Like most Americans over the age of 13, I remember 9/11 distinctly. I was in 2nd grade, going to Beverly Gardens elementary school on an air force base located in Dayton, Ohio. We were sitting in class when we were told we had to go home. Our parents had been notified and arrangements were made for every child to go home or somewhere they could be taken care of. Living down the street from the school, I walked, quickly. I had no idea what had happened, but from the way the teachers were acting, I knew it was bad. My mom was home from work early (she and my step dad were in the air force), and when I went to turn on the TV she said, "There's nothing on. The news is on every channel." Of course, being in 2nd grade, I didn't believe her. I soon found her to be telling the truth, every channel was showing the same thing: two planes crashing into the Twin Towers. I didn't understand, but I was scared.
John Updike's account of that day is outstanding. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck rising as he told of what he and his wife were witnessing. The way he explains it in the first paragraph like watching a TV that has perfect reception is a dime. How could you witness something like that without the thought that it was unreal? Something so horrible couldn't possibly be happening right in front of your eyes. The sentence that really caught my attention in that first paragraph was, "it seemed, at that first glance, more curious than horrendous: smoke speckled with bits of paper curled into the cloudless sky, and strange inky rivulets ran down the giant structure's vertically corrugated surface." On TV, you had the choice of turning it off, but for most of the people of New York, it was there in front of them, in plain view, and they had to watch it. Not knowing what to expect, of course they would watch, slowly realizing they were in the midst of a nightmare.
And then it hits them, "we knew we had just witnessed thousands of deaths; we clung to each other as if we ourselves were falling." I can't imagine that feeling, realizing you were in the front seat a Hollywood movie come to life.
Updike goes on to make many good points about freedom in America. While it is a good thing and should never be taken away from anyone, it comes with its risks. You can board any plane you want, get on any bus, walk down any sidewalk, but there is always the risk that something bad will happen to you. The plane or bus can crash, and while you're walking someone could come up next to you and hurt you.
I also like Susan Sontag's essay. She was very straightforward with what she had to say. Right off the bat she said that while some say the men that caused 9/11 were cowards she highly disagreed. She also felt that the politicians were lying to us, they kept saying the United States was fine, when quite frankly, it wasn't.
The paragraph that really caught my attention from Sontag's essay was the conclusion. She makes point after point after point. The strongest point of this paragraph for me is, "lets by all means grieve together. But let's not be stupid together." She is so right! It's alright for any group of people to be said together, help each other up again, but there is a line. Don't lie to make the others around you feel better. I'd rather know the truth and what needs to happen than a lie to make me feel better at the time.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
I'm in love alright, with my crazy, beautiful life...
Well hey there beautiful people!
I sat here for awhile pondering where I should begin. What do people want to know about me? What do they already know? But after much thought I figured, it doesn't really matter much what other people want to know so much as what I'm willing to tell.
We'll start at the basics, family and friends! I live with my grandparents, Alexa and Dennis Law, to whom I owe the world. I've lived with them for quite some time because my mom passed away when I was 9 years old. My dad lives close by in Madison and I often visit him, my step mom, and my little sisters. I also have a 11 year old brother, Montez. He lives in Texas with his other grandparents. I have many friends, but my close knit group consists of crazy, funny, caring, smart, gifted people that make me smile and laugh everyday. We constantly find ourselves at Culvers, driving around aimlessly, singing at the top of our lungs, spitting some rhymes, dancing like no one's watching, watching movies, and in awkward situations.
Now for the fun, or rather, hardest part...describing myself. Where do I begin? I talk too loud, smile too big, laugh too hard, sing at the top of my lungs, hum when you're talking to me, dance everywhere, cry over the simplest things, love music, old movies (new too), purple, Batman, summer, eyes, the New Boyz (especially Legacy), Vinny Guadagnino, Chris Brown, Neville Longbottom, Harry Potter (books and movies), musicals, pictures, dancing, reading, smiling, laughing, walking barefoot, watching sports, art, root beer, and life. I'm constantly quoting the New Boyz, the Jersey Shore cast, imagining my life as a musical, and watching movie after movie.
This too, like the beginning, took much thought. I didn't know what was left to say, what more I could tell you about myself, or the people I enjoy spending my time with. I wanted to end with something that everyone could relate to, something that every person has thought about at least once in their life time. And then it hit me, we all have hopes and dreams. While my dreams may not be the same as many other people, this common ground of wanting something more in life can bring us together. I have many dreams, both big and little. I want to travel, have an adventure, meet new people, fall in love, and be happy. I dream about being on Broadway, conducting a symphony, and having a family. Besides the serious I have the typical teenage dreams too. I daydream about making a song with Chris Brown, singing a duet with Frank Sinatra (in digital form, like Elvis and Celine Dion),hanging out with the New Boyz, and being in a movie with Paul Walker, Hayden Christensen, Sandra Bullock, Zoe Saldana, Denzel Washington, Will Smith and many, many more. Who knows, maybe one day all of these dreams will come true.
Don't worry though, I won't forget you when I'm famous. :)
I sat here for awhile pondering where I should begin. What do people want to know about me? What do they already know? But after much thought I figured, it doesn't really matter much what other people want to know so much as what I'm willing to tell.
We'll start at the basics, family and friends! I live with my grandparents, Alexa and Dennis Law, to whom I owe the world. I've lived with them for quite some time because my mom passed away when I was 9 years old. My dad lives close by in Madison and I often visit him, my step mom, and my little sisters. I also have a 11 year old brother, Montez. He lives in Texas with his other grandparents. I have many friends, but my close knit group consists of crazy, funny, caring, smart, gifted people that make me smile and laugh everyday. We constantly find ourselves at Culvers, driving around aimlessly, singing at the top of our lungs, spitting some rhymes, dancing like no one's watching, watching movies, and in awkward situations.
Now for the fun, or rather, hardest part...describing myself. Where do I begin? I talk too loud, smile too big, laugh too hard, sing at the top of my lungs, hum when you're talking to me, dance everywhere, cry over the simplest things, love music, old movies (new too), purple, Batman, summer, eyes, the New Boyz (especially Legacy), Vinny Guadagnino, Chris Brown, Neville Longbottom, Harry Potter (books and movies), musicals, pictures, dancing, reading, smiling, laughing, walking barefoot, watching sports, art, root beer, and life. I'm constantly quoting the New Boyz, the Jersey Shore cast, imagining my life as a musical, and watching movie after movie.
This too, like the beginning, took much thought. I didn't know what was left to say, what more I could tell you about myself, or the people I enjoy spending my time with. I wanted to end with something that everyone could relate to, something that every person has thought about at least once in their life time. And then it hit me, we all have hopes and dreams. While my dreams may not be the same as many other people, this common ground of wanting something more in life can bring us together. I have many dreams, both big and little. I want to travel, have an adventure, meet new people, fall in love, and be happy. I dream about being on Broadway, conducting a symphony, and having a family. Besides the serious I have the typical teenage dreams too. I daydream about making a song with Chris Brown, singing a duet with Frank Sinatra (in digital form, like Elvis and Celine Dion),hanging out with the New Boyz, and being in a movie with Paul Walker, Hayden Christensen, Sandra Bullock, Zoe Saldana, Denzel Washington, Will Smith and many, many more. Who knows, maybe one day all of these dreams will come true.
Don't worry though, I won't forget you when I'm famous. :)
Thursday, March 24, 2011
My Final Farewell To College Lit
Well, it's been fun. This quarter is ending which means so is College Lit. I have to say, I really enjoyed this class, people and all. From Holden in Catcher In The Rye, to Pan's Labrynth it's been a fun time. I'll never forget Cales, "Jane, come hither," the dating do's and don'ts, and of course the great discussions we had everyday.
For my final post I wanted to discuss one of my favorite readings of the quarter. I really enjoyed reading Persepolis. It openned my eyes to a new culture and what normal people go through on a daily basis. This little girl had to grow up watching the people around her and the people she loved, and her country suffer through so much for so long. she went through things that most of us will never experience in our life time. It taught me not to take my freedom for granted. There are so many people that fear walking out their front door, it's time I start doing something more helpful with my life.
For my final post I wanted to discuss one of my favorite readings of the quarter. I really enjoyed reading Persepolis. It openned my eyes to a new culture and what normal people go through on a daily basis. This little girl had to grow up watching the people around her and the people she loved, and her country suffer through so much for so long. she went through things that most of us will never experience in our life time. It taught me not to take my freedom for granted. There are so many people that fear walking out their front door, it's time I start doing something more helpful with my life.
Pan's Labrynth
Well, what can I say? From the weird faun to the creepy child-eating creature, Pan's Labrynth has proven to be a great movie! It's such a good way to depict a child going from small child with an endless amount of dreams to a young child that realizes life isn't always fun and fairytales. Of course, the child finds all of these things out in crazy ways, but then again, it's got to be interesting, right?
So, even though its gory, has had me in tears, and keeps me on my toes, I really like it and am glad Mr. Kunkle is having us watch it!
So, even though its gory, has had me in tears, and keeps me on my toes, I really like it and am glad Mr. Kunkle is having us watch it!
A Final Look At Persepolis
When I first heard we were reading Percepolis I was a little confused. I know I'm the one that collects comic books and should be really familiar with reading this style but honestly, I'm not. When I get a new comic it stays in its plastic forever and goes on a shelf with the others. Yes, I of course admire it for awhile, but I never open them.
Persepolis was a very good read, from the first page on. It was really interesting to read but also see the pictures laid out before me. It really helped to get what the author was saying across. Also, the pictures helped the tensity of the book get down to a lower level. It was a really powerful book in the sense that so many people went through such a hard time for much of their youth through adulthoold, the pictures definitely helped me get through the book better!
Persepolis was a very good read, from the first page on. It was really interesting to read but also see the pictures laid out before me. It really helped to get what the author was saying across. Also, the pictures helped the tensity of the book get down to a lower level. It was a really powerful book in the sense that so many people went through such a hard time for much of their youth through adulthoold, the pictures definitely helped me get through the book better!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Smart House, A Walk To Remember, and Feed
When reading the parts of Feed that take place when Titus is at School^TM I couldn't help but be reminded of Smart House, a Disney Channel original movie. For those of you that don't know what Smart House is, it's a story about a house that has technology that does anything for you. It makes all the food you ask for, decorates your room with live picutres and scenes on your walls, and even cleans up after your messes. The program is called Pat. I made this connection because the Feed does everything for the people that have them. And in the end, they both are not what everyone thought they were.
I also connected this book to A Walk To Remember. These two are similar because they are both based around a love story, and both love stories are unusual in a sense. In A Walk To Remember, Landon and Jamie are from totally different social groups and backgrounds. Landon is the most popular boy in school, while Jamie is made fun of constantly. Similarily in Feed, Titus is very popular while Violet doen't really have any friends. In each story they fall in love with eachother and towards the end something tragic happens to the girls. But you'll have to read Feed or watch (or read) A Walk To Rembemver to find out!
I also connected this book to A Walk To Remember. These two are similar because they are both based around a love story, and both love stories are unusual in a sense. In A Walk To Remember, Landon and Jamie are from totally different social groups and backgrounds. Landon is the most popular boy in school, while Jamie is made fun of constantly. Similarily in Feed, Titus is very popular while Violet doen't really have any friends. In each story they fall in love with eachother and towards the end something tragic happens to the girls. But you'll have to read Feed or watch (or read) A Walk To Rembemver to find out!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wrongs of Passage
1. I do agree with Sydney to some extent, but some ideas I'm not so sure about. I do agree that turning 16, 18, and 21 are important ages, but I don't believe that just turning those ages means you're an adult. There are plenty of 18-year-olds that act as if they were still young children. I do agree though that everyone must go through their own certain steps into adulthood. I don't necessarily agree that it involves a change in their routine, but it absolutely does have to do with changes in a person's life.
2. Well, at this point in my life I'd say a rite of passage I've had so far is my mom dying when I was nine. It was March 10th of 2004. I went through so much in that time period. I watched my mom suffer, I saw the people around me, the adults that were supposed to never let anything bad happen, suffer. The person I was supposed to be able to always count on was no longer there for me to lean on. I felt a responsibilty to grow up for my younger brother, just three at the time. I had to be strong for him. I think I did grow up a lot thoughout the nine months my mom was sick.
2. Well, at this point in my life I'd say a rite of passage I've had so far is my mom dying when I was nine. It was March 10th of 2004. I went through so much in that time period. I watched my mom suffer, I saw the people around me, the adults that were supposed to never let anything bad happen, suffer. The person I was supposed to be able to always count on was no longer there for me to lean on. I felt a responsibilty to grow up for my younger brother, just three at the time. I had to be strong for him. I think I did grow up a lot thoughout the nine months my mom was sick.
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