Reading this chapter, the word courage doesn't exactly come to mind. I believe choosing to call this chapter, "Speaking of Courage", was a way to lighten the tension, like the way he decided to start his story.
"Let me tell you about the time I almost won the Silver Star."
It's maybe used to brush aside the event as 'not a big deal'. Similar to the way they use military slang to degrade somethings of their emotional value. It's contradictory that the chapter is called this because war stories can usually be seen as full of valor and soldiers sacrificing themselves for each other. In this story it's not the case, it's about how a veteran deals with the death of his comrade and consequently, himself.
The name of the chapter can be seen as ironic to what we usually expect from war stories. It's used to show how soldiers may deal with tension by making a situation lighter. When Ted Lavender died, they didn't grieve his death or have a good-bye ceremony but instead they smoked his drugs. They don't allow themselves to show any form of emotion because it breaks this whole idea that they're supposed to be tough and unbreakable killing machines.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Memoir Critique
The memoir I selected was Brown Bear: My Childhood Friend.
I really enjoyed this memoir because it brings up my own childhood memories, I remember when I was about 6 and I also had a stuffed bear that I carried around with me, it was a best friend to me and as I grew up I moved on to other things, I outgrew my bear and this memoir personifies the bear a little and depicts as a lonely soul and it made me feel a little sad. The narration is realistic, everybody, in my opinion, should be able to relate to the narration and have some form of nostalgia.The narration is innocent at first and meant to evoke some nostalgia of our favorite childhood toys and it did that for me, I also remember throwing my bear at a fan and pretending he was flying and much to my mom's displeasure, feeding him baby food.
In the end, the message is that not all things are forever, but it's good to treasure them in our memories. We'll always grow and our interests and desires will change as well and that's not necessarily a bad thing. The author does a good job of reflecting back on their memory realistically and with good insight.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
"America never was America to me."
"America never was America to me."
The America Hughes describes in the past tense is not the land that the Constitution claims it would be but rather it's a land where the rich take advantage of the poor and the rich only get richer. Lagston Hughes is describing how America never was the land of the free or opportunity but he does state it's possible for it to be changed into the land shaped around the American Dream.
"Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed - Let it be that great strong land of love."
The America Hughes calls for is a land of true opportunity where the average working man has opportunity, freedom and a chance at happiness. When he says: "I am the people, humble, hungry, mean-" He's giving voice to the entire African American population and saying that this is what they all want. A chance to rise, to live comfortably and financial security.
The overall tone of the poem feels like a critique of America and where it is now, displeased with the America that has arisen, nothing close to what was promised in the Constitution. There is also a tone of hopefulness in parts of the poem, hope that America can be a land of liberty and equality. The criticism comes from the fact that while the rich can always get richer, the poor only get poorer. There is currently no equality in the America we have now.
In relation the Great Gatsby, there's a warning in Myrtle, Gatsby and George's death: if you work for the American Dream... you will end up dead. Gatsby serves as an example that only dishonest work will rise you up in American society and even then... you'll end up dead in your pool one day. Hughes says that while these people have worked so hard to achieve equality and freedom they are still the ones suffering the most, unable to move anywhere socio-economically.
I agree with Hughes because the poor only get poorer, it's an overused statement but it's true, the rich control everything and this only leads to a profit on their part. The poor struggle to feed their families while the rich completely spoil themselves.
The America Hughes describes in the past tense is not the land that the Constitution claims it would be but rather it's a land where the rich take advantage of the poor and the rich only get richer. Lagston Hughes is describing how America never was the land of the free or opportunity but he does state it's possible for it to be changed into the land shaped around the American Dream.
"Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed - Let it be that great strong land of love."
The America Hughes calls for is a land of true opportunity where the average working man has opportunity, freedom and a chance at happiness. When he says: "I am the people, humble, hungry, mean-" He's giving voice to the entire African American population and saying that this is what they all want. A chance to rise, to live comfortably and financial security.
The overall tone of the poem feels like a critique of America and where it is now, displeased with the America that has arisen, nothing close to what was promised in the Constitution. There is also a tone of hopefulness in parts of the poem, hope that America can be a land of liberty and equality. The criticism comes from the fact that while the rich can always get richer, the poor only get poorer. There is currently no equality in the America we have now.
In relation the Great Gatsby, there's a warning in Myrtle, Gatsby and George's death: if you work for the American Dream... you will end up dead. Gatsby serves as an example that only dishonest work will rise you up in American society and even then... you'll end up dead in your pool one day. Hughes says that while these people have worked so hard to achieve equality and freedom they are still the ones suffering the most, unable to move anywhere socio-economically.
I agree with Hughes because the poor only get poorer, it's an overused statement but it's true, the rich control everything and this only leads to a profit on their part. The poor struggle to feed their families while the rich completely spoil themselves.
The Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a civil war between the north and south regions of Vietnam.
The Vietnam War was the U.S's opposition to the spread of communism, the U.S had a fear that if South Vietnam turned into a communist country then the surrounding countries would follow (the domino theory), until Asia was a giant communist landmass.
Why did the U.S get involved at all? The Truman doctrine states that the U.S assists all countries resisting communism.
After World War II, the French invaded and took control of Vietnam, this caused a disruption of peace in the lifestyle of the Vietnamese. At the time, Communists were hoping to spread their ideals onto smaller, weaker countries and took advantage of the despair.
The Vietnam War was the U.S's opposition to the spread of communism, the U.S had a fear that if South Vietnam turned into a communist country then the surrounding countries would follow (the domino theory), until Asia was a giant communist landmass.
Why did the U.S get involved at all? The Truman doctrine states that the U.S assists all countries resisting communism.
After World War II, the French invaded and took control of Vietnam, this caused a disruption of peace in the lifestyle of the Vietnamese. At the time, Communists were hoping to spread their ideals onto smaller, weaker countries and took advantage of the despair.
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Great Gatsby Through the Eyes of George Wilson
“Beat me!” Myrtle cried. “Throw me down and beat me, you dirty little coward!
After a brisk moment she ran from me, she was waving her arms madly and before I could do anything she was gone. It didn't stop, it was gone as fast as it came, like a phantom out of nowhere.
Michaelis hurried to her and I could only watch as they checked the pulse on her, the car had mutilated her body beyond belief and I could no longer look. It felt like my life was over and the end was somewhere near.
-------
After a while, a crowd had gathered consisting of policemen and those with an insatiable curiosity for gossip or news.
"....and let's have your name. Look out now. i want to get his name," said the policeman. I knew the type of car, the yellow blur had reconstructed itself in my memory.
"You don't have to tell me what kind of car it was! I know what kind of car it was!"
Tom came over and in a comforting way he put his arms on my shoulders.
"You've got to pull yourself together," I didn't know his gruff character could manage a gentle word, much less a phrase and I let myself go for a second.
"Listen," said Tom, he was shaking me. " I just got here a minute ago from New York. i was you that coupe we've been talking about. That yellow car I was driving this afternoon wasn't mine - do you hear? I haven't seen it all afternoon."
-------
After a while, a crowd had gathered consisting of policemen and those with an insatiable curiosity for gossip or news.
"....and let's have your name. Look out now. i want to get his name," said the policeman. I knew the type of car, the yellow blur had reconstructed itself in my memory.
"You don't have to tell me what kind of car it was! I know what kind of car it was!"
Tom came over and in a comforting way he put his arms on my shoulders.
"You've got to pull yourself together," I didn't know his gruff character could manage a gentle word, much less a phrase and I let myself go for a second.
"Listen," said Tom, he was shaking me. " I just got here a minute ago from New York. i was you that coupe we've been talking about. That yellow car I was driving this afternoon wasn't mine - do you hear? I haven't seen it all afternoon."
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The American Dream Today
The American Dream these days is much harder to pursuit, it not only takes an education or a skill but rather some luck it seems. Some people out of college are having it so bad that they have to move in directly to their parents' house because of the lack of jobs the economy is providing. The unemployment for our youth (14%) is reaching the levels it once had during the Great Depression.
It seems that these numbers are so discouraging or most people do not even want to give pursuit to their American Dream that 23% have not even tried looking for work. Despite these harsh numbers a lot remain optimistic about their future, the promise of a piece of their own American Dream is close.
This promise of independence, before easily achieved has become it's own part in the American Dream because of how elusive it is. It's come to the point where other people have to hold your hand or give you a little push so that you can make it.
This relates to the Great Gatsby because we see the same struggle in George, in my opinion he represents a working man that the American Dream has let down and so he has to continuously wait for Tom to give up his car so that George can profit from it. He's lost part of this independence in pushing George to sell him his car.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/07/business/economy/07generation.html
It seems that these numbers are so discouraging or most people do not even want to give pursuit to their American Dream that 23% have not even tried looking for work. Despite these harsh numbers a lot remain optimistic about their future, the promise of a piece of their own American Dream is close.
This promise of independence, before easily achieved has become it's own part in the American Dream because of how elusive it is. It's come to the point where other people have to hold your hand or give you a little push so that you can make it.
This relates to the Great Gatsby because we see the same struggle in George, in my opinion he represents a working man that the American Dream has let down and so he has to continuously wait for Tom to give up his car so that George can profit from it. He's lost part of this independence in pushing George to sell him his car.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/07/business/economy/07generation.html
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