Final Back Story

BY KRISTYNA MURPHY

It’s been more than a week since I’ve been back in the States. I was able to edit and change a few things on my final two projects, such as cutting out the end of the “Who or What Is God?” video and adding Sikh wedding photographs to the slideshow.

Blissful Union

BY KRISTYNA MURPHY

Who or What Is God?

BY KRISTYNA MURPHY

I asked numerous people at St. James Park in London the following question: Who or what do you think is God?

The Final Touches

BY KRISTYNA MURPHY

Right now I am putting the final touches on my two stories. I like the way the video has turned out for “Who or What Is God?,” but the audio could be much better. It’s difficult to hear one or two people’s responses. I wasn’t sure if I should quote them across the bottom or do something more creative. I’ve finally decided that for three of the people, there would be words that come in and then disappear. And the wording would also be in a consistent font and color. I can’t really explain it, but you will see it soon enough.

I am also still waiting to hear back from one of the women in an arranged marriage. I am hoping to get wedding pictures to include in the slideshow. I really don’t want to have to resort to using Google images. I’ll give that a few more days to see if I hear back from either of them.

Who or What Is God?

BY KRISTYNA MURPHY

Two days ago I went to St. James Park and interviewed about 14 people on camera. It took me a while to have the courage to walk up to strangers, but once I spoke with one person, I was eager to talk to more. I asked each person one question: “Who or what [do you think] is God?”

I was mesmerized by what each person had to say. One girl said she believed God was energy. Others were still trying to figure it out. Many didn’t believe in God.

Arranged Marriages

BY KRISTYNA MURPHY

Yesterday we visited a Sikh temple, where Amanda and I met two women—one a Sikh and the other a Hindu. Initially, we weren’t sure what topic we wanted for our story. After about five minutes or so of interviewing, I decided to ask if either of them knew someone who had been in an arranged marriage. They responded with a few glances at each other, followed by laughs. Both are in an arranged marriage. And now we have a story.

Abortion in Ireland

BY KRISTYNA MURPHY

DUBLIN—While abortion causes heated debate among Americans, in Ireland the subject is so sensitive and controversial that it’s nearly unspoken. Speaking to someone who has had an abortion—or is considering one—is difficult. “It’s also something you don’t want anyone else to know. You don’t really talk about it,” said Meghan Doherty, the policy and advocacy officer of the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA). “It’s definitely different from America.”

Irish women experience many fears and anxieties because of the stigma attached to abortion. “It’s always considered to be something that happens to everybody else, but it would never happen to my daughter or it wouldn’t happen to me,” Doherty said.

Le Marais

BY: KRISTYNA MURPHY

Today we walked around Le Marais in Paris, where a gay community exists down the street from a Jewish community. I went with the photography group. Michael Sawyer, a freelance photographer, led the way. We snapped pictures of the two communities, which was difficult without a decent zoom lense. In America, you can take a picture of anyone in a public area. But that law doesn’t exist in Paris. You could tell that many felt uncomfortable having their picture taken. 

Abortion in Ireland: Part Three

BY KRISTYNA MURPHY

Tonight we held our final meeting in Ireland and discussed our stories. I have to say I’m impressed by how well everyone has done with only a week to report in a foreign country. I’m also relieved to have finished the abortion story. Like Elle wrote in her second post, we experienced a bit of Murphy’s Law. Nothing new for me, considering my last name is Murphy and that law has played a major role in my life. But despite not being able to speak directly with someone who experienced an abortion, we were able to use that as a part of our story. In Ireland, abortion is a closed topic. We encountered many closed doors, literally, and dead-ends that symbolically represent the fact that abortion, for the most part, is a closed off topic.

On another note, yesterday I went with part of the group to Belfast, where Alex interviewed Full Court Peace, an organization that combines Catholics and Protestants on one basketball team. I also got to speak with some of the coaches and a player. The story was inspiring, especially after visiting the wall, or peace line, that to this day separates Catholics and Protestants. Religious conflict? I think so.

Abortion in Ireland: Part Two

BY KRISTYNA MURPHY

Elle and I completed our last interviews on Friday. We had no luck finding someone who had had an abortion. And contacting someone within the Catholic Church has proven to be difficult. First, a spokesperson said over the phone that all the information was on their Web site, but I needed to speak directly to a representative of the Catholic Church. After being put on hold and transfered to three other people, I landed a phone interview with a woman from Cura, a charitable organization that provides counseling for those with crisis pregnancies. The problem was that she could only represent Cura and not the Catholic Church. Still, the interview was helpful.