Throughout the year we've been debating what is meaningful in life. As a class, we've interviewed people on the street, analyzed movies and songs, all in order to gain some sort of sense of what might be the meaning of life. At the beginning of the year, the majority of us all agreed upon a basic three things that are the most meaningful in life- friends, family, and happiness. I feel over the past year, I have developed a greater understanding of what is truly meaningful in the grand scheme of things, both due to our discussions in class and personal growth outside of the classroom.
When we were first asked about the meaning of life in the beginning of the year, we were still only considering it from where we were in relation to the real world. We were answering as high school students who spent all of our time in school preparing for a future we weren’t even very certain of. At that time, my biggest concerns were what party I would go to that weekend, what shirt I should buy later, and keeping my GPA high enough to get into the dream school I eventually got rejected from. When we each answered the question “What is meaningful?” we were only able to consider it from our typical high school point of view. Being in high school, it’s as if we’re sheltered from the rest of the world. Our biggest concerns are the drama that occurs in the hallways, rather than the real issues that we will eventually have to face. We thought the pain we may feel when we get rejected by a crush will be the worst pain we will ever feel. We forget that the rest of the world is capable of so much worse.
I’ve come to feel that, although I still feel friends and family are some of the most important things, that to truly understand our meaning in life, we have to understand our relation to the rest of the real world. We have to understand the impact we can have on others’ lives, without letting it interfere with our own personal happiness. We have to understand the cards we have been dealt, and be aware of the fact that some are dealt shittier hands than others, and that we may not know as much as we’d like to think we do.
Family is very important, I do believe that. But we need to come to a point where we don’t place our parents on pedestal. They are humans too, and they will not always make the right choices. Sometimes they will make decisions that will make it difficult for you to cope with important things in life, and if we can accept that, then maybe it won’t be as crippling when that time does come. Family is important because they are blood, but at the end of the day, they are people just like everyone else. They are capable of hurting someone just as bad as the rest of the world.
The same things go for friends. We will make many friends that are simply based on proximity. We get stuck in a high school with 100 other kids in our grade, and you’re going to end up with friends who you most likely won’t speak to in ten years. Each stage in our life is simply temporary, as are the people in it. I believe that the friends you make who manage to continue with you through every stage are the ones that bridge that gap from friend to a true family member. Someone you don’t force yourself to care for just because of your DNA. Those are the people who I feel are truly meaningful. People who you want the best for. People who you will accept, no matter what they do or the choices they make. These people matter.
But sometimes, you won’t have a lot of those people for a while. Sometimes you won’t be able to trust them like you wish you could. Those are times when you realize that you are the most meaningful part of life. You, yourself, are the meaning. You won’t always be happy with choices you make. You won’t always be happy with the cards you’ve been dealt, and thats when you need to make the choice to put yourself above all else and take care of yourself. You wont be able to go to those parties during the weekend because you think it might set you back in all the work you’ve been doing at your counselor. You won’t go shopping to buy those new shirts because you want to save your money to help your mom pay for college. And although your GPA didn’t stay as high as it should’ve in order to get into the school of your dreams, you’ll find that there’s and even more perfect path for you somewhere else. You’ll realize that you are most important. The drama in school no longer matters. The things they call you when you walk past them in the hall won’t matter. The rumors they spread or the variations of “slut” they use in comments on Facebook wont matter. The world of high school won’t matter. What will matter is where you go after school. Where you go to take care of things that happened a long time ago. It’s where you go to make yourself better that matters, and those that are willing to help you along the way.
Theres a bigger world outside of these classrooms. It just takes us some time to realize it. And we need to understand where we are in it, and learn to be okay with that. There will be a lot that matters a long the way, and a lot that simply doesn’t. But at the end of the day, we are the most important. We are what matter. We are the meaning.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Collapse Assignment 2
Many blockbuster movies involve the crash of our culture or some form of the apocalypse- Day After Tomorrow, Apocalypse Now, I am Legend, etc. But as we watch these movies, comfortable in our air conditioned theatre eating our jumbo popcorn and coke, we rarely consider the actual possibility of our society collapsing. The collapse scientists are most afraid of is not one that involves aliens or explosions, rather a depletion of one of the most used fuels- Oil. The amount of oil that we use a year could reach the moon and back 250 times. In an average day, we use 84 million barrels of oil. And now scientists fear that our supply of oil will not be enough to keep our society running. This is called Peak Oil.
We will not simply run out of oil entirely, because oil runs on a bell curve. As it goes up the curve, there is plenty of oil and it is inexpensive, and as it goes down the curve it becomes scarce and expensive. The "peak" occurs once half of the amount of oil available has depleted.
In the 1950s, the United States was the largest oil exporter and largest producer of oil. During this time, as the country was reveling in its oil success, M. King Hubbard claimed that oil would peak at sometime in the early 1970s, and from then on would decrease. Many disagreed, assuming that the oil would continue to increase at it had been for the past few years. However, suddenly in 1972, the oil was no longer as available as it was the years prior. The country was beginning to experience the downside of the curve. Even a shortfall of production as small as 5% would result in the price of oil to practically quadruple. Hubbards theory was correct, and really not that surprising.
If oil were to peak, then in a certain amount of years in the future the availability of oil would be equal to the availability as it was that same amount of years in the past. However, as we continue to progress technologically, we find the usage of oil increasing. This shows why peak oil will become and increasingly fateful occurance as we move further and further into the future, as we rely more and more on it.
When considering the fall of certain societies, one must consider the collapse of Easter Island. Easter Islanders pushed their natural resources to the brink, leading to the complete deforestation of their island, therefore losing everything they required to survive. They never considered the long term affects it may have by cutting down all of their trees. We are proving to be more and more like the Easter Islanders as ignore the peak oil crises, and figure that the businessmen and scientists of our world will figure out a way to fix it, when in reality, it will just continue to get worse.
One must also consider the extensive warfare that goes along with oil. In 1963, world oil discovery peaked, and since then, we have been venturing to other countries in order to get the oil we want. As the peak oil crises continue to get worse, the more warfare will occur in order to obtain the oil we will so desperately need. We will completely deconstruct as a society.
We will not simply run out of oil entirely, because oil runs on a bell curve. As it goes up the curve, there is plenty of oil and it is inexpensive, and as it goes down the curve it becomes scarce and expensive. The "peak" occurs once half of the amount of oil available has depleted.
In the 1950s, the United States was the largest oil exporter and largest producer of oil. During this time, as the country was reveling in its oil success, M. King Hubbard claimed that oil would peak at sometime in the early 1970s, and from then on would decrease. Many disagreed, assuming that the oil would continue to increase at it had been for the past few years. However, suddenly in 1972, the oil was no longer as available as it was the years prior. The country was beginning to experience the downside of the curve. Even a shortfall of production as small as 5% would result in the price of oil to practically quadruple. Hubbards theory was correct, and really not that surprising.
If oil were to peak, then in a certain amount of years in the future the availability of oil would be equal to the availability as it was that same amount of years in the past. However, as we continue to progress technologically, we find the usage of oil increasing. This shows why peak oil will become and increasingly fateful occurance as we move further and further into the future, as we rely more and more on it.
When considering the fall of certain societies, one must consider the collapse of Easter Island. Easter Islanders pushed their natural resources to the brink, leading to the complete deforestation of their island, therefore losing everything they required to survive. They never considered the long term affects it may have by cutting down all of their trees. We are proving to be more and more like the Easter Islanders as ignore the peak oil crises, and figure that the businessmen and scientists of our world will figure out a way to fix it, when in reality, it will just continue to get worse.
One must also consider the extensive warfare that goes along with oil. In 1963, world oil discovery peaked, and since then, we have been venturing to other countries in order to get the oil we want. As the peak oil crises continue to get worse, the more warfare will occur in order to obtain the oil we will so desperately need. We will completely deconstruct as a society.
Collapse Assignment 1
I think the idea of a society collapsing is very interesting. Reading the packet on Easter Island seemed strange, knowings theres a place that was once populated that is now empty, while remnants of their society still remains. It seems like something from a movie. It was also amazing how the author described the giant stone sculptures and construction, which the people had to do without the help of any large lifting tools. They were able to survive off of their land, and in turn had many tools to farm with, as well as canoes. However, their forms of farming would be considered damaging by modern farmers.
I noticed some parallels between Easter Island and our own culture. When the author was describing different aspects of Easter Island, it seemed as if the people of Easter Island were descendants of many different places, much like how America is just like a giant melting pot of different cultures.
The reason for Easter Islands demise was because of the extreme deforestation that began to occur. They had to use much of the forrest in order to help build their massive statues, however that led to a wiping out of their forrests, which in turn resulted in a loss of their raw materials and natural resources. The Easter Islanders managed to entirely wipe themselves out by cutting down all of their trees and didn't seems to comprehend the disastrous effects that might have.
This is much like our society, whereas we tend to push our natural resources towards the brink, trying to use as much of it as we can, without considering the consequences. We always assume that someone else or the "wizards" (businessmen and scientists) will solve all of the problems and we won't have to worry. This also just proves that we are on our way to a collapse because the Eastern Islanders managed to completely wipe themselves out with their home-made tools, so there is no doubt that our society full of giant machine-powered things and technologically run society, will follow in the same fate.
I noticed some parallels between Easter Island and our own culture. When the author was describing different aspects of Easter Island, it seemed as if the people of Easter Island were descendants of many different places, much like how America is just like a giant melting pot of different cultures.
The reason for Easter Islands demise was because of the extreme deforestation that began to occur. They had to use much of the forrest in order to help build their massive statues, however that led to a wiping out of their forrests, which in turn resulted in a loss of their raw materials and natural resources. The Easter Islanders managed to entirely wipe themselves out by cutting down all of their trees and didn't seems to comprehend the disastrous effects that might have.
This is much like our society, whereas we tend to push our natural resources towards the brink, trying to use as much of it as we can, without considering the consequences. We always assume that someone else or the "wizards" (businessmen and scientists) will solve all of the problems and we won't have to worry. This also just proves that we are on our way to a collapse because the Eastern Islanders managed to completely wipe themselves out with their home-made tools, so there is no doubt that our society full of giant machine-powered things and technologically run society, will follow in the same fate.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Final Food Assignment
Bonnie Black
Final Food Assignment
Throughout this Food Culture unit, I think we have just seen more and more of the gluttony of Americans. It has shown me how little of an actual culture we have of our own, and how we as a people treat food as something disposable and wasteful, as if we have a never-ending source. We do not respect the earth enough to honor what we are given from it in order to survive. We are extremely selfish when it comes to the existence of other animals and act as if we are superior from the rest of the world and therefore more than justified to treat animals and food the way we do.
The video Cows With Guns by Dana Lyons, pokes fun at the industrial food culture. The first line shows an example of how people often see the animals that we use for food, “Fat and docile, big and dumb They looks so stupid they aren’t much fun”. We look down on these animals that we are slaughtering, maybe in order to feel as if we are not hurting anything that really has the right to be alive. The next line in the song also shows how we have this selfish one track mind, as if all animals are born simply for the purpose to feed us. “They eat to grow, grow to die, die to be et at the hamburger fry”. The song then begins to discuss what would happen if the cows were to turn on us, seeking out the revenge they deserve because of all the slaughter and torture their kind has had to endure. It’s ridiculous for us to think of, because we know that a cows marching through town with guns is impossible, however it also brings up the point that these cows were not put here simply to fill our needs. We shouldn’t see them as these lifeless things that would not care if they were to live or die. The song hopes to make the listener consider the idea that the animals that we are treating so brutally do actually have feelings and should be treated with respect just as we would any person. In a video about oppressed people, we would cheer as they joined together to rise against those who are keeping them down, and that is how we should react to the idea of the animals rising up against those who has treated them so horribly.
I think the American people are the worst when it comes to treating animals unfairly. The level of obesity in our country is disgusting and it’s all due to our selfishness and laziness. We want food that is quick and ready for us as soon as we want it. According to Pollan, because we have been brought up in a country that has no clear, specific, dominant culture, we have also not been brought up with any specific connection to any type of food. We’re such a melting pot of cultures, that it is the same amongst our food. Because of that, we are left with an overwhelming about of options, and therefore often opt for the quickest and cheapest meals we can find. Meals have become something we do in passing, rarely actually partaking in the making of it, and even if we do, we eat it in such a rush so we can get to the next thing. I believe that is something that has really taken away from our food culture, because we have become so disconnected from the process. We rely on other people to make it for us and serve it to us so we can get it quick and then move on with our day. Unfortunately, those kinds of meals are the most fatty and the ones that have used meat that has most often come from slaughter houses.
In class we watched a video about the animal cruelty that occurs within the slaughter houses. The animals were treated horrifically, their throats being slit while they are still alive, beaks being cut off, being kept in horrible conditions. It seemed as though the people were simply going through the actions as they brutally killed or tortured the animals. I would often have to look away because it was too disturbing, but I would continue to hear the sounds of cows or pigs crying.
After the video, a few people around me proclaimed that they want to stop eating meat because of the video. Although I think I was just as affected by the video, I also think it's difficult for someone to say that they will entirely change their eating habits because of it. I think eating meat is a natural thing, as it's something many animals do out in the wild. However, what I do not think is natural is how the humans involved in these slaughter houses seem more interested in torturing the animal than using it for food. It seems that with industrial food, it's become more about torture and money and excess than the basic necessity of some kinds of food. I think their treatment of fellow animals exemplifies the superiority complex humans have developed when it comes to other animals. That along with their basic selfishness is what has led to them being capable of such disgusting things. I think if we didn't view ourselves as being so superior to other animals, and saw it more about respecting other animals that we need to help us survive, it could be a much more moral process.
It is not only the animals that we abuse in the process of eating. In class, we also watching a children’s movie about farming called “VROOM- Farming for Kids”. It played happy music for the kids while these giant tractors that weigh a ton tear apart the earth in order to get some cabbage. These giant tractors have been made to speed up the process of farming and to make it easier. However, it just rips apart the earth, or as some may even say it “rapes” the earth.
I think respecting the earth and the things in it that we need to eat to help us survive is a major thing that we have lost in our culture. I feel that if we were to do that, and view ourselves as a part of the world, equal to all the other living things, rather than these superior beings sent here to take advantage of the world and what it has to offer, then the whole food process can become much more humane and spiritual. Eating is something we do so often in a day, and yet I feel it’s become something we barely acknowledge. It’s such a basic necessity, that I feel we should really treasure. I think we should respect the earth and the places we are getting our food from. I think people should cook more as well, so they can feel more connected to the process. It should become something more sacred, rather than something we just do in passing.
Final Food Assignment
Throughout this Food Culture unit, I think we have just seen more and more of the gluttony of Americans. It has shown me how little of an actual culture we have of our own, and how we as a people treat food as something disposable and wasteful, as if we have a never-ending source. We do not respect the earth enough to honor what we are given from it in order to survive. We are extremely selfish when it comes to the existence of other animals and act as if we are superior from the rest of the world and therefore more than justified to treat animals and food the way we do.
The video Cows With Guns by Dana Lyons, pokes fun at the industrial food culture. The first line shows an example of how people often see the animals that we use for food, “Fat and docile, big and dumb They looks so stupid they aren’t much fun”. We look down on these animals that we are slaughtering, maybe in order to feel as if we are not hurting anything that really has the right to be alive. The next line in the song also shows how we have this selfish one track mind, as if all animals are born simply for the purpose to feed us. “They eat to grow, grow to die, die to be et at the hamburger fry”. The song then begins to discuss what would happen if the cows were to turn on us, seeking out the revenge they deserve because of all the slaughter and torture their kind has had to endure. It’s ridiculous for us to think of, because we know that a cows marching through town with guns is impossible, however it also brings up the point that these cows were not put here simply to fill our needs. We shouldn’t see them as these lifeless things that would not care if they were to live or die. The song hopes to make the listener consider the idea that the animals that we are treating so brutally do actually have feelings and should be treated with respect just as we would any person. In a video about oppressed people, we would cheer as they joined together to rise against those who are keeping them down, and that is how we should react to the idea of the animals rising up against those who has treated them so horribly.
I think the American people are the worst when it comes to treating animals unfairly. The level of obesity in our country is disgusting and it’s all due to our selfishness and laziness. We want food that is quick and ready for us as soon as we want it. According to Pollan, because we have been brought up in a country that has no clear, specific, dominant culture, we have also not been brought up with any specific connection to any type of food. We’re such a melting pot of cultures, that it is the same amongst our food. Because of that, we are left with an overwhelming about of options, and therefore often opt for the quickest and cheapest meals we can find. Meals have become something we do in passing, rarely actually partaking in the making of it, and even if we do, we eat it in such a rush so we can get to the next thing. I believe that is something that has really taken away from our food culture, because we have become so disconnected from the process. We rely on other people to make it for us and serve it to us so we can get it quick and then move on with our day. Unfortunately, those kinds of meals are the most fatty and the ones that have used meat that has most often come from slaughter houses.
In class we watched a video about the animal cruelty that occurs within the slaughter houses. The animals were treated horrifically, their throats being slit while they are still alive, beaks being cut off, being kept in horrible conditions. It seemed as though the people were simply going through the actions as they brutally killed or tortured the animals. I would often have to look away because it was too disturbing, but I would continue to hear the sounds of cows or pigs crying.
After the video, a few people around me proclaimed that they want to stop eating meat because of the video. Although I think I was just as affected by the video, I also think it's difficult for someone to say that they will entirely change their eating habits because of it. I think eating meat is a natural thing, as it's something many animals do out in the wild. However, what I do not think is natural is how the humans involved in these slaughter houses seem more interested in torturing the animal than using it for food. It seems that with industrial food, it's become more about torture and money and excess than the basic necessity of some kinds of food. I think their treatment of fellow animals exemplifies the superiority complex humans have developed when it comes to other animals. That along with their basic selfishness is what has led to them being capable of such disgusting things. I think if we didn't view ourselves as being so superior to other animals, and saw it more about respecting other animals that we need to help us survive, it could be a much more moral process.
It is not only the animals that we abuse in the process of eating. In class, we also watching a children’s movie about farming called “VROOM- Farming for Kids”. It played happy music for the kids while these giant tractors that weigh a ton tear apart the earth in order to get some cabbage. These giant tractors have been made to speed up the process of farming and to make it easier. However, it just rips apart the earth, or as some may even say it “rapes” the earth.
I think respecting the earth and the things in it that we need to eat to help us survive is a major thing that we have lost in our culture. I feel that if we were to do that, and view ourselves as a part of the world, equal to all the other living things, rather than these superior beings sent here to take advantage of the world and what it has to offer, then the whole food process can become much more humane and spiritual. Eating is something we do so often in a day, and yet I feel it’s become something we barely acknowledge. It’s such a basic necessity, that I feel we should really treasure. I think we should respect the earth and the places we are getting our food from. I think people should cook more as well, so they can feel more connected to the process. It should become something more sacred, rather than something we just do in passing.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Industrial Food (F8)
While watching the video Animal Cruelty, I was really disturbed. The animals were treated horrifically, their throats being slit while they are still alive, beaks being cut off, being kept in horrible conditions. It seemed as though the people were simply going through the actions as they brutally killed or tortured the animals. I would often have to look away because it was too disturbing, but I would continue to hear the sounds of cows or pigs crying.
After the video, a few people around me proclaimed that they want to stop eating meat because of the video. Although I think I was just as affected by the video, I also think it's difficult for someone to say that they will entirely change their eating habits because of it. I think eating meat is a natural thing, as it's something many animals do. However, what I do not think is natural is how the humans involved in these slaughter houses seem more interested in torturing the animal than using it for food. It seems that with industrial food, it's become more about torture and money and excess than the basic necessity of some kinds of food. I think humans are very greedy and selfish and that has what led to them being capable of such disgusting things. I think if we didn't view ourselves and so superior to other animals, and saw it more about respecting other animals that we need to help us survive, it coud be much more moral.
After the video, a few people around me proclaimed that they want to stop eating meat because of the video. Although I think I was just as affected by the video, I also think it's difficult for someone to say that they will entirely change their eating habits because of it. I think eating meat is a natural thing, as it's something many animals do. However, what I do not think is natural is how the humans involved in these slaughter houses seem more interested in torturing the animal than using it for food. It seems that with industrial food, it's become more about torture and money and excess than the basic necessity of some kinds of food. I think humans are very greedy and selfish and that has what led to them being capable of such disgusting things. I think if we didn't view ourselves and so superior to other animals, and saw it more about respecting other animals that we need to help us survive, it coud be much more moral.
LATE F7
Recipe: Appetizer- Chiles con Queso
What you'll need:
- 2 Tbsp of unsalted butter
- 1 white onion
- 2 large ripe tomatoes, finely chopped (reserve juices)
- 2 poblano or anaheim chiles roasted and finely chopped
- 1 jalapeño chile, seeded and minced
- 1/2 tsp of sea salt
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- 6 oz. monterey jack cheese
- 6 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 3/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- chafing dish
In a large skillet, over medium heat, melt the butter, add the onion, and cook until the onion turns translucent - about 5 minutes. Stir often so onion doesn't stick and burn.
Add the tomatoes and their juices, chiles, salt, and cayenne pepper. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes.
Stir in the grated cheeses and continue to stir until the cheese begins to melt and blend in. Slowly add the cream and cook for 10 more minutes. Taste and add salt and more cayenne pepper if needed. Serve immediately in a hot chafing dish.
What you'll need:
- 2 Tbsp of unsalted butter
- 1 white onion
- 2 large ripe tomatoes, finely chopped (reserve juices)
- 2 poblano or anaheim chiles roasted and finely chopped
- 1 jalapeño chile, seeded and minced
- 1/2 tsp of sea salt
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- 6 oz. monterey jack cheese
- 6 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 3/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- chafing dish
In a large skillet, over medium heat, melt the butter, add the onion, and cook until the onion turns translucent - about 5 minutes. Stir often so onion doesn't stick and burn.
Add the tomatoes and their juices, chiles, salt, and cayenne pepper. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes.
Stir in the grated cheeses and continue to stir until the cheese begins to melt and blend in. Slowly add the cream and cook for 10 more minutes. Taste and add salt and more cayenne pepper if needed. Serve immediately in a hot chafing dish.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Response to Pollan
I think that Pollan's argument about our food culture is correct. We are a fairly young country compared to others in the world, and are made up of a mix of many different cultures and it shows through our food. We have a mixture of types of food, and it may seem as though that would make us cultured, but it also just leaves us without a clear idea of what to eat because there is so many options and we as a people don't have a specific connection to any of them. We also have this obsession with appearances, and we're constantly trying to live up to the ever-changing idea of perfection. Because we are looking for that acceptance from society, we also look to society to tell us how to measure up, which is why we turn to nutritionists and other people totell us what to eat.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Grocery Store and Habitual Food
My mom generally goes to a nice grocery store like Fairway that has a lot of different varieties of foods to choose from, however most of the time we end up buying the same things we always get unless we're going through a time where we have a good amount of money. If it's a really bad time, we will go to the grocery store down the block that has cheap and mostly brand name (or fake brand name) items, but we rarely actually go there.
We try and buy the items at Fairway that are locally grown or locally made. However, I've noticed in most stores, they dont have local things like that, and they often just push the most popular brand name items, by putting up signs or putting up deals (buy oen get one half off, etc). Those are probably the items they get the most of, because they are big brand name companies, and I guess that is why they want to sell them so badly.
We try and buy the items at Fairway that are locally grown or locally made. However, I've noticed in most stores, they dont have local things like that, and they often just push the most popular brand name items, by putting up signs or putting up deals (buy oen get one half off, etc). Those are probably the items they get the most of, because they are big brand name companies, and I guess that is why they want to sell them so badly.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Food Cultures- Home and Corporate
My parents like to think that we're all really cultured so when we eat together or when one of them is cooking, it's often other cultures foods. With my moms side of the family, theres a fish market called Dawsons Seafood thats been in our family so we eat a lot of seafood. Theres a lot of cheese and bread on that side because they're french. They also like really typical mainstream white american food. They make a lot of chicken pot pies and soups and cakes.
My dad likes to get food according to convenience. He'll microwave south beach diet dinners for us. He also likes to go to the same Asian Cuisine sorts of places a lot (chinese, japanese, thai, etc.). He also really likes to grill things like burgers and hotdogs, but he'll get wheat buns and turkey burgers. Sometimes he grills watermelon for fun.
My eating habits are about the same as my parents. I eat a lot of typical mainstream things like Subways or something, but I also really like trying new things and eating more exotic meals that my mom likes to try cooking.
My dad likes to get food according to convenience. He'll microwave south beach diet dinners for us. He also likes to go to the same Asian Cuisine sorts of places a lot (chinese, japanese, thai, etc.). He also really likes to grill things like burgers and hotdogs, but he'll get wheat buns and turkey burgers. Sometimes he grills watermelon for fun.
My eating habits are about the same as my parents. I eat a lot of typical mainstream things like Subways or something, but I also really like trying new things and eating more exotic meals that my mom likes to try cooking.
what's in my refrigerator
bread (wheat, italian hoagie buns)
milk
juice
gingerale
fruits (plums, strawberries, pineapple) (we don't keep bananas in the fridge)
paremsian cheese
italian wedding soup
cookie dough half eaten
nuts
raisin, cranberries
2 left over coronas
flour
sauces (bbq sauce, teriyaki sauce, mustard, ketchup, soy sauce)
eggs
lemons
vegetables (lettuce, asparagus, broccoli)
my smoke alarm
leftovers that look gross
meats (bacon, ham, turkey, hot dogs)
provolone and american cheese
tortillas
pita bread
hummus
I think this shows my mom needs to go grocery shopping more. We used to do family dinners a lot last year where we would set the table and eat with candle light and it would be her and her boyfriend with me and mine. This year, I eat in my room and she usually eats in her office. I think it's a pretty typical fridge with mainstream things but then with a dash of more "cultural" food because my mom likes to think we are.
milk
juice
gingerale
fruits (plums, strawberries, pineapple) (we don't keep bananas in the fridge)
paremsian cheese
italian wedding soup
cookie dough half eaten
nuts
raisin, cranberries
2 left over coronas
flour
sauces (bbq sauce, teriyaki sauce, mustard, ketchup, soy sauce)
eggs
lemons
vegetables (lettuce, asparagus, broccoli)
my smoke alarm
leftovers that look gross
meats (bacon, ham, turkey, hot dogs)
provolone and american cheese
tortillas
pita bread
hummus
I think this shows my mom needs to go grocery shopping more. We used to do family dinners a lot last year where we would set the table and eat with candle light and it would be her and her boyfriend with me and mine. This year, I eat in my room and she usually eats in her office. I think it's a pretty typical fridge with mainstream things but then with a dash of more "cultural" food because my mom likes to think we are.
Health Project
Growing up in the United States, when one thinks of health, the most obvious thing one thinks of is physical health and well-being. Throughout the unit, we have learned of other forms of health, such as social, spiritual, emotional, mental, and moral. However, the way people tend to choose to determine the healthiness of an individual, is often purely through their appearances, rather than their mentality. People have a tendency to associate health with this idea of the perfect body- toned, muscular, tan, skinny. There is this idea of perfection that people long for and, when they fall short of that, they may appear "unhealthy" to the rest of society. In actuality, I feel mental health is probably one of the, if not the most important aspects of health. Rather than promoting "Flatter Abs" and "Tighter Tummies" on the covers of magazines, I think society should also work towards addressing the basic mental problems that people face. For instance, the lengths at which people go to in order to maintain that perfect healthy body, can not at all be mentally healthy.
In discussing the issue of emotional health, the class debated whether or not a person was healthy depending on the emotions they were presenting to the world. For instance, if one person is constantly happy, or another experiences extreme highs and extreme lows, are these people emotionally healthy? In this discussion, it seemed that most people agreed that it all depended on the reasoning behind the persons emotions, and that they were somewhat aware of said reasonings. If someone were to experience something heartbreaking, we would expect them to mourn for a bit and acknowledge that that is the reasoning behind they're sad demeanor. However, if they remained in that state constantly for months, we would feel that that person was not emotionally stable. Essentially, it was determined that emotional health is when a person is able to experience varied emotions to a reasonable degree and be able to comprehend the reasonings for these emotions.
However, for some people, this is much easier said than done. Some people have to deal with emotional instability and therefore seek out help from professionals. In this case, we are dealing with a persons mental health. In our course, we examined different types of therapy and the ones we found to be most effective. A clinical psychologist is "a professional who is concerned with helping people live healthy and productive lives - someone who helps people solve problems of living or resolve mental health problems." (Paul G. Mattiuzzi, PH.D., http://everydaypsychology.com/2006/10/what-is-psychology.html). As a psychologist speaks to a patient, they hear about a persons issues related to everyday life (job, family, etc), while they try to understand the mental functions of the patient and their mental processes. There are many different subfields of psychology, and clinical psychology focuses on identifying destructive behavior in a persons life, and looks to understand and prevent it. I feel this is an effective way to help mental health. It creates a relationship with someone who helps to identify what the problems might be in your thinking or way of life, and how you can overcome it, in order to lead a healthier life.
I feel that an understanding of mental health is much more crucial than the emphasis we put on physical health and its appearance. Physicality is always so encouraged, and although I do believe that it is also necesarry in order to live a healthy life, it is not the only thing. Society should balance out the emphasis they put on both physical and mental health, in order to prepare people to be more rounded individuals.
In discussing the issue of emotional health, the class debated whether or not a person was healthy depending on the emotions they were presenting to the world. For instance, if one person is constantly happy, or another experiences extreme highs and extreme lows, are these people emotionally healthy? In this discussion, it seemed that most people agreed that it all depended on the reasoning behind the persons emotions, and that they were somewhat aware of said reasonings. If someone were to experience something heartbreaking, we would expect them to mourn for a bit and acknowledge that that is the reasoning behind they're sad demeanor. However, if they remained in that state constantly for months, we would feel that that person was not emotionally stable. Essentially, it was determined that emotional health is when a person is able to experience varied emotions to a reasonable degree and be able to comprehend the reasonings for these emotions.
However, for some people, this is much easier said than done. Some people have to deal with emotional instability and therefore seek out help from professionals. In this case, we are dealing with a persons mental health. In our course, we examined different types of therapy and the ones we found to be most effective. A clinical psychologist is "a professional who is concerned with helping people live healthy and productive lives - someone who helps people solve problems of living or resolve mental health problems." (Paul G. Mattiuzzi, PH.D., http://everydaypsychology.com/2006/10/what-is-psychology.html). As a psychologist speaks to a patient, they hear about a persons issues related to everyday life (job, family, etc), while they try to understand the mental functions of the patient and their mental processes. There are many different subfields of psychology, and clinical psychology focuses on identifying destructive behavior in a persons life, and looks to understand and prevent it. I feel this is an effective way to help mental health. It creates a relationship with someone who helps to identify what the problems might be in your thinking or way of life, and how you can overcome it, in order to lead a healthier life.
I feel that an understanding of mental health is much more crucial than the emphasis we put on physical health and its appearance. Physicality is always so encouraged, and although I do believe that it is also necesarry in order to live a healthy life, it is not the only thing. Society should balance out the emphasis they put on both physical and mental health, in order to prepare people to be more rounded individuals.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
mental health
i dont think people really care about mental health. i deffinitely don't think school does. you don't get time to. get work done get into college. thats all theres time to do and sometimes thats just not possible. sometimes real life gets to you and real life isnt the grade on a test or the next party or what to do next year. sometimes you just cant focus on those tests. sometimes you cant go out to parties anymore because your on medication. sometimes you just dont know where you're going to be next year because things havent turned out the way you had planned on for so long. i dont think writing this is going to make you care about my mental health. i don't think its going to give me any insight. my mental health sucks whenever im in school because i know im not focusing on things that actually matter. i know there are bigger things right now and i cant even think about it because if i keep failing then i dont get to keep those scholarships to those schools i dont even fucking like and i dont even know if i wanna go to school next year. none of the school stuff matters. i shouldnt be pretending im fine monday through friday 8 30-3 10 because i need to go to stupid classes that i cant even focus in anyway. no one in school actually cares if ur okay as long as you show up enough, get good enough grades so the school looks good and dont shoot up the school.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
questions
6. What's the percentage of old people with serious health conditions?
7. How active are elderly people in the community?
9. How many abuse substances?
10. How many are on anti-depressants?
11. How many old people live in poverty?
"Between 1959 and 1974, the elderly poverty rate fell from 35 percent to 15 percent. This was largely attributable to a set of increases in Social Security benefits. The elderly poverty rate has continued to decline in subsequent decades, reaching 9.4 percent in 2006. Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits continue to play a key role in reducing elderly poverty, especially among women and people of color. If Social Security benefits did not exist, an estimated 44 percent of the elderly would be poor today, assuming no changes in behavior. Yet there is still work to do. Currently, 3.4 million seniors age 65 and older live below the poverty line." http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/07/elderly_poverty.html
15. What's the percentage of old people who go to therapy?
16. What's the suicide rate for elderly people?
"in the age bracket of 65 years and above. The overall U.S. suicide rate is 11 per 100,000 people. But for those 65 and older, that figure rises to 14 per 100,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention." http://www.depressionblog.org/entry/suicide-rate-among-elderly-rises/
7. How active are elderly people in the community?
9. How many abuse substances?
10. How many are on anti-depressants?
11. How many old people live in poverty?
"Between 1959 and 1974, the elderly poverty rate fell from 35 percent to 15 percent. This was largely attributable to a set of increases in Social Security benefits. The elderly poverty rate has continued to decline in subsequent decades, reaching 9.4 percent in 2006. Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits continue to play a key role in reducing elderly poverty, especially among women and people of color. If Social Security benefits did not exist, an estimated 44 percent of the elderly would be poor today, assuming no changes in behavior. Yet there is still work to do. Currently, 3.4 million seniors age 65 and older live below the poverty line." http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/07/elderly_poverty.html
15. What's the percentage of old people who go to therapy?
16. What's the suicide rate for elderly people?
"in the age bracket of 65 years and above. The overall U.S. suicide rate is 11 per 100,000 people. But for those 65 and older, that figure rises to 14 per 100,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention." http://www.depressionblog.org/entry/suicide-rate-among-elderly-rises/
20 Questions- How Old People Live
1. What are conditions like in nursing homes?
2. What activities/hobbies are common for old people?
3. Are their lives more scheduled or spontaneous?
4. What are the most common ways for them to spend their time?
5. If they have kids, how often do they visit or check up on them?
6. What's the percentage of old people with serious health conditions?
7. How active are elderly people in the community?
8. Would it be better if old people lived together, like roommates?
9. How many abuse substances?
10. How many are on anti-depressants?
11. How many old people live in poverty?
12. What is money mostly spent on for old people?
13. How many old people get beat in nursing homes?
14. Do more live in the suburbs versus the city?
15. What's the percentage of old people who go to therapy?
16. What's the suicide rate for elderly people?
17. What does it feel like to be dependent on others?
18. What is most pleasurable for old people (travel, romance, etc)?
19. What do they find most comforting?
20. How do they feel internally?
2. What activities/hobbies are common for old people?
3. Are their lives more scheduled or spontaneous?
4. What are the most common ways for them to spend their time?
5. If they have kids, how often do they visit or check up on them?
6. What's the percentage of old people with serious health conditions?
7. How active are elderly people in the community?
8. Would it be better if old people lived together, like roommates?
9. How many abuse substances?
10. How many are on anti-depressants?
11. How many old people live in poverty?
12. What is money mostly spent on for old people?
13. How many old people get beat in nursing homes?
14. Do more live in the suburbs versus the city?
15. What's the percentage of old people who go to therapy?
16. What's the suicide rate for elderly people?
17. What does it feel like to be dependent on others?
18. What is most pleasurable for old people (travel, romance, etc)?
19. What do they find most comforting?
20. How do they feel internally?
Sunday, January 25, 2009
big paper
It seems people have always been on the search for what is the meaning to life. We look for the answers to these question in our parents, our elders, and from the society around us. We can categorize the two major places that we receive our answers from as corporate culture and folk culture. Both categories seem to focus on the idea of happiness, and that this acquired happiness will lead us to the answers we seek. However, the extent of which the messages vary within both categories, leaves people unsure of what the real meaning truly is, and therefore is left to simply consume and believe the most obvious messages.
CORPORATE MESSAGES
When it comes to the messages we get from corporate culture, it is no secret that we live in a world controlled by corporate media. We are constantly being sent messages through these corporations, telling us the best ways to live. These supposedly best ways to live, are usually those that consume the most. Within media, we find there are three different types of messages. The first are dominate messages, which are the messages we see the most often, and those that are most visible. The next are marginal messages. These are messages that we only occasionally see. Finally, there are prohibited messages, messages which corporate media would not want to be sent to the public.
DOMINATE CORPORATE MESSAGES
One of the most dominate messages we can find is that we are not as good as we could be. We are shown things that would somehow improve the state we are at, whether that be our appearance or through our relationships with others. We are constantly being told that we are good how we are, but we could be better with the help of what they can provide.
We can see this dominate message a lot through magazines. In the November 2008 issue of Esquire magazine, there is an entire section called "Man At His Best", already we are seeing that the magazine is out to tell us how, with the help of this magazine, a man can learn how to improve himself. Within this section, there is an article called "Ask Dr. Oz, the Lightning Round" in which readers have sent in medical questions searching for answers. This is telling the reader to value their health in life, and to always ask questions if they are ever uncertain. We are being shown that a "man at his best" is a healthy, fit man, with no weird medical problems.
In the style section of this November 2008 issue of Esquire, there is an article on page 59 titled "A Few Words On Low Key Luxury", in which it discusses a new watch that has just come out. It discusses how the watch itself is classy and not "flashy", however it's famous for just how expensive it is, so although it may not look like much, everyone who sees it will recognize just how expensive it is. This will portray an image that you are so successful and rich that you do not need to spend money on flashy things, because you have enough to spend it on expensive "low key" things. This shows us a major message we get a lot from corporate culture. We are often presented with messages of how important it is to be successful, and how much money is really valued. This article, specifically, is also showing us how everything appears to be a competition when it comes to success. The entire purpose of purchasing this new expensive watch, is not because it is unbelievably attractive or does anything amazing that no other watch is capable of, their reasoning for purchasing it is simply because it is famous for being so expensive, and other people will see it and be impressed and envious. We're being programmed into revolving our actions and choices around what other may think, and how we can "beat the rest". It's almost as if we are still acting out survival of the fittest, however it's no longer the fittest or most intelligent. It's become survival of the one who did the best job of conforming in order to make the most money to show off to their friends.
Another section in this issue of Esquire was labeled Influence. In it there was an article "How to be a Sweet Talker", page 78, by Tom Chiarella. The article is essentially a complied list of techniques for sweet talking in order to get what you want and what will make you happy, whether that means within the job place or with girls. The article brings up the case of happiness again, where it seems that the article has the readers best interest in mind, for it is trying to help the reader get what it is that would make them happy. However, in order to get those things, we must follow a certain technique or rule, in order to achieve these things. It gives off the sense that we may not necessarily deserve these things that would make us happy, but anyone is capable of achieving them as long as you "sweet talk" enough. It is an article that essentially encourages brown-nosing, claiming that it's a very effective way of moving up in the world. This article is also showing us the value of success, in whatever aspect of your life you might be lacking it in. It seems common for this magazine to demean aspects of our lives into competitions, in which we are all out to succeed, and there are certain skills one must attain in order to reach that goal, or that prize (prizes either being girls or money). So far, all articles have commented on how to “improve” things, whether that be your health, your image, or in your ability to get what you want.
In the November 2008 issue of Seventeen Magazine, there was a piece on page 30 titled “Change Your Body” which advised girls on how to dress according to their body type. It’s interesting, because initially, the title of the piece may lead one to believe it has to do with fitness. However, the article is basically saying you are allowed to be lazy and allow you’re body to get out of shape, as long as you go out and purchase clothes according to each stage of your increasing obesity. The article is encouraging consumption, in both the sense of purchasing clothes and of continuing to eat however you may want. This, too, appears to be about improving something. It’s all about how to “flatter” your body, therefore improving your appearance. So far, it seems that improving ones self is the most dominate message amongst corporate media.
MARGINAL CORPORATE MESSAGES
Corporate media is also capable of portraying marginal messages, which are messages that we don’t often see and are liable to be contradicted by other surrounding messages. We can see many marginal messages through songs.
One song that has a very strong marginal message that we may see often is Tupac’s “Changes”. The song preaches that people need to unite and work together to help change the way we live in order to better our ways of life. At one point during the song, Tupac says
“We gotta make a change...
It's time for us as a people to start making some changes.
Let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live
and let's change the way we treat each other.
You see the old way wasn't working so it's on us to do
what we gotta do, to survive.”
Tupac is saying that the way we have been taught to live, is not the way we should continue to live. He is claiming that people have become so disconnected by this way of life, and we need to change that, by uniting, and trying to improve all the different aspects of our life. This song is showing us that we do not currently lead meaningful lives because there is still so much struggle within our culture. In order to make it truly meaningful, we need to create this sense of community amongst the people, by uniting in order to change.
This is a marginal message because most other aspects of corporate culture will not encourage this kind of change. It will not openly say that it does not want to allow change, it simply will make it very difficult for someone to actually go about creating the change. We are so used to our routine, and corporate culture feeds on that, using that as a way to prevent these marginal messages from being completely successful.
CORPORATE MESSAGES
When it comes to the messages we get from corporate culture, it is no secret that we live in a world controlled by corporate media. We are constantly being sent messages through these corporations, telling us the best ways to live. These supposedly best ways to live, are usually those that consume the most. Within media, we find there are three different types of messages. The first are dominate messages, which are the messages we see the most often, and those that are most visible. The next are marginal messages. These are messages that we only occasionally see. Finally, there are prohibited messages, messages which corporate media would not want to be sent to the public.
DOMINATE CORPORATE MESSAGES
One of the most dominate messages we can find is that we are not as good as we could be. We are shown things that would somehow improve the state we are at, whether that be our appearance or through our relationships with others. We are constantly being told that we are good how we are, but we could be better with the help of what they can provide.
We can see this dominate message a lot through magazines. In the November 2008 issue of Esquire magazine, there is an entire section called "Man At His Best", already we are seeing that the magazine is out to tell us how, with the help of this magazine, a man can learn how to improve himself. Within this section, there is an article called "Ask Dr. Oz, the Lightning Round" in which readers have sent in medical questions searching for answers. This is telling the reader to value their health in life, and to always ask questions if they are ever uncertain. We are being shown that a "man at his best" is a healthy, fit man, with no weird medical problems.
In the style section of this November 2008 issue of Esquire, there is an article on page 59 titled "A Few Words On Low Key Luxury", in which it discusses a new watch that has just come out. It discusses how the watch itself is classy and not "flashy", however it's famous for just how expensive it is, so although it may not look like much, everyone who sees it will recognize just how expensive it is. This will portray an image that you are so successful and rich that you do not need to spend money on flashy things, because you have enough to spend it on expensive "low key" things. This shows us a major message we get a lot from corporate culture. We are often presented with messages of how important it is to be successful, and how much money is really valued. This article, specifically, is also showing us how everything appears to be a competition when it comes to success. The entire purpose of purchasing this new expensive watch, is not because it is unbelievably attractive or does anything amazing that no other watch is capable of, their reasoning for purchasing it is simply because it is famous for being so expensive, and other people will see it and be impressed and envious. We're being programmed into revolving our actions and choices around what other may think, and how we can "beat the rest". It's almost as if we are still acting out survival of the fittest, however it's no longer the fittest or most intelligent. It's become survival of the one who did the best job of conforming in order to make the most money to show off to their friends.
Another section in this issue of Esquire was labeled Influence. In it there was an article "How to be a Sweet Talker", page 78, by Tom Chiarella. The article is essentially a complied list of techniques for sweet talking in order to get what you want and what will make you happy, whether that means within the job place or with girls. The article brings up the case of happiness again, where it seems that the article has the readers best interest in mind, for it is trying to help the reader get what it is that would make them happy. However, in order to get those things, we must follow a certain technique or rule, in order to achieve these things. It gives off the sense that we may not necessarily deserve these things that would make us happy, but anyone is capable of achieving them as long as you "sweet talk" enough. It is an article that essentially encourages brown-nosing, claiming that it's a very effective way of moving up in the world. This article is also showing us the value of success, in whatever aspect of your life you might be lacking it in. It seems common for this magazine to demean aspects of our lives into competitions, in which we are all out to succeed, and there are certain skills one must attain in order to reach that goal, or that prize (prizes either being girls or money). So far, all articles have commented on how to “improve” things, whether that be your health, your image, or in your ability to get what you want.
In the November 2008 issue of Seventeen Magazine, there was a piece on page 30 titled “Change Your Body” which advised girls on how to dress according to their body type. It’s interesting, because initially, the title of the piece may lead one to believe it has to do with fitness. However, the article is basically saying you are allowed to be lazy and allow you’re body to get out of shape, as long as you go out and purchase clothes according to each stage of your increasing obesity. The article is encouraging consumption, in both the sense of purchasing clothes and of continuing to eat however you may want. This, too, appears to be about improving something. It’s all about how to “flatter” your body, therefore improving your appearance. So far, it seems that improving ones self is the most dominate message amongst corporate media.
MARGINAL CORPORATE MESSAGES
Corporate media is also capable of portraying marginal messages, which are messages that we don’t often see and are liable to be contradicted by other surrounding messages. We can see many marginal messages through songs.
One song that has a very strong marginal message that we may see often is Tupac’s “Changes”. The song preaches that people need to unite and work together to help change the way we live in order to better our ways of life. At one point during the song, Tupac says
“We gotta make a change...
It's time for us as a people to start making some changes.
Let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live
and let's change the way we treat each other.
You see the old way wasn't working so it's on us to do
what we gotta do, to survive.”
Tupac is saying that the way we have been taught to live, is not the way we should continue to live. He is claiming that people have become so disconnected by this way of life, and we need to change that, by uniting, and trying to improve all the different aspects of our life. This song is showing us that we do not currently lead meaningful lives because there is still so much struggle within our culture. In order to make it truly meaningful, we need to create this sense of community amongst the people, by uniting in order to change.
This is a marginal message because most other aspects of corporate culture will not encourage this kind of change. It will not openly say that it does not want to allow change, it simply will make it very difficult for someone to actually go about creating the change. We are so used to our routine, and corporate culture feeds on that, using that as a way to prevent these marginal messages from being completely successful.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
MLK day
I didn't watch enough television that day to really get affected by MLK day. I saw one commercial that started with MLK's "I have a dream" that then transition into one of Obamas speeches. I assumed that was the basic message of the whole day, talking about how far we've come and how proud he would be.
It's strange that I didn't even realize it was MLK day until I was watching tv. When I walked outside or got on the train there was never any sense of unity or pride around me. People didn't cheer or talk about it outside, so it really felt like any other day. There was no acknowledgment of it outside of commercials and television broadcasts. It was like television made up this feeling to show us, forcing us into feeling it if we watched enough tv that day.
I think the whole day shows us a lot about folk culture and what it tells us about what it means to lead a meaningful life. It's all about this sense of purpose, and this sense that we are all in this together, to help ourselves become better people. In order to lead a meaningful life, we should do great things, or help others who do. To lead a meaningful life we need to try our best to make the world a better place, and appreciate those who do. We need to have a sense of community around us, and that will help us lead a meaningful life.
But it also shows us how little of that folk culture is really genuine anymore. There is still this great sense of community, but it's as if people don't feel like they need to act that out in real life, as long as they watch it on tv and get a warm and fuzzy feeling from that, then it's ok and they've done their part and they just go about life barely getting themselves involved.
It's strange that I didn't even realize it was MLK day until I was watching tv. When I walked outside or got on the train there was never any sense of unity or pride around me. People didn't cheer or talk about it outside, so it really felt like any other day. There was no acknowledgment of it outside of commercials and television broadcasts. It was like television made up this feeling to show us, forcing us into feeling it if we watched enough tv that day.
I think the whole day shows us a lot about folk culture and what it tells us about what it means to lead a meaningful life. It's all about this sense of purpose, and this sense that we are all in this together, to help ourselves become better people. In order to lead a meaningful life, we should do great things, or help others who do. To lead a meaningful life we need to try our best to make the world a better place, and appreciate those who do. We need to have a sense of community around us, and that will help us lead a meaningful life.
But it also shows us how little of that folk culture is really genuine anymore. There is still this great sense of community, but it's as if people don't feel like they need to act that out in real life, as long as they watch it on tv and get a warm and fuzzy feeling from that, then it's ok and they've done their part and they just go about life barely getting themselves involved.
inauguration
We watched the inauguration together in Copeland's and Manley's rooms. It was all of us sitting together, clapping together and booing together. There was this sense that we were a part of something big, that we were experiencing something we would always remember.
Obama's first line of the speech was "My fellow citizens", which gave us this sense of unity, making us feel as if we were all in this together. That he wasn't someone who now had this great amount of power over us. Instead, he was just another citizen, and we were all working together to better America. The entire speech was essentially how there is much that needs to be changed about our country, and in order to change it, we are all going to have to work together for it.
This speech gives us a sense of what is considered meaningful in life from a folk point of view. It's telling us that what's meaningful is feeling like you're a part of something bigger. Being a part of a movement and feeling like you make a difference. We long for that feeling of importance and greatness, that we actually matter in this big world.
Obama's first line of the speech was "My fellow citizens", which gave us this sense of unity, making us feel as if we were all in this together. That he wasn't someone who now had this great amount of power over us. Instead, he was just another citizen, and we were all working together to better America. The entire speech was essentially how there is much that needs to be changed about our country, and in order to change it, we are all going to have to work together for it.
This speech gives us a sense of what is considered meaningful in life from a folk point of view. It's telling us that what's meaningful is feeling like you're a part of something bigger. Being a part of a movement and feeling like you make a difference. We long for that feeling of importance and greatness, that we actually matter in this big world.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
kindergarten speech
Don't pay attention to what I'm saying. Talk to the people sitting next to you. Look outside and daydream about how much fun it's going to be when you go to the park later. Don't care about what these people are saying to you. You're a kid, so act like it. Play video games. Pretend to be a dinosaur. Play dress up. Do what you want. Don't be in a rush. The world sucks once you get out of here. Love it for now.
I can't think of anything else to say in my speech. I'm sure I listened to speeches when I was in kindergarten that was all about how amazing the world is, how I could do anything and everything if I put my mind to it. I also got the speeches from teachers about the future and how to obey people in charge and how to do my work on time cause if I don't I'll end up on the street and die alone. I don't remember any of those speeches, even though I'm sure I got them. At that age I was so happy. Anything bad that happened to me sucked briefly for a moment, and then I moved on. Nothing hurt me too badly. It wasn't until I was older and spiteful that I started to look BACK at those times and get angry over them. I don't want to be the prophet to their revelation, because I don't think they should even have one yet. I don't want to open them up to the world out here. I want them to stay as young as they can for as long as possible, because I know there are times where all you want to do is get older. I don't know how to tell them that in a way that they haven't heard before, because I'm sure they have. And I'm sure I was told it too at that age.
I can't think of anything else to say in my speech. I'm sure I listened to speeches when I was in kindergarten that was all about how amazing the world is, how I could do anything and everything if I put my mind to it. I also got the speeches from teachers about the future and how to obey people in charge and how to do my work on time cause if I don't I'll end up on the street and die alone. I don't remember any of those speeches, even though I'm sure I got them. At that age I was so happy. Anything bad that happened to me sucked briefly for a moment, and then I moved on. Nothing hurt me too badly. It wasn't until I was older and spiteful that I started to look BACK at those times and get angry over them. I don't want to be the prophet to their revelation, because I don't think they should even have one yet. I don't want to open them up to the world out here. I want them to stay as young as they can for as long as possible, because I know there are times where all you want to do is get older. I don't know how to tell them that in a way that they haven't heard before, because I'm sure they have. And I'm sure I was told it too at that age.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
holidays- christmas
Christmas seems to be like the biggest holiday within our culture. It's odd because we're supposed to be such a multicultural country, yet the most amped up holiday is one with a major religious aspect to it.
Within my family, Christmas day is usually spent in our pajamas. At some point we change to dress rather nicely for christmas dinner. When looking at this in terms of what it means in regards to living a meaningful life, it's showing us that appearance accounts for a lot. We start out the day being comfortable, spending time with close family members. But once it gets time to spend it with the rest of the family, we're supposed to change and put our best foot forward. It's odd because, since it's for our family, you would think we wouldn't need to "dress to impress". This is supposed to be the people who should love us no matter what, caring about us for who we really are. And yet, we still feel the need to make sure we look perfect, flawless even.
One of the most major and obvious aspects of the holiday, is the fact that it's all about consuming, and purchasing, for the sake of giving. As kids, we're immediately taught that the holiday is about presents, and getting what we want. Starting from an early age, we are taught to write letters to Santa Claus, listing everything we want that year. There's this sense of fear put into us by our parents, that if we weren't good enough all year, we won't get any of the things we want. It seems to all just be a major ploy to trick us into acting good. We are being taught that a major component of having a meaningful life, is being "good" and obeying the rules. In return, if we do good things, we will be rewarded. It's never simply "be good for the sake of being good". We aren't taught to feel any satisfaction from the good acts themselves. Instead we need to have this guarantee that we will be rewarded, in order to actually want to do anything good.
Another aspect of the holiday, as per most other holidays, is the big dinner we share with families. A major part of most holidays involves big meals. It shows us how we as a culture value meals a lot. We feel like somehow this brings us together, taking part in a huge meal together. It's one of the few really raw animal characteristics of our species we still consider really acceptable. It's something natural, one of the few things natural about this holiday.
Another huge component of the holiday is shopping for presents for others. It's a major consumer holiday. It teaches us to shop and that will somehow get us to this warm and fuzzy feeling of the holidays. It's teaching us that in order to live a meaningful life, we have to purchase the newest clothes or gadgets or toys. Then we will feel whole and satisfied with another year of our life being over.
It's strange because there's so much hype over this holiday. Commercials feature graphics of snowflakes, Google decorates it's web page with trees and snowmen, television stations play christmas movies where they pan across a house that's all lit up as friends and family laugh and eat inside next to a fireplace. And yet, the day finally comes, and I'm searching for this feeling of comfort and warmth and happiness and laughter and fireplaces, and it happens for maybe a moment as we first sit around the tree and begin opening presents, but after a few minutes, it feels like just another day. After all the presents have been opened and eggnogg has been drunken, we sit and watch tv as Grandma finishes cooking. It feels like any other day. I never feel that moment that the television portrays. It's as if this feeling has been entirely made up by all of those tv stations and websites and commercials. I look forward to it so much every year, and every year it ends the same. I get that feeling for a split second, and then suddenly its over.
I think this shows us that a meaningful life is all about looking for that feeling. Looking for that stimulation that comes with each different holiday. This one specifically being that happiness and that warmth. But does it even exist? Is that feeling even real? Because so far, I haven't found it.
Within my family, Christmas day is usually spent in our pajamas. At some point we change to dress rather nicely for christmas dinner. When looking at this in terms of what it means in regards to living a meaningful life, it's showing us that appearance accounts for a lot. We start out the day being comfortable, spending time with close family members. But once it gets time to spend it with the rest of the family, we're supposed to change and put our best foot forward. It's odd because, since it's for our family, you would think we wouldn't need to "dress to impress". This is supposed to be the people who should love us no matter what, caring about us for who we really are. And yet, we still feel the need to make sure we look perfect, flawless even.
One of the most major and obvious aspects of the holiday, is the fact that it's all about consuming, and purchasing, for the sake of giving. As kids, we're immediately taught that the holiday is about presents, and getting what we want. Starting from an early age, we are taught to write letters to Santa Claus, listing everything we want that year. There's this sense of fear put into us by our parents, that if we weren't good enough all year, we won't get any of the things we want. It seems to all just be a major ploy to trick us into acting good. We are being taught that a major component of having a meaningful life, is being "good" and obeying the rules. In return, if we do good things, we will be rewarded. It's never simply "be good for the sake of being good". We aren't taught to feel any satisfaction from the good acts themselves. Instead we need to have this guarantee that we will be rewarded, in order to actually want to do anything good.
Another aspect of the holiday, as per most other holidays, is the big dinner we share with families. A major part of most holidays involves big meals. It shows us how we as a culture value meals a lot. We feel like somehow this brings us together, taking part in a huge meal together. It's one of the few really raw animal characteristics of our species we still consider really acceptable. It's something natural, one of the few things natural about this holiday.
Another huge component of the holiday is shopping for presents for others. It's a major consumer holiday. It teaches us to shop and that will somehow get us to this warm and fuzzy feeling of the holidays. It's teaching us that in order to live a meaningful life, we have to purchase the newest clothes or gadgets or toys. Then we will feel whole and satisfied with another year of our life being over.
It's strange because there's so much hype over this holiday. Commercials feature graphics of snowflakes, Google decorates it's web page with trees and snowmen, television stations play christmas movies where they pan across a house that's all lit up as friends and family laugh and eat inside next to a fireplace. And yet, the day finally comes, and I'm searching for this feeling of comfort and warmth and happiness and laughter and fireplaces, and it happens for maybe a moment as we first sit around the tree and begin opening presents, but after a few minutes, it feels like just another day. After all the presents have been opened and eggnogg has been drunken, we sit and watch tv as Grandma finishes cooking. It feels like any other day. I never feel that moment that the television portrays. It's as if this feeling has been entirely made up by all of those tv stations and websites and commercials. I look forward to it so much every year, and every year it ends the same. I get that feeling for a split second, and then suddenly its over.
I think this shows us that a meaningful life is all about looking for that feeling. Looking for that stimulation that comes with each different holiday. This one specifically being that happiness and that warmth. But does it even exist? Is that feeling even real? Because so far, I haven't found it.
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