Reflection on "Just Walk on By", blog post #7

The textbook is correct in stating that we as humans tend to immediately judge people based on their appearance. Although this is an unfortunate fact, it is very true. Skin color is a major sense of identity. It is interesting to consider Staples' essay in the light of the recent coverage and controversy surrounding the George Zimmerman trial in Florida. Despite the fact that the legal system operated properly, and a jury made a decision, many people across the country feel that "justice" has not been realized in the death of Trayvon Martin. In arguing this perspective, groups across America claim that Trayvon's murder was based solely upon race, and that if Trayvon were the "right color," he would not be dead today. Of course, as there is no way to really prove this contention without a direct confession from Zimmerman, this argument is ultimately unsound in a legal sense. Zimmerman very well may be a racist, and perhaps he did kill Trayvon based on racial profiling. However, this simply cannot be proved.
As much as I hate to admit it, I tend to feel more comfortable with people who are more similar to me than those who are not. I think that this is a natural human reaction. This alienation between racial or ethnic groups increases in the wake of random acts of violence, terrorism, and the like. As the text notes, a deep, sweeping stigma was placed upon individuals of Middle-Eastern lineage, particularly Arab Muslims, after the terrorist attacks in September of 2001. Such events initialize within us an incorrect, but seemingly innate desire to stereotype and "clump together" peoples different than us. In my opinion, it takes a concerted effort to overcome and push aside such false thought processes, especially after an unfortunate event befalls us. Stereotypical thinking is highly dangerous, and its presence in history is blatantly seen in such events as  the internment of Japanese Americans during World War Two, as well as the religious conflicts that eventually led to the division of India and Pakistan in 1947. Therefore, it is in the best interest of humanity to always judge individuals, and not entire nations.

Reflection on "Fire and Ice", blog post #6

I admire Robert Frost as a poet, although I must admit that some of his poems are a bit too abstract for my taste. Poems are personally difficult for me to analyze because of their artistic, highly individualistic nature. Therefore, I find "Fire and Ice" to be a difficult piece to write about. Personally, I do not see a clear connection between desire and destruction. As a religious person, the only way this connection rings true to me is if the desires are rooted in immoral behavior. If this is the case, it is not desire itself that creates destruction, but evil. The Buddhists view bodily desires (seen as immoral) as the source of all suffering, and the damning influence that condemns the soul to rebirth. For me, Frost's reference to "the world... end[ing] in fire" brings to mind a final judgement to come upon the world. I can't help but understand that line in the light of my personal, God-fearing lifestyle. I think Frost is saying that ice, which I assume is hate, is perhaps a catalyst for destruction that is equal to, if not greater than carnality, selfishness, and greed (desire). However, as both hate and immoral "desire" are, excusing my Christian terminology, sins, I see little purpose in separating the two. I doubt my analysis is what Frost was thinking when he wrote this poem. However, because poems are so personal, it is impossible for me to fully understand Frost's intentions unless he explicitly states them. I fear I have grossly missed the mark with the following assignment due to my lack of intellect. However, here is my attempt:

Here at Snow College, two contrasting "sentiments" as the textbook calls them might be the differences between those with intense school pride, and those who lack it. Fire, generally seen as "hot" and "consuming" is a great symbol for those with high amounts of school loyalty and pride. These individuals sport their college -themed clothing, and anxiously expound upon upcoming school events such as football games and such. Their enthusiasm, like fire, radiates a certain amount of influence, whether the influence is wanted or not. Their attitudes, like flames, "catch" the student body on fire. On the other hand, ice is a highly appropriate symbol for those with less school oriented excitement. These individuals are not nearly as dynamic as the first group. Upon contact with these "ice students," their ideals do not spread like a wildfire as with the first group. These individuals are practical, unemotional persons whose energy and attitudes toward all things school-pride border on the negative. They have but loyalty to themselves, and literally cannot remain in a content and "cohesive" state in the presence of fire. They literally "fall apart" and go nuts at the introduction of too many high spirited, proud, student fireballs. The great contrasts in these two groups of students at Snow College is greatly apparent when using Robert Frost's symbols of fire and ice.   

Response on "Shoot to Kill", blog post #5

The mass-murder at Columbine High School in Colorado back in 1999 was a highly disturbing and tragic event. The seriousness of such school shootings is only compounded when one considers even more recent shootings such as the massacre at Virginia Tech, and the disgusting, unspeakable events at Sandy Hook Elementary in December of 2012. I cannot imagine the pain of family members who lost loved ones in these awful slaughters.
 After such an event as Columbine, anger is a necessary step in the healing process for those affected. In such extreme circumstances, the human brain tries to find someone to blame. The mind demands a form of recompense, and an execution of justice. Since the perpetrators cannot be punished due to their cowardice suicide, the blame falls upon individuals who, although they had good intentions, are demonized for following their orders. Such is the case of the Columbine victims families' suit of Jefferson County. As to the issue of whether this law suit is justified, I can honestly see both sides of the coin.
As a parent whose child was just murdered while able police officers simply stood outside, I would no doubt be furious about the situation. Personally, I am unsure if police knew the gravity of the situation inside the school. If however police were cognizant of the fact that people were being randomly killed without being held as hostages, the feelings of an angry parent are understandable. Assuming the latter is the case, A parent  may argue that an intrinsic sense of morality should compel an officer to intervene, even if they disobeyed orders by so doing. On the other hand, the officers present during the shooting likely were not trained to confront such a situation, and therefore did not enter the school despite their concern for the students and teachers inside.
The argument as to whether the previously mentioned lawsuit is justifiable must be examined in two separate ways. On an emotional level, the lawsuit makes perfect sense. Even while reading the essay, I personally took this position. Had it not been for the flawed policies of the police department, it is very likely that many lives could have been saved. The tardiness in providing aid to victims was inexcusable. However, when the lawsuit is examined on a purely logical level, this emotional reasoning is ultimately unsound. The police officers were simply following their orders. The shooting was a situation that the police department had likely never experienced before, and it is unfair to judge their actions based on what we now know. In this light, I am inclined to say that the parties affected by the Columbine shooting have no justifiable reason for suing Jefferson County. However, I want to be clear that I believe the emotions of the victim's families are just as valid as any amount of logic. These families experienced great pain, and they certainly should not be condemned for pursuing such a lawsuit; their motives behind so doing are very understandable.

"Untouchables" by Jonathan Kozol, blog post #4

1. General attitudes in America toward the homeless, according to Kozol, are negative. To support this generalization, Kozol uses various quotes from individuals around the country who express disdain toward the homeless. An example of this is the quote on page 278 which says "We're tired of it. Tired of feeling guilty about these people."
2. My feelings on the homeless have definitely been solidified to a greater degree because of this essay. It is hard for me to say if my attitude towards the subject has changed; oftentimes I feel irritation when I see homeless people, but sometimes I have compassion. This essay definitely added to that compassion side of the coin.
3. I am familiar with India's caste system, rooted in Hindu tradition, from which Kozol has obtained his title of "Untouchables." I feel the comparison of the homeless to Untouchables, the lowest social order in India, is disturbingly appropriate. Untouchables were essentially considered "unclean". In contemporary American society, the homeless have a similar reputation. They epitomize poverty is its most disgusting and terrifying form. Although both Untouchables and the homeless are just average people, our perception of them as being "less than human" is very real. Society simply does not respect the Untouchables or the homeless. I unfortunately have fallen guilty to this condescending viewpoint on various occasions.  
4. As the text notes, Richard Lazarus's name is a fictitious creation by Kozol. The reasoning behind Kozol's choice is worth consideration. Historically, Lazarus was a man during the time of Christ, described in the New Testament. The man's miraculous rise from the dead is well-known by many people in modern day culture. Perhap's Kozol, in using the name Lazarus, is implying his subject is dead. To the upper classes of American society, he is a pointless, unproductive, smelly, diseased individual who is essentially human waste, as described by the text. All these descriptions can be applied to any human corpse. Perhaps the significance in referring to the corpse as Lazarus is what followed after the corpse had been in the tomb. Perhaps Kozol is offering the reader a hope of redemption in being 'raised from the dead' to this unfortunate homeless man, as was offered to Lazarus. In what form this redemption will come is the question.
5. Perhaps our derision toward the homeless, as well as our "fear" of falling into the same way of life, stems from our personal selfishness and ideals of humanity. Homelessness is unpleasant. It is disturbing to see human beings living like animals out on the street, as the text indicates. I think it is a natural human reaction to flee unpleasant, uncomfortable situations. The images of homelessness we as a society encounter almost daily are no less enjoyable. Perhaps it is the lack of humanity and dignity in homelessness that disturbs and upsets us, often leading to our frustration expressed in statements like "why can't that person just get a job?" In addition to this, our fear of poverty is rooted in the possibility that the same misfortune will befall us. Homelessness is perhaps most destructive in that it is demoralizing to the minds of those entrenched in its grasp. 

My Narrative Essay, #3

The subject of my narrative essay is a personal struggle I have dealt with for couple years. About a year ago, I was diagnosed as having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder by a Psychiatrist. Before the diagnosis, I had struggled with anxiety and depression for a few years, and had tried various medications and treatments without too much success. In high school, the anxiety became extreme, and I began to practice various compulsions to alleviate my distress. Most if not all of my obsessions were religiously based, which interestingly, was a common enough experience among obsessive compulsive patients to be listed in one of my books entitled Brain Lock. The diagnosis was such a blessing to receive. The therapy to re-train my brain involved "exposure" therapy to situations that caused me discomfort, and attempting to "not respond" to  my compulsive urge by "re-directing" my obsessions to something positive. I am still active in this process today.
 I wanted to write about my narration about my experiences with mental illness because of the impact these experiences have had on my life. I don't think there is any experience that has been more informative and worthwhile to me than having OCD. Without it, I would be a very different person; in fact, I daresay I would be less of a person without it. Having this affliction has shaped me into a better, wiser individual. Therefore, it is only appropriate that this narrative essay focus on this obnoxious, yet blessed condition of mine: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Response to Chapters 3 and 4, post #2

From my brief, skim-reading of the specified chapters in Pattern for a Purpose, I found the information helpful. I will no doubt have to go back into the text in the next couple of days as the chapters will be helpful in writing my history essay on the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Chapter three discusses the importance of revision in writing. However, it was chapter four's information on the specifics of writing critically that were especially important to my situation. I will refer to this section, as well as the facts contained in chapter three during this week as I begin the pre-writing and first drafts of my essay for history on the book Massacre at Mountain Meadows.

How I Feel About Reading and Writing, #1

This blog entry is to be written in response to my reading of the first chapter in the book Patterns For a Purpose. To start off, I found that the information in the book was helpful. Perhaps the most impressive thing I learned from the book was the idea of "Evaluating Quality". As professor Burningham is aware, I have been reading a book published by Oxford University Press called Massacre at Mountain Meadows. The skills discussed in chapter one of our homework reading will enable me to look at the argument set forth in the book, and determine if it is valid. The book so far appears legitimate, and does not favor one group unfairly over the other.
Overall, chapter one encourages students to be active in their reading, and a key feature of this activity is writing. The book suggests keeping a "reading journal" as a tool onto which individuals may express, organize, and formulate their thoughts. This idea with reiterated in a reading at the end of the chapter by Mortimer Alden entitled "How to Mark a Book". In it, Alder also encourages "active" reading, and suggests that individuals who do not do so are involved in an effort that will ultimately be fruitless (pg. 24). The basic theme of chapter one was, according to my understanding, the concept that real reading is a time consuming, intellectual activity, but nonetheless worthwhile (pg. 26).