similarity is that both characters rally others in their call. True leadership consists of not only one leader, but a strong support system behind that individual. Moreover, both Lysistrata and Ned Weeks shame those who are not speaking out! While Lysistrata urges the women to be more concerned with their husbands’ fighting in the war, Weeks urges the gay community to get more involved in the fighting off of this disease! It is so interesting how all leaders are somehow connected either directly or indirectly!
- Ned Weeks calls out bad behavior. This is a statement that everyone should be able to agree on, for this is what the foundation of his plan was! Weeks wanted people to recognize what they were doing wrong and he was going to be the one to tell them. Still, the effectiveness of his censure is not what he imagined it to be. Since Ned is very passionate of this topic, he becomes a bit angry. A leader who is feared is not always respected. When consumed by this passion, which is molded into anger, he disregards others’ emotions, thus being selfish. If he was aware of this bad leadership trait, his effectiveness as a leader would see a better impact on the people he is trying to convince!
- Ned’s motives as a leader are very simple. After discovering that this is a sexually transmitted disease, his motivation is that AIDS will cease to exist once his community ceases to have sex. In addition, Weeks just wants the gay community to be safe, a motive that gets overshadowed by his outrage and distress. The motives hindered his leadership because it involved analyzing and finding a solution to something that the world has never dealt with before. It was overwhelming, which caused Weeks’ leadership behaviors to not be so up to par.
- I would classify Bruce and Ben as the evil twins, or alternatives, to Ned’s leadership. Though he is also gay, Bruce is not as forthright in this cause such as Ned. Ned is defiant, demanding, and raw when expressing what he wants. Bruce, on the other hand, is much more passive in this fight, leading me to believe that he does not want to be associated with the homosexuals since it was a taboo. Still, he didn’t want to seem like he was doing nothing at all. Moreover, Ben is the worst of them all. Though he understands his brother’s frustration and gives legal help through his firm, he refers to homosexuality as being “sick.” He is not sympathetic of the gay community, a society that his brother cares deeply about. As a leader, you must take everyone’s feelings into account and not disregard them.
- I believe the first requisite to true leadership is supporting those who need it. Dr. Emma Brookner exhibits this by assuring Ned that she is with him every step of the way, offering knowledge and possible solutions to this epidemic that he is extremely concerned about. He has so much menos in him and this doctor activates it because she is invested in the cause and its solution just as much as he is. Secondly, Athena gave Telemachus specific steps in order to conquer like his father, such as mending former connections and asserting dominance. Likewise, Brookner tells Weeks that the most plausible solution, at the moment, is to get the gay community to stop having sex. She personally examines Ned then instructs him to help raise awareness surrounding AIDS.
“Leadership is not about you; it’s about investing in the growth of others.”
— Ken Blanchard
October 29th, 15:00
As shown below, class discussion today was centered on Ned Weeks, those he encountered, and individuals he never met, yet shares similarities with. I also learned new words and concepts about certain kinds of people that I never expected to learn in this class!
stoic: composure; a person who keeps composure
equanimity: equalness/balance of spirit
There’s things you can control & things you can’t. For stoics, the list of things you can’t control is very long.
For a stoic, feelings over all the things you can’t control are non-existent.
Don’t get attached to things that were never in your control to begin with.
Wisdom consists of recognizing all of the things you can’t control!
Southern Horrors, The Normal Heart
- Both Ida B. Wells and Ned Weeks call attention to the need for reforms!
- Their topics are devastating (lynchings, AIDS).
- They’re uncompromising in their work and attempts to leadership.
- Both of them do not spare feelings in the process. Due to the magnitude of their topics, being empathetic allows them to focus on the things that matter most, including reforming their communities for the better!
Lysistrata
- Both Lysistrata and Ned Weeks rally others in their calls.
- They shame others in order for them to implement that sense of shame, hoping that this will wake up people.
- There’s a sex strike! Sex is a pressing issue in both situations. In Lysistrata’s situation, she wants the women to restrain from sex with their husbands in order for them to stop fighting in the war. With Weeks, having sex can mean the demise of the whole gay community.
- Both of their sexualities are unusual and uncommon. Ned has sexual issues.
- They are both catalyzed by outrage.
- The leaders themselves are outsiders (apart of an “out-group”).
Philoctetes
- Philoctetes is to his bow like the gay community is to sex. It is what makes them them.
- Both are dehumanized.
The following is what causes someone to dehumanize another being.
- Having hurt someone
- Seeing someone be harmed/hurt
- Feeling disgust
- Being in power over someone
- Regarding someone as part of an “out-group”
Promiscuity was the pathway of true love, not a barrier to true love. This is Mickey’s ideology and he believed that it was going to rule the world.
“I’ve spent 15 years of my life fighting for our right to make love whenever, wherever. You’re telling me what being gay stood for is wrong and that I’m a murderer.”
— Mickey
There’s a thing called AIDS that is propagating. Meanwhile, Ben, Ned’s brother, believes that homosexuality is a “sick” thing, an illness. This is basically his version of saying “all lives matter.”
One final connection that is made between ancient Greece and The Normal Heart is that Bruce is beautiful, which is part of the reason why he was chosen to lead the organization made by himself, Ned, and other friends. Another leader that captivated people with his beauty was Cyrus, an individual who was a perfect being to the eye, such as Bruce.
October 30th, 18:00
Five leadership behaviors that I constantly refer back to during the readings and in my daily life are speaking publicly about an issue people should care about, encouraging and inspiring others, and honoring, praising, and recognizing the achievements of others. Two others that involve more manifesting of self than others are calling out bad behavior and managing your emotional states and responses.
Three contemporary issues that I feel are worthy of outrage are police brutality upon African-Americans, poverty, and the government’s stance on abortion laws.
I feel as if outrage would help me cultivate these leadership behaviors because it is such a catalyst to change. However, outrage is not accepted by many. Some would only listen to the tone of my voice and not the depth of my words or actions! Using outrage constructively as a leader involves showing people that you care about their lives and not how the outcome will only benefit you.
You don’t grow with anger. You grow with love.
