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.