Final Blog

This class was absolutely the hardest class to keep up with because of the massive workload. This semester I took a total of 5 classes and this class had more work than the other 4 combined. A few times during the semester I wanted to give up because it would have made this semester a whole lot easier and I would have been able to do better quality work. But I stuck through it and I’m glad I did. I knew this time would come, where I can see the end, and it’s amazing to think this is my last blog. This semester was the toughest one for me so far and I learned a lot about myself and my limitations. On the other hand, this class although a lot of work taught me more than I would ever imagine about literature, especially trying to analyze it. I have never been a literature type of person and I never thought I would be analyzing it as much as I did. But I did it, and got through it but not without complaining all the way through. Towards the end I was actually getting used to the class and I worked out a system and sacrificed a lot of fun to get work done on time. Until the end of the semester came and all the finals and papers were due. I cannot wait till summer break and the little bit of time off I will have. I am not going to waste any of my days off, and I’m going to do something fun and hopefully new every day. After summer I have to start getting back in the school mindset because I’m transferring to a university, it should be interesting.

Everybody in this class had strong opinions and I enjoyed reading the responses to my blogs and I also enjoyed reading others student’s blogs. It was fun seeing everyone’s different views and when they didn’t agree with something they were still respectful. I saw the class size shrink little by little until the select few were left. I congratulate the few that made it through this class, it wasn’t easy, unless this was your only class and obligation. I’m not really used to online classes and the nonexistent physical interactions with other students. But this class was set up to interact the most we could with other students for an online class. But I still prefer to take campus classes. It would have been nice to have at least one campus meeting to give advice, help each other out, and meet our fellow students. It seems like students in online classes don’t want to socialize with other students than students in campus classes do. But it was an experience to say the least. All in all, this is one class I will always remember.

Pg. 1088 #4

For me this blog is going to be hard to squeeze 500 words out. I don’t really know or listen to any love songs and I wouldn’t really be able to relate it to the readings, but I am going to try. I asked a few girl friends of mine, what their favorite love songs are and they gave me a few. I looked them up and listened to them but I couldn’t see myself writing about those because I don’t feel that way in my current stage of life. Those songs were so over dramatic and they made love seem like it was the only thing that mattered and what they strived for. The poems also gave metaphors for love and made outrageous comparisons that I couldn’t fathom, just like some of these songs I listened to. But I guess that’s where women currently get their idea of love from, from the songs and literature tv shows. But others may argue that the artist writes and sings about how they feel when their in love or when they are longing for it. But it is hard for me to think of love that way because I have never felt it as strongly as they write and sing.
But back on the real subject, I found a song that sort of relates to the readings that a friend pointed me to, the song is “U got it bad” by Usher. I thought this was funny because it’s so old but I listened to it and it sort of has some similarities to the readings in a small minute way. A part in the song talks about everything else doesn’t matter when you find the one you love. The song also says love can induce exhilaration and that they crave and desire it, just like a few of the poems suggest. So now I guess this is the song I’m going to think about when I think about love, but not really. Right now when I think about love the songs I lean towards is “Tie me down” by the new boyz or “Daddy’s home” by Usher and “Crazy B****” by Buckcherry, these can’t really be compared to the readings. I’m more drawn to the poem “Song” and its realistic point on love, it’s something that people shouldn’t search for, just let it find you when you’re ready. You need more than love to make things work.

Creation Myths

While watching the myths of creation by the different groups on different continents, I noticed they all had some parts in common. All of them wanted an explanation to why they are here and what their purpose is, so they made up stories to “answer” these questions. The three I watched had gods who created everything step by step including the first human beings. A lot of the myths are of course false and very hard to believe but I understand back then they were not to smart. I don’t even know how these myths can be called legit, did they really have comprehensible forms of writing and communication back then? I’m not sure where they came from and I doubt they are authentic, by that I mean I don’t think these are the original myths and stories. It’s pretty hard for these stories to stand the test of time and not be altered with and for us to truly decipher and know what they were saying. At the present time, it’s hard to watch some of these and take them seriously, I guess that’s why they are called myths.

On the other hand, one interesting comparison of some of the myths are how the groups all had some sort of god or multiple gods who created them and they control everything around them such as the sun, water, and earth. They were created to worship the gods and do the up keep of the earth. You can even see a lot of similarities to the religions now a day if you look closer in detail. You just have to see the symbols that they used back then to see what they are trying to portray. It is kind of hard when they have an elaborate story of a raven flapping his wings and a woman comes out or a man being born from a pea pod. I think it is amazing that all these different groups on different continents, which had no way of communicating to each other, come up with similar creation stories. And some of these stories are closely related to some of today’s religious creation stories. This made me think a little more about if there is “some” truth in these myths. But all I could come up with is that when people are vulnerable and looking for answers to how and why they are here. They can’t grasp the concept of evolution in those times, they immediately gravitate to a higher being placing them here and I think that stuck through the generations. But I also don’t believe us humans and every living thing on earth evolved from one type of organism or bacteria. I believe in a hybrid of beliefs and ideas from religious to scientific, and I think that’s the only way to think until we know for sure. There is a missing link somewhere and I think we will discover it in my time here on earth, at least I hope so.

Lily’s relationship with Zack expands her understanding of herself and society immensely, especially her greater understanding of the society around her. Her relationship with Zack was a very controversial subject in those times because it was an interracial relationship, she was white and he was black. Before her newfound connection with Zack, she wasn’t as experienced and she has never really been involved first hand with the bias, discriminating, and racist views of society. Of course she knew how people treated minorities but its different when you are actually experiencing the discrimination. It makes you grow as a person if you can get through the hatred and this expanded her understanding of society. Lily also never really thought she would be attracted to someone outside her race, this in turn, affected her understanding of herself a lot. Especially when this is one of her first relationships of her life, she has never felt any feeling before and now all of a sudden she is developing feelings and compassion for this guy. This will make a person have a better understanding of themselves as they develop different feelings and learn how to handle them. For me, when I go through different things in my life especially different feelings, I learn from them and grow. Learning how to manage all the different feelings in your life is key if you don’t want to be an emotional wreck or make bad decisions based on the feelings you’re experiencing at the time. But this all comes through your experience in life unless you have someone there giving you good advice. The other question I am going to answer is what are some examples of characters suffering from the “burden of knowing”. One example is Lily; Lily has the burden of knowing that her mother’s death was kind of her fault. She always has that in her head and this can torment someone for their entire life. Also she later finds out that her mother left her and that her mother did not want her. This is a very big burden on someone and something that people shouldn’t really find out or know. This is a very big “burden of knowing”. This is something someone has to learn to accept or get over because if they don’t this will affect them in different ways their whole life. In the end, societies view in general as a whole has changed tremendously. Now a day’s people are more excepting of interracial relationships. It is really not a big deal and nobody really talks about it anymore from what I’ve experienced. But a few more years down the way I bet it would be almost nonexistent, a thing of the past.

Strong feelings

WT pg. 1326

I usually have strong feelings about something when I’m endeavoring into something new. When I haven’t done it before and I don’t know how it is going to turn out. I get very anxious and have, at times, felt over whelmed with the unknown or if I making the right decision. I always push through these feelings but I’m the type of person that wants to always be in control of my life. I know we can’t always control certain aspects of our lives but I try to stick to my goals and plans I set for myself. When something occurs that wasn’t planned, this is when I start to have strong anxious feelings. I immediately try to figure out the pros and the cons of the situation to try to combat the interruption. I don’t think I can compare myself to an animal when I have these strong feelings. I wouldn’t even think an animal would have plans and feel anxious when their plans are disturbed. An example of when I felt a strong anxious feeling was when I recently was offered a job from a better company than I’m working for right now. I had to make the right decision because I didn’t want to jeopardize my current employment in case the new job didn’t work out or it wasn’t as expected. The new job offer is who I want to work for but I wanted to finish my degree for I could be hired for a higher position than the one I was offered. I was very anxious thinking what I should do, maybe if I accepted their offer I could work my way up. I ended up deciding to stay with my current employer and finish my degree, I don’t have much longer to go. And then I will hopefully earn the position I want. This is one type of strong feeling I get from time to time, another strong feeling I have once in a while is right before a race. I race motocross in my spare time and when I’m at the starting gate I feel very nervous in a good way. It is an overwhelming feeling that I can feel through my whole body. It’s like adrenaline, excitement, and a nervous feeling all combined into one. Then when the gate drops the nervousness and anxiousness disappears and all is left is adrenaline and excitement. Over the years of racing I have learned to redirect and focus my adrenaline in a good way. When you have to much adrenaline it can result in people not making precise and correct decisions. And one bad decision can cost you a couple spots when you’re racing against semi pros. These are really the only strong feelings I encounter that I can think of. Except for the love I have for my family. And comparing these two feelings to animals, I don’t think I can. I don’t know what animals think and I don’t know what feelings they have. But maybe the feelings I have before a race starts can be compared to a race horse. When the horse is in the gate ready and waiting to be released to run as fast as the can and win.

Suicide ever justifiable?

WT #2 PG. 1211

Suicide is one of the most selfish things someone can do. The family and friends of the deceased are the ones who are going to suffer and have to deal with the suicide of their loved one. The person who took their life took the easy way out and doesn’t care about the feelings of others. They don’t have to deal with it so who cares, what a coward and very self centered. I can only think of a few reasons how suicide would ever be considered justifiable. One is when someone gives their life to save the lives of others. This occurs from time to time but mainly in the movies to make the character seem heroic. When this occurs, let’s say in the military, a soldier can jump on a grenade to save the lives of his troop. He or she will be seen as a hero and noble for his or hers self-sacrificing act. This suicide in my opinion would be considered justifiable. Another way suicide would be considered justifiable to me would be when someone is terminally ill and they have a very slim chance of pulling through. If their treatment and life support is going to hurt the financial well being of their family or if the patient is going to be in excruciating pain. This would be costly and more emotional to their family than if they just decided to pass away. It would also make the patient go through pain for nothing if they are kept on life support but have no chance of surviving. These types of suicide which are selfless and justifiable should be called something else, not suicide.
On the other hand, committing suicide just because your depressed, going through a hard time in your life, or you get made fun of is very pathetic. Most of these people who feel like suicide is the only way out need immediate treatment. Who would take dying over life? But the others are doing this just for attention. As I said in the beginning of my blog these people are selfish and cowards, the only people truly being hurt are their loved ones. After people attempt to commit suicide but fail, a lot of them are glad they didn’t die. In the movie The Bridge, they interview people who have attempted suicide and they also show a lot of people actually doing it by jumping off the golden gate bridge in San Francisco. I had to watch this movie in a previous class and I learned a lot from it. Whatever the case I don’t think there is to much else we as a society can do to prevent and discourage suicide. If they want to do it they will. Already there are tons of hotlines, information, and medication to help people in that situation. Most of the time the people who want to commit suicide don’t tell anyone or if they do, the people or person they tell, don’t take their claims seriously.

WT #2 Pg. 1062

I personally don’t believe anyone has to tell anything to anyone if they prefer not to, even if people make it out to be morally responsible. Of course everything can be construed as morally obligated and people can even go as far as making you feel bad if you don’t do what they want you to. As for Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters in the story, I believe that it is up to them to tell the county attorney what they know about the murder. And they shouldn’t feel morally obligated to do this. They didn’t do anything wrong and they don’t have to be involved more than they already were. I experienced this kind of situation first hand when I was in jr. high. I was visiting a few of my cousins on summer break down by Palos Verdes. My cousin and I, who was the same age as me, decided to go to a party down the block. Early in the day a girl he knew invited me and him to come hang out with her and her friend at the party. When we showed up everything was going good, then later in the day a crime occurred and I was a witness to it. I did not want to be involved and I didn’t want to deal with everything that comes along with being the only witness. I did not know the people that the crime happened to or who committed the crime, and I couldn’t care less. I know that sounds harsh but I just wanted to enjoy the rest of my vacation and go along with my life. Also it wasn’t a type of crime that I would solve a murder or be a hero for testifying, it was a lame one but serious to the police. When the police showed up before I had a chance to leave, they kept everyone there until they sorted some things out. Some people knew I seen what happened and they kept telling me I had to tell the police and it was only right. And of course one of them told the police that I seen what happened and I wanted to deny it, because I did not want to get me or my family involved. But they ended up making me feel like I was morally liable to tell them what I had seen. And of course the polices planned magnificently chosen words made me feel like I was morally obligated to tell them what I witnessed. I was young at the time and I was always taught to listen to the police. After I told them what I witnessed, there it started, it seemed like an endless system of writing and speaking, for months. It ruined my summer vacation and the rest of that school year. I wish I never did fall for the morally obligated nonsense. I didn’t do anything but I was the one who suffered. But you learn from your mistakes and I now know that I will never be conned into someone making me feel morally obligated. It is up to you if you feel apt to it or not.