Blog Evaluation

One of my favorite blog assignments this year was the Having Our Say blog in which I said what I wanted to say.  I chose to write about the reverse discrimination felt today by white society because of the guilt felt by the whites for decades of discrimination against minority groups.  This was my favorite because it is something I feel very strongly about.  I did put effort into some of my blogs this year but others I did half-hearted because of a lack of time.  I most likely will not continue blogging because I do not have the time for it.  I think next year's class should blog because it adds points to your grade and it is occasionally fun.  My favorite stories were Owl Creek Bridge, Having Our Say, and All Quiet on the Western Front.

The Great Gatsby Soundtrack

"The Charleston" by James P. Johnson would be perfect for The Great Gatsby because it is a party song.  It fits in perfect with the lavish parties thrown by Gatsby when he is seeking to get Daisy to attend.  "The Love Nest" by John Steel was sung by Klipspringer in The Great Gatsby.  "It had to be you" by Frank Sinatra is also good because the song talks about why a person stays with a partner.  Daisy stays with Tom even though he cheats on her regularly. 

A Man Said to the Universe

A man said to the universe:
"Sir I exist!"
"However," replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."

This poem by Stephen Crane involves the naturalistic element of the universe.  A vast topic of space and time.  The poem is saying that the people are not entitled to life just because they are living now.  Life can be taken away in the blink of an eye.  No one is obligated to keep someone else alive except for the person in control of their own life. 

Mark Twain

"A man is never more truthful than when he acknowledges that he is a liar." -Mark Twain
This quote is very insightful because of the truth that it states.  Every person in the world lies.  There seems to be no one that is able to tell the truth all the time.  So in that respect, a person is most honest to himself/herself and others around when he or she acknowledges the liar inside of everyone.  This makes people truthful for admitting that they do not tell the truth all the time and therefore are a liar. 

Whitney M. Young Jr.

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=43988


Whitney M. Young Jr. was one of the many unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement.  He did not receive the recognition of some leaders like Dr. King or Malcolm X, but his contributions were important none the less.  Young was the Executive Director of the National Urban League.  He fought to get jobs for African Americans, and to help stop segregation in the United States.  He was an important man like every other person fighting for civil rights, but unfortunately he was not widely recognized like others.

A Walk Through Harlem

In Having Our Say, Bessie's dentist office was located at 2305 Seventh Avenue on the corner of Seventh Avenue and 135th Street.  The church was very important to Bessie and Sadie.  Their father was a pastor, so naturally, the sisters were very devout Christians.  There were many churches in Harlem including Abyssinian Baptist Church, Mount Olivet Baptist Church, and Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist Church. 

Racial Segregation

In Having Our Say, racial segregation was an evident topic to the sisters.  In one instance, Bessie was on a train for African-Americans, and a white man walked in, and she smarted off to the white man.  This caused a lot of trouble because if the man had not been drunk, she probably would have been lynched.  African-Americans were not allowed to be disrespectful to white people, and they had to be separate in almost all situations.  Bessie was on the train for African-Americans because she was not allowed to sit on the train for the white people. 

Unfairness

In today's society, I feel that it is very unfair in the workplace and college for white students or job applicants.  Because of the new minority regulations at businesses and colleges, many white people are being overlooked because various minority positions must be filled.  Even though sometimes the white student or job applicant has a better background than the minority, the white person is still overlooked because of the discrimination to white people. 

There Was a Child Went Forth

In my childhood, I used to enjoy and still do today, being outside enjoying nature.  I liked the first few stanzas that talked about the child who enjoyed the nature he was a part of.  I also enjoy being a part of nature.  I used to climb trees and run after squirrels or rabbits in the backyard.  I would catch bugs in my backyard and enjoy every minute of it.  I today wish I still could find the same amount of joy that I experienced as a young boy. 

"Nature" is what we see-

"Nature" is what we see—
The Hill—the Afternoon—
Squirrel—Eclipse—the Bumble bee—
Nay—Nature is Heaven—
Nature is what we hear—
The Bobolink—the Sea—
Thunder—the Cricket—
Nay—Nature is Harmony—
Nature is what we know—
Yet have no art to say—
So impotent Our Wisdom is
To her Simplicity.

In this poem, I believe that Emily Dickinson is saying that nature is whatever we want to interpret as.  Different people have different opinions about the aspects of nature such as the various insects, plants, and animals that live in nature.  Every person is entitled to his or her own opinion about the beauty or ferociousness of nature. 

Transcendental vs. Antitrenscendental

I prefer the works of the transcendental writers because I like the more cheerful nature of the transcendentalists.  They have a more positive outlook because of their theory that nature is good, people are good, and the truth can be found.  This theory results in stories that are more likeable to read about like the story Walden.  Even though it is tough to read, the message is good, and the description is positive.  Nature is always a great topic to read about.