Helen DeWitt, “Diary of Being Stalked” (London Review of Books, 4153 words)

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Helen DeWitt’s piece “Diary of Being Stalked” gives us an unconventional viewpoint of a woman who is being stalked and how not every stalking case is the same. Her stalker “E” was often too helpful and affectionate, everyday showing up when her lights were on and smothering her with unneeded help. She tells her story beginning in the present,the main points being a flashback and then bringing readers to the present again for the conclusion. She describes her stalker with such ease and as if he were any other person, which really throws off the reader. I would definitely say a thing to steal about this piece is that it definitely could be relatable for stalking victims. Along with that it was an emotionally written piece, but I didn’t sense an intense anger in the writings, she felt almost sympathetic for stalker.

MCJ

The Atlantic The Paranoid Style of American Policing Ta-Nehisi Coates December 30, 2015 (1092 words)

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The topic of this piece focuses on the unnecessary fatal force police officers use against people who are allegedly posing a threat on society. The writer describes a time in their youth when their father was able to easily disengage a fight with one of their brother’s friends. This friend was not always known to be “stable” and sometimes looked for trouble. One day this friend decided to pose a threat by swinging a metal stake around and the writer’s father came out to disengage the young man. The most important note of this piece is that words, not violence were used to de-escalate the situation.