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.

Self-Righteous and Lazy

Call me judgmental, but some people have this innate annoyance that really ticks me off. I can break it down to three different types of people that I can't handle:


1. Self-Righteous nuts. Sanctimonious, pompous, smug: choose your poison. People that are so full of themselves and their ideas that they can't see any other way can dampen my day, any day. I mean really, do you have to act better than everyone else? We are all people, and usually (especially at school) your "claims" to fame are limited to social standing or inflated dreams of greatness. I find it rude when people like this put themselves on a pedestal, belittling the people that are "below" them. Especially bible thumpers. I mean, if you're actually good at something go ahead, be proud of your achievement but don't shove it down every one's throats and develop a bloated head. Tools, I'm talking to you too. On a side note (but not unrelated), I don't like socks with sandals or Timbs. They don't look good, and if you're cold wear shoes, not socks under sandals. That's why we have shoes!


2. Lazy leeches: Couch Potato Joe, now I'm talking to you. Taxpayers gave you 12 years of school so you could join the workforce! What a great gift! Now use it. Why would you want to live with mom anyway? I completely understand if you are looking but can't find a job, that is a different story entirely, but honestly if you aren't being proactive about your prospects in life what is the point? Plus, you are taking my tax dollars for social programs that others need and you don't deserve. This is especially applicable in school. We all know the kids that just slide by, don't challenge themselves, don't dream. They just develop into leeches on society when they grow up.


3. Smokers: Enough said. It is nasty, smells bad, and breaks your wallet. Honestly what's the point besides polluting my oxygen? 

Consent in an "Open Society"

The title of the movie says it all. Manufacturing consent. This biographical look at Noam Chomsky's work on the media carries a message behind it, the message of media control in our lives.

In today's fast paced, information filled world, I agree with Chomsky in regards to the control of the media by an elite few. In this film, the big news companies are controlled by corporate entities and the large news companies indirectly control little news companies. Just look in the Star Tribune, all of the national stories are supplied by the AP, The New York Times, or another large news company. Chomsky's claim that these news sources are controlled by GE and other large corporation has been suggested by numerous people, and not without good reason. Why would a technology focused company like GE want to own NBC? I can see the profit motive but I don't really think it is GE's business to be in.

The information found in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvodhsMc2QM&feature=player_embedded#at=50

 show the political aspects behind controlling media and also how the media distorts information. Justin Lewis in the video explains the media closely with Chomsky. He claims that government does not listen to the people, not unlike Chomsky who says that it is the government that tells us what to do, not the other way around. I can agree with this, as it always seems to me that politicians are trying to further their goals, not their constitutes. I also agree with Chomsky's idea that media that presents government in a negative light will be given less favorable information by the government. Therefore, I suppose media outlets like the New York Times can stretch information like the massacre in Cambodia.

However, I do not believe that government is out to suppress information and to manufacture consent. Maybe I am too naive, or simply have too much faith in our government but I think that news is separate of the government. They are private companies, and since there is no overarching control over the many different media outlets, if there were discrepancies in information, people would know. It is in media outlets best interest to give factual, true information. That is what drives profit, reliability. In a society where we can see real news happening, for example in the summer when the Iranians posted Twitter updates to share news, it is impossible for the government to control information, and therefore manufacture consent. Yes, there can be certain coverups but not on the scale of what happened in Cambodia, not now in the 21st Century. Chomsky's ideas may have been valid when this sporadic film was made but I believe they no longer hold true.

Simulation: Life

Hi, my name is Danny Dvorak and I am addicted to Sims. Yes, I do mean the computer game, and yes I know it is a problem. My annoying...habit started sometime around 4th grade and as with all addictions it slowly began to take over my life. I would neglect simple household chores so my Sims could clean their toilet or recycle their newspaper. Yells from my mom would be answered with the almost programmed "yeah one minute!" That was stage one. My problem progressed when a large portion of my disposable income was allotted to the purchase of Sims games, over $200 on Sims 1 alone. The expansion packs were calling. Then lo and behold, Sims 2 was introduced into my life. Not only was it more realistic than the first, but it allowed me a plethora of new options to play with. My expenditures increased as did my time in front of the computer screen. There was a new world for me to live vicariously through, so I should enjoy it, right? That was stage two. But the addiction persisted. I was conniving and I convinced my dad that I needed my own computer so I could have a faster experience, and I sneakily added that he wouldn't have to wait for my game to save on our archaic computer. Well I won, so my prospects of being a lawyer looked bright. If only I could be more proactive with my time. That was stage 3.

High school came and thankfully my time in front of the computer diminished as my workload increased. With the start of freshman year I had begun my road to recovery. Maybe it was maturity, or maybe prioritizing that led me to cut down on my screen time. Or maybe it was losing my files, one of the three. In the end I believe it was a combination, coupled with the realization that I should live my life, not a computer character's. The relationships you develop by experiencing life are more important that the amount of money your Sims accrue. I realized that life was more important than any silly game. I never fell in love with Xbox or video games; I just had this one guilty pleasure. It is still fun to play from time to time, but it is no longer a lifestyle for me. As of today I have been "sober" since August, and I'm as happy as can be!

Going Down in Flames

           Omnipresent in the news media today is the mention of religious zealots fighting for ideals, be it terrorism struggling to rid of the establishment in Iraq or in America’s own backyard. In a country that is supposed to stand for freedom, equality, and justice, this infringement on our constitution by a pastor from Florida or by a group of protesters on the streets of New York City has not only created doubt about the future of our country, but has impacted me by sowing fear and distrust into my worldview. I can only hope that the world can move away from this current mindset of self-serving need for a uniform society before we progress into drastic decline.

            America was founded on principles of religious equality and freedom for all. Although it has taken awhile to reach equality with the civil rights movement taking place only 45 years ago, I fear that the rise of radical ideas like uniform English language usage in America and the burning of the Koran will only work to undo this. When one person can threaten to burn a book in pure spite of another’s religion the cohesiveness of our world falters. I believe that if we continue down this path it can only lead towards contempt for the differences in our fellow citizens, ignorance to culture, and a failure to be open, accepting, and welcoming in the future.

            Growing up during the War on Terrorism, I have seen firsthand how fanaticism can lead to destruction. One only needs to look back 9 years to see how a couple of radicals can tear down towers along with the dreams and emotions of a nation. I have grown up in an age that was afraid; afraid to fly, afraid to travel, afraid of differences. Sadly it is a reality that kids my age are scared of Muslims even though they aren’t at all comparable to the radicals represented in Al Qaeda and in the Iranian government. It is much the same as my parent’s generation and the Soviets or of the contempt towards the Germans during the World Wars. I feel that through this process of healing as a nation in the aftermath of the attacks we need to be open-minded and move away from stereotypes in order to move forward. Sitting at home listening to the news I worry about our troops and about the backlash an act carried out by a Florida pastor would create. Without change in our attitudes as a nation I fear the future will be filled with more tension and resentment.

            In a world of instantaneous communication, of a global network of information, in order to coexist with hundreds of different ideas and pasts it is imperative that we allow the variety in people to flourish. Difference doesn’t need to breed distrust if we stick to our values and ignore the attention grabbing actions of the few people that spread their ideas with dramatic actions.