Fly With Me

In the eccentric, wild, and exclusive world of Gatsby its always unclear as to what might happen next. Who will we meet? What crazy, exotic will they be doing? How wealthy and privelged might they be? Immediately when the assignment was presented, one and only song connected with the text in my head - Frank Sinatra's "Come Fly With Me."

The story of the inhabitants of the east coast eggs is confined to their own discourse of almost only having real estate in the area and if not, bigger real estate than found there. Homes like these are only available to the very fortunate, like the sky is to Mr. Sinatra. "Once I get you up there where the air is rarefied - we'll just glide, starry-eyed."
They can afford to take trips to France for no reason...just to go: this is the purpose of Frank's song, just to run away and enjoy yourselves. "Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away. If you could use some exotic booze, there's a bar in far Bombay"

I don't have the best justification for using this song to compare to the story, but its the one for me that resembled it in my imagination.

Transcendentalism: Yes or No?

 I can say, I do agree with some transcendental ideals but I am not exactly and transcendentalist.

It's hard to say, I believe in the power of your inner self - will power i suppose - because I have a weak will unless its something I am truly passionate about. However, the greatest power man has besides instinct and imagination is will. The strength to go on, because you know you must, or should, or its the right thing to do.

Social Institutions are not bad. Definitely not. Instead of claiming that they are, you should use the privileges that you are given there in a different manner, a way that will help you accomplish your goals. Institutions are not bad, for the most part. It's rather civilized, peaceful if done correctly. You can be the Brawny Man and still go to school.

I WILL NEVER REJECT HISTORY. I wont repeat the bad, but knowing history prevents the same mistakes.

Sorry, I don't really understand how to connect my opinions to the text, and I am a bit rushed.

 

My Inaugural Address

Inauguration of President Michaelis - 2146

Fellow inhabitants of the barren land we once called America, whether you still be man, part machine, mutant, or otherwise, we still stand on the same soil, breathe the same air, and call our parcels of scorched dirt home in the same territory  and I am personally addressing each individual as their own.

Unfortunately, throughout the years I've noticed a dramatic decline in the consideration of others interests, friends, teams, and class mates. It is this selfish attitude that has become the greatest contributor of chaos to this once great nation. Today I'm here to tell you, the keepers of the new American Dream, that this fad has run its course.

The day man asks whats in it for him is over. The era of unity and actions to improve the enitre body starts now.

INDEPENDENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

                When in the course…of human life and the health carried with it, it becomes necessary for certain member of society to dissolve such culinary bands which have connected them to another, and to assume, among the presence of Self-Discipline, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of teenagekind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the situation.

                We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all young men and women are created equal, they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of physically fit anatomy. That, to secure these rights, beverages are instituted among young adults, deriving their powers from the consent of the drinkers. That, whenever any form of delicious liquid becomes diabolical of these ends it is the right of the consumer, to alter or throw it away, and to institute a new thirst quencher, such as milk, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their health and happiness.

                It has ruined our athletic ability.

                It has prevented the power to maintain a non-sticky mouth.

                It has depleted our personal funds in which we could put to better use.

                It has dragged down the amount of consumption of other drinks.

                It has been the de facto killer of self-esteem.

                It will no longer be tolerated in thy fridge. 

MAP

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/map_item.pl

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?gmd:20:./temp/~ammem_0jvw::

Franquelin’s Map of Lousiana

As a whole, the map is surprisingly accurate and helpful for the time. Landscapes and locations are given in detail and printed clearly. The coast lines are a bit bloated and small costal islands are bigger in proportion to the mainland, but the general shape is there. Trees are shown to represent what I’m assuming is deep forest and mountains to represent…well mountains. Other than that, there isn’t much more for discussion – besides country borders and claims. France does at least acknowledge the presents of Spain and England, but still lists all of the North as its own although there are no existing settlements shown. And of course – no Indian claims.

The story here seems ultimately an ambitious and finally organized and formal conquering of the new world. None of the world powers care who may already be there, but do know the resources on the land. What more would push an empire to colonize? The European countries are there for the land, for the resources, for the ability to boast – and they can. They’re white and civilized! Simply taking what they have the ability to.

My passage quote will simply be “For a moment in history, the close proximity of Europeans, Africans, Native American, and others held the potential for multiple exchanges among diverse peoples, which might have served as the foundation for a truly pluralistic democratic vision. Sadly, what this literature also reveals is how this vision was sacrificed to the creation of whiteness.” Okay, maybe not so simple, but you can plainly see in the map how whiteness was undeniably going to be established by all of the claiming of land by the Europeans – with no regard as to who may or may not be there already.

When will it end?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/15/opinion/blow-the-bleakness-of-the-bullied.html?ref=columnists

Above is a heart-stopping story of the bullied. It seems like you always hear about someone being picked on, sometimes almost to the point of suicide. This article caught me off-guard. As it turns out the author of the article himself was bullied. Bullied until he considered suicide. He shares his story of the very moments he thought of ending it all. It's unfortunate that our society needs a constant reminder of making sure children treat each other with deceny, but if that's what it takes today to prevent damage to people's lives, then so be it.

This essay is short, but powerful. Powerful writings require the writer to actually have had the experiences they write about in my opinion. It gives to the readers the passion of the story needed to completley imagine themselves in the story. It's sad to have to read it, but it becomes easier to imagine.

Sound and Fury

This is complicated. Too complicated. I couldn't tell you what its like to be deaf, but I know how passionate you can feel when defending your own discourse. I was slightly offended by the end of the film by the father and the deaf gathering conversation, but I can't help but understand how enraged he must feel that his daughter would want to leave her natural roots. The father is proud to be deaf and there is a lot of honor in that. It was what he was given and he doesnt have a regret.

I'm stuck in between the sides here. At first for a moment, I was shocked that you wouldn't give your child an implant because whether you like it or not, it is the right choice if you want to give your child more opportunity. It only opens doors and closes none. But the direct family brings up good points. It's their child, she's deaf. Thats the way it is.Why leave your whole family behind? But then we got to the point where I almost felt stupid to be able to hear and then my feelings really expressed themselves.

Humans are supposed to be able to hear. That's the way they are built. That is the way the world is constructed for - those who can hear. To miss sounds anyway in general would be hell. You have no idea what you're missing. And to never be able to hear music? That is just wrong. Music is arguably the greatest and most beautiful art form and way to express yourself.

But then again, it's still their kid and she was born that way. So...I don't know which way to lean.