The lifeboat, something all struggle to grasp on to as the large world around us sinks. This is a highly accurate description of what the world is now, and it should be treated as such. In this life boat, only the strong can survive, with the poor only being helped if they can sustain themselves with the starting resources given to them. Only then, can they be safe inside the lifeboat as others may sink.
As harsh as it may seem, only those who know "how to fish" may be successful. They provide for themselves and can save themself when trouble presents itself, while maintaining a steady population. As stated, the poor while only increase at a large rate, almost exponentially, thus making it difficult to support them, making the effort of supplying resources to them, futile. These resources given become used up quickly, just so that they may increase their population and need even more resources.
These poor people who make no life of themself when given the neccesary materials to do so, unfortuneatly, should live with only what they are initially given. These resources given out should only be given in times of intense crisis, such as earthquakes, floods, and tsunamis, otherwise, the countries should only recieve an initial supply of resources. No one country should be supported with a steady stream of resources, for they need to learn to supply themselves, one way or another.
The next question presented is the ethics behind this entire ordeal. Yes, this may not be ethically right to watch those who cannot support themselves die slowly, but it is not worth watching us suffer just because they may be too lazy to find a way to support them self. On the other hand though, it is acceptable to save those who absolutely need saving due to things outside of their control. For instance, Haiti needed support due to the earthquake, otherwise, they would get nothing but pity from us. If it is something out of our current worldly powers, then we are obligated to help them, if possible.
Imagine, if you will, the metaphorical lifeboat that dictates how our ethics should be used. If the countries outside the lifeboat are drowning because they have become too lazy to swim and drown, then that is their fault. On the other hand, if they are attacked by a shark, such as a hurricane, then we must help support them until they have had ample time to recover and resupply them self. Only in situations like that, may we be obligated to help those in need, otherwise, they will make and sleep in their own beds, or in this metaphor, will determine if they float or sink.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Great Gatsby Ch. 8-9
(1) "As a matter of fact, he had no such facilities — he had no comfortable family standing behind him, and he was liable at the whim of an impersonal government to be blown anywhere about the world."
(2) "All night the saxophones wailed the hopeless comment of the Beale Street Blues. while a hundred pairs of golden and silver slippers shuffled the shining dust."
(3) "His pride in his son and in his son’s possessions was continually increasing and now he had something to show me."
(4) "Gatsby’s house was still empty when I left — the grass on his lawn had grown as long as mine."
(5) "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."
(2) "All night the saxophones wailed the hopeless comment of the Beale Street Blues. while a hundred pairs of golden and silver slippers shuffled the shining dust."
(3) "His pride in his son and in his son’s possessions was continually increasing and now he had something to show me."
(4) "Gatsby’s house was still empty when I left — the grass on his lawn had grown as long as mine."
(5) "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Commencement Speech at Mount Holyoke College
(Indent) The author's argument that people should give up trying to be perfect and be them self is valid in that no one will achieve perfection. No matter how much one may try, humans are hardwired with imperfections, and always will be. Expecting a human to be perfect is like expecting a tree not to shed its leaves, as long as the tree is healthy it will shed its leaves. The tree will consistently shed its leaves, just as humans will consistently be imperfect.
(Indent) To those in society, the word imperfection has a negative connotation. The reason to this is that humans consistently want to be perfect instead of accepting their imperfections and being them self. This further leads to disappointments, or "black holes." The entire human race is weighed down by these disappointments. Those who do not accept the disappointments are labeled to be narcissistic because they believe that they are perfect. In either sense, narcissism or disappoint, humans are doomed to being imperfect because humans seek to be perfect.
(Indent) Very few understand that it is impossible to be perfect and accept themselves as they are. Those few are the lucky among all people, for they no longer feel the need to satisfy the perfectionist needs of themselves or others and they no longer waste their time in that pointless effort. If all humans were able to do such a task as simply accepting themselves as they are and acting based on their personalities then the human race as a whole will be happier and more peaceful.
(Indent) Unfortunately, just as it is impossible to expect humans to be imperfect, it is impossible to expect all humans to accept their imperfections. Some of those in society are doomed to constantly feel the need to be perfect. Just another thing that needs to be accepted. Some strive to be perfect and others accept imperfection. No matter how much effort is put forth into overcoming this hard wiring in the human brain, it will ultimately be programmed into our very thoughts and souls.
(Indent) In my own experience, perfection was seen and imitated among those close to me. These people were just imitating it though. Perfection is unachievable. No matter how much one chases after it, it will always be unachievable. Chasing after the eradication of this imperfection is the ultimate imperfection. If imperfection was taken from humans, then no longer may we call ourselves human. The word itself denotes imperfection.
(Indent) If one seeks utopia and imperfection, they will never find it. It will be chased after and never found. The only thing a human may seek after is to lift the burden from their shoulders known as perfection. In my life, acceptance of imperfection has been met. Just as this writing has flaws, so does every human. These flaws may be forever sought after, but the idea of perfection will forever be unachievable. In this life, the only thing one can hope for is to be perfectly imperfect, to have flaws and strengths, to have mistakes and successes, to have a sense of being human.
(Indent) To those in society, the word imperfection has a negative connotation. The reason to this is that humans consistently want to be perfect instead of accepting their imperfections and being them self. This further leads to disappointments, or "black holes." The entire human race is weighed down by these disappointments. Those who do not accept the disappointments are labeled to be narcissistic because they believe that they are perfect. In either sense, narcissism or disappoint, humans are doomed to being imperfect because humans seek to be perfect.
(Indent) Very few understand that it is impossible to be perfect and accept themselves as they are. Those few are the lucky among all people, for they no longer feel the need to satisfy the perfectionist needs of themselves or others and they no longer waste their time in that pointless effort. If all humans were able to do such a task as simply accepting themselves as they are and acting based on their personalities then the human race as a whole will be happier and more peaceful.
(Indent) Unfortunately, just as it is impossible to expect humans to be imperfect, it is impossible to expect all humans to accept their imperfections. Some of those in society are doomed to constantly feel the need to be perfect. Just another thing that needs to be accepted. Some strive to be perfect and others accept imperfection. No matter how much effort is put forth into overcoming this hard wiring in the human brain, it will ultimately be programmed into our very thoughts and souls.
(Indent) In my own experience, perfection was seen and imitated among those close to me. These people were just imitating it though. Perfection is unachievable. No matter how much one chases after it, it will always be unachievable. Chasing after the eradication of this imperfection is the ultimate imperfection. If imperfection was taken from humans, then no longer may we call ourselves human. The word itself denotes imperfection.
(Indent) If one seeks utopia and imperfection, they will never find it. It will be chased after and never found. The only thing a human may seek after is to lift the burden from their shoulders known as perfection. In my life, acceptance of imperfection has been met. Just as this writing has flaws, so does every human. These flaws may be forever sought after, but the idea of perfection will forever be unachievable. In this life, the only thing one can hope for is to be perfectly imperfect, to have flaws and strengths, to have mistakes and successes, to have a sense of being human.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The Great Gatsby: Chapters 4-5
(1) “He was balancing himself on the dashboard of his car with that resourcefulness of movement that is so peculiarly American"
In this quote, Fitzgerald argues that Americans are known for their resourcefulness and balance. Instead of simply describing the movement as "American," he uses the word "peculiarly," which limits the type of resourcefulness and balance he used to strictly that of an American. He also places these qualities above other countries in that instead of putting it that Gatsby was resourceful and balancing in the movement, he puts that the movement "is so peculiarly American." The author would not have done so, if he did not believe that Americans were resourceful and balanced.
(2) “Unlike Gatsby and Tom Buchanan, I had no girl whose disembodied face floated along the dark cornices and blinding signs, and so I drew up the girl beside me, tightening my arms.”
With this, Fitzgerald argues that Gatsby and Tom Buchanan had a girl "whose disembodied face floated along the dark cornices and blinding signs." To do so, the author states that "unlike" the two men, he "had no girl" that was similar to their girls. By stating this, he implies that this girl is different from those girls and that she was unique when compared to the other girls. At the same time, the author implies that he did not have a girl, until the second part of the sentence, which exclaims that he simply had the girl next to him. When first reading this, the reader may get a conflicting feel, as if the author had contradicted himself, but when greater examination occurs, the reader will discover that there is a deeper meaning within the text. This deeper meaning is that he does not have a girl like Gatsby or Tom, but has a girl who is unique.
(3) “We both looked at the grass — there was a sharp line where my ragged lawn ended and the darker, well-kept expanse of his began.”
In this quote, the author subtlety uses symbolism to display the class differences between him and Gatsby. The lawns represent the differences in class in that a "sharp line" separates the upper and middle class. The narrator's grass represents the middle class, being described as "ragged." Gatsby's grass, on the other hand, represents the upper class in that it is "darker," "well-kept," and expansive.
(4) “Americans, while occasionally willing to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being peasantry.”
In the selected sentence, Fitzgerald argues that even though there may be exceptions, Americans are typically to stubborn to put themselves below others. In this, the author carefully selects the words, using serf as the first description of what some Americans will put themselves through. In the second description though, he uses the word "peasantry," which, when used, sounds as if it is even further below that of a serf. When the author uses these descriptions for Americans, he argues that Americans are stubborn and proud, and that, with exceptions, most Americans will not put themselves that low.
(5) “No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart.”
In this quote, the author argues that nothing can even stand up to a man's emotional heart. He uses the terms "fire" and "freshness" to represent that "no amount of" power or emotion can challenge the potential of a man's heart. When the author uses the word "ghostly," he is describing the heart in two different ways, transparent and mysterious. The author also uses the verb "will" instead of can, which states that it is inevitable that a man will have something stored within his heart. By using these double meanings and selectiveness of words, the author argues that a man's heart is powerful and mysterious.
In this quote, Fitzgerald argues that Americans are known for their resourcefulness and balance. Instead of simply describing the movement as "American," he uses the word "peculiarly," which limits the type of resourcefulness and balance he used to strictly that of an American. He also places these qualities above other countries in that instead of putting it that Gatsby was resourceful and balancing in the movement, he puts that the movement "is so peculiarly American." The author would not have done so, if he did not believe that Americans were resourceful and balanced.
(2) “Unlike Gatsby and Tom Buchanan, I had no girl whose disembodied face floated along the dark cornices and blinding signs, and so I drew up the girl beside me, tightening my arms.”
With this, Fitzgerald argues that Gatsby and Tom Buchanan had a girl "whose disembodied face floated along the dark cornices and blinding signs." To do so, the author states that "unlike" the two men, he "had no girl" that was similar to their girls. By stating this, he implies that this girl is different from those girls and that she was unique when compared to the other girls. At the same time, the author implies that he did not have a girl, until the second part of the sentence, which exclaims that he simply had the girl next to him. When first reading this, the reader may get a conflicting feel, as if the author had contradicted himself, but when greater examination occurs, the reader will discover that there is a deeper meaning within the text. This deeper meaning is that he does not have a girl like Gatsby or Tom, but has a girl who is unique.
(3) “We both looked at the grass — there was a sharp line where my ragged lawn ended and the darker, well-kept expanse of his began.”
In this quote, the author subtlety uses symbolism to display the class differences between him and Gatsby. The lawns represent the differences in class in that a "sharp line" separates the upper and middle class. The narrator's grass represents the middle class, being described as "ragged." Gatsby's grass, on the other hand, represents the upper class in that it is "darker," "well-kept," and expansive.
(4) “Americans, while occasionally willing to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being peasantry.”
In the selected sentence, Fitzgerald argues that even though there may be exceptions, Americans are typically to stubborn to put themselves below others. In this, the author carefully selects the words, using serf as the first description of what some Americans will put themselves through. In the second description though, he uses the word "peasantry," which, when used, sounds as if it is even further below that of a serf. When the author uses these descriptions for Americans, he argues that Americans are stubborn and proud, and that, with exceptions, most Americans will not put themselves that low.
(5) “No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart.”
In this quote, the author argues that nothing can even stand up to a man's emotional heart. He uses the terms "fire" and "freshness" to represent that "no amount of" power or emotion can challenge the potential of a man's heart. When the author uses the word "ghostly," he is describing the heart in two different ways, transparent and mysterious. The author also uses the verb "will" instead of can, which states that it is inevitable that a man will have something stored within his heart. By using these double meanings and selectiveness of words, the author argues that a man's heart is powerful and mysterious.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Let Teenagers Try Adulthood
Leon Botstein is right when he argues of how "the American high school is obsolete and should be abolished." High school is just as Leon presents it, the hierarchy is simply based on popularity, athleticism, and looks. In the real world, things may be based on those qualities, but not as severely as they are in high school. In high school, the sports teams have the attention of the entire school and community surrounding it, while those who are unable to participate in events such as sports, or use their time in more academic ways, must watch as those who spend their time with sports acquire the attention. In the future though, those who spent their time on their school work end up successful while those who are popular such as the high school quarterback, may have to reconsider their plans in life and attain jobs which they dislike, due to their lack of education. While this popularity chain may exist, their is exceptions to it, as this is a generalization to what may happen.
Botstein is also correct in that, things that happen in high school do not necessarily happen in the real life. In example, during high school, work and activities are separated, such as Botstein points out, by age, which does not and will not occur in the workplace environment. Also, in high school, one is typically allowed to choose who they may work with on assignments and projects, while in the real life, adults typically have to work with a mixture of those who they like and dislike. With an unsuccessful assignment or project, one may have a scolding by a teacher and be allowed to, in certain scenarios, turn in the work late, which eliminates the maintenance of deadline. In the workplace, however, if a deadline is not met, it is not taken from your grade, it is taken from your paycheck or can possibly even cost the job.
Entering the work environment at an earlier age is ideal in that it helps prepare the young adult for the life ahead of them. It helps the teenager understand and better grasp responsibility rather than exposing them to another two years of relaxed responsibility in the missed deadlines. An earlier age of learning will also help the teenager with becoming social, in that the "outsiders" mentioned in Botstein's work, may not be pushed even farther outside what they accept as society in high school. The young adults will also sooner realize that college is simply different from high school in that the people teaching and running it were also considered "outsiders" at one point within their education. This understanding is better in college than high school in that some teachers in high school are coaches, who were once the star quarterback or basketball player, drawing attention to the sports teams yet again, rather than the education of the students. It is with this, that students may not reach their full potential for knowledge. In conclusion, parts of high school should be eliminated, as they provide distraction from education and may keep society from advancing further down the line, supporting the saying that "The children are our future," but extending it to those who were once children and are still the future, the teenagers.
Botstein is also correct in that, things that happen in high school do not necessarily happen in the real life. In example, during high school, work and activities are separated, such as Botstein points out, by age, which does not and will not occur in the workplace environment. Also, in high school, one is typically allowed to choose who they may work with on assignments and projects, while in the real life, adults typically have to work with a mixture of those who they like and dislike. With an unsuccessful assignment or project, one may have a scolding by a teacher and be allowed to, in certain scenarios, turn in the work late, which eliminates the maintenance of deadline. In the workplace, however, if a deadline is not met, it is not taken from your grade, it is taken from your paycheck or can possibly even cost the job.
Entering the work environment at an earlier age is ideal in that it helps prepare the young adult for the life ahead of them. It helps the teenager understand and better grasp responsibility rather than exposing them to another two years of relaxed responsibility in the missed deadlines. An earlier age of learning will also help the teenager with becoming social, in that the "outsiders" mentioned in Botstein's work, may not be pushed even farther outside what they accept as society in high school. The young adults will also sooner realize that college is simply different from high school in that the people teaching and running it were also considered "outsiders" at one point within their education. This understanding is better in college than high school in that some teachers in high school are coaches, who were once the star quarterback or basketball player, drawing attention to the sports teams yet again, rather than the education of the students. It is with this, that students may not reach their full potential for knowledge. In conclusion, parts of high school should be eliminated, as they provide distraction from education and may keep society from advancing further down the line, supporting the saying that "The children are our future," but extending it to those who were once children and are still the future, the teenagers.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
The Great Gatsby Chapters 1-3 week 1.2
Quote 1 and Response "And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer."
In this quote the author argues through a metaphor that life was beginning again, both for him and nature. The author uses the changing of seasons to symbolise the change in his life. He expresses that it was "familiar" and that it was "beginning over again," displaying that he had experienced changes such as this before and that they occurred quickly such as they do in movies. He also argues that they happened in "great bursts" to show that they occurred in groupings instead of a steady line, and by using the word"great, he argues that not only are the changes immense, but significant also.
Quote 2 "The lawn started at the beach and ran toward the front door for a quarter of a mile, jumping over sun-dials and brick walks and burning gardens — finally when it reached the house drifting up the side in bright vines as though from the momentum of its run."
Within this quote, the author personifies the grass to argue that it has a mind of it's own and works in harmony with items around it. He furthers the personification by stating that it had "momentum" in the way it moved from the beach to the house, and that just as a runner has "momentum" and finds it difficult to stop suddenly, so does the grass. He also states the grass jumps, as if the grass is flowing from one spot to another with a gap in the middle, almost as similar to jumping. By personifying this, he argues that the grass has a mind of it's own and that it can think and move.
Quote 3: "She was in the middle thirties, and faintly stout, but she carried her surplus flesh sensuously as some women can."
With this, the author arguess that even though she is older, and slightly unattractive, she carries herself and has a presence as if she was beautiful and young. He also states that some women, have that ability to carry themselves that way, even though they may not fit the description of a beautiful woman. The author furthers her unattractive quality by stating that her flesh was "surplus," a word typically used for other things, and not for describing a woman.
Quote 4: " I wanted to get out and walk southward toward the park through the soft twilight, but each time I tried to go I became entangled in some wild, strident argument which pulled me back, as if with ropes, into my chair."
In this quote, he argues that a force pulls him back, such as an argument may tempt him back into speaking, or coming back. He further describes this argument by describing it as if it tied him down, and was purposely keeping him from progressing forward. In this, he simply is able to try, but is entangled by the "wild" argument that kept him from walking. In this, he feels strapped or tied onto a chair, even though he is not.
In this quote the author argues through a metaphor that life was beginning again, both for him and nature. The author uses the changing of seasons to symbolise the change in his life. He expresses that it was "familiar" and that it was "beginning over again," displaying that he had experienced changes such as this before and that they occurred quickly such as they do in movies. He also argues that they happened in "great bursts" to show that they occurred in groupings instead of a steady line, and by using the word"great, he argues that not only are the changes immense, but significant also.
Quote 2 "The lawn started at the beach and ran toward the front door for a quarter of a mile, jumping over sun-dials and brick walks and burning gardens — finally when it reached the house drifting up the side in bright vines as though from the momentum of its run."
Within this quote, the author personifies the grass to argue that it has a mind of it's own and works in harmony with items around it. He furthers the personification by stating that it had "momentum" in the way it moved from the beach to the house, and that just as a runner has "momentum" and finds it difficult to stop suddenly, so does the grass. He also states the grass jumps, as if the grass is flowing from one spot to another with a gap in the middle, almost as similar to jumping. By personifying this, he argues that the grass has a mind of it's own and that it can think and move.
Quote 3: "She was in the middle thirties, and faintly stout, but she carried her surplus flesh sensuously as some women can."
With this, the author arguess that even though she is older, and slightly unattractive, she carries herself and has a presence as if she was beautiful and young. He also states that some women, have that ability to carry themselves that way, even though they may not fit the description of a beautiful woman. The author furthers her unattractive quality by stating that her flesh was "surplus," a word typically used for other things, and not for describing a woman.
Quote 4: " I wanted to get out and walk southward toward the park through the soft twilight, but each time I tried to go I became entangled in some wild, strident argument which pulled me back, as if with ropes, into my chair."
In this quote, he argues that a force pulls him back, such as an argument may tempt him back into speaking, or coming back. He further describes this argument by describing it as if it tied him down, and was purposely keeping him from progressing forward. In this, he simply is able to try, but is entangled by the "wild" argument that kept him from walking. In this, he feels strapped or tied onto a chair, even though he is not.
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