Spice

Auf Wiedersehen 2010. It's been just as eventful and normal as expected. That is what life is, don't you think? Wisps of excitement intermixed with the day to day drudge of our overflowing schedules. But it is this excitement that gives life zest. It's like spicing up a bland dish or mocha (Caribou reference, couldn't resist). Just a little "zing" goes a long way in making something run-of-the-mill into something amazing.

In a year packed with spice, it’s hard to find a place to start. With a heart wrenching earthquake in Haiti to an oil spill intertwined with a bad economy, this has been a rough year for many. While there are exceptions, even some celebrities have had better years. Woods will never be the same and Favre effectively ended his career, yet everyone is going gaga for GaGa and Betty White’s star can’t shine any brighter. We were able to enjoy outdoor baseball and bask in the addictive glory of social networks. Plus Republicans won seats in Congress, which never hurts. As the year turns over, there comes a time to reevaluate and in retrospect it seems as if none of these occurrences matter to me.

What truly matters is the tangible events in my life, the spices I can readily taste. I’m talking about the events that matter; time with friends, weddings, vacations. No matter who you are, these events mean a lot more than a celebrity who can’t keep the belt buckled. Since January 1^st does in fact bring a change in the year, it offers one a good time to reminisce. How nostalgic, to picture myself walking down the streets of New York with a bunch of lower income children, or eating a burger at a drive in after a romp on Calhoun in the warm August sun. These little memories, fond reminders of a year gone by, are what make up life. They are close to home, and therefore close to heart (awwww).

So at the turn of the year, I ask you to reevaluate what parts of your life you want to replicate. Then go out and do it. It’s easy! Don’t sweat the five pounds you resolve to drop or the addiction (be it Sims or cigarettes) that you hope to lose. While it’s important to have goals such as these, they pale in comparison to the goal of an exuberant existence.

I Want to be on the Inside

This is the sentiment that many people feel in the world today, and I believe Lewis adequetly addressed this issue. Entrance into the Inner Ring means acceptance and information which leads to power. Lewis' speech allows us to take a step back, assess our personal struggle for acceptance, and reevaulate our priorities.


I think that Lewis' speech carries a strong message not only for college students entering the workforce but also for teenagers in school. Just walk down Wayzata High School hallways. There are people willing to sacrifice much to gain entrance to the popular cliques and gain a favorable reputation with their peers. We all see it. Teenagers strive to be accepted, because acceptance means security. In "Mean Girls" Cady looses her identity in her struggle for acceptance into the Plastics. This example shows how relevent Lewis' warning is to many people.


After reading his speech I think the idea most high schoolers, and people in general, need to take away is this concept of friendship being the safest circle. Sure, it sounds mushy and fem but it makes sense. The people you are friends with are people that you choose to be around, and vice versa. In an exclusive circle, the memebers are working to exclude. (Notice the root similarity?) It is important that we stick to what really matters in life in order to live to the fullest. Relationships, true, organic, and easy, are more important than power.

A Day That Will Live in Infamy

Aren't Synonyms Wonderful?

Wonderful: Adjective
Definitions:
-Inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration
-Extremely good
-Marvelous
Example: Christmas makes me feel wonderful.
Origin: Old English "wunderfull"

Synonyms
Amazing:
Definitions: Adjective
-Causing great surprise or wonder
-Startlingly impressive
Example: It is amazing how ignorant that girl is.
Origin: Old English āmasian, of unknown origin

Definitions: AdjectiveMarvelous
-Of, from, or like a God
-Devoted to God; sacred
-Excellent; delightful
Example: This peach cobbler is divine.
Origin: Late Middle English: via Old French from Latin divinus, from divus "Godlike"

Definitions: Adjective
-Causing great wonder; extraordinary
-Extremely good or pleasing; splendid
Example: I have never heard such a marvelous choir
Origin: Middle English: from Old French merveillus, from merveille

Tremendous
Definitions: Adjective
-Very great in amount, scale, or intensity
-Informal: extremely good
Example: The actions of the charity were quite tremendous.
Origin: Mid 17th century: from Latin tremendus

Outstanding
Definitions: Adjective
-Exceptionally good
-Clearly noticeable
-Remaining to be done
Example: The grease on the burger was outstanding
Origin: 1605 - 15 (Unknown Origin)

Excellent
Definitions: Adjective
-Extrememly good
-Outstanding
-Used to indicate pleasure
Example: This 18th century furniture has excellent grain patterns
Origin: From Old French, from Latin excellent 'being preeminent', from excellere

Definitions: Adjective
-Extraordinary, especially large
-Amazingly good
-Having no basis in reality
Example: This fabulous orchestra carries big sound
Origin: From French fabuleux or Latin fabulosus 'celebrated in fable', from fabula  

Astounding
Definitions: Adjective
-Surprisingly impressive or notable
Example: This essay is unusually astounding
Origin: Variation of astonish from Old French estone

Remarkable
Definitions: Adjective
-Worthy of attention
-Striking
Example: I find it remarkable that they included song in their performance
Origin: Early 17th century: from French remarquable, from remarquer 'take note of'

Brilliant
Definitions: Adjective
-Very bright, radiant
-Clever or talented
-Impressive
Example: The stars are brilliantly twinkling
Origin: Late 17th century: from French brillant 'shining', present participle of briller, from Italian brillare 

Opt Out?

You can take this at face value, as the musings of an angst filled teen. It's possible my thoughts are being replicated a thousand times over around the world. I wouldn't be surprised. Stress and pressure isn't a localized issue.

I really wasn't sure what to write, until a tsunami of stress engulfed me like this weekend's snowstorm. I wish sometimes there was an opt out button on responsibility. I didn't want to go to work today and deal with picky customers and remaking drinks when people take the wrong beverage. Opt out! I could spend my time doing something more productive than making 7.50 an hour, or as I calculated today at work, 1 dollar every 8 minutes. Wait, that's before income tax gets taken out. Opt out?

I know what you're thinking. Who is he to complain and whine? I was the one who signed up for my classes, got a job, and attempted to have the semblance of a social life. I also chose all the extra curriculars to fill my time with. That time is at a premium, and sometimes sleep is the weakest link. It's the first to go. Take tonight. It is 8:30. I still have an AP Gov essay to write, two essays to read, and an APUSH teaching project to finish. Dang.

Sorry if this is boring or annoying to read. I'd be annoyed to read it. However, I just needed to let out my frustration at the circumstances. Sometimes there really is nothing you can do, except regret for time wasted. Or maybe, in a perfect world, opt out.

A Realistic Proposal: Compete Globally.

So maybe this wasn't the best movie I've ever seen. Or, maybe I just didn't like the message being shoved down my throat. In the end, what really matters is what I took away from the movie, and as I sift through the craftily used statistics and the subjective portrayal of information, I found a message with relevance. It does not carry the drastic overtones that the movie wants us to feel, but it still highlights a growing problem. Like it or not, we are falling behind. It is like we are sitting at a stoplight and we miss the light switching to green, seeing the cars in the other lane advance and all we can do is slam on the gas to catch up. If your car isn't up to par, hitting the gas is not enough.


In the film, the creators effectively portrayed their statistics as an appeal to logos in order to fit their claim and purpose. They can use statistics, for example the number of Chinese that learn English and vice versa, in a way that twists our perception. Even though China has a higher population and English is more important for them to learn than Chinese may be for us, they use this stat to garner a response, that we are not competing on a global level. They effectively used case studies to appeal not only to our sense of logos but also pathos. We can see ourselves in the students from Carmel, and we are able to see what the students in other nations are going through. These are not representative of the whole population so they provide only what the makers of the film want you to see (Come on, how many violin virtuoso's are there in China?). Although they used "experts" to explain this growing trend as a way to appeal to ethos, I did not feel they adequately addressed this appeal by failing to connect as filmmakers.


This movie was made to target Americans. The creaters' intent was to show us how we are lacking by spending our time differently. It never addresses the importance of areas outside of academics in the business world, or the importance of people skills if you aren't going into engineering or science. However, as you look through the statistics and stories, you are able to see that we do need to work at a higher level to continue to compete on a global level.

Liberty

Division of Analysis:

Freedom is the achievement of being able to live unhindered. It is only possible when you have the ability to freely think, be mobile, and to have options. By thinking for oneself, one can decide on their viewpoints and what actions they want to partake in. This leads to the ability to be mobile. One has to be able to move as they please in able to live unhindered. One also has to be able to have decisions. In controlling environments, people do not have the ability to move freely or think freely. They are restricted and thus are hindered by lack of liberty and to an extent power. Therefore, to actualize freedom, one has to have these three building blocks in place.

 

Cause/Effect:

When you achieve complete freedom from restraint, you begin to feel your way towards responsibility. It is kind of like putting your toe in a pool to test the temperature. You slowly begin to find how you want to define your responsibilities, and on a broader scale, your life. You have to fend for yourself and make wise decisions lest you fall into disarray. You also have to be wary of how you act as nothing is controlling you and so everything you do is of your own production. You can’t blame anyone else for your mistakes and follies. You are accountable. On the plus side, you get to live to your full potential and choose your circumstances.

 

Process Analysis:

Freedom is sometimes difficult to come by. There are many constraints put upon us; by government, by society, by authority. To attain freedom, one has to overcome the authority that is controlling them. This is done in political arenas by revolution. A revolution doesn’t just happen overnight. You need to a) plan it, b) get a following, c) find an event that triggers opposition, and d) actively revolt. Freedom can also be attained by petitioning for rights or by working through the established government in order to secure certain rights.

 

Narrative:

I had been looking forward to this point in my life in earnest. There was so much hype about turning 18, graduating, and leaving home. Naturally, I wanted to test the as of yet unchartered waters of adulthood. The biggest leap was moving to college and saying goodbye to my childhood. It was an abrupt but invigorating awakening. I was now able to live however I chose, coming and going as I pleased and ignoring the presence of a higher authority directing my actions. I began my new life by staying out late and eating junk food. I know, not the most responsible decisions, but most importantly they were my decisions, my choice, and in the end, my consequences. All mine. I was able to live life day to day, slowly finding a lifestyle that fit my concept of a purposeful existence. I was able to have control of my future without interruption. I was free.

Definition:

Freedom can be expressed in many forms. In its very basic form it is the ability to decide. This can be widened on a scale to fit a society under a totalitarian regime and politics or brought down to a personal scale. When thinking of freedom we oftentimes think of this abstract, lofty political aspiration that Americans are proud to have. While this is true, freedom comes in more basic forms besides political freedom. You can have freedom of thought, which includes writing and speaking. You can also have freedom of religion, allowing complete control of your faith. On an even smaller scale you may have freedom from monitoring. Your parents may let you set your own curfew or your food choice. These various levels of freedom all allow for individualism though.

 

Argument/Persuasion:

I believe that people need to practice freedom of expression. Don’t live in a box or as a conformist. You are abusing your right to freedom! When you conform to a norm, you not only are losing part of yourself, you are reinforcing the behaviors of others and slowly losing your personality. I think it is easy to emulate others in order to ease through messy or awkward situations. However, you are unique and so need to act in your personal best interests and not others. I find that in today’s society the media plays a larger and larger role in how we portray ourselves. As we mimic, we misplace our being. I believe it is of the upmost importance to retain your identity and shy away from becoming something that others tell us to be. We have the freedom of choice so we should use it.

Comparison/Contrast:

There is a stark contrast between freedom and oppression. You cannot have both at the same time as one that is oppressed does not have freedom.  Freedom is the ability to decide your future and your circumstances.  It is free of constraint and allows for complete openness. Oppression puts shackles on a person, restricting their choice, their expression, and their ability to determine their future. However, freedom can lead to indulgence. As humans we want to satisfy our needs, sometimes to the extent of gluttony. Some would say that freedom is a luxury as indulgence is. It is important to distinguish from the two and ensure that you utilize your freedom wisely, since the oppressed don’t have the opportunity to do so.

Classification:

There are many different types of freedom. There is economic freedom, intellectual freedom, and political freedom. While in some places you can find a large degree of freedom, you will never find complete freedom unless you are in a place that is unrestricted by the institution of government. You will never be able to commit crimes or do exactly as you please, but the rights you are awarded fall under these three categories. Economic freedom is the ability to trade, buy, and engage in economic activity at your own whim. It includes the rights to property, rule of law, and contractual rights. Intellectual freedom includes the freedom to think as you please, believe as you please, and express as you please. The rights enumerated by intellectual freedom include choice in religion, speech, and opinion. In political freedom, you have the ability to choose government and lifestyle without government intervention. Free elections and balanced government are facets of political freedom.

Example:

My dad always had a hard time voting. It was just something he wasn’t used to. I always saw it as a way to choose the way you want to live, as the government governs your life in a way. He didn’t believe he should spend his precious time choosing his representatives. I always thought this was the best way to express your freedom. You get to choose who is in power, who will institute the laws. Failure to do so is a neglect of the rights that were given to you.

Description:

She arose to the birds chirping on a brisk morning, the signs of a golden dawn streaming in through the slightly frosted window. Her wearied bones creaked as she pushed away the blankets that had protected her from the gripping cold of the night. Sitting at the time-worn desk that was filled with the telltale signs of bygone writers, her hands gently caressed the divots and markings that had given her the courage to write. The ballpoint pen felt cold against her hand as she scratched out the words that had for years caused turmoil. Down the hall, a grandfather clock emitted a cacophonous chime, mangled with the history it had seen. Keeping in the family tradition, she continued to etch out the controversial words that tended to cause a maelstrom of criticism. She wrote to enjoy the pure bliss of freedom, to see her words ripple across the pages of the country as they sipped their hot morning coffee, taking in yet another example of an unrestrained writer.