Public Secrets by Sharon Daniel and Erik Loyer

     Public Secrets was a piece that I enjoyed reading very much.  One reason I was interested in this so much was because Sharon Daniel put herself into a dangerous position to listen to other women's experiences in the Central California Women's Facility.  The California Department of Corrections had imposed a media ban on all of its facilities which prohibited face-to-face interviews, cameras and recording devices, etc.  The reason we all have access to public secrets was because Sharon Daniel was put into this facility as an advocate to be able to relate to these other women in a more personal matter which would help them open up to her and share their experiences with her about their knowledge on the war of drugs, the criminal justice system, and the prison industrial complex.  

     I consider myself a visual learner and looking at public secrets was a very creative way to present this piece.  I also don't like to read but the fact that I was able to interact with each block and be able to listen to some of the stories instead of read every single one kept me interested in what each women had to say.  Further into my readings, I realized how unfair and cruel the society treats certain people, especially women.  Listening to some of these quotes has made me realize that many innocent people are locked up behind bars for petty crimes while actual criminals are getting away with murders, rapes, and theft.  Being able to actually hear the women's voices gets you involved and in a way you are able to visualize the different points they are trying to explain.  One of the quotes I remember specifically from the piece was when it said, "The trick to public secret is knowing what not to know."  The reason I like this quote so much is because I was able to understand it without reading it twice and I think everyone is able to grasp something different when they read that quote.  I grasp the fact that the quote is telling people to not be oblivious to the world and that there are secrets out there that are being kept from people but there are also secrets that are pubic which need to be addressed.