In the book Extrememly Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer, Oskar is learning how to deal and cope with the loss of his father as well as trying to find the lock for the key he found in his fathers closet in a blue vase. Through out the book, the plot and journey centers around this key. It isn't just a key, its the relationship between oskar and his father thomas jr., its the "supposed"closure for Oskar, and its the reason for the whole book. Finding this lock takes Oskar all around theive boroughs searching for someone whose name began or ended in "Black" because Oskar also found an envelope with the key and that name was written on the back.
As the plot thickens and the book goes on, Oskar has taken us many places in NYC. He's met very different people of all different cultures but none of those people knew the answer, they didn't have the lock or any idea were to find it. By the end of the book, Oskar meets William Black, the ex-husband of Abby who he met earlier on. When Oskar and Mr. Black start talking, the key comes up, his fathers name come up and the so does answer. As it turns out, the key had nothing to do with Oskar or his father. The blue vase in whoch Oksar found the envelope and key really belonged to Mr. Black. About 2 weeks before 9/11, Mr. Black's father died and he wrote a note and letter to his son explaining that there is a key in the vasefor him to open up a safety deposit box int he bank. Mr. Black didn't know about all that so when the time came to get rid of the vase, Thomas, (Oskars father) bought it from him for an anniversary present for his wife. Mr. Black couldn't find Thomas once he realized what happened and had been searching for him through out NYC as well. On page 194, MR. Black and Oskar are having a conversation about finding out the truth.
O:"Looking for it let me stay close to him for a little while longer."
B:"But won't you always be close to him?" I knew the truth.
O:"No."
This quote really shows the undermining of this journey. Oskar really felt connected with his father. He had been having trouble dealing with his passing for over a year and this key let Oskar believe he was still playing those scavener hunt games with his father. In a sense, it gave him closure or sense of security knowing "his father" left it there for him. But now, there's nothing tying his father to Oskar. Nothing like that. Oskar can let go of his father now and i think that's what's bothering and scaring Oskar the most.
Oskar also met with the renter of his grandmothers apartment. (The renter turned out to be his grandfather, Thomas Sr. who left Thomas jr. when he wasn't even born yet. ) The renter and Oskar had arranged to met late one night, the night Oskar found out the truth. The renter questioned Oskar when he arrived late. All Oskar told him was that he found the key. The renter said,
R: "So what's wrong?"
O: "I wish i hadn't."
These two lines don't say much. They clearly show how unhappy and upset Oskar feels. He may even feel a little betrayed. He was doing this alone, so no one was there really to protect him from the harsh truths. I think this quote really shows that Oskar was hurt, he felt i guess lost and confused now. I mean, no one was there to really guide him but, at the same time, the key was sorta his guide. The truth was his goal and the key led him there. The key also represented the relationship between his father and himself. The key was the last tie of that relationship, physically. Once that was gone, Oskar knew it would never be the same, he lost the key, he lost his father-that was Oskar's mind set. He found the truth like he wanted to all along, but in the end, it was a harsh truth that hurt taking in.
I think Jonanthan Safran Foer wrote this book to show that as we grow up, no one is going to be there to "sugar coat" things. Our parents aren't going to stand next us everytime somethin bad happens to hold our hands and tell us it's okay. Sometimes, it's not okay it never will be okay, but we have to keep moving foward, and sometimes we have to do that alone.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
COA-Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
These two quotes "What kind of person am I?" (Page 30) and "Even though I was going through different neighborhoods, I was still me." (Page 58) make me think about the discussions in class about growing up and the different texts we have looked at. In class we talked about how when you're growing up, its easier to be feel confused and lost then when we were younger. We were under our parents and families wings. But as we get older, we make our own decisions, can be easily influenced and become lost or confused. I feel these two quotes talked into that issue about growing up.
"What kind of person am I?" (Page 30)
This quote was taken from around the beginning of the book. The chapter was about how this man wrote a letter to his unborn child, describing how his life was on a downward spiral and then he met the woman of his dreams-the childs' mother and the mans wife. The man became a mute throughout his life. He had lost how to say words and describe how he felt. He was questioning himself because none of his pets knew their names because he couldn't speak.
I think this quote means more then just him being mad about the pets. This quote makes me think about how sometimes in life, we doubt ourselves and who we are. The bigger idea is about doubting who you are inside and being lost without words. And not just lost about words but if you can't speak, and you can't express in words, i think you do lose a part of yourself. Your words are how you let others inside your head, how they can understand you. But if people can't understand you, you start doubting and not understanding yourself. You lose the faith you had in yourself and being who you are. This quote reminds me of the short story we read in class, Am I Blue? The main character, Vincent, was unsure about his sexuality. He doubted if he was straight or gay. And if he was gay, what would he do? He was unsure about his sexuality topic. I think that these two texts help show the struggle of growing up or "coming of age." If we have a small bit of doubt in our mind. If struggles in our lives cause us to doubt ourselves as we mature, we lose faith in ourselves. Our choices and decisions become hazy. We doubt our sexuality, appearance, personality, or even our selves enitrely like in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
"Even though I was going through different neighborhoods, I was still me." (Page 58)
This quote was taken from Oskar. When he was trying to the person who's last name is Black and also knew his father. He is youner than 12 years old and he walking all by himself. He didn't tell his mother or grandmother where he was going or what he was doing. For him, this is between him and "his father."
This quote i think is about staying true to yourself. I mean, he's not just letting the readers know that he hasn't suddenly changed, i wasn't even thinking about that until i read this line. The bigger picture for me was that Oskar was saying that for himself. He doesn't want to lose himself in this journey all over the borough. To me, this is the opposite of the quote above. Oskar was sure of himself, he was still determined. It makes me think hard about the texts we read. In every text, the cahracter or narrator had a struggle. Either with themself or society. Oskar also had his tambourine with him to "remind" himself of who is he. Like if he didn't have something from the apartment or his life, he would lose himself, much like the man above.
I think this proves the point that in most cases, as you become a teenager and grow up, you become easily confused,influenced and lost. You become doubtful and hesitant with your choices in life. But when you're younger, you feel more determined. You want to go somewhere, you march up to daddy or mommy and tell them. And if they don't take you right away, you throw a tantrum. And even if you're not that old, and and you're getting your first few tastes of freedom, (like Oskar) you're still determined. You don't become doubtful or influenced. These two quotes show the difference between growing up and staying young. In the end, I think the message is that as you get older, you lose the determination you once had when you were younger.
"What kind of person am I?" (Page 30)
This quote was taken from around the beginning of the book. The chapter was about how this man wrote a letter to his unborn child, describing how his life was on a downward spiral and then he met the woman of his dreams-the childs' mother and the mans wife. The man became a mute throughout his life. He had lost how to say words and describe how he felt. He was questioning himself because none of his pets knew their names because he couldn't speak.
I think this quote means more then just him being mad about the pets. This quote makes me think about how sometimes in life, we doubt ourselves and who we are. The bigger idea is about doubting who you are inside and being lost without words. And not just lost about words but if you can't speak, and you can't express in words, i think you do lose a part of yourself. Your words are how you let others inside your head, how they can understand you. But if people can't understand you, you start doubting and not understanding yourself. You lose the faith you had in yourself and being who you are. This quote reminds me of the short story we read in class, Am I Blue? The main character, Vincent, was unsure about his sexuality. He doubted if he was straight or gay. And if he was gay, what would he do? He was unsure about his sexuality topic. I think that these two texts help show the struggle of growing up or "coming of age." If we have a small bit of doubt in our mind. If struggles in our lives cause us to doubt ourselves as we mature, we lose faith in ourselves. Our choices and decisions become hazy. We doubt our sexuality, appearance, personality, or even our selves enitrely like in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
"Even though I was going through different neighborhoods, I was still me." (Page 58)
This quote was taken from Oskar. When he was trying to the person who's last name is Black and also knew his father. He is youner than 12 years old and he walking all by himself. He didn't tell his mother or grandmother where he was going or what he was doing. For him, this is between him and "his father."
This quote i think is about staying true to yourself. I mean, he's not just letting the readers know that he hasn't suddenly changed, i wasn't even thinking about that until i read this line. The bigger picture for me was that Oskar was saying that for himself. He doesn't want to lose himself in this journey all over the borough. To me, this is the opposite of the quote above. Oskar was sure of himself, he was still determined. It makes me think hard about the texts we read. In every text, the cahracter or narrator had a struggle. Either with themself or society. Oskar also had his tambourine with him to "remind" himself of who is he. Like if he didn't have something from the apartment or his life, he would lose himself, much like the man above.
I think this proves the point that in most cases, as you become a teenager and grow up, you become easily confused,influenced and lost. You become doubtful and hesitant with your choices in life. But when you're younger, you feel more determined. You want to go somewhere, you march up to daddy or mommy and tell them. And if they don't take you right away, you throw a tantrum. And even if you're not that old, and and you're getting your first few tastes of freedom, (like Oskar) you're still determined. You don't become doubtful or influenced. These two quotes show the difference between growing up and staying young. In the end, I think the message is that as you get older, you lose the determination you once had when you were younger.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Someone to lean on #6
Boulevard of Broken Dreams-Green Day
I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'til then I walk alone
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, aaah-ah,
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah
I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line
Of the edge and where I walk alone
Read between the lines
What's f***ed up when everything's alright
Check my vital signs
To know I'm still alive and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'til then I walk alone
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, aaah-ah
Ah-ah, ah-ah
I walk alone
I walk a...
Instrumental solo
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
When the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'til then I walk alone...
Have you ever had crushed dreams? Or you got your hopes up so high, you were sure you would get what you wanted and then you don't? Imagine how it would it feel if you were lifted up so high, your hopes soaring through the sky, and then reality checks in and suddenly your hopes can barely be lifted off the ground. This song makes me think that it's about loneliness. Of course, loneliness is the idea o the song, hence "i walk alone," but i mean real loneliness. It makes me think that whoever is singing the song, (not the band themselves, but whoever is meant to be their "character") is depressed. They had hopes high and soaring and then when their hopes crashed, so did their life. They became depressed and pushed everyone away. And for a short amount of time, maybe it felt good to be isolated, but then they realized that is a dark and dangerous place inside your mind all alone. Being depressed and isolated isn't the answer, but when they want someone to be there with them, no there, because they were pushed away.
"I walk a lonely road/The only one that I have ever known" Right here, in the lyrics it's mentioned that it's a lonely path they are taking. They are lonely and isolated. But, they've never been happy. All that's ever been known to them is having their hopes shot out of the sky. Always being lonely, not having someone to sit next them , to stand by them, all pushing people away. They grew up on this path and now as they get older, they realize the seclusion and isolation and loneliness most importantly, can not save you. Thinking that, oh time will pass, if i have my lonely time now i'll be better in a couple weeks. No, it only gets worse. It's like drowning. The more you don't try to get your head above water, the deeper you're gonna sink. And you're gonna need someone's help to save you, but your to deep for rescuing and nobody can help you. "My shadow's the only one that walks beside me/My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating" When i hear these lyrics, it makes me think that the person become horrible and mean to anyone around them, even trying to help.That he was so deep in being lonely that when someone reahed out to them to help them, "save them from drowning," they refused the help, pushed them away. And after pushing everyone around you away, who's left to stand by your side? No one. And "My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating" saying that they were so shallow and cold-hearted to other people that the only thing around that's "alive" really, is their heart.
"Check my vital signs/To know I'm still alive and I walk alone" It's like them being sarcastic saying just make sure I'm stil alive check my vitals and so that im alive and can continue on this road. It could also mean the person wanting it to be a dream. Make sure my vitals are all okay and nothings with me, check, make sure it's reality and I'm not dreaming about how lonely i am. How alone i feel an walking the road of life i have to do it solo. I don't have anyone there to help me, to guide me, i pushed everyone away.
Life is the longest road anyone can travel on. Life is also the shortest. No telling when your time is up, how long you'll live. No telling when a tough decision is coming, you can't hide from them. It may seem tough and scary but with someone with you, you know that you always lean on them and they'll always support you. But what if you don't have that support system? Life won't get any easier and eventually you will need someone there to giude you and help you through choices you may think you can decide on your own. But if you mae the wrong choice, it won't affect you now, it'll affect you later. It'll be a constant struggle to want to live. You need someone there to give you motivation, because if they don't, who will?
I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'til then I walk alone
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, aaah-ah,
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah
I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line
Of the edge and where I walk alone
Read between the lines
What's f***ed up when everything's alright
Check my vital signs
To know I'm still alive and I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk alone
I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'til then I walk alone
Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah, aaah-ah
Ah-ah, ah-ah
I walk alone
I walk a...
Instrumental solo
I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
When the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk a...
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'til then I walk alone...
Have you ever had crushed dreams? Or you got your hopes up so high, you were sure you would get what you wanted and then you don't? Imagine how it would it feel if you were lifted up so high, your hopes soaring through the sky, and then reality checks in and suddenly your hopes can barely be lifted off the ground. This song makes me think that it's about loneliness. Of course, loneliness is the idea o the song, hence "i walk alone," but i mean real loneliness. It makes me think that whoever is singing the song, (not the band themselves, but whoever is meant to be their "character") is depressed. They had hopes high and soaring and then when their hopes crashed, so did their life. They became depressed and pushed everyone away. And for a short amount of time, maybe it felt good to be isolated, but then they realized that is a dark and dangerous place inside your mind all alone. Being depressed and isolated isn't the answer, but when they want someone to be there with them, no there, because they were pushed away.
"I walk a lonely road/The only one that I have ever known" Right here, in the lyrics it's mentioned that it's a lonely path they are taking. They are lonely and isolated. But, they've never been happy. All that's ever been known to them is having their hopes shot out of the sky. Always being lonely, not having someone to sit next them , to stand by them, all pushing people away. They grew up on this path and now as they get older, they realize the seclusion and isolation and loneliness most importantly, can not save you. Thinking that, oh time will pass, if i have my lonely time now i'll be better in a couple weeks. No, it only gets worse. It's like drowning. The more you don't try to get your head above water, the deeper you're gonna sink. And you're gonna need someone's help to save you, but your to deep for rescuing and nobody can help you. "My shadow's the only one that walks beside me/My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating" When i hear these lyrics, it makes me think that the person become horrible and mean to anyone around them, even trying to help.That he was so deep in being lonely that when someone reahed out to them to help them, "save them from drowning," they refused the help, pushed them away. And after pushing everyone around you away, who's left to stand by your side? No one. And "My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating" saying that they were so shallow and cold-hearted to other people that the only thing around that's "alive" really, is their heart.
"Check my vital signs/To know I'm still alive and I walk alone" It's like them being sarcastic saying just make sure I'm stil alive check my vitals and so that im alive and can continue on this road. It could also mean the person wanting it to be a dream. Make sure my vitals are all okay and nothings with me, check, make sure it's reality and I'm not dreaming about how lonely i am. How alone i feel an walking the road of life i have to do it solo. I don't have anyone there to help me, to guide me, i pushed everyone away.
Life is the longest road anyone can travel on. Life is also the shortest. No telling when your time is up, how long you'll live. No telling when a tough decision is coming, you can't hide from them. It may seem tough and scary but with someone with you, you know that you always lean on them and they'll always support you. But what if you don't have that support system? Life won't get any easier and eventually you will need someone there to giude you and help you through choices you may think you can decide on your own. But if you mae the wrong choice, it won't affect you now, it'll affect you later. It'll be a constant struggle to want to live. You need someone there to give you motivation, because if they don't, who will?
Friday, April 13, 2012
Hardships #5
Hands Held High-Linkin Park
Turn my mike up louder I got to say something
Light weights step to the side when we come in
Feel it in your chest the syllables get pumping
People on the street they panic and start running
Words on loose leaf sheet complete coming
I jump in my mind and summon the rhyme, I'm dumping
Healing the blind I promise to let the sun in
Sick of the dark ways we march to the drum and
Jump when they tell us that they wanna see jumping
F*** that I wanna see some fists pumping
Risk something, take back what's yours
Say something that you know they might attack you for
Cause I'm sick of being treated like I have before
Like it's stupid standing for what I'm standing for
Like this war's really just a different brand of war
Like it doesn't cater the rich and abandon poor
Like they understand you in the back of the jet
When you can't put gas in your tank
These f***ers are laughing their way to the bank and cashing the check
Asking you to have compassion and have some respect
(Bridge)
For a leader so nervous in an obvious way
Stuttering and mumbling for nightly news to replay
And the rest of the world watching at the end of the day
In their living room laughing like "what did he say?"
(Chorus)Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
In my living room watching but I am not laughing
Cause when it gets tense I know what might happen
World is cold the bold men take action
Have to react or get blown into fractions
Ten years old it's something to see
Another kid my age drug under a jeep
Taken and bound and found later under a tree
I wonder if he had thought the next one could be me
Do you see the soldiers they're out today
They brush the dust with bullet proof vests away
It's ironic at times like this you pray
But a bomb blew the mosque up yesterday
There's bombs in the buses, bikes, roads
Inside your market, your shops, your clothes
My dad he's got a lot of fear I know
But enough pride inside not to let that show
My brother had a book he would hold with pride
A little red cover with a broken spine
On the back, he hand-wrote a quote inside
When the rich wage war it's the poor who die
(Bridge)
Meanwhile, the leader just talks away
Stuttering and mumbling for nightly news to replay
And the rest of the world watching at the end of the day
both scared and angry like "what did he say?"
(Chorus)
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
With hands held high into a sky so blue
As the ocean opens up to swallow you
With hands held high into a sky so blue
As the ocean opens up to swallow you
With hands held high into a sky so blue
As the ocean opens up to swallow you
With hands held high into a sky so blue
As the ocean opens up to swallow you
With hands held high into a sky so blue
As the ocean opens up to swallow you
With hands held high into a sky so blue
As the ocean opens up to swallow you
No one wants that knock on the door. That knock where soliders are standing in your doorway. But you don't know them, all you see is a flag in their arms, and then the news of your lost loved one comes bearing down upon you, as they say their sorrys and leave the flag in your frozen arms. Sometimes, you get a letter first. Whether a letter or soldiers appear at your doorway, nobody is prepared for the news you're about to recieve. Everyone who was heard this song relates it to war. And i think the whole main idea is about war itself. But sometimes, if you just close your eyes and listen to the lyrics, you'll hear lyrics relating to control and money. That's what i think war comes down to. But it doesn't have to be a big war like Afghanistan to be a war. You can be at war with yourself battling addiction,trying to take control of your life or everyday trying to make ends meet financial for you family, or even battling cancer or illnesses that you need money for, but don't have and have no idea where to find some. When i listen, i hear advice to take control of my life, to take it back, but to realize the unequal balance and favoritism towards rich and poor.
"Risk something, take back what's yours/Say something that you know they might attack you for/Cause I'm sick of being treated like I have before" Verses 6-7. These few lines, say so little but have such a immense meaning to them. It's advice to all those who can't "take back what's" theirs, who are to afraid to make a stand against a greater force. Who are afraid that people will think wrong of them, and laugh at what they stand for. Because it's so easy to just stand there and watch. To stand back and obey. Because, who can get in trouble if they're doing nothing wrong, if they don't start a movement and are just a simple pawn. These lyrics scream out to do something. To not let another kid get bullied, another person killed, another life controlled. "Like this war's really just a different brand of war/Like it doesn't cater the rich and abandon poor" Verse 8. It doesn't have to be a actual WAR between the rich and poor. Everyday is a war between them. The constant struggle for poor families to make ends meet for their children. Some soon-to-be mothers deciding that she can't bring another child into the world right now and having an abortion. Not all rich people are mean and ignorant. Most give much of their money to good causes, and do right and just acts to help the poor however they can, but some...It's a horrible thing when they only thing it comes down to in the world is the amount of money you have. A few years ago, i heard someone say to one of their friends that a close friend of theirs had just died from pancreatic cancer. They then continued on to say that Patrick Swayze also had had pancreatic cancer. The difference was the person's friend was told 2 months left to live, he only survived 2 weeks. Patrick Swayze, survived 20 months, almost 2 years. Now maybe their cases were different. Maybe one person was healthier then the other, but what the person said next, does have some truth to it. They said "the more money you have, the longer you live. Because you can pay to have all these expensive sugeries done, but yet us middle class and poor can't afford those and our survival rate is shot outta the sky." I'll never ever forget what that person said. "On the back, he hand-wrote a quote inside/When the rich wage war it's the poor who die" Verse 20. My favorite verse in the whole song. Because, you don't really thimk about it until you hear it. I never thought about it that way. The constant struggles middle class/poor have to face everyday. Trying to scrape enough money together to feed their families. Agreeing to crazy jobs that at any moment, theire life could end. Because it's so true. If the rich and the poor were ever divided in the world and went to war, who would win, the rich.....or the poor?
Nobody wants to think about the struggles that everybody faces. Who wants to think about hunger and devastation and death? If we don't think about it, does that mean its nonexistent in the world? No. No matter how many times we avoid the hardships other people face, its still reality, its THEIR reality. And when you really think about WHY their reality is the way it is, I'm sureee you can figure out that money has played some part-small or enitrely- in their liestyle.
Turn my mike up louder I got to say something
Light weights step to the side when we come in
Feel it in your chest the syllables get pumping
People on the street they panic and start running
Words on loose leaf sheet complete coming
I jump in my mind and summon the rhyme, I'm dumping
Healing the blind I promise to let the sun in
Sick of the dark ways we march to the drum and
Jump when they tell us that they wanna see jumping
F*** that I wanna see some fists pumping
Risk something, take back what's yours
Say something that you know they might attack you for
Cause I'm sick of being treated like I have before
Like it's stupid standing for what I'm standing for
Like this war's really just a different brand of war
Like it doesn't cater the rich and abandon poor
Like they understand you in the back of the jet
When you can't put gas in your tank
These f***ers are laughing their way to the bank and cashing the check
Asking you to have compassion and have some respect
(Bridge)
For a leader so nervous in an obvious way
Stuttering and mumbling for nightly news to replay
And the rest of the world watching at the end of the day
In their living room laughing like "what did he say?"
(Chorus)Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
In my living room watching but I am not laughing
Cause when it gets tense I know what might happen
World is cold the bold men take action
Have to react or get blown into fractions
Ten years old it's something to see
Another kid my age drug under a jeep
Taken and bound and found later under a tree
I wonder if he had thought the next one could be me
Do you see the soldiers they're out today
They brush the dust with bullet proof vests away
It's ironic at times like this you pray
But a bomb blew the mosque up yesterday
There's bombs in the buses, bikes, roads
Inside your market, your shops, your clothes
My dad he's got a lot of fear I know
But enough pride inside not to let that show
My brother had a book he would hold with pride
A little red cover with a broken spine
On the back, he hand-wrote a quote inside
When the rich wage war it's the poor who die
(Bridge)
Meanwhile, the leader just talks away
Stuttering and mumbling for nightly news to replay
And the rest of the world watching at the end of the day
both scared and angry like "what did he say?"
(Chorus)
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
With hands held high into a sky so blue
As the ocean opens up to swallow you
With hands held high into a sky so blue
As the ocean opens up to swallow you
With hands held high into a sky so blue
As the ocean opens up to swallow you
With hands held high into a sky so blue
As the ocean opens up to swallow you
With hands held high into a sky so blue
As the ocean opens up to swallow you
With hands held high into a sky so blue
As the ocean opens up to swallow you
No one wants that knock on the door. That knock where soliders are standing in your doorway. But you don't know them, all you see is a flag in their arms, and then the news of your lost loved one comes bearing down upon you, as they say their sorrys and leave the flag in your frozen arms. Sometimes, you get a letter first. Whether a letter or soldiers appear at your doorway, nobody is prepared for the news you're about to recieve. Everyone who was heard this song relates it to war. And i think the whole main idea is about war itself. But sometimes, if you just close your eyes and listen to the lyrics, you'll hear lyrics relating to control and money. That's what i think war comes down to. But it doesn't have to be a big war like Afghanistan to be a war. You can be at war with yourself battling addiction,trying to take control of your life or everyday trying to make ends meet financial for you family, or even battling cancer or illnesses that you need money for, but don't have and have no idea where to find some. When i listen, i hear advice to take control of my life, to take it back, but to realize the unequal balance and favoritism towards rich and poor.
"Risk something, take back what's yours/Say something that you know they might attack you for/Cause I'm sick of being treated like I have before" Verses 6-7. These few lines, say so little but have such a immense meaning to them. It's advice to all those who can't "take back what's" theirs, who are to afraid to make a stand against a greater force. Who are afraid that people will think wrong of them, and laugh at what they stand for. Because it's so easy to just stand there and watch. To stand back and obey. Because, who can get in trouble if they're doing nothing wrong, if they don't start a movement and are just a simple pawn. These lyrics scream out to do something. To not let another kid get bullied, another person killed, another life controlled. "Like this war's really just a different brand of war/Like it doesn't cater the rich and abandon poor" Verse 8. It doesn't have to be a actual WAR between the rich and poor. Everyday is a war between them. The constant struggle for poor families to make ends meet for their children. Some soon-to-be mothers deciding that she can't bring another child into the world right now and having an abortion. Not all rich people are mean and ignorant. Most give much of their money to good causes, and do right and just acts to help the poor however they can, but some...It's a horrible thing when they only thing it comes down to in the world is the amount of money you have. A few years ago, i heard someone say to one of their friends that a close friend of theirs had just died from pancreatic cancer. They then continued on to say that Patrick Swayze also had had pancreatic cancer. The difference was the person's friend was told 2 months left to live, he only survived 2 weeks. Patrick Swayze, survived 20 months, almost 2 years. Now maybe their cases were different. Maybe one person was healthier then the other, but what the person said next, does have some truth to it. They said "the more money you have, the longer you live. Because you can pay to have all these expensive sugeries done, but yet us middle class and poor can't afford those and our survival rate is shot outta the sky." I'll never ever forget what that person said. "On the back, he hand-wrote a quote inside/When the rich wage war it's the poor who die" Verse 20. My favorite verse in the whole song. Because, you don't really thimk about it until you hear it. I never thought about it that way. The constant struggles middle class/poor have to face everyday. Trying to scrape enough money together to feed their families. Agreeing to crazy jobs that at any moment, theire life could end. Because it's so true. If the rich and the poor were ever divided in the world and went to war, who would win, the rich.....or the poor?
Nobody wants to think about the struggles that everybody faces. Who wants to think about hunger and devastation and death? If we don't think about it, does that mean its nonexistent in the world? No. No matter how many times we avoid the hardships other people face, its still reality, its THEIR reality. And when you really think about WHY their reality is the way it is, I'm sureee you can figure out that money has played some part-small or enitrely- in their liestyle.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Demoralization (#4)
When someone demoralizes you, you are belittled, stripped of your morals, taken off your high perch. When someone demoralizes you, it's mostly for revenge. They feel you have hurt them or even indirectly demoralized them some point in the past. In my book, Hannibal by Thomas Harris, Clarice Starling is demoralized by a higher power of authority-Paul Krendler. Paul had once taken a liking to Claice Starling, and tried to pursue her as something more than a friend. Clarice, realizing the come on, and not feeling the same as Krendler, declined him as politely as she could. But Krendler holds Clarice to that day, he holds it over her career and tries to ruin her whenever he possible can. In the past experiences, Krendler has failed, but this time, rendler succeeded and ruined Starling's career, forever. I think Thomas Harris really wanted to accentuate that even in a work force that works to demonstrate justice in life, people can still demoralize you. Sometimes its better to leave it alone and sometimes its better to fight back against it.
Clarice was really demoralized in this book. She was acting out in true justice and tried to prevent inocent people from getting injured but yet somehow, Krendler turned the tables on her and made it seem like what Clarice did was wrong and injustified. After getting Clarice put on patrol watch, Clarice was still functioning better then Krendler wanted her to. He wanted her to regret every saying no to him. Right there, he seems like a sociopath. He wants to be the Alpha, he doesn't get turned down, he turns down others. Krendler went further on in her career to in the end, getting the higher power to suspend her on the team temporarly. As a FBI cop, the FBI works to keep order within the boundaries given. But if the team cannot see what goes on between co-workers, what happpens right under their noses, how can they see clearly. Krendler worked really hard to get Starling suspended for one reason only. She was smarted then he wanted her to be. She was figuring out that Krendler was going around the law to get more money off the book.
I think this is a big important part in life. Especially when people are in work forces. Some people have to be in control and if they're not, they becom nasty and rude and revengeful. They want you to pay double for what you did to them-w.e. you did or "did". They want to demoralize you in front of your other co-workers. Strip you from your morals, make you seem to be heartless and cold. Thomas Harris wanted to show readers how demoralization affects the human mind, it manipulates the mind to think less of yourself, to second guess yourself, to make you weak. And when you're weak, people can break you down easier. They can create a monster out of nothing, just by demoralizing you and taking advantage of your emotions.
Clarice was really demoralized in this book. She was acting out in true justice and tried to prevent inocent people from getting injured but yet somehow, Krendler turned the tables on her and made it seem like what Clarice did was wrong and injustified. After getting Clarice put on patrol watch, Clarice was still functioning better then Krendler wanted her to. He wanted her to regret every saying no to him. Right there, he seems like a sociopath. He wants to be the Alpha, he doesn't get turned down, he turns down others. Krendler went further on in her career to in the end, getting the higher power to suspend her on the team temporarly. As a FBI cop, the FBI works to keep order within the boundaries given. But if the team cannot see what goes on between co-workers, what happpens right under their noses, how can they see clearly. Krendler worked really hard to get Starling suspended for one reason only. She was smarted then he wanted her to be. She was figuring out that Krendler was going around the law to get more money off the book.
I think this is a big important part in life. Especially when people are in work forces. Some people have to be in control and if they're not, they becom nasty and rude and revengeful. They want you to pay double for what you did to them-w.e. you did or "did". They want to demoralize you in front of your other co-workers. Strip you from your morals, make you seem to be heartless and cold. Thomas Harris wanted to show readers how demoralization affects the human mind, it manipulates the mind to think less of yourself, to second guess yourself, to make you weak. And when you're weak, people can break you down easier. They can create a monster out of nothing, just by demoralizing you and taking advantage of your emotions.
"Suicide" or Hard-Core Murder (#3)
http://www.good.is/post/hug-a-hoodie-what-the-u-k-teaches-us-about-making-a-sweatshirt-a-symbol/
In the article, Hug a Hoodie:What the U.K. Teaches Us About Making A Sweatshit A Symbol by Tim Fernholz, the article mentions the heated debate between citizens/strangers about Trayvon Martin's death. Tim mentions in the article how a tv broadcaster and the U.K. blamed the outfit that Trayvon chose that day as the cause of Trayvon's Death. Many other people were outraged by this accusation, calling it racism and injustice to blame articles of clothing as the cause for someone's death. Tim Fernholz brings up these heated topics in the article about hoodies. Not only to people blame the hooodie, they still do blame Zimmerman, but unlike others, people count the hoodie as well. The article tackles mentions different quotes taken from important people in the world. The quotes voice the opinion of the speaker and how diferent people may have different approach to this topic. While some may want Zimmerman locked up in jail, others also want to make a point to the public speaking out against sweatshirts. How in society today, a common article of clothing can now be blamed for the death of a teen.
Tim Fernholz voices his opinion in the article. At the end of the article, the very last line is; "While it’s easier to demonize a few square feet of cotton than face up to endemic racism and poverty, it doesn’t get us any closer to tackling the real problems." Fernholz mentions this meaning how people in the world can blame a sweatshirt and make the sweatshirt seem like the bad one. But while everyone is pointing fingers at the sweatshirt, we as a society will make no progress on trying to find out the real problems and taking care of them. Fernholz makes a big point in his opinion in the very first paragraph of the article. It states; "Profiling is a dangerous game. Trayvon Martin lost his life in February after George Zimmerman decided the unarmed black 17-year-old in a hooded sweatshirt on a rainy night was a threat." Tim states this as the beginning of the article for a reason. He starts out with his opinion. He is speaking out against stereotypes and how people profile others based simply on appearance.
I am personally outraged by the accusations against the hoodie. I will admit, while it HAS been observed that low-income teenagers do where hoodies, I DO NOT believe that certain races only wear hoodies, or many in one race wear hoodies. I believe that any race has the option to wear hoodies, just as much as the others. But although there migh be more races who wear hoodies than others, people shouldn't stereotype them for that reason. I am nor latino nor black and yet i do wear hoodies. My friends, who are culturally diverse, wear hoodies. Does that make us bad? Does that mean that (god forbid) we can be killed because we are wearing hoodies? Will someone be sent to jail because they wore slip on shoes? If we start basing our justice system upon stereotypical remarks about clothing and crime, our justice will be forever inblanced. I think that Trayvon wearing a hoodie had nothing to do with his death. Maybe Trayvon always wore hoodies, maybe he felt most comfortable in the them. But one night, wearing his favorite hoodie, he was shot dead. It was an unlucky night for him, but he did not lose his life based upon articles of clothing. When people base unlawful actions on articles of clothing (like hoodies), you are stereotyping eveyrone who has ever worn that article of clothing. Everyone has to go through a sweatershirt phase in their life. But if they wear hoodies, does that give people the right to go around and shoot them, and then get off free because of what the victim was wearing? "Oh, he was wearing a hoodie. Okay, that makes your point blank range shot perfectly acceptable." I don't believe that's right, do you?
In the article, Hug a Hoodie:What the U.K. Teaches Us About Making A Sweatshit A Symbol by Tim Fernholz, the article mentions the heated debate between citizens/strangers about Trayvon Martin's death. Tim mentions in the article how a tv broadcaster and the U.K. blamed the outfit that Trayvon chose that day as the cause of Trayvon's Death. Many other people were outraged by this accusation, calling it racism and injustice to blame articles of clothing as the cause for someone's death. Tim Fernholz brings up these heated topics in the article about hoodies. Not only to people blame the hooodie, they still do blame Zimmerman, but unlike others, people count the hoodie as well. The article tackles mentions different quotes taken from important people in the world. The quotes voice the opinion of the speaker and how diferent people may have different approach to this topic. While some may want Zimmerman locked up in jail, others also want to make a point to the public speaking out against sweatshirts. How in society today, a common article of clothing can now be blamed for the death of a teen.
Tim Fernholz voices his opinion in the article. At the end of the article, the very last line is; "While it’s easier to demonize a few square feet of cotton than face up to endemic racism and poverty, it doesn’t get us any closer to tackling the real problems." Fernholz mentions this meaning how people in the world can blame a sweatshirt and make the sweatshirt seem like the bad one. But while everyone is pointing fingers at the sweatshirt, we as a society will make no progress on trying to find out the real problems and taking care of them. Fernholz makes a big point in his opinion in the very first paragraph of the article. It states; "Profiling is a dangerous game. Trayvon Martin lost his life in February after George Zimmerman decided the unarmed black 17-year-old in a hooded sweatshirt on a rainy night was a threat." Tim states this as the beginning of the article for a reason. He starts out with his opinion. He is speaking out against stereotypes and how people profile others based simply on appearance.
I am personally outraged by the accusations against the hoodie. I will admit, while it HAS been observed that low-income teenagers do where hoodies, I DO NOT believe that certain races only wear hoodies, or many in one race wear hoodies. I believe that any race has the option to wear hoodies, just as much as the others. But although there migh be more races who wear hoodies than others, people shouldn't stereotype them for that reason. I am nor latino nor black and yet i do wear hoodies. My friends, who are culturally diverse, wear hoodies. Does that make us bad? Does that mean that (god forbid) we can be killed because we are wearing hoodies? Will someone be sent to jail because they wore slip on shoes? If we start basing our justice system upon stereotypical remarks about clothing and crime, our justice will be forever inblanced. I think that Trayvon wearing a hoodie had nothing to do with his death. Maybe Trayvon always wore hoodies, maybe he felt most comfortable in the them. But one night, wearing his favorite hoodie, he was shot dead. It was an unlucky night for him, but he did not lose his life based upon articles of clothing. When people base unlawful actions on articles of clothing (like hoodies), you are stereotyping eveyrone who has ever worn that article of clothing. Everyone has to go through a sweatershirt phase in their life. But if they wear hoodies, does that give people the right to go around and shoot them, and then get off free because of what the victim was wearing? "Oh, he was wearing a hoodie. Okay, that makes your point blank range shot perfectly acceptable." I don't believe that's right, do you?
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
From Humans to Life Size Toys (#2)
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/opinion/sunday/kristof-where-pimps-peddle-their-goods.html?_r=1&ref=nicholasdkristof#
I just finished reding an article about prositution, specificall online prositution. The article was written by Nicholas Kristof. The article is about how girls are who are usually picked off by guys on the street, are now being sold practically online as well. It's like an auction and whichever pimp can pay more for the girl, she gets sold to them. Nicholas had spoken privately with a former prostitute who escaped after years of torturous rape and abuse. The article was based upon a website that helped sell these poor oung ladies. It's as if they are just toys a collector doesn't want anymore and sells them.
Nicholas makes his opinion known through out the article. He voices his opinion about sex trafficking by saying, "...but it would help to have public pressure on Village Voice Media to stop carrying prostitution advertising." Also when he says "Isn’t it infinitely more insulting to provide a forum for the sale of women and girls?" He definetly shows that he is against sex trafficking. He thinks that people do not help the situation by accepting ads and posting them or practically giving people the option to sell these young girls/women as objects and sex toys. He figures that if a major webpage stops using ads and promoting online prostitution, maybe the pimps will realize that no one cares about prostitution anymore and stop doing that. " Backpage’s exit from prostitution advertising wouldn’t solve the problem, for smaller Web sites would take on some of the ads. But it would be a setback for pimps to lose a major online marketplace."
I think this is a horrible digusting promblem that teenage girls and even young adults have to face in life. Guys don't always understand what girls really go though. Why they take martial arts or carry mace in the handbags. Because some guys are disgusting pigs. As girls approach their teenage years, they want more freedom. They wanna hang with friends, stay out later, start to dress differently. But, as girls, we always have to be on our toes. A guy can come out of no where and seem friendly and nice but he just in the end, wants to use you as a toy. Girls really have to be careful when it comes to dating or walking the neighborhood. Some men have a mindset that girls are not humans and equal to men but are used to sex and can be sold. As girls become young adults, even though we may have more freedom and a social life, to what risk are we willing to go? Nobody should have to be sold for sex and passed around amongst others as a toy. I am outraged by this, but i do realize that this is what happens when you're pretty, teenage girl. Not everyone can see past your appearance and realize that you're actually not a pretty toy but a human being.
I just finished reding an article about prositution, specificall online prositution. The article was written by Nicholas Kristof. The article is about how girls are who are usually picked off by guys on the street, are now being sold practically online as well. It's like an auction and whichever pimp can pay more for the girl, she gets sold to them. Nicholas had spoken privately with a former prostitute who escaped after years of torturous rape and abuse. The article was based upon a website that helped sell these poor oung ladies. It's as if they are just toys a collector doesn't want anymore and sells them.
Nicholas makes his opinion known through out the article. He voices his opinion about sex trafficking by saying, "...but it would help to have public pressure on Village Voice Media to stop carrying prostitution advertising." Also when he says "Isn’t it infinitely more insulting to provide a forum for the sale of women and girls?" He definetly shows that he is against sex trafficking. He thinks that people do not help the situation by accepting ads and posting them or practically giving people the option to sell these young girls/women as objects and sex toys. He figures that if a major webpage stops using ads and promoting online prostitution, maybe the pimps will realize that no one cares about prostitution anymore and stop doing that. " Backpage’s exit from prostitution advertising wouldn’t solve the problem, for smaller Web sites would take on some of the ads. But it would be a setback for pimps to lose a major online marketplace."
I think this is a horrible digusting promblem that teenage girls and even young adults have to face in life. Guys don't always understand what girls really go though. Why they take martial arts or carry mace in the handbags. Because some guys are disgusting pigs. As girls approach their teenage years, they want more freedom. They wanna hang with friends, stay out later, start to dress differently. But, as girls, we always have to be on our toes. A guy can come out of no where and seem friendly and nice but he just in the end, wants to use you as a toy. Girls really have to be careful when it comes to dating or walking the neighborhood. Some men have a mindset that girls are not humans and equal to men but are used to sex and can be sold. As girls become young adults, even though we may have more freedom and a social life, to what risk are we willing to go? Nobody should have to be sold for sex and passed around amongst others as a toy. I am outraged by this, but i do realize that this is what happens when you're pretty, teenage girl. Not everyone can see past your appearance and realize that you're actually not a pretty toy but a human being.
How Thick are You? (#1)
Some people are actors. They don't get payed for being an actor and aren't hired for gigs, but are still acctors. Except we don't call them actors, we call them fakers; fake people; materialistic. They only see things from the outside. Do you have any friends like that? Any people you see that act different in front of people then when they're with you? SPOILER ALERT! In the book The Splendor Falls, by Rosemary Clement-Moore, Shawn Maddox is the apple of the town's eyes. He is the perfect eenager. He has good looks, charm, leadership, friendlyness; he's just all around the perfect guy. But to Rhys and Sylvie, they see right past his charming wall. As it turns out, in the end, Shawn really wanted to control people and things with magic and he wormed his way into everybody's hearts-especially the adults-by being the golden boy, the angel, the good samaritan for anyone/everyone in town. But how long could Shawn keep up the golden boy attitude before someone caught on? Especially who knows stage presence/real personalities.
Rhys knew all along what Shawn was doing. Shawn had tried to rope him into it to but Rhys refused. And Sylvie almost was roped in, but she realized what she was about to do and stopped herself. Shawn was just trying to more trustworthy and loyal in front of the adults in town. Like in a real highschool, sometimes the best behaved, golden boy of everyone's eyes is really just a guy who wants to get in girls pants but charms their way in. I think the author purposely made Sylvie feel attracted to both male characters not because teh plot thickens-which it did- but because it creates two different examples of people in one character. Rhys was portrayed as the down to earth, quiet/outcaste, good looking modest guy and Shawn was portrayed as the golden boy, the trustkeeper, the leader of the graduating class, good looking and semi or entirely rich kind of guy. Two entirely different opposites which made Sylvie have to choose the kind of life she wanted in the future. She had to choose "one path".
Not always can people see through each others fake personality and see the real them. Some people just want to see the good in everyone, and they get used and hurt. I think the author was trying to say that people aren't always who they say they are. Some people are only skin thick/deep. They don't realize that there are actual feelings and emotions to a person besides just looks. Shawn was Edward in The Splendor Falls. Rhys was the Jacob. Some people do see past all the layers of appearance and look with in. Do you?
Rhys knew all along what Shawn was doing. Shawn had tried to rope him into it to but Rhys refused. And Sylvie almost was roped in, but she realized what she was about to do and stopped herself. Shawn was just trying to more trustworthy and loyal in front of the adults in town. Like in a real highschool, sometimes the best behaved, golden boy of everyone's eyes is really just a guy who wants to get in girls pants but charms their way in. I think the author purposely made Sylvie feel attracted to both male characters not because teh plot thickens-which it did- but because it creates two different examples of people in one character. Rhys was portrayed as the down to earth, quiet/outcaste, good looking modest guy and Shawn was portrayed as the golden boy, the trustkeeper, the leader of the graduating class, good looking and semi or entirely rich kind of guy. Two entirely different opposites which made Sylvie have to choose the kind of life she wanted in the future. She had to choose "one path".
Not always can people see through each others fake personality and see the real them. Some people just want to see the good in everyone, and they get used and hurt. I think the author was trying to say that people aren't always who they say they are. Some people are only skin thick/deep. They don't realize that there are actual feelings and emotions to a person besides just looks. Shawn was Edward in The Splendor Falls. Rhys was the Jacob. Some people do see past all the layers of appearance and look with in. Do you?
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Redemption for Yourself
"Well, Clarice, have the lambs stopped screaming?"
Have you ever done something wrong? Or haven't DONE anything at all when you could have? And when another opportunity comes along similar to the last or something huge comes into your life, did you take it? Did you believe that if you righted this wrong, you make up for the last one you didn't do? Did you think you could ty to redeem youself? SPOILER ALERT! In my book, Silence of the Lambs, by Thomas Harris, Dr. Lecter presumes that Clarice is trying so hard to find "Buffalo Bill" so "the lambs" will finally stop crying. The lambs that Dr. Lecter is implying are the lambs from Clarices' childhood. The relatives she lived with for a short period, slaughtered lambs and horses. She ran away with a horse that was on "death row". She awoke that early morning because the lambs were screaming. They knew that they were being killed. She had heard the lambs through out the rest of her life. She wasn't able to save those lambs.
Clarice did stop Buffalo Bill from killing a seventh girl. Clarice was never able to save those lambs and i think that that has haunted her a little through out her life. Dr. Lecter brought up the lambs i think because he realized that these girls Bill was killing were practically getting slaughtered. She pushed or all the details and answers from him because deep down, those girls were teh sceaming lambs. They were the helpless animals who had their life cut to short. I think that Clarice carried this around and wanted to save these girls not just for justice, but because they were like the lambs. She wanted to redeem herself. To prove she couldn't just walk away from these girls as she had done with the lambs. She wanted to prove to whoever that she did care, she felt their pain as their cries rang out. She understood. And after leaving the innocent lambs alone and dead, she couldn't do that agian. She couldn't just walk away from the case and let someone else handle it. Her pride and dignity was connected to this case on a personal and professional level.
When i think of this sentence, i think about how ignorant people are blind to the need of others. But suddenly, when they need help, they can see perfectly. And they see that they ignored all the need from others, ignoring others entirely. But i don't think this sentence is menat that way here. Thomas Harris wrote that line for Dr. Lecter, who cared dearly about Clarice. To Clarice, the lambs were silenced. She felt as though she had redeemed herself. I think that if your always tying to make up what you missed, you'll miss out on opportunities that are waiting for you to turn around and stop looking back. But i still think that redeeming yourself-to your own standards-is good. A weight will lit off your shoulders. Don't let an opportunity go by for you to "save the lambs."
Have you ever done something wrong? Or haven't DONE anything at all when you could have? And when another opportunity comes along similar to the last or something huge comes into your life, did you take it? Did you believe that if you righted this wrong, you make up for the last one you didn't do? Did you think you could ty to redeem youself? SPOILER ALERT! In my book, Silence of the Lambs, by Thomas Harris, Dr. Lecter presumes that Clarice is trying so hard to find "Buffalo Bill" so "the lambs" will finally stop crying. The lambs that Dr. Lecter is implying are the lambs from Clarices' childhood. The relatives she lived with for a short period, slaughtered lambs and horses. She ran away with a horse that was on "death row". She awoke that early morning because the lambs were screaming. They knew that they were being killed. She had heard the lambs through out the rest of her life. She wasn't able to save those lambs.
Clarice did stop Buffalo Bill from killing a seventh girl. Clarice was never able to save those lambs and i think that that has haunted her a little through out her life. Dr. Lecter brought up the lambs i think because he realized that these girls Bill was killing were practically getting slaughtered. She pushed or all the details and answers from him because deep down, those girls were teh sceaming lambs. They were the helpless animals who had their life cut to short. I think that Clarice carried this around and wanted to save these girls not just for justice, but because they were like the lambs. She wanted to redeem herself. To prove she couldn't just walk away from these girls as she had done with the lambs. She wanted to prove to whoever that she did care, she felt their pain as their cries rang out. She understood. And after leaving the innocent lambs alone and dead, she couldn't do that agian. She couldn't just walk away from the case and let someone else handle it. Her pride and dignity was connected to this case on a personal and professional level.
When i think of this sentence, i think about how ignorant people are blind to the need of others. But suddenly, when they need help, they can see perfectly. And they see that they ignored all the need from others, ignoring others entirely. But i don't think this sentence is menat that way here. Thomas Harris wrote that line for Dr. Lecter, who cared dearly about Clarice. To Clarice, the lambs were silenced. She felt as though she had redeemed herself. I think that if your always tying to make up what you missed, you'll miss out on opportunities that are waiting for you to turn around and stop looking back. But i still think that redeeming yourself-to your own standards-is good. A weight will lit off your shoulders. Don't let an opportunity go by for you to "save the lambs."
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Baz Luhrman's Romeo and Juliet
After watching the movie, I had a lot to think about. What I found very interesting about the movie was the way Baz Luherman deicded when to play the music. Almost every scene has music. And I think every scene has different music to go along with the cahracters in that scene or the action/suspense during the scene. I think by having Baz Luherman specifically choose where the music plays in (a) or (the) scene(s) was a symbol for the audience to think deeper in that scene.
When I first noticed this, it was in the very beginning. The prologue actually. After the "newscaster" comes and says the prologue, when all the cahracters are being introdueced. The music is very loud and kind of up beaet. Like, the drums and the singing gets louder as the intro goes on. But when it gets to the end, like right before the "title page" William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the music speeds up and it comes to like one note and then it abruptly stops. I think Baz Luherman did that for the prolouge/intro to show that all these characters have power and importance but when it stops at the end saying ...Romeo and Juliet, it's like saying but all these characters and the storyline are in the balance of these two characters, i.e. Romeo and Juliet.
Then i noticed when Tybalt and Mercutio has started to verbally fight on the beach, in the background, quietly you could hear the rhythm of upbeat music. Like, the music was started like the fight but when Romeo pulled up in teh car, the music that had now subdued from a soft rhythm to a just a louding beat stopped and when Tybalt called Romeo, it was just silence. Again I think Baz Luherman purposely stopped the music in that moment and purposely lead the music up higher and then silence to show that if the audience wasn't paying attention before, they should now because this part is important. Romeo didn't see Tybalt until his name was called. They are from two different sides of power who both cannot stand each other. (Romeo tried reaching out to Tybalt but Tybalt refused.)
And then at the very end of the movie, there was no music. In the death scene specifically. When Romeo first arrived at the church, there was. But all while he was talking, there wasn't. All you heard was his voice. And when he took some of the poison, a slow and low song played until he died. Then there was complete silence while Juliet sobbed and looked around for a way to kill herself. And there especially was no music when she picked up the gun and shot herself. The (2nd) climax of the scene held no music. I think Baz Luherman wanted the audience to really pay attention to what was happening in the scene and to clearly hear everything and not everything with music.
When i think about all the things Baz Luherman purposely did in this movie for a ceratin reason i think about the music. I think that whenever Baz Luherman thought a scene or part was very important for the audience NOT to miss, he played music and then stopped it. He wanted to grab the audiences attention and then deliver the climax in silence for meaning of importance to that specific part.
When I first noticed this, it was in the very beginning. The prologue actually. After the "newscaster" comes and says the prologue, when all the cahracters are being introdueced. The music is very loud and kind of up beaet. Like, the drums and the singing gets louder as the intro goes on. But when it gets to the end, like right before the "title page" William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the music speeds up and it comes to like one note and then it abruptly stops. I think Baz Luherman did that for the prolouge/intro to show that all these characters have power and importance but when it stops at the end saying ...Romeo and Juliet, it's like saying but all these characters and the storyline are in the balance of these two characters, i.e. Romeo and Juliet.
Then i noticed when Tybalt and Mercutio has started to verbally fight on the beach, in the background, quietly you could hear the rhythm of upbeat music. Like, the music was started like the fight but when Romeo pulled up in teh car, the music that had now subdued from a soft rhythm to a just a louding beat stopped and when Tybalt called Romeo, it was just silence. Again I think Baz Luherman purposely stopped the music in that moment and purposely lead the music up higher and then silence to show that if the audience wasn't paying attention before, they should now because this part is important. Romeo didn't see Tybalt until his name was called. They are from two different sides of power who both cannot stand each other. (Romeo tried reaching out to Tybalt but Tybalt refused.)
And then at the very end of the movie, there was no music. In the death scene specifically. When Romeo first arrived at the church, there was. But all while he was talking, there wasn't. All you heard was his voice. And when he took some of the poison, a slow and low song played until he died. Then there was complete silence while Juliet sobbed and looked around for a way to kill herself. And there especially was no music when she picked up the gun and shot herself. The (2nd) climax of the scene held no music. I think Baz Luherman wanted the audience to really pay attention to what was happening in the scene and to clearly hear everything and not everything with music.
When i think about all the things Baz Luherman purposely did in this movie for a ceratin reason i think about the music. I think that whenever Baz Luherman thought a scene or part was very important for the audience NOT to miss, he played music and then stopped it. He wanted to grab the audiences attention and then deliver the climax in silence for meaning of importance to that specific part.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Stubborness-I hate it!
Have you ever been so stubborn with someone you care about? Like, you realllyyy want something from your parents and you beg and debate but you refuse to give up? Or trying to be independent and choose your own choices but someone is there trying to stop you or protect you and you get very stubborn? SPOILER ALERT! In my book Dead Before Dark the protagonist Lucinda Sloan is VERY stubborn. She has always been independent but now with Randy being back in her life-YAY!-and him being VERY protective, they constantly clash. Whenever Lucinda wants to go off on a excursion, Randy wants to come and protect. Lucinda fights that protective wing. I think that being stubborn and also being protected go hand in hand, but if there's no line, no independence, they will constantly feud.
I think Lucinda has always been independent. She's never really had a serious relationship and the only "relationship" she's had that was kind of serious was an affair with Randy years ago. Now, his wife and him split so they are close together again. Point being, Lucinda has never been really dependenton anybody. Not even her good friend Neal. And being sooo independent can bring on stubborness. Lucinda isn't used to having someone care about her the way Randy does. He wants to be the superhero, protect his woman like Spiderman. But Lucinda isn't used to being "smothered." She needs her space. Yeah, chasing a serial killer who wants to in the end kill HER may not be the best choice and of course, anyone who deeply cares about her would do exactly what Randy is. But trying to protect her so much, he's kind of smothering her. I would definetly try to convince her and follow her, but you can only do soo much before the person gets very upset and does something reckless.
As people get older, they can comereckeckles hind.Os till that they are stil are young . Benig stubborn and old ot in Lucinda'ways of helping her out when Randy was trying to protect her. Lucinda has so independent she hasn't been protected like this before. But with her being so stubborn, it doesn't help the situation. What would you if you were Randy or Lucinda?
I think Lucinda has always been independent. She's never really had a serious relationship and the only "relationship" she's had that was kind of serious was an affair with Randy years ago. Now, his wife and him split so they are close together again. Point being, Lucinda has never been really dependenton anybody. Not even her good friend Neal. And being sooo independent can bring on stubborness. Lucinda isn't used to having someone care about her the way Randy does. He wants to be the superhero, protect his woman like Spiderman. But Lucinda isn't used to being "smothered." She needs her space. Yeah, chasing a serial killer who wants to in the end kill HER may not be the best choice and of course, anyone who deeply cares about her would do exactly what Randy is. But trying to protect her so much, he's kind of smothering her. I would definetly try to convince her and follow her, but you can only do soo much before the person gets very upset and does something reckless.
As people get older, they can comereckeckles hind.Os till that they are stil are young . Benig stubborn and old ot in Lucinda'ways of helping her out when Randy was trying to protect her. Lucinda has so independent she hasn't been protected like this before. But with her being so stubborn, it doesn't help the situation. What would you if you were Randy or Lucinda?
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/140005439?high=on&rpp=50&pg=3&rndkey=20120124&ft=*&pos=101
I think this piece is talking about how the people in this world don't take initiative and help out some one without being asked. Like, they aren't the good samaritan and instead of going to help, TAKE INITIATIVE, they stand around and watch, waiting for someone else to do the work for them. I think this piece in one way shows someone protecting the villagers but in another sense, it shows this ONE person, who is willing to stand there and hold their arm up for who knows how long and protect these villagers and no one is doing anything.
If you look at teh picture closely you see that everyone is looking at the person, and looking up at this land/mountains the person is holding up. They've formed like this semi-circle around the person and are just watching. And some are even looking at each other or pointing up at the mountains but i see nobody who looks like they are going to help that one person. They are all watching and looking around, each waiting for something to happen or someone else to make the first move.
I think this relates to our world because a lot of people will jus walk by a homeless person for example and not put money or change in their jar or can or box. But when someone does, everyone looks at them like their weird. A lot of people in the world let other people do the work for them. They let other people risk their lives for someone else and watch when they can help! If no one helped anyone or anything, we would't be here right now. We would have destroyed the world already! But for the people who care enough to take initiative and help out complete strangers or someone they know is a big thing. Just like this person in the picture. Those mountains can fall at anytime. Most people would get out but the one person who definetly wouldn't get out is the one person holding it up. Risking their lives to HELP others.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
All Star Mentor Anouk!!!
http://agranditsreadingblog.blogspot.com/
I nominate Anouk for the All Star Mentor. Every Wednesday when i comment, the first blog i go to is Anouks. I love how she takes such a simple sentence and goes deep into the meaning. Last Wednesday she did a post on the book You Have To Stop This. Cass was given a daily, " To get to the other side joke," and Anouk didn't just see it as a joke, she imagined people as the thing crossing the Nile, which in reality is life. When i read that, i realized Anouk really puts in effort to make sure her thoughts are well put and deep. Anouk always puts in effort and it makes me look at the simple things in my books and try deciphering them on a deeper note. She doesn't make up this obvious theory and drag it out. I love Anouk's posts because they are thought-provoking and logical, she didn't just write down the first thing that came to mind. I read Anouk's posts EVERY Wednesday because we don't always think the same way about something or have the same idea, so it's intruiging to see what Anouk thinks like or about in her books. I choose Anouk as my mentor because she makes it a point to go deep and deep and keeps thinking about the idea, it's not just whatever comes to mind first, bad or good. I choose Anouk because i feel i can learn from her posts.
I nominate Anouk for the All Star Mentor. Every Wednesday when i comment, the first blog i go to is Anouks. I love how she takes such a simple sentence and goes deep into the meaning. Last Wednesday she did a post on the book You Have To Stop This. Cass was given a daily, " To get to the other side joke," and Anouk didn't just see it as a joke, she imagined people as the thing crossing the Nile, which in reality is life. When i read that, i realized Anouk really puts in effort to make sure her thoughts are well put and deep. Anouk always puts in effort and it makes me look at the simple things in my books and try deciphering them on a deeper note. She doesn't make up this obvious theory and drag it out. I love Anouk's posts because they are thought-provoking and logical, she didn't just write down the first thing that came to mind. I read Anouk's posts EVERY Wednesday because we don't always think the same way about something or have the same idea, so it's intruiging to see what Anouk thinks like or about in her books. I choose Anouk as my mentor because she makes it a point to go deep and deep and keeps thinking about the idea, it's not just whatever comes to mind first, bad or good. I choose Anouk because i feel i can learn from her posts.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
FINAL HUNGER GAMES POST-Owing People
How many times to repay someone for a favor they did for you? When are you even? Will you contstnaly keep owing them because nothing is enough? In The Hunger Games, I realized that Suzanne Collins brought up favors or just owing people a lot. So i think, that is book definetly had to do with always owing someone something. Like, no matter what you do, you'll never stop owing the person or people. Katniss seems to have owed or still owes some of the characters through out the book.
I first noticed this whole owing thing in the begginning of the book. On page 42, its mentions about jistory class and always learning about the Capitol. It states, " Except for the weekly lecture on teh history of Panem. It's mostly a lot of blather about what we owe the Capitol." I thinkn Suzanne collins makes a good point. Tome, it really speaks out about how some people just don't let go of things, and no matter what you do to fix things or at least make them better, it doesn't work. No matter what you do, nothing will ever stop you from owing them. Especially, Katniss brings up owing Peeta forever for that bread he gave her when she was starving when she was younger. On page 293, Katniss says to Peeta, "It"s like the bread. How I never seem to get over owing you for that." Katniss mentions this in the begginning of the book at the reaping when his name was called. And after all she has done for him during these last 50 pages or so, she still feels that she can never repay him. And Thresh, when he killed Clove and let Katniss go because she gave Rue the best final moments of her life. He said "You and me, we're even. No more owed. You understand?" He didn't want to have that dark cloud of owing something to her later on. Plus, if he died before he didn't repay her, that wouldn't be a calm and a peaceful final moments for him.
I think what this means to some people is pretty obvious. This book was about how people are constantly owing others. But, what if it doesn't just mean that? What if it has to do with giving and taking. You bend a little for someone, they bend back. You sacrifice for them, you sacrifice right back. It's an honor code. You are truly being honest if you give back , instead of always asking for something in return. If someone does something for you, don't hold them up to that for their whole life, don't make them your servant. If someone owes you something, let them do that one act of kindness and even the playing field. Let it go.
I first noticed this whole owing thing in the begginning of the book. On page 42, its mentions about jistory class and always learning about the Capitol. It states, " Except for the weekly lecture on teh history of Panem. It's mostly a lot of blather about what we owe the Capitol." I thinkn Suzanne collins makes a good point. Tome, it really speaks out about how some people just don't let go of things, and no matter what you do to fix things or at least make them better, it doesn't work. No matter what you do, nothing will ever stop you from owing them. Especially, Katniss brings up owing Peeta forever for that bread he gave her when she was starving when she was younger. On page 293, Katniss says to Peeta, "It"s like the bread. How I never seem to get over owing you for that." Katniss mentions this in the begginning of the book at the reaping when his name was called. And after all she has done for him during these last 50 pages or so, she still feels that she can never repay him. And Thresh, when he killed Clove and let Katniss go because she gave Rue the best final moments of her life. He said "You and me, we're even. No more owed. You understand?" He didn't want to have that dark cloud of owing something to her later on. Plus, if he died before he didn't repay her, that wouldn't be a calm and a peaceful final moments for him.
I think what this means to some people is pretty obvious. This book was about how people are constantly owing others. But, what if it doesn't just mean that? What if it has to do with giving and taking. You bend a little for someone, they bend back. You sacrifice for them, you sacrifice right back. It's an honor code. You are truly being honest if you give back , instead of always asking for something in return. If someone does something for you, don't hold them up to that for their whole life, don't make them your servant. If someone owes you something, let them do that one act of kindness and even the playing field. Let it go.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Kind-hearted Katniss (Catching Fire) !!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!
"Because obviously I can't tell a friend from an enemy." Page 270 Catching Fire
In the second book of The Hunger Games Series, Katniss and Peeta are chosen to be tributes again in the Quarter Quell, (a mini Hunger game). Them two and 22 other victors from the past Games are chosen to participate. Obviously since Peeta protected her in the last games, Katniss has taken on the responsibility of protecting him. She hits a few rough patches, but he is alive and surviving by the end of the book, as well her too. But what is interesting is this whole knew curveball Suzanne Collins throws at the readers when they get to the end of book.
What also seems to be interesting is that the topic of enemies has been slowly climbed through out the two books. Choose the right allies, remember the enemy is you opponent, the capital, your fellow tribute from the district. With more tributes thrown into these games, Haymitch informed Peeta and Katniss to "Remember who the enemy was." I think Katniss keeps that in mind more than Peeta does. But it doesn't really get brought back up until the very end where Katniss is thinking about Haymitch and his directions. It's more like Katniss pictured the other tributes as the real enemy then what he truly meant. She didn't really catch on until she was in a very tough situation. When Haymitch says that, he means the Capital. The head of authority, the ruler of the districts, the gamemakers.
To me, the Capital has always been put as the enemy. They are contrllig, invasive and manipulative. Yet they are the alllies to very few districts while the others are on the bad list. The enemy who seemed so obvious in the very beginning of this whole series got lost inside all the drama and pain inflicted upon Katniss, and Peeta. But yet Katniss assumes th etributes. She temporaly looses herself caught up in all this fighting with others.
This quote i took was after she discovered the biggest secret of all times. Of realizing why Haymitch truly said what he said. She discovered the truth and herself again.
In the second book of The Hunger Games Series, Katniss and Peeta are chosen to be tributes again in the Quarter Quell, (a mini Hunger game). Them two and 22 other victors from the past Games are chosen to participate. Obviously since Peeta protected her in the last games, Katniss has taken on the responsibility of protecting him. She hits a few rough patches, but he is alive and surviving by the end of the book, as well her too. But what is interesting is this whole knew curveball Suzanne Collins throws at the readers when they get to the end of book.
What also seems to be interesting is that the topic of enemies has been slowly climbed through out the two books. Choose the right allies, remember the enemy is you opponent, the capital, your fellow tribute from the district. With more tributes thrown into these games, Haymitch informed Peeta and Katniss to "Remember who the enemy was." I think Katniss keeps that in mind more than Peeta does. But it doesn't really get brought back up until the very end where Katniss is thinking about Haymitch and his directions. It's more like Katniss pictured the other tributes as the real enemy then what he truly meant. She didn't really catch on until she was in a very tough situation. When Haymitch says that, he means the Capital. The head of authority, the ruler of the districts, the gamemakers.
To me, the Capital has always been put as the enemy. They are contrllig, invasive and manipulative. Yet they are the alllies to very few districts while the others are on the bad list. The enemy who seemed so obvious in the very beginning of this whole series got lost inside all the drama and pain inflicted upon Katniss, and Peeta. But yet Katniss assumes th etributes. She temporaly looses herself caught up in all this fighting with others.
This quote i took was after she discovered the biggest secret of all times. Of realizing why Haymitch truly said what he said. She discovered the truth and herself again.
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