3/10/2012 Blog: Speaking of Courage Interpration

To me, the chapter Speaking of Courage delineates courage as a difficult thing, especially in war. It is shown as “the hard way.” It also shows good intentions alone do not necessarily translate into courage. As much as Norman Bowker wished to do save Kiowa from the sh!t field, he could not. He wanted to do the right thing, and tried, but was unable to. He had the right intentions, and he had the initiative, he just had one thing against him: the circumstances of the situation. The muck had too strong of a hold on Kiowa by the time he attempted to rescue him, and (arguably) even if he had resumed his rescue, there would be not one burial afterward but two. Also, I believe “courage” depends on the Point of View. Of course, Norman Bowker viewed his actions as a failure. He couldn’t save a dear friend. But the rest of us, who acknowledge the difficulty of the situation, realize that in fact Norman was courageous by attempting to save his friend, and the result of this should not be taken into account.

I also believe that, intentional or not, the chapter portrays Norman in a non-courageous way: Norman never actually tells his experience to anyone (though the chapter merely tells the truth, we the readers may interpret this as non-courageous). If we extend the belief (inferred from the book) that courage is doing the hard thing, than we can arguably say that Norman Bowker did the easier and thus the cowardly thing. We can also argue that the taciturn veteran paid the price in another way: he hurt himself by keeping his experiences and emotions inside him for too long. Basically, his entire decision not to tell anyone this story is detrimental. From this experience and others in the book, we may surmise O’Brien perceives courage as doing the right and difficult thing, as well as doing what sometimes appears to be the less rational thing.

Another instance in the book that deals with courage is Chapter 4: On the Rainy River. O’Brien had chosen to go to the war in this chapter rather than exile himself from society. At the end of the chapter, the author says: “I was a coward. I went to war.” In both of these instances, the soldiers exit with emotional wounds and are thus not unscathed.  Also, both do the rational thing, so Bowker could escape death, and O’Brien could escape society (they both also absconded from something). Conforming with society and being survivalistic seem very rational to society. Thus, when someone is courageous, they do the irrational and difficult to understand thing.  

Memoir Assignment: (2/26/2012) From Jina Y., Ohio

Summary and Analysis:

The title of her work is Beyond Tears. It is about the author as a little girl (a toddler) having her pigtails yanked by a boy when she stomps hard on his foot. He starts to cry very loudly, and the adults rush to the scene. Of course, she is blamed, and she is asked to apologize. She will not, she says, because it is also the boy's fault. The teacher asks what he did, but she is too furious to respond. She is sent to the timeout chair, and feels extremely humiliated. At the reflection, she says she learned two things: that boys have cooties, and never to do anything you'll regret.

How Jina Accomplishes the Role of Storytelling and Memoir

*She does not say "said" like so many authors do. She uses some variation in this area.

*She uses onomatopoeia, something many excellent authors use.

*She writes the memoir from a 3 year old's view (of course adding her later reflections), with the behavior of the characters visibly like their ages.

*She shows what happened in the story, as well as her character's internal feelings (like how humiliated she was after the ordeal).  

*In the end, a reflection is included. She tells us the lessons she learned from the experience.

 How does this memoir appeal to me?

*She uses above average diction (what words are selected) and syntax (the way the words are used).

*The author talks about something significant to her where she actually learned something useful. Nothing like: "I learned spinach and vanilla ice cream just don't mix."

*She shows, not tells. Not "I was angry" but actually describing the anger.

*Even at three, she had a hunger for justice. And she was pretty accurate, too. 

*She uses other vocabulary in dialogue besides "said." My biggest peeve has been avoided!

Vietnam: Origin, American Involment, and Sides (2-13-2012)

Summary

The Vietnam War started in 1955 and ended in 1975. On one side was the Communist North Vietnam, and on the other side was the South Vietnam, supported by the US and other allies. This conflict occurred during the time of the Cold War, as well as during the US supported policy of containment- keeping Communism where it was and preventing it from spreading. North Vietnam wished to convert its southern counterpart into a Communist country, but this was counter to the policy of the US, and seeing this conflict as crucial America became involved. In the end, North Vietnam would prevail with the capture of Saigon (the capital of South Vietnam) in 1975. The US would withdraw from Indochina (the war dealt a great loss to the country, with nearly 60,000 troops lost as well), the dissolution of the former Republic of Vietnam, and the conversion of South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to communism (they also would join with North Vietnam to form a unified Vietnam).

Origins

During World War II, Indochina (Laos, Cambodia, and all of Vietnam) was occupied by the Japanese. To retaliate, Ho Chi Minh, a communist started a Nationalist Vietnamese movement in 1941 to expel the invaders. With a US ally and guerrilla (hit and run) tactics, Japan was forced to flee. After the war (in 1946), the French (the previous occupants) bombed Haiphong, entered Hanoi, and forcibly took over after failed negotiations. In 1954, the French were ousted the the Viet Minh (those in Vietnam working for Minh). It would be decided that the Viet Minh would rule a communist state in the north, and a republic would be in the south. Soon, war would occur between the opposing forces, with the Viet Cong's communists uprising in South Vietnam.

                                                      Opposite Sides

The Communists: these are the supporters of Ho Chi Minh, the peoples of North Vietnam, and had a great ally: Communist China. These people wished to unite Vietnam and render it a communist state. The Viet Cong, or National Liberation Front (NLF) was a communist group allied with the Viet Minh (communists in the north) and were actually located in South Vietnam, representing a communist minority in the region. They were allied with the communist's official People's Army of Vietnam, the army up north.

The Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam): this is the side that lost the war, despite the aid of the US and other capitalist countries. Ngo Dinh Diem and then Nguyen Van Thieu were the presidents of the country. After France retreated from Vietnam, Diem had launched a campaign against the last members of the Viet Minh in the south. This was a failed attempt to consolidate his rule. President Thieu continued the unsuccessful war against the communists, though Saigon would be taken in 1975.

Sources

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War

2. http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/vietnamwar/a/VietnamOrigins.htm

3. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/vietnam.htm

Let America Be America Again: An Analysis (2/6/2012)

The two perspectives of America shown in Langston Hughes’ poem are of the downtrodden man and the man with a rather sumptuous home. The former decries the American Dream (which in essence requires natural selection—one man achieves his dreams leaving the rest in the gutter), while the latter; rather unstated perspective is that of the man with silver buttons and a gold cane. The bleak picture of the decline of the American Dream is explored in the poem, with Langston drawing parallels between the vision of the plebeians (the majority) and his own identical perspective. His poem is in affect a response to the opinion purported by the rich: the American Dream is offered to everyone, and the American Dream is the epitome of perfection. Hughes’ world is much different than the one painted by the rich—everything, even the Roaring Twenties, are gilded.  The rich romp about, while the poor congregate, wondering how their bills for the month shall be paid. The American Dream is not, as the rich pretend, able to be achieved by most in a person’s lifetime. Like the caste system in India, the American Dream is a hereditary characteristic few can attain in their life. Like moths changing color, the acquirement of the American Dream requires mettle and a bit of luck. This is in essence what is described by Hughes. His picture of a perfect American Dream (or indeed America) is a land of equal opportunity, where the American Dream can be achieved by even the lowliest immigrant. The American Dream’s reality and vision blend directly into America’s reality and vision. Thus, Hughes criticizes the gilded aspect of the American Dream, attempted by the many and achieved by the few. The tone in the poem is a kind of musing anger. His words are strong, but he also muses about the future. Fitzgerald is similar in how he criticizes the American Dream, though he takes the perspective of the rich rather than Hughes taking the perspective of the poor. He shows the rich’s weaknesses, namely them being shallow and out of touch with the poor. In the modern world, this philosophy is more applicable than ever: we are in a long recession, income inequality has increased to unprecedented levels, prices of food and forms of energy are skyrocketing, and people are becoming more depressed. The American Dream can be achieved, but the cost (many damaged lives) would make many consider not getting it. The few win, the majority are just a carpet for the rich and successful to wipe their feet on.

James Gatz/Jay Gatsby: a Narration (1-21-2012)

This scene is derived from Chapter 7, page 132. Words in italics indicate Gatsby’s thoughts. The rest is Nick’s narration.

“Daisy, that’s all over now,” he said earnestly.”It doesn’t matter anymore. Just tell him the truth- that you never loved him—and it’s all wiped out forever.”

Daisy, Daisy, Daisy, love. I have waited for years for you to tell Tom this. Surely you mean it, old sport. Now tell him! Tell him the truth!

She looked at him blindly. “Why—how could I love him—possibly?”

Possibly? Daisy, there is NO possibility! You love me and me only. Right?

“You never loved him.”

Come now Daisy, you KNOW this. Just admit it so we can finally be together in peace.

She hesitated. Her eyes fell on Jordan and me with a sort of appeal, as though she realized at last what she was doing—and as though she had never, all along, intended to do anything at all. But it was done now. It was too late.

“I never loved him,” she said, with perceptible reluctance.

That’s it! She told him! This "thing" between her and Tom must be over!

“Not at Kapiolani?” demanded Tom suddenly.

“No.”

From the ballroom beneath, muffled and suffocating clouds were drifting up on hot waves of air.

“Not that day I carried you down from the Punch Bowl to keep your shoes dry?” There was a husky tenderness in his tone…”Daisy?”

What is going on? Is that man there trying to soften my Daisy up? I don't understand!

“Please don’t.” Her voice was cold, but the rancor was gone from it. She looked at Gatsby. “There, Jay,” she said— but her hand as she tried to light a cigarette was trembling. Suddenly, she threw the cigarette and the burning match on the carpet. “I did love him once—but I loved you too.”

WHAT? You loved me too? You love me only! You never loved Tom! What is this all about? Could this possibly be true, old sport?

Gatsby’s eyes opened and closed.

“You loved me too?” he repeated. 

I am shocked...

The Decline of the American Dream Blog 1/12/2012

                 According to Forbes Magazine (and many other sources as well), faith in the American Dream is declining rapidly, especially after 9/11, the late 2000's Recession, and other horrendous events. A poll indicates that a mere 57% of people believed the American Dream could be achieved by them and their families in December 2010, as opposed to 76% of Americans in July 2010. This shows a 19% plunge in a single decade, something shocking yet true.

               There are many factors contributing to the rapid demise in faith of the cornerstone of America, the American Dream. For example, the income inequality gap has increased, resulting in a pyramid where most American wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, in part due to the late 2000's Recession (which many now coin the Great Recession). The recession itself also played a large factor in the loss of faith in the American Dream, with jobs disappearing and income not keeping up with inflation (especially is energy prices these days-just look at your local gas station). Student debt (and other kinds of debt as well) nail a hammer in the coffin of decreased faith in the American Dream- debt makes humans pessimistic, and when one is in debt, the materialistic aspect of the American Dream seems more out of reach than ever. Basically, when people enter a recession, faith in the American Dream is lost. Why? Everything about it is pecuniary.

           So. how does all of this tie in to The Great Gatsby? In the novel, the American Dream is very materialistic as it is today. Money, money, money. Money makes the world go round. After WWI was a decadent period (somewhat like today: our celebrities are similar to the uber-rich in the book) where people borrowed many items using plastic credit cards at an enormous rate, while the poor just tried to get by. It is important to note the novel itself is set in this time- the Roaring Twenties.  The early 2000's were like the Roaring Twenties, while the late 2000's were like the Great Depression. Of course, no matter what kind of economy we live in, money is idolized. In Chapter 9 of the novel, the American Dream (original) is supposedly the pursuit of happiness and moral values. I suppose as people grew richer and glean greenbacks, their moral values tended to nosedive. After all, life is about trade. Trade wealth for morals, and you truly pay a great price.

          Just remember, to be happy does not equate to being rich. There is much more to life than riches and plastic items.

Music Album Review: OneRepublic's Dreaming Out Loud Album

           This was not a hard one for me to decide. I just love OneRepublic's songs, and I have the whole album on my iPod Touch. I would listen to it every day (before my iPod got stolen) for up to 2 hours. It was released in November of 2007, and the critics do not rate it so well, according to Wikipedia, but I for one love the album. The album itself has 12 songs, the most famous of which (and probably my favorite song ever) is Apologize, in which Ryan Tedder has a solo. The song is about someone trusting and loving someone, and that person breaking their heart. The singer poured his whole heart into loving the person, but something went wrong, and the "rope" he is holding onto is precarious and then his love cuts it. She apologizes later, but it is to late to repair the damage. Later, he points out he still loves her and would like to be with her, but she has broken his heart too many times. As time goes on, he is more weary and loves her less, unsure he can trust her. He thinks of the love they had, and regrets what happened. The melody is slow,and there are some string instruments involved, as well as a piano, among other things (not the best at deciphering instruments). The other songs have similar themes of love, and are also beautiful.

The other songs in the album are:

 

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Say (All I Need)"	Andrew Brown, Zach Filkins, Eddie Fisher, Brent Kutzle, Ryan Tedder[10][11]	3:50
2.	"Mercy"	Brown, Tedder	4:00
3.	"Stop and Stare"	Brown, Filkins, Fisher, Tim Myers, Tedder	3:43
4.	"Apologize"	Tedder	3:28
5.	"Goodbye, Apathy"	Tedder	3:32
6.	"All Fall Down"	Brown, Filkins, Fisher, Kutzle, Tedder	4:04
7.	"Tyrant"	Brown, Filkins, Tedder	5:03
8.	"Prodigal"	Jerrod Bettis, Brown, Filkins, Myers, Tedder	3:55
9.	"Won't Stop"	Brown, Filkins, Fisher, Kutzle, Tedder	5:03
10.	"All We Are"	Myers, Tedder	4:28
11.	"Someone to Save You"	Fisher, Myers, Tedder	4:15
12.	"Come Home"	Tedder	4:27