The book that I decided to read for the independent reading project was Blackhawk Down by Mark Bowden. This book has been very interesting to me since I am interested in military events (at least the ones that have occurred World War II and after). It has been very interesting so far, and I have also watched the movie, which was very good but considered by many to downsize parts of the true events of the day. The book details the events of the first Battle of Mogadishu (which went under the code name Gothic Serpent). They entered the Bakara and anticipated a quick one hour mission which would end in the capture of two tier one aides of Mohammad Farrah Aidid with very few injuries to American forces. Local spies had reported where the two personalities would be meeting and the Army had soon set up a plan. Members of the Army Rangers would set up positions on corners of the block where the building was to prevent anyone from entering. Elite Delta force troopers would then enter the building using flash bang grenades, stunning the people and getting them on the grounds before they could react, as they had been taught to do.
This would be most easily done using helicopters, which normal pilots would be hard pressed to navigate in the narrow allies of the Bakara market. However, the army had the 160th division (also known as the Night Stalkers) which was an elite force of pilots who had even trained themselves to fly during the night. The Rangers would be brought in on MH-60 Blackhawk helicopters while the Delta force flew in on the smaller MH-6 Little Birds (which would be armed with mini guns and 2.75 inch rockets). At the same time a ground force would leave for the base and meet up at the house where the prisoners would be loaded on and taken back to base. All of this went terribly wrong when two the Blackhawks got shot down by Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG’s). The army started talking massive casualties as they fought to the crash sights while all of the market continued to rise against them. Eventually they got to the crash sights after suffering casualties to find many of the pilots dead. After all that they had to set up posts for the night where they had to defend themselves from the constant Somali attacks, eventually being rescued by the UN peace keepers also in a peaceful part of Somalia. At the end many of the Rangers and Delta forces couldn’t fit in the cars and had to run the distance to the stadium, while being shot at, after a night of constant fighting. This magnificent run became known as the Mogadishu Mile. I was greatly disturbed by the fact that people called US forces out for accidentally hitting women and children, when in fact, these women and children were running towards the fighting, running towards the Americans and thus blocking the Somali fighters from being hit. They involved themselves in the fight, when kids sit on top of a Somali shooter to protect him they involved themselves and made themselves combatants.
This book really brought to light the massive sacrifices our armed forces make for us. Many suffered debilitating wounds such as having their finger shot off, or suffered through unendurable pain while they slowly died after trying to save one of their friends. Not only has this book been very interesting, but it has made me respect those who serve our country much more than before.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Pursuit of Knowledge
Schools are very important in a person’s desire to obtain knowledge. While it is true that some people are born with an innate hunger for knowledge, many others get inspired to learn from what their teachers tell them, or what they read in books. This is why many schools now seek ways to inspire kids, not just to do well in school but to also continue their education afterwards, whether by reading books or going to universities.
Private schools are very good at inspiring kids because they have more resources available to them and, because they are a smaller school, can do more things that reflect what their students’ desire. If they are currently studying a certain subject, in say, History and it reminds a student of something else or it parallels to something else then they can possibly take the time to look at that idea or assign homework or extra credit for that particular subject.
The problem with public schools is that they lack the money and resources that private schools do. They also have a far larger class size and thus cannot vary their schedule as much. That would cause a school class to get further ahead or behind the other classes. Also, the teachers won’t be as willing to divert the class for the interest of a few students. The other thing is that the teachers lack the same kind of enthusiasm that private school teachers have because they had already been paid. The money of the taxpayer pays the public school teachers and faculty workers. Since they are assured their pay, no matter how their class does, they don’t have a desire to make sure that class does well or is interested in the learning. This is one of the vital problems with our public school systems. Private school teachers, however, can get easily fired for not living up to standards, have higher standards to live up to, and don’t get paid by taxpayers. Instead, they get paid by the students or the students parents so if the parents or students realize that the teachers aren’t doing well then they can choose to leave that school, thus influencing the teachers pay.
Those teachers that are so dedicated to their students that they will help to excite the students do so by taking time to do the things that the students want to do. The parents join the teachers in this by telling the student how much the education they receive means and how important it is to continue that education in order to have a good life.
Due to the lack of motivation in our public schools, our students of today are facing problems with lack of motivation. With a few changes this could be remedied, though the change would not be immediate. These schools have a profound effect on the students desire to learn, and should be reminded of that more often. That might inspire them to work harder to inspire their kids and help our future.
Private schools are very good at inspiring kids because they have more resources available to them and, because they are a smaller school, can do more things that reflect what their students’ desire. If they are currently studying a certain subject, in say, History and it reminds a student of something else or it parallels to something else then they can possibly take the time to look at that idea or assign homework or extra credit for that particular subject.
The problem with public schools is that they lack the money and resources that private schools do. They also have a far larger class size and thus cannot vary their schedule as much. That would cause a school class to get further ahead or behind the other classes. Also, the teachers won’t be as willing to divert the class for the interest of a few students. The other thing is that the teachers lack the same kind of enthusiasm that private school teachers have because they had already been paid. The money of the taxpayer pays the public school teachers and faculty workers. Since they are assured their pay, no matter how their class does, they don’t have a desire to make sure that class does well or is interested in the learning. This is one of the vital problems with our public school systems. Private school teachers, however, can get easily fired for not living up to standards, have higher standards to live up to, and don’t get paid by taxpayers. Instead, they get paid by the students or the students parents so if the parents or students realize that the teachers aren’t doing well then they can choose to leave that school, thus influencing the teachers pay.
Those teachers that are so dedicated to their students that they will help to excite the students do so by taking time to do the things that the students want to do. The parents join the teachers in this by telling the student how much the education they receive means and how important it is to continue that education in order to have a good life.
Due to the lack of motivation in our public schools, our students of today are facing problems with lack of motivation. With a few changes this could be remedied, though the change would not be immediate. These schools have a profound effect on the students desire to learn, and should be reminded of that more often. That might inspire them to work harder to inspire their kids and help our future.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
US Government Blog
1) My US Senators are: Evan Bayh (Democrat) and Richard Lugar (Republican)
2) My US Congressman, based on where i live is: Andre Carson (Democrat)
3) My State Senator, based on where i live is: Mike Delph (Republican)
4) My State Congresswoman, based on where i live is: Vanessa Summers (Democrat)
5) Mitch Daniels is up for reelection as Governor.
Andre Carson is up for reelection as Congressman.
Vanessa Summers is up for reelection as State Congresswoman.
6) Answered in questions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 (in the parenthesis by their names)
7) Mitch Daniels (Republican), Jill Long Thompson (Democrat) and Andy Horning (LIbertarian)
2) My US Congressman, based on where i live is: Andre Carson (Democrat)
3) My State Senator, based on where i live is: Mike Delph (Republican)
4) My State Congresswoman, based on where i live is: Vanessa Summers (Democrat)
5) Mitch Daniels is up for reelection as Governor.
Andre Carson is up for reelection as Congressman.
Vanessa Summers is up for reelection as State Congresswoman.
6) Answered in questions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 (in the parenthesis by their names)
7) Mitch Daniels (Republican), Jill Long Thompson (Democrat) and Andy Horning (LIbertarian)
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
American Freedoms Blog
The Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights gave American citizens many rights. These included but were not limited to the right to free speech, the right to freedom of religion and the right to pursue “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Not everyone is equal in this country financial, however, with regards to Constitutional rights, everyone is equal. Every now and then there are legal battles where people feel their rights were infringed upon (such as Ferguson vs. The City of Charleston) but these get ironed out and such cases can then be called upon in the future to further everyone’s equal rights.
These equal rights are what allow people to be free and choose what they want to do. This freedom should not be taken away because people might then be forced to do things that they would not enjoy, and since you only live once, why do something you This right to freedom is considered inherent in America, which is why it is considered such a great nation and a bastion for those wishing to escape prejudice and slavery. People who are constantly oppressed are also more likely to rise up and overthrow their masters, whereas people who are free can pursue their dreams and become what they want. Freedom should be inherent in every nation, but regrettably it’s not and that is why the thirteen colonies broke off from the British Empire.
My rights are all that are listed in the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, the Amendments and more. They include freedom of speech, religion and assembly as well as the right to bear arms and resist self- incrimination. These are the reasons that I enjoy being an American so much and love the country I am in. My rights have never truly been infringed upon or taken away but I have felt that people have not respected my opinions on what my rights are. Whether it is my stance on gun control or gay rights people will always argue. This irritates me that they go to the extent to try and convince me that I am wrong without fully checking out their own ideas, but it is their right to do so based on the First Amendment.
Due to their rights within the First Amendment it is sometimes hard to convince people that they are wrong or that the way they are putting their ideas out there are wrong. This is because there is no way to stop them from saying it. They can say whatever they want and when you argue or tell them not to say it they can simply respond with “It’s my First Amendment right,” which also tends to lead to the problem that people do not think about what they are saying before they say it. Because they have the protection of the First Amendment they can say whatever they want without thinking about it and eventually get used to it, saying whatever comes to mind without fully examining the idea because they really don’t have to.
People have always had the ability to overthrow their government, as long as they do so in large enough numbers. This isn’t something that should be done on a whim, however, only being done when the government is completely and truly oppressing either all of its citizens or a large portion of them. This revoking of human’s rights is a viable reason to revolt because humans should never have to live without their inherent rights.
These equal rights are what allow people to be free and choose what they want to do. This freedom should not be taken away because people might then be forced to do things that they would not enjoy, and since you only live once, why do something you This right to freedom is considered inherent in America, which is why it is considered such a great nation and a bastion for those wishing to escape prejudice and slavery. People who are constantly oppressed are also more likely to rise up and overthrow their masters, whereas people who are free can pursue their dreams and become what they want. Freedom should be inherent in every nation, but regrettably it’s not and that is why the thirteen colonies broke off from the British Empire.
My rights are all that are listed in the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, the Amendments and more. They include freedom of speech, religion and assembly as well as the right to bear arms and resist self- incrimination. These are the reasons that I enjoy being an American so much and love the country I am in. My rights have never truly been infringed upon or taken away but I have felt that people have not respected my opinions on what my rights are. Whether it is my stance on gun control or gay rights people will always argue. This irritates me that they go to the extent to try and convince me that I am wrong without fully checking out their own ideas, but it is their right to do so based on the First Amendment.
Due to their rights within the First Amendment it is sometimes hard to convince people that they are wrong or that the way they are putting their ideas out there are wrong. This is because there is no way to stop them from saying it. They can say whatever they want and when you argue or tell them not to say it they can simply respond with “It’s my First Amendment right,” which also tends to lead to the problem that people do not think about what they are saying before they say it. Because they have the protection of the First Amendment they can say whatever they want without thinking about it and eventually get used to it, saying whatever comes to mind without fully examining the idea because they really don’t have to.
People have always had the ability to overthrow their government, as long as they do so in large enough numbers. This isn’t something that should be done on a whim, however, only being done when the government is completely and truly oppressing either all of its citizens or a large portion of them. This revoking of human’s rights is a viable reason to revolt because humans should never have to live without their inherent rights.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Supersize Me Response
After watching "Supersize Me" I felt slightly disgusted about our fast food industry. Once I started researching more though, I realized that the feeling of disgust wasn’t really with the food industry, but rather, was with the people in the United States of America (USA).
While the fast food may be very unhealthy, (specifically things like the Baconator, the Big Mac and the Quarter Pounder) it is the choice of the consumer to eat the food. They could have gone to McDonalds and gotten a salad instead of the Big Mac, but instead they ordered the unhealthy item. The amount of obese people in America was also very surprising to me and disgusted me. The fact that so many people disregard their health was surprising and made me feel ashamed about the nation. What made me feel even worse was that some people were attempting to pass the blame off on the fast food industry. This attempt to pass the buck amazed me because, only here could people actually consider something like that valid. It is also only considered valid because it is against a “big bad corporation.” That corporation was just filling the need some people had, it’s the person’s fault they couldn’t exercise enough self-restraint to not eat the burger. If it is supposedly McDonalds that makes people fat and not people themselves then do guns kill people? Do pencils misspell words? No, the people do, it is the people who can’t show enough self- restraint then attempt to blame someone or something else. In a way, I find it degrading to humans that they would resort to such low acts. Saying, “Oh, but it’s the food or corporations fault that I’m fat” is not only stupid, it is degrading to that person. The idea that the corporation or food has more control over your actions than you yourself do is making yourself out to be less of a person than you truly are.
Not only that, but the corporations have nutrition facts, whether at the restaurants or online. If you are eating there and are concerned about your weight, it is your responsibility to see if what you are eating is bad. It is not as if the corporations are hiding the nutrition facts from you in a global plot to make all Americans obese. The other thing that irritated me in the movie was how he just ate unhealthy food like the Big Macs. This is again showing what customers with no self-restraint would do, which again, is no fault of McDonalds. It is not their job to sit next to you and rap your knuckles with a ruler every time you try to order a Big Mac. The final thing that I disliked about the movie was the vegan girl friend in the back continually talking about the pros of being a vegan. Though this really has nothing to do with the message of the movie it just really annoyed me. I wanted to tell her to shut up, I choose to eat meat because it tastes good and is good for me. If she wants to be a vegan that’s fine but shut up and stop trying to convince me otherwise.
Overall, it was a good movie to watch, but I believe that it’s message was horrible and the conclusion was really skewed.
While the fast food may be very unhealthy, (specifically things like the Baconator, the Big Mac and the Quarter Pounder) it is the choice of the consumer to eat the food. They could have gone to McDonalds and gotten a salad instead of the Big Mac, but instead they ordered the unhealthy item. The amount of obese people in America was also very surprising to me and disgusted me. The fact that so many people disregard their health was surprising and made me feel ashamed about the nation. What made me feel even worse was that some people were attempting to pass the blame off on the fast food industry. This attempt to pass the buck amazed me because, only here could people actually consider something like that valid. It is also only considered valid because it is against a “big bad corporation.” That corporation was just filling the need some people had, it’s the person’s fault they couldn’t exercise enough self-restraint to not eat the burger. If it is supposedly McDonalds that makes people fat and not people themselves then do guns kill people? Do pencils misspell words? No, the people do, it is the people who can’t show enough self- restraint then attempt to blame someone or something else. In a way, I find it degrading to humans that they would resort to such low acts. Saying, “Oh, but it’s the food or corporations fault that I’m fat” is not only stupid, it is degrading to that person. The idea that the corporation or food has more control over your actions than you yourself do is making yourself out to be less of a person than you truly are.
Not only that, but the corporations have nutrition facts, whether at the restaurants or online. If you are eating there and are concerned about your weight, it is your responsibility to see if what you are eating is bad. It is not as if the corporations are hiding the nutrition facts from you in a global plot to make all Americans obese. The other thing that irritated me in the movie was how he just ate unhealthy food like the Big Macs. This is again showing what customers with no self-restraint would do, which again, is no fault of McDonalds. It is not their job to sit next to you and rap your knuckles with a ruler every time you try to order a Big Mac. The final thing that I disliked about the movie was the vegan girl friend in the back continually talking about the pros of being a vegan. Though this really has nothing to do with the message of the movie it just really annoyed me. I wanted to tell her to shut up, I choose to eat meat because it tastes good and is good for me. If she wants to be a vegan that’s fine but shut up and stop trying to convince me otherwise.
Overall, it was a good movie to watch, but I believe that it’s message was horrible and the conclusion was really skewed.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Americans Question 1
1) Is American society too competitive?
American society is a very competitive culture where the worth of a person is not measured by their morals or beliefs, but instead by how much money the have. Politicians don’t talk about working together; they talk about who is at fault to give them an advantage in the election. Businesses don’t work together to make better products or advancements in technology that would help the people and environment, instead the focus on shipping jobs overseas for cheaper production, undercut the competition and make products as cheap as possibly (even if they have to sacrifice quality) all to beat out the competition.
This amount of competition, however, does not just apply to the American culture, but instead applies to cultures all over the world. The world just tends to see America as more competitive because it is a larger nation and seen as a world leader. This competition also extends beyond just a culture to the whole world, as people (and nations) constantly compete against each other for dominance and the claim of most powerful nation on Earth. A great example of this worldwide competitiveness is the Cold War that the US and Soviet Union were involved in. These two great nations were constantly striving against each other to be the best nation in the world, which meant creating more and more nuclear weapons, so many that we now have a surplus, and which eventually led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Specifically within the US, however, there is still a lot of competitiveness, though that is what makes America what it is. The constant struggle companies have against each other allows Americans to buy goods cheaper than they would otherwise be. There are downsides to the constant struggle though, such as the shipping of jobs overseas and the monopolizing of businesses. Neighbor to neighbor Americans do not seem to be as competitive, though that is just from my experience which is severely limited since I only have one neighbor who is an elderly lady. From what I have seen though neighbors don’t seem to be as competitive, and seem to want to help each other out with their problems unlike the politicians and big businesses who are constantly fighting for control of the economy and country.
So I believe that the major controlling powers in America (the government and the big businesses) are too competitive, overly so to some extent. These politicians should be working together instead of competing, the businesses, however, should be competing, but not to the extent they are (sending jobs overseas away from Americans and lowering the quality of items for a lower production price and sale price). The common American does not seem competitive with his or her neighbor (though I think people will be competitive to a smaller extent, especially kids on subjects such as grades and videogames). This whole world, not just America, is competitive, it always has been and always will be and it is something we will have to get used to, whether we like it or not.
American society is a very competitive culture where the worth of a person is not measured by their morals or beliefs, but instead by how much money the have. Politicians don’t talk about working together; they talk about who is at fault to give them an advantage in the election. Businesses don’t work together to make better products or advancements in technology that would help the people and environment, instead the focus on shipping jobs overseas for cheaper production, undercut the competition and make products as cheap as possibly (even if they have to sacrifice quality) all to beat out the competition.
This amount of competition, however, does not just apply to the American culture, but instead applies to cultures all over the world. The world just tends to see America as more competitive because it is a larger nation and seen as a world leader. This competition also extends beyond just a culture to the whole world, as people (and nations) constantly compete against each other for dominance and the claim of most powerful nation on Earth. A great example of this worldwide competitiveness is the Cold War that the US and Soviet Union were involved in. These two great nations were constantly striving against each other to be the best nation in the world, which meant creating more and more nuclear weapons, so many that we now have a surplus, and which eventually led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Specifically within the US, however, there is still a lot of competitiveness, though that is what makes America what it is. The constant struggle companies have against each other allows Americans to buy goods cheaper than they would otherwise be. There are downsides to the constant struggle though, such as the shipping of jobs overseas and the monopolizing of businesses. Neighbor to neighbor Americans do not seem to be as competitive, though that is just from my experience which is severely limited since I only have one neighbor who is an elderly lady. From what I have seen though neighbors don’t seem to be as competitive, and seem to want to help each other out with their problems unlike the politicians and big businesses who are constantly fighting for control of the economy and country.
So I believe that the major controlling powers in America (the government and the big businesses) are too competitive, overly so to some extent. These politicians should be working together instead of competing, the businesses, however, should be competing, but not to the extent they are (sending jobs overseas away from Americans and lowering the quality of items for a lower production price and sale price). The common American does not seem competitive with his or her neighbor (though I think people will be competitive to a smaller extent, especially kids on subjects such as grades and videogames). This whole world, not just America, is competitive, it always has been and always will be and it is something we will have to get used to, whether we like it or not.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Hope Blog 3
I do not believe that there is a black and white answer to the question about fighting against overwhelming odds. As with many questions, there are different situations that seem right.
There are times when fighting against the odds seems to be the right thing to do. I believe that this is true, but only in a few situations. The first situation is where the only real solution is too fight, meaning that those attacking you will kill you, whether you surrender or not. The second situation is where a few people continue the fight and sacrifice themselves so that even more will be able to escape with their lives. The third and final situation is reminiscent of the three hundred Spartans sacrifice. Where a defending force will fight against overwhelming odds, not only to save fellow countrymen, but also to inspire those same people and fill them with hope and pride.
Aside from those very few situations, I believe that it is foolish to try and fight an enemy who his far stronger than you. If surrender is an option (with the stipulation that they let you live) then it should be taken. Not only is fighting against greater odds foolish, but forcing others to do the same or giving into pressure to do the same is as foolish. In these situations I am not just talking about being outnumbered, I am also talking about being outgunned and outmaneuvered. If a group of people are just outnumbered but have better weapons or can move around easier, then it is a very real solution to carry on the fight and have a good chance of beating the enemy (as in the American Revolution).
Honor is never more important than life. Humans should never have such a large ego that they are willing to sacrifice their life for their honor. Dying an honorable death (such as dying in battle) is only better when it prevents the capture of more people, or if you will be killed dishonorably in surrender. Even worse than dying for your honor, is making others die in order to protect your honor. Rather than sacrifice other peoples lives, either die honorably yourself, or surrender dishonorably. Something nearly as dumb, is dieing for someone else’s honor. Their honor does not matter to you, nor should it, so dieing for it is an act of stupidity.
For the most part, fighting against greater odds is a dumb thing to do, and, if possible, the lesser force should just surrender to the larger force, to avoid large amounts of casualties. In the few times that it is right to fight against greater odds, they will still suffer casualties. Humans ego should never be so large that they are
There are times when fighting against the odds seems to be the right thing to do. I believe that this is true, but only in a few situations. The first situation is where the only real solution is too fight, meaning that those attacking you will kill you, whether you surrender or not. The second situation is where a few people continue the fight and sacrifice themselves so that even more will be able to escape with their lives. The third and final situation is reminiscent of the three hundred Spartans sacrifice. Where a defending force will fight against overwhelming odds, not only to save fellow countrymen, but also to inspire those same people and fill them with hope and pride.
Aside from those very few situations, I believe that it is foolish to try and fight an enemy who his far stronger than you. If surrender is an option (with the stipulation that they let you live) then it should be taken. Not only is fighting against greater odds foolish, but forcing others to do the same or giving into pressure to do the same is as foolish. In these situations I am not just talking about being outnumbered, I am also talking about being outgunned and outmaneuvered. If a group of people are just outnumbered but have better weapons or can move around easier, then it is a very real solution to carry on the fight and have a good chance of beating the enemy (as in the American Revolution).
Honor is never more important than life. Humans should never have such a large ego that they are willing to sacrifice their life for their honor. Dying an honorable death (such as dying in battle) is only better when it prevents the capture of more people, or if you will be killed dishonorably in surrender. Even worse than dying for your honor, is making others die in order to protect your honor. Rather than sacrifice other peoples lives, either die honorably yourself, or surrender dishonorably. Something nearly as dumb, is dieing for someone else’s honor. Their honor does not matter to you, nor should it, so dieing for it is an act of stupidity.
For the most part, fighting against greater odds is a dumb thing to do, and, if possible, the lesser force should just surrender to the larger force, to avoid large amounts of casualties. In the few times that it is right to fight against greater odds, they will still suffer casualties. Humans ego should never be so large that they are
Social Me Blog 3
It is difficult not to care what people think about us because what they think of us influences what we think of ourselves. Though people may say that they do not care what others think of them, the truth is they do, they just don’t respond to what the others are saying. If you get told something enough times and by enough people, regardless if it is true or not, eventually you will begin to believe it yourself. Thus, people who are always told how great they are, will begin to believe it and will consider themselves to be great and possibly better than others. Whereas those who are told bad things about themselves, might begin to believe it too and think of themselves in a negative light, or not as good as others. This can lead to problems between people or lead to mental problems with people. Another problem is that sometimes friends will be joking and one will not understand that it is friendly banter and will take it seriously. That is why people need to know when others are joking, or when they are being serious with what they are saying. Our desire to have others approve of us is also a reason as to why we listen to what others say. We hear what they say in a hope that we could improve upon ourselves and eventually get approval from our peers. Sometimes listening to your peers can help you. You can start doing things better, whether it’s a social change or a change related to school or work. However, there are limits. Caring too much about something said about you can lead you to do something that is wrong, or makes you a worse person. Worse yet, someone could get so caught up in what others think of him or her that they become a slave to those people. Doing whatever they are told to try and get peer approval.
Whether we admit to it or not, we do listen to what others say, even it is cruel, what the others are saying is often based off of how they view you. If you are constantly interrupting or making really stupid comments, people will think of you that way and will try to avoid you. If you are quiet and removed then your peers will think of you as an isolated person. Many people may complain about what people think of them, but a lot of the time they should look at how they act first and if they see the other person’s thoughts are well based, then they should change their behavior. People also see how others view them, and if they don’t like what others think of them and care enough about the other person’s opinions, then they adjust their behavior, which clearly shows how others opinions can affect you, positively or negatively
Whether we admit to it or not, we do listen to what others say, even it is cruel, what the others are saying is often based off of how they view you. If you are constantly interrupting or making really stupid comments, people will think of you that way and will try to avoid you. If you are quiet and removed then your peers will think of you as an isolated person. Many people may complain about what people think of them, but a lot of the time they should look at how they act first and if they see the other person’s thoughts are well based, then they should change their behavior. People also see how others view them, and if they don’t like what others think of them and care enough about the other person’s opinions, then they adjust their behavior, which clearly shows how others opinions can affect you, positively or negatively
Friday, August 15, 2008
Vincent story
When I first listened to the story of Vincent, I felt pity for him since he had to constantly live with such a difficult problem. After awhile though, I still felt that sense of sorrow that he had been born with the condition he had, but I also looked at all that he was still able to do, despite the disability.
I also started to see how his life was just like any others, and saw that, despite his condition, he led what many might consider a normal life. He would get up, eat breakfast, go to work (and like many others, not like his job), go home to his family, and go bowling or train for the Special Olympics. This kind of reminded me of my own life except that, instead of a job, I had to go to school and afterwards I might go see a movie with friends.
When the chemical make up in Vincent’s brain started to change, I felt bad that there was nothing he or his family could do to prevent the shift, which would result in some drastic changes in Vincent’s life. Vincent’s frustration and anger at his job really seemed to click with me, since, two summers ago, I agreed to work for my old school (Sycamore School) to help out watering their trees. It was difficult work that didn’t pay well and in some causes, frustrated me greatly. Within the first week my brother and I wanted to quit, and never come back to it, though, as Vincent did, we came back.
The very beginning of the story (where the kids who were put in special ed talked about finally learning what “special ed” really meant) made me think of how people at one of my old schools (Eastbrook Elementary) would think of the special ed kids as stupid, or people who fell behind too many grades, where in reality, they were kids who had disabilities preventing them from learning as well, or as fast, as most other kids could. It surprised me that no one told the kids what special ed meant, and instead let them continue on and then one day just find out for themselves that they were behind other kids the same age as them. I don’t think this was exactly right for the schools to do, because I know, if I suddenly found out that I wasn’t as smart as I thought I was and that by other kids standards I was “stupid” I would feel pretty crappy about myself.
This story really seemed to illustrate that people with disabilities were just like us, they encountered many of the same problems and frustrations we did, they would do much of the same things we did and they would experience some of the same joys we do.
I also started to see how his life was just like any others, and saw that, despite his condition, he led what many might consider a normal life. He would get up, eat breakfast, go to work (and like many others, not like his job), go home to his family, and go bowling or train for the Special Olympics. This kind of reminded me of my own life except that, instead of a job, I had to go to school and afterwards I might go see a movie with friends.
When the chemical make up in Vincent’s brain started to change, I felt bad that there was nothing he or his family could do to prevent the shift, which would result in some drastic changes in Vincent’s life. Vincent’s frustration and anger at his job really seemed to click with me, since, two summers ago, I agreed to work for my old school (Sycamore School) to help out watering their trees. It was difficult work that didn’t pay well and in some causes, frustrated me greatly. Within the first week my brother and I wanted to quit, and never come back to it, though, as Vincent did, we came back.
The very beginning of the story (where the kids who were put in special ed talked about finally learning what “special ed” really meant) made me think of how people at one of my old schools (Eastbrook Elementary) would think of the special ed kids as stupid, or people who fell behind too many grades, where in reality, they were kids who had disabilities preventing them from learning as well, or as fast, as most other kids could. It surprised me that no one told the kids what special ed meant, and instead let them continue on and then one day just find out for themselves that they were behind other kids the same age as them. I don’t think this was exactly right for the schools to do, because I know, if I suddenly found out that I wasn’t as smart as I thought I was and that by other kids standards I was “stupid” I would feel pretty crappy about myself.
This story really seemed to illustrate that people with disabilities were just like us, they encountered many of the same problems and frustrations we did, they would do much of the same things we did and they would experience some of the same joys we do.
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