From its conception to the present day, America has been a nation geared toward the wealthy—or more correctly—the bourgeois capitalist. The amount of historical narratives and evidence to support this claim is enormous to the point that there is no denying that an advantage has been given to the rich all throughout our nation’s history.
This began with the very birth of our modern government. The Constitutional Congress that composed our governing document was completely comprised of men belonging to the upper middle class or higher. As a result, they felt that the average American, most likely to be a poor farmer, was incapable of making an informed decision on who to vote for. Thus senators and presidents were not directly elected (direct election of senators was awarded in the early part of the twentieth century and our president is still elected by the Electoral College). As a result of this structure, the political voice was taken away from the poor, who could not afford a private education.
This continued into the Gilded Age of the late nineteenth century. Government was corrupted by corporate interest (although one could still reasonably make this claim), and America was literally run by the capitalist class. The poor worker and farmer had no voice in government policy, resulting in the top one percent of society owning ninety percent of the overall wealth. Because the capitalist got whatever he (every business tycoon was male) wanted, the workers suffered unbearable conditions, terrible hours, disfigurations, loss of appendages and limbs, and in a fair amount of cases—death.
It continued into the mid-1900s. America became extremely paranoid regarding communism, because it threatened to eliminate the bourgeois class. It was a proposed attack on the wealthy. In this manner the United States desperately fought and competed with the USSR and communism for nearly fifty years, leading to unfathomable amounts of defense spending.
The America of the rich is still in tact today. Why is the United States virtually the only post-industrialized nation without socialized medicine? Simple. If America had universal government-provided health care, the corporate interest of large-scale insurance companies would be ignored. We can’t let that happen. The result is a nation that spends more per capita on health care than any other country in the world but ranks 39th in infant mortality and 36th in life expectancy (New England Journal of Medicine). It’s quite obvious that we would rather see the wealthy become wealthier than see the poor continue to live.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
The Things They Carried
In many ways, The Things They Carried is a departure from the usual Vietnam literary genre. I don't think O'Brien challenges my understanding of the Vietnam war so much as he deepens my understanding of human nature.
Prior to reading The Things They Carried, I already held a fairly substantial knowledge of the Vietnam war, the anti-war movement, and the circumstances surrounding the actual combat on the ground. The Things They Carried did not provide me with a historic record or account of the important events during the Vietnam era. Rather it used the Vietnam War as a medium to relate deeper ideas concerning human nature and emotion.
In that sense, O'Brien differs from other authors who have written about Vietnam. The Things They Carried is not about firefights or dramatic battle scenes. It is about using the novel format to help the reader comprehend how Vietnam exposes human emotions that had previously lay dormant (when the threat of death is not present).
O'Brien conveys these heavy thoughts and ideas very uniquely and cleverly. He plays with genre expectations and the ideas of non-fictional truth. He uses the concept of weight to allow the reader to gain an understanding of the psychological burdens people carry. The Things They Carried is most different from a Vietnam novel in that it is not trying to educate the reader on war; it is trying to educate the reader on life, and I think O'Brien is successful in doing so.
Prior to reading The Things They Carried, I already held a fairly substantial knowledge of the Vietnam war, the anti-war movement, and the circumstances surrounding the actual combat on the ground. The Things They Carried did not provide me with a historic record or account of the important events during the Vietnam era. Rather it used the Vietnam War as a medium to relate deeper ideas concerning human nature and emotion.
In that sense, O'Brien differs from other authors who have written about Vietnam. The Things They Carried is not about firefights or dramatic battle scenes. It is about using the novel format to help the reader comprehend how Vietnam exposes human emotions that had previously lay dormant (when the threat of death is not present).
O'Brien conveys these heavy thoughts and ideas very uniquely and cleverly. He plays with genre expectations and the ideas of non-fictional truth. He uses the concept of weight to allow the reader to gain an understanding of the psychological burdens people carry. The Things They Carried is most different from a Vietnam novel in that it is not trying to educate the reader on war; it is trying to educate the reader on life, and I think O'Brien is successful in doing so.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Royko Op-Ed piece
I had to take this opportunity to expose the class to my favorite author/character ever. Mike Royko is a boss (to put it in the terms of Max S-R). This was written after the presentation of Picasso's sculpture in Chicago, and I hope you will enjoy Royko's commentary on the event--I did. He's never been accused of using too little voice, as I'm sure you'll find.
Royko
Royko
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Fear of Hornets
Awhile back (sometime last summer), I took a job at a carwash up on East Pflaum. Basically, the job entails sitting on a stool and watching the security camera mostly, but it also includes hosing down the wash bays, glaring at the clock until it reads four p.m., and wearing a white t-shirt with a overly-optimistic smiling red car and the words "Magic Car Wash Pit Crew." There must be some confusion on the definition of the word "Crew" because me, another part-time employee, and the owner are the only members of the "Pit Crew," and only one of us is there at a time.
Working at Magic Car Wash also involves taking out the trash. In any season other than late summer, this is a brainlessly menial task, but when August and September roll around, this duty requires some creativity. During this time of year, flipping open the lids to the trash bins is like taking a baseball bat to a hornets nest, so you have to become inventive. Sometimes laying out a half-full cola can can provide a distraction for you to pull out the garbage can and take it to the dumpster. Yet sometimes strategies like these backfire. It's happened where I reached in for a soda can for a distraction and found it filled with bees. To anyone washing their car who happened to glance over, I must have looked like some kind of idiot doing a raindance.
These hornets are smarter than they look. If you become careless in picking up their trash can, they'll follow you--quite the traumatic experience. In this instance, you keep looking over your shoulder and seeing that one stubborn hornet is still persuing. You curse him under your breath. Sometimes you have to break out into a jog, making you feel like even more of an idiot. That's the hornet's most frightening quality: they make men feel like little children. They're demoralizing.
Working at Magic Car Wash also involves taking out the trash. In any season other than late summer, this is a brainlessly menial task, but when August and September roll around, this duty requires some creativity. During this time of year, flipping open the lids to the trash bins is like taking a baseball bat to a hornets nest, so you have to become inventive. Sometimes laying out a half-full cola can can provide a distraction for you to pull out the garbage can and take it to the dumpster. Yet sometimes strategies like these backfire. It's happened where I reached in for a soda can for a distraction and found it filled with bees. To anyone washing their car who happened to glance over, I must have looked like some kind of idiot doing a raindance.
These hornets are smarter than they look. If you become careless in picking up their trash can, they'll follow you--quite the traumatic experience. In this instance, you keep looking over your shoulder and seeing that one stubborn hornet is still persuing. You curse him under your breath. Sometimes you have to break out into a jog, making you feel like even more of an idiot. That's the hornet's most frightening quality: they make men feel like little children. They're demoralizing.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Writing Genre: Paddy Style
Perhaps it’s because I’ve been taking a lot of history classes lately, or just that I have a natural interest in culture, but I felt compelled to take on a part of my heritage as a topic for genre comparison. I began to explore Irish culture in writing and uncovered the following three examples, each belonging to a distinct genre:
Celtic Folk Song: The Rocky Road to Dublin
The song details a young Irish lad’s journey from his home in Tuam to Liverpool, England. It is absolutely loaded with Irish culture, which is a benefit of the song genre. It may not provide as much historical fact as a non-fiction book or article, but it gives an insight into the life of a young Irishman’s experience that an article could not. A song has more cultural significance than historical.
Listen
Non-fiction Book: Emigrants and Exiles
This book detailing the Irish migration to North America surely gives a much more thorough and historically-weighted look into Irish Americans. While not as poetic as the Celtic folk song, the book can provide much more information on the subject. The cultural experience received from reading a book is probably denser than the song, which is intended to give an entertaining glimpse into Irish history.
Short Article: History of St. Patrick’s Day
The History Channel’s website gives a convenient, informative history a well-known holiday. It is still historically denser than the song, but much more accessible than the non-fiction book. The article provides just enough information on the history of Irish in America for the reader to learn something new without getting dull.
Celtic Folk Song: The Rocky Road to Dublin
The song details a young Irish lad’s journey from his home in Tuam to Liverpool, England. It is absolutely loaded with Irish culture, which is a benefit of the song genre. It may not provide as much historical fact as a non-fiction book or article, but it gives an insight into the life of a young Irishman’s experience that an article could not. A song has more cultural significance than historical.
Listen
Non-fiction Book: Emigrants and Exiles
This book detailing the Irish migration to North America surely gives a much more thorough and historically-weighted look into Irish Americans. While not as poetic as the Celtic folk song, the book can provide much more information on the subject. The cultural experience received from reading a book is probably denser than the song, which is intended to give an entertaining glimpse into Irish history.
Short Article: History of St. Patrick’s Day
The History Channel’s website gives a convenient, informative history a well-known holiday. It is still historically denser than the song, but much more accessible than the non-fiction book. The article provides just enough information on the history of Irish in America for the reader to learn something new without getting dull.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Writing is a hand-stone: a seemingly simple mass, born from the earth. A stone, when placed in a writer’s palm, is an object of great worth, utility. Such a stone could be thrown, writing as a weapon. Such a stone could be placed in a garden, writing as a natural beauty. Such a stone could be skipped across placid waters to incite energy, writing as an exciter. Such a stone could be employed to create something completely new, writing as a tool. The stone of writing fears no boundaries, insists on being unique, and creates possibilities the bare hand cannot.
Choosing to wield, implement, or plant the stone of writing is undoubtedly a natural decision. Expressing one’s thoughts through a hand-stone is a powerfully primitive symbol of motivation. A writer is unafraid to use his or her stone, and observers automatically understand his or her intention. A spectator to someone picking up a stone or clicking open a pen can feel ensuing action. He or she understands that a statement is to be made—the variety of which is the mystery. I use a stone to translate my cerebral motivation to the outside world.
Choosing to wield, implement, or plant the stone of writing is undoubtedly a natural decision. Expressing one’s thoughts through a hand-stone is a powerfully primitive symbol of motivation. A writer is unafraid to use his or her stone, and observers automatically understand his or her intention. A spectator to someone picking up a stone or clicking open a pen can feel ensuing action. He or she understands that a statement is to be made—the variety of which is the mystery. I use a stone to translate my cerebral motivation to the outside world.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Vietnam Veterans Against the War
The Vietnam Veterans Against the War Statement was a speech written by decorated Vietnam hero, John Kerry, and given to the Senate Committee of Foreign Relations in 1971. It is a piece of literary work that leaves the reader in disbelief. I chose this essay because it depicts events and sentiments in our nation's history that are by no means glorious. This speech's theme is that America was better than what she displayed in Vietnam. It does not demean the United States government or the effort given by the men and women fighting. This speech instead targets those who had a moral responsibility and failed to act upon it. The VVAW Statement is a classic American criticism in some respects, but in others, it's a cry to future generations to never allow anything like this happen again.
John Kerry is poetic. The veteran tells of excruciatingly horrible abuses of which American leadership is responsible. He makes strong, stunning points about how the United States has failed to live up to its morals, and offers a first-hand perspective of the nightmarish events of the conflict. As an orator, John Kerry displayed brilliance. The speech he delivered on the Senate floor in 1971 was one of tragedy, culpability, resolution, and hope. To convey such powerful themes, Kerry doesn't hesitate to employ painfully honest rhetoric. He states a clear opinion.
The closing of this work is perhaps the greatest part of the speech. Kerry calls for Americans not to view the loss of life in Vietnam in vain, but instead to see that those men lost their lives to "turn" America. Those men lost their lives to awaken America and help her to realize how far she has fallen. Kerry wants the audience to understand that such a cause is just as noble as winning. Reading this essay was honestly a great experience for me. It's a moral perspective that is sometimes lost when dealing with the late 1960s/early 1970s, and undoubtedly a speech I will recommend reading to anyone with a remote interest in that era.
John Kerry is poetic. The veteran tells of excruciatingly horrible abuses of which American leadership is responsible. He makes strong, stunning points about how the United States has failed to live up to its morals, and offers a first-hand perspective of the nightmarish events of the conflict. As an orator, John Kerry displayed brilliance. The speech he delivered on the Senate floor in 1971 was one of tragedy, culpability, resolution, and hope. To convey such powerful themes, Kerry doesn't hesitate to employ painfully honest rhetoric. He states a clear opinion.
The closing of this work is perhaps the greatest part of the speech. Kerry calls for Americans not to view the loss of life in Vietnam in vain, but instead to see that those men lost their lives to "turn" America. Those men lost their lives to awaken America and help her to realize how far she has fallen. Kerry wants the audience to understand that such a cause is just as noble as winning. Reading this essay was honestly a great experience for me. It's a moral perspective that is sometimes lost when dealing with the late 1960s/early 1970s, and undoubtedly a speech I will recommend reading to anyone with a remote interest in that era.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Royko on Daley
When faced with the task of finding two essays that are of interest to me, I immediately turned to my favorite columnist of all-time, Mike Royko (may he rest in peace). Royko wrote editorials for the Chicago Tribune, Sun Times, and Daily News for thirty years. He was beloved by many Chicagoans for his wit, casual sarcasm, and powerful knack for delivering an often blunt truth. I'm not entirely sure that an editorial qualifies as an essay, but Royko definitely has an opinion on the life and career of Mayor Daley, so I feel it satisfies the requirements.
In order to appreciate this essay, one must first understand the character that was Mayor Richard J. Daley of Chicago. Living his whole life in the heavily Irish Bridgeport Neighborhood, Daley served as mayor of Chicago from 1955-76. During that career, he initiated countless public works projects within the city, but was also famous for sometimes overstepping his authority or over-enforcing Chicago law. Daley governed one of the most politically corrupt, segregated, and ethnically diverse cities in the nation, and Royko captures the man, politician, and father of Richard J. Daley flawlessly.
Royko's tribute is a little rough around the edges, but then again, so was Daley, and so was Chicago. His unique way of describing some of Daley's characteristics had me laughing to myself as I read the column. When poking fun at Daley's often ungrammatical, inappropriate, or jumbled language, Royko writes, "So when Daley slid sideways into a sentence, or didn't exit from the same paragraph he entered, it amused us. But it didn't sound that different than the way most of us talk." That type of journalism is what made Royko famous.
The essay tells of Mayor Daley at his best and at his worst. One point Royko makes especially made me think. While Daley may not have always done what was in the best interest of morality, progress, or (some would argue) the Constitution, his actions were appropriate in the eyes of the average Chicagoan, if not outsiders. That made a lot of sense to me. Daley may not have always been a master of political correctness, but he was a master of representing his constituents.
The article was extremely amusing, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Sadly, gone are the days of Richard J. Daley, and gone are the days of Mike Royko, but this article was a happy, humorous reminder of both.
In order to appreciate this essay, one must first understand the character that was Mayor Richard J. Daley of Chicago. Living his whole life in the heavily Irish Bridgeport Neighborhood, Daley served as mayor of Chicago from 1955-76. During that career, he initiated countless public works projects within the city, but was also famous for sometimes overstepping his authority or over-enforcing Chicago law. Daley governed one of the most politically corrupt, segregated, and ethnically diverse cities in the nation, and Royko captures the man, politician, and father of Richard J. Daley flawlessly.
Royko's tribute is a little rough around the edges, but then again, so was Daley, and so was Chicago. His unique way of describing some of Daley's characteristics had me laughing to myself as I read the column. When poking fun at Daley's often ungrammatical, inappropriate, or jumbled language, Royko writes, "So when Daley slid sideways into a sentence, or didn't exit from the same paragraph he entered, it amused us. But it didn't sound that different than the way most of us talk." That type of journalism is what made Royko famous.
The essay tells of Mayor Daley at his best and at his worst. One point Royko makes especially made me think. While Daley may not have always done what was in the best interest of morality, progress, or (some would argue) the Constitution, his actions were appropriate in the eyes of the average Chicagoan, if not outsiders. That made a lot of sense to me. Daley may not have always been a master of political correctness, but he was a master of representing his constituents.
The article was extremely amusing, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Sadly, gone are the days of Richard J. Daley, and gone are the days of Mike Royko, but this article was a happy, humorous reminder of both.
Theodore Rex
Edmund Morris captures the essence of Theodore Roosevelt better than I'm any other biographer could attempt to do, I'm sure. Although being extremely in depth (over 550 pages), Theodore Rex never once approaches "boring." Morris writes of one of my favorite presidents like a fiction book, with so much description that one could imagine the scenes quite vivedly. Aside from having started reading a little late and struggling to squeeze the whole book in by the end of the summer, I found reading this biography to satisfy my love for history.
While Morris deserves much credit for his imaculate storytelling, the book reads so easily moreso based on the fact that Roosevelt was one of the most interestingly childish presidents we've ever had. The President, at any time during his seven and a half years in the white house, could be found playing tennis against members of his Administration, trekking about the Rocky Mountains, bear hunting in Arkansas, or sparring with his jujitsu trainer. The impression I recieved of Roosevelt was that he was a giant ball of energy; every thing he did was punctuated with hearty shouts of "Bully, bully!" After a long succession of corrupt, stagnant presidents, Roosevelt was an accidental breath of fresh air that ultimately propelled the country infinantly forward.
The book is split into two sections, his first term and his second. Opening dramatically with President McKinley's assassination, Theodore Rex begins with "Teddy's" inheiritance of the White House and continues to recount the numerous acheivements the young president can be accredited with. These include setting a precedent by inviting Booker T. Washington to a private White House dinner, building up a sleek new navy and parading them about the Pacific, mediating an anthracite mining labor dispute, defending the Monroe Doctrine in the Venezuelan affair, pushing a Cuban reciprocity bill through Congress, securing Panama for canal construction, and appointing several African Americans to federal offices. This was just his first term.
Roosevelt's personality and character at times almost overshaddowed his accolades. He was exceptionally well read and had an obvious thirst for historical perspective in dealing with the activity of his day. Moral, fair, and ever advocating a "square deal" for all Americans, TR was an impassionate speaker, gnashing his teeth and pounding his fist into his palm as he delivered his epic oratories. I was absolutely captivated by the character, for it seemed Edmund Morris honestly couldn't have concieved a more attractive literary personality.
The President's second term was equally historic. He continued to prove to trusts that the federal government held power over monopolies--not the other way around. Roosevelt also started a consumer protection movement, forshaddowing the Progressive movement that would shortly follow. Abroad, he won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work in arbitrating and bringing a Japanese-Russo conflict to compromise.
Theodore Roosevelt was a unique American president. Reading Emund Morris's Theodore Rex has only further cemented, in my mind, TR's place among the top five presidents this nation has ever had. He was a political force, an objective mind, and a go-getter all compiled into one statesman, and Theodore Rex was able to invite me into the Rooseveltian White House--a masterful biography.
While Morris deserves much credit for his imaculate storytelling, the book reads so easily moreso based on the fact that Roosevelt was one of the most interestingly childish presidents we've ever had. The President, at any time during his seven and a half years in the white house, could be found playing tennis against members of his Administration, trekking about the Rocky Mountains, bear hunting in Arkansas, or sparring with his jujitsu trainer. The impression I recieved of Roosevelt was that he was a giant ball of energy; every thing he did was punctuated with hearty shouts of "Bully, bully!" After a long succession of corrupt, stagnant presidents, Roosevelt was an accidental breath of fresh air that ultimately propelled the country infinantly forward.
The book is split into two sections, his first term and his second. Opening dramatically with President McKinley's assassination, Theodore Rex begins with "Teddy's" inheiritance of the White House and continues to recount the numerous acheivements the young president can be accredited with. These include setting a precedent by inviting Booker T. Washington to a private White House dinner, building up a sleek new navy and parading them about the Pacific, mediating an anthracite mining labor dispute, defending the Monroe Doctrine in the Venezuelan affair, pushing a Cuban reciprocity bill through Congress, securing Panama for canal construction, and appointing several African Americans to federal offices. This was just his first term.
Roosevelt's personality and character at times almost overshaddowed his accolades. He was exceptionally well read and had an obvious thirst for historical perspective in dealing with the activity of his day. Moral, fair, and ever advocating a "square deal" for all Americans, TR was an impassionate speaker, gnashing his teeth and pounding his fist into his palm as he delivered his epic oratories. I was absolutely captivated by the character, for it seemed Edmund Morris honestly couldn't have concieved a more attractive literary personality.
The President's second term was equally historic. He continued to prove to trusts that the federal government held power over monopolies--not the other way around. Roosevelt also started a consumer protection movement, forshaddowing the Progressive movement that would shortly follow. Abroad, he won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work in arbitrating and bringing a Japanese-Russo conflict to compromise.
Theodore Roosevelt was a unique American president. Reading Emund Morris's Theodore Rex has only further cemented, in my mind, TR's place among the top five presidents this nation has ever had. He was a political force, an objective mind, and a go-getter all compiled into one statesman, and Theodore Rex was able to invite me into the Rooseveltian White House--a masterful biography.
Monday, August 30, 2010
A Vindication of the Rights of Women
After reading Wollstonecraft's essay, I was surprised I had never heard of her or her work in history class. She was extremely ahead of her time, and exceptionally thoughtful in analyzing the often sexist writings of French Revolutionary thinkers. What most impressed me about Wollstonecraft's essay was her fearlessness in stating her opinions. She often times used language that must have infuriated most men, and her essays were surely an important part of an early feminist movement.
Early in her essay, Wollstonecraft points out that women are taught from an early age that they are supposed to be gentle, amusing, and obedient of their husbands. The author primarily objects to this limited gender role, but also goes further to say that men employ this female characterization to enslave women, which is the basis of her essay. This was, especially for her time, a valid argument.
Wollstonecraft points out that women are deprived of a full formal education, but interestingly she argues that this, in some ways, better serves women's intelligence. Men are taught other people's ideas that are accepted as true, whereas women are left to observe and draw their own conclusions. In this fashion, men (and some women) believe that they are superior to women simply because they have been told so for generations. They fail to observe the sexes in an objective light; therefore, the accepted theory that women are inferior survives.
I was especially interested to read the author's opinion of what marriage should be. She explains that the ideal marriage is a mutual friendship, not a master-servant relationship. Wollstonecraft goes on to say that a marriage in which the spouses are best friends is a marriage that is much healthier and likely to last longer. When the women is forced to always attempt to please her husband, the relationship deteriorates. This holds true, even in present times.
On a whole, I found this essay the hardest to read, but also the most culturally significant. The dense text made the reading go much slower, but the essay was extremely forward-thinking for its time, so much so that Wollstonecraft also knew she had to convince women that they weren't inferior. We've come a long way...
Early in her essay, Wollstonecraft points out that women are taught from an early age that they are supposed to be gentle, amusing, and obedient of their husbands. The author primarily objects to this limited gender role, but also goes further to say that men employ this female characterization to enslave women, which is the basis of her essay. This was, especially for her time, a valid argument.
Wollstonecraft points out that women are deprived of a full formal education, but interestingly she argues that this, in some ways, better serves women's intelligence. Men are taught other people's ideas that are accepted as true, whereas women are left to observe and draw their own conclusions. In this fashion, men (and some women) believe that they are superior to women simply because they have been told so for generations. They fail to observe the sexes in an objective light; therefore, the accepted theory that women are inferior survives.
I was especially interested to read the author's opinion of what marriage should be. She explains that the ideal marriage is a mutual friendship, not a master-servant relationship. Wollstonecraft goes on to say that a marriage in which the spouses are best friends is a marriage that is much healthier and likely to last longer. When the women is forced to always attempt to please her husband, the relationship deteriorates. This holds true, even in present times.
On a whole, I found this essay the hardest to read, but also the most culturally significant. The dense text made the reading go much slower, but the essay was extremely forward-thinking for its time, so much so that Wollstonecraft also knew she had to convince women that they weren't inferior. We've come a long way...
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Is Google Making Us Stupid?
This, for me, proved to be a slightly depressing essay. Mr. Carr's symptoms of the technologically-transformed brain, which he outlines toward the beginning of the article, most concerned me because I feel I've experienced some of them. Being born right on the cusp of the information age, I suppose I haven't truly known anything other than the Internet way of reading, but I can still say that I have a harder time maintaining focus when reading long texts than I used to. I couldn't imagine how late Baby Boomers' brains have been effected by the Internet reading style; they must be undergoing much more change than mine.
Mr. Carr explains that the Internet, with its hyperlinks and multiple-medium information, has essentially shortened our reading attention span. Over the last couple of years, our brains have been reprogrammed. They have become so accustomed to being able to access information instantly that keeping focus for traditional reading is much harder than before.
This, I would like to point out, is a difference in the way our brains now function. Mr. Carr, whether intentionally or otherwise, uses the adjective stupid in his title. While I agree with Mr. Carr that this change is not necessarily a good thing, it has nothing to do with our intelligence. Our brains are changing, not becoming stupider. I share the author's concern for the consequences of this transformation, but I resent the author's direct connection between how a brain functions and how well a brain functions.
I was most interested in the author's summary of past changes in communication styles and how they affected the way humans operate. It seems that each new invention opened a new Pandora's Box. Information would become progressively easier to access but our brain would change how it functions. This is the case with the Internet as well. Information is literally at our fingertips, and we have rapid access to it, but the trade-off is that using older methods of acquiring new information become more of a struggle.
The author sees this correlation. Mr. Carr worries about the end of the pattern more than the pattern itself. He brings up the example of Google's dream of creating a form of artificial intelligence as this end to the pattern. Carr feels that when it reaches this point, when the computer knows what information we want better than we do, we have have changed our brains too many times. At this point, the computer has become more essential to accessing information than our own brain. The author feels that the changes this would have on our brain are not worth the improved efficiency of information availability--and I would agree.
Mr. Carr explains that the Internet, with its hyperlinks and multiple-medium information, has essentially shortened our reading attention span. Over the last couple of years, our brains have been reprogrammed. They have become so accustomed to being able to access information instantly that keeping focus for traditional reading is much harder than before.
This, I would like to point out, is a difference in the way our brains now function. Mr. Carr, whether intentionally or otherwise, uses the adjective stupid in his title. While I agree with Mr. Carr that this change is not necessarily a good thing, it has nothing to do with our intelligence. Our brains are changing, not becoming stupider. I share the author's concern for the consequences of this transformation, but I resent the author's direct connection between how a brain functions and how well a brain functions.
I was most interested in the author's summary of past changes in communication styles and how they affected the way humans operate. It seems that each new invention opened a new Pandora's Box. Information would become progressively easier to access but our brain would change how it functions. This is the case with the Internet as well. Information is literally at our fingertips, and we have rapid access to it, but the trade-off is that using older methods of acquiring new information become more of a struggle.
The author sees this correlation. Mr. Carr worries about the end of the pattern more than the pattern itself. He brings up the example of Google's dream of creating a form of artificial intelligence as this end to the pattern. Carr feels that when it reaches this point, when the computer knows what information we want better than we do, we have have changed our brains too many times. At this point, the computer has become more essential to accessing information than our own brain. The author feels that the changes this would have on our brain are not worth the improved efficiency of information availability--and I would agree.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Skunk Dreams
I found this reading extremely interesting, and I was surprised to find myself somewhat undecided about what to make of it. The author's talent with language is what first jumped out at me. That ability allowed the reading to flow, which made it very easy to read. The abstractness of the reading, however, made me analyze it for quite a while to make sure I had a complete grasp of the author's theme and perspective.
Literally, the reading is broken down, somewhat haphazardly, into a series of descriptions of dreams and reality that are at the heart of the author's motivation. The idea of natural beauty relates each of the author's thought trains. They are not-so-chronologically ordered, linked only by the author's thought process. I found this organization unique and enjoyable, and the author's choice to write in this fashion gave a certain dream-like quality to the essay itself.
The content of the excerpt is just as abstract its organization. Opening with a past personal experience, the author then fast forwards to a seemingly unrelated account of her dream in a cheap motel, and finally lands on her experiencing of that dream years later. She weaves in and out of reality and dream fantasy to give the essay a wayward quality, perhaps modeled after her actual life story. The author explicitly refers to her love of natural beauty, and this literal language acts as a foundation for the deeper thoughts and themes found in the reading. My interpretation of the reading is that the author models the story after her life. She explains her life in terms of her past and present dreams and surroundings, utilizing animals' personalities to explain her own feelings and motivations. I especially like the scene where the author meets the elk in the exact way she foresaw years earlier. The author makes sure this scene is one the reader can see in his or her own mind, an effect she proves to be more than good at throughout the essay.
This reading, to me, is the equivalent of a Jackson Pollock painting. It's a mass of color and energy and beauty, encourages numerous interpretations, and means something a little different to each reader. I also think this is exactly the picture the author intends to paint. She adds structure, however, to balance the abstract qualities of the piece (beginning and ending with her admiration of the skunk's character, perhaps relating to it), but also doesn't hesitate to unleash all of her thoughts and creativity. The more I reflect on the reading, the more interesting I find it, and the more I recover from my initial skepticism. Skunk Dreams, as I see it, is the author's attempt to metaphorically depict her own life and create an enjoyable read for her audience. For me, she succeeded.
Literally, the reading is broken down, somewhat haphazardly, into a series of descriptions of dreams and reality that are at the heart of the author's motivation. The idea of natural beauty relates each of the author's thought trains. They are not-so-chronologically ordered, linked only by the author's thought process. I found this organization unique and enjoyable, and the author's choice to write in this fashion gave a certain dream-like quality to the essay itself.
The content of the excerpt is just as abstract its organization. Opening with a past personal experience, the author then fast forwards to a seemingly unrelated account of her dream in a cheap motel, and finally lands on her experiencing of that dream years later. She weaves in and out of reality and dream fantasy to give the essay a wayward quality, perhaps modeled after her actual life story. The author explicitly refers to her love of natural beauty, and this literal language acts as a foundation for the deeper thoughts and themes found in the reading. My interpretation of the reading is that the author models the story after her life. She explains her life in terms of her past and present dreams and surroundings, utilizing animals' personalities to explain her own feelings and motivations. I especially like the scene where the author meets the elk in the exact way she foresaw years earlier. The author makes sure this scene is one the reader can see in his or her own mind, an effect she proves to be more than good at throughout the essay.
This reading, to me, is the equivalent of a Jackson Pollock painting. It's a mass of color and energy and beauty, encourages numerous interpretations, and means something a little different to each reader. I also think this is exactly the picture the author intends to paint. She adds structure, however, to balance the abstract qualities of the piece (beginning and ending with her admiration of the skunk's character, perhaps relating to it), but also doesn't hesitate to unleash all of her thoughts and creativity. The more I reflect on the reading, the more interesting I find it, and the more I recover from my initial skepticism. Skunk Dreams, as I see it, is the author's attempt to metaphorically depict her own life and create an enjoyable read for her audience. For me, she succeeded.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Talk of the Town
Gopnik Review:
This article asserts a variety of interestingly logical points about the US's reluctance/incapability to pass sufficient gun control legislation. The first of which is the notion of a blind sympathy Americans have for victims of tragedy. Mr. Gopnik explains this observation excellently by giving examples of how reform following crisis is frowned upon by American culture. In addition to being a valid point, Mr. Gopnik uses this passage to set up his defiance of that exact social norm, and begins to address the main topic of the article--a call for stricter gun control. I found this part of the article extremely refreshing, certainly original. Gopnik is precisely right about this counter-intuitive American sentiment. It seems that we are much more willing to mourn and feel sorry for ourselves following a disaster than to work to prevent the next one.
Comparing the US to other nations in terms of large scale firearm incidents was another convincing approach. Other nations have had similar shootings, but have passed stricter gun control laws and reduced deaths following. Mr. Gopnik, in effect, blames American statesmen for the quantity of incidents we've had. He points out that numerous western democracies have had shootings like the US's, but have rebounded not by brooding over past losses but by enacting laws to prevent future losses. Outlaw the guns that are used to kill, and killings will become less frequent and less potent. I do think there is something to be said for Gopnik's elementary logic, as gun control legislation has obviously been shown to work in other countries.
Mr. Gopnik also proves to be a good compromiser. He feels most of the opposition to tighter firearm regulation comes from rural America. By only outlawing semi-automatic hand guns (the weapons used in almost every large scale killing), America's hunting population would be kept happy, and shootings would potentially be prevented.
I agree with a lot of what Gopnik is saying. He makes strong cases with his comparisons and observations. It's an altogether convincing article.
Sontag Review:
Ms. Sontag also makes an interesting observation about the American mind. Whether it is patriotism or fear of appearing weak, America reacts to 9-11 with an unmistakably tough-guy attitude. Sontag suggests that a calmer, more rational approach would prove far more rewarding for US foreign policy. I agree that it is always the way of the American politician to tell the public what it wants to hear. After the terrorist attack, Americans received a heavy dose of pro-American, we-shall-overcome rhetoric, and Sontag is wary that this may not be the best approach. I especially related to the idea that the US government's time could be better budgeted calculating the next move or reforming our intelligence operations.
I think Ms. Sontag's real purpose in writing this article is to motivate the public to oversee the government's management of the situation. The citizens need to sift through all of the emotion and find the reason. Sontag's doesn't intend to condemn American politics or find a reason to target the Administration; she's trying to help prevent the US government from making a brash foreign policy decision and open the people's eyes so that such an event won't be allowed to occur.
This article asserts a variety of interestingly logical points about the US's reluctance/incapability to pass sufficient gun control legislation. The first of which is the notion of a blind sympathy Americans have for victims of tragedy. Mr. Gopnik explains this observation excellently by giving examples of how reform following crisis is frowned upon by American culture. In addition to being a valid point, Mr. Gopnik uses this passage to set up his defiance of that exact social norm, and begins to address the main topic of the article--a call for stricter gun control. I found this part of the article extremely refreshing, certainly original. Gopnik is precisely right about this counter-intuitive American sentiment. It seems that we are much more willing to mourn and feel sorry for ourselves following a disaster than to work to prevent the next one.
Comparing the US to other nations in terms of large scale firearm incidents was another convincing approach. Other nations have had similar shootings, but have passed stricter gun control laws and reduced deaths following. Mr. Gopnik, in effect, blames American statesmen for the quantity of incidents we've had. He points out that numerous western democracies have had shootings like the US's, but have rebounded not by brooding over past losses but by enacting laws to prevent future losses. Outlaw the guns that are used to kill, and killings will become less frequent and less potent. I do think there is something to be said for Gopnik's elementary logic, as gun control legislation has obviously been shown to work in other countries.
Mr. Gopnik also proves to be a good compromiser. He feels most of the opposition to tighter firearm regulation comes from rural America. By only outlawing semi-automatic hand guns (the weapons used in almost every large scale killing), America's hunting population would be kept happy, and shootings would potentially be prevented.
I agree with a lot of what Gopnik is saying. He makes strong cases with his comparisons and observations. It's an altogether convincing article.
Sontag Review:
Ms. Sontag also makes an interesting observation about the American mind. Whether it is patriotism or fear of appearing weak, America reacts to 9-11 with an unmistakably tough-guy attitude. Sontag suggests that a calmer, more rational approach would prove far more rewarding for US foreign policy. I agree that it is always the way of the American politician to tell the public what it wants to hear. After the terrorist attack, Americans received a heavy dose of pro-American, we-shall-overcome rhetoric, and Sontag is wary that this may not be the best approach. I especially related to the idea that the US government's time could be better budgeted calculating the next move or reforming our intelligence operations.
I think Ms. Sontag's real purpose in writing this article is to motivate the public to oversee the government's management of the situation. The citizens need to sift through all of the emotion and find the reason. Sontag's doesn't intend to condemn American politics or find a reason to target the Administration; she's trying to help prevent the US government from making a brash foreign policy decision and open the people's eyes so that such an event won't be allowed to occur.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
James's Trinity (not intended to be religious)
My life as of now breaks down into three major components. I've outlined and explained them in the space below.
1) Family
My dad, Al, is a budget analyst for the State Government (Legislative Fiscal Bureau), and I don't expect anyone to understand what that means. He's really big into sports, especially the Chicago White Sox, and does crossword puzzles and coaches basketball in his spare time.
My mom, Jill, is a middle school guidance counselor at Indian Mound Middle School. She spends most of her time running my sisters around to friends' houses and sporting events, but when she's not doing that, she likes to go on walks and bike rides.
I have two younger sisters, Rosie and Gabi. Rosie is going to be a freshman this year and is involved in three sports: volleyball, basketball, and softball. Gabi is going into fifth grade and plays tennis, basketball, and soccer. They both spend a lot of time shopping on the weekends.
My dog, Ollie, enjoys swimming, long walks through the woods, and playing catch. He's about 73 years old, and his birthday is in January.
2) Music
Music is a major component of my daily life. I have a very unique taste in music and listen to very authentic and talented artists. My iPod contains music from several different genres including jazz, funk, blues, soul, hip-hop/rap, folk, classic rock, and indie rock. Some of the notable albums I own are Van Morrison's Moondance, Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, NaS's Illmatic and It Was Written, Common's Be, Muddy Waters's Fathers and Sons, Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, and Miles Davis's Kind of Blue. It is impossible for me to listen to one brand of music, and, depending on my surroundings, I will select a unique song from the wide variety on my iPod (over 900). My relationship with music isn't confined to just listening and admiring--I also play (guitar, alto saxophone, and piano). It would be impossible to imagine my life without the influences of my music and culture.
3) Sports
Much of my time is spent practicing and playing three different sports. In the Fall, I make a huge commitment to football. It's my least favorite of the three sports I play and demands the most of my time. I play quarterback and wide receiver and hope to make it past the first round of the playoffs this year.
Every winter, I lace up my Nikes and take to the hardwood. Basketball is my favorite sport and probably my best. I play forward, and rebounding and jumpshooting are my fortes. Since last year we lost to Lake Mills in overtime during the second round of the playoffs, I'm especially hoping that this year we can push further into the post-season.
Springtime means baseball. I'm pretty versitile in the field, but I mainly play shortstop, second base, and pitcher. We have a lot of fun with baseball but (lately) limited success. I have a feeling that that might change this Spring though.
Family, Music, and Sports are the main parts of my individual life. I spend a lot of time with my friends disc golfing, swimming, or shotting hoops in addition to the activities I mentioned above.
1) Family
My dad, Al, is a budget analyst for the State Government (Legislative Fiscal Bureau), and I don't expect anyone to understand what that means. He's really big into sports, especially the Chicago White Sox, and does crossword puzzles and coaches basketball in his spare time.
My mom, Jill, is a middle school guidance counselor at Indian Mound Middle School. She spends most of her time running my sisters around to friends' houses and sporting events, but when she's not doing that, she likes to go on walks and bike rides.
I have two younger sisters, Rosie and Gabi. Rosie is going to be a freshman this year and is involved in three sports: volleyball, basketball, and softball. Gabi is going into fifth grade and plays tennis, basketball, and soccer. They both spend a lot of time shopping on the weekends.
My dog, Ollie, enjoys swimming, long walks through the woods, and playing catch. He's about 73 years old, and his birthday is in January.
2) Music
Music is a major component of my daily life. I have a very unique taste in music and listen to very authentic and talented artists. My iPod contains music from several different genres including jazz, funk, blues, soul, hip-hop/rap, folk, classic rock, and indie rock. Some of the notable albums I own are Van Morrison's Moondance, Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, NaS's Illmatic and It Was Written, Common's Be, Muddy Waters's Fathers and Sons, Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, and Miles Davis's Kind of Blue. It is impossible for me to listen to one brand of music, and, depending on my surroundings, I will select a unique song from the wide variety on my iPod (over 900). My relationship with music isn't confined to just listening and admiring--I also play (guitar, alto saxophone, and piano). It would be impossible to imagine my life without the influences of my music and culture.
3) Sports
Much of my time is spent practicing and playing three different sports. In the Fall, I make a huge commitment to football. It's my least favorite of the three sports I play and demands the most of my time. I play quarterback and wide receiver and hope to make it past the first round of the playoffs this year.
Every winter, I lace up my Nikes and take to the hardwood. Basketball is my favorite sport and probably my best. I play forward, and rebounding and jumpshooting are my fortes. Since last year we lost to Lake Mills in overtime during the second round of the playoffs, I'm especially hoping that this year we can push further into the post-season.
Springtime means baseball. I'm pretty versitile in the field, but I mainly play shortstop, second base, and pitcher. We have a lot of fun with baseball but (lately) limited success. I have a feeling that that might change this Spring though.
Family, Music, and Sports are the main parts of my individual life. I spend a lot of time with my friends disc golfing, swimming, or shotting hoops in addition to the activities I mentioned above.
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