I'm not so sure how to go about this because I don't know if I should be organized with it or actually do it like my thoughts are just coming out into the keys. Hopefully it will come across ambiguously.
The first article about the Virginia Tech shooting seems to have done the exact thing it was criticizing at first when it goes to talk about gun control. I like the passage about the backwards sensitivity logic that "the aftermath of a terrorist attack is the wrong time to talk about security, the aftermath of a death from lung cancer is the wrong time to talk about smoking and the tobacco industry, and the aftermath of a car crash is the wrong time to talk about seatbelts." Mr. Gopnik brings up an excellent point with this and then goes on to address the issue head first by talking about gun control shortly after a school shooting.
Gun control is a touchy issue and I think Mr. Gopnik takes an interesting view point on it. His suggestion that semi-automatic handguns should be restricted is nothing new, but it is a compromising solution rather than a win-lose one. Suggesting that only "guns that kill people" be banned seems like a nice solution. However, I find it a silly notion for anyone could think that would possibly work. There's always that old colloquialism that "guns don't kill people, people kill people," or any variation of such. For one things, people can kill by other means than semi-automatic handguns. Don't try to tell anyone that no one has ever been killed by a .22 rifle or a revolver or a knife for that matter. I don't have any bettter solutions, to be honest that direction is probably the one I would take in this matter, but it seems like a solution that won't do a lot.
Mr. Gopnik also brings up that in many other nations, gun laws have been tightened shortly following shooting sprees and that in most cases shootings have gone down significantly. This is wonderful news for those countries and maybe America could get the hint. There is something very different about America though and it's not to do with the machismo of owning one's own weapon. It has more to do with the system of laws and the U.S. way of government. The biggest hurdle, legally, is the Second Amendment. That is, the right of citizens to bear arms. It is probably an intentionally vague piece of legislation designed to create debate over who can own a gun as well as the when, why, how, and where of the same issue. Taken literally, there are to be virtually no restrictions on gun ownership. This law, of course, was written at a time when dueling was often considered as gentlemanly as a public debate, but sentiments towards firearms, as well as firearms themselves, have changed drastically. The second obstacle would be the issue of state's rights. The Second Amendment clearly makes itself a national issue, but prudence would leave the power to impose firearm regulations to the states. As someone that cannot even legally own a firearm and has grown-up in a very safe community I have no particular stance on firearms except that which I can derive from the Constitution.
The article by Ms. Sontag regarding 9/11 irked me a bit. Her writing seemed to drip with anti-Americanism, and that is something I usually can't stand. I think her feelings go a lot deeper than conveyed in this particular article because she wouldn't say everything she wanted to say less than two weeks after the attack in such a reputable magazine. Even publishing what she did seems risky.
I respect what she wrote but that doesn't mean I like it. Referring to the United States Air Force as "cowardly" is a low blow...very low. Everyone can have their own idea of what courage is, but I don't agree with Ms. Sontag's. I don't consider it honorable or in courage to kill yourself in the act of killing others. It's true that what those men did required a lot of balls, I might even call it bravery. It is also true that bombing from up high doesn't require a ton of courage necessarily, too. I think Ms. Sontag has some well-founded points about military intelligence and the view of the American public. However, her sarcastic tone is disrespectful. Given, she has every right towrite what she pleases. I am bothered by words that are unpatriotic when conveyed in such a condescending, sarcastic manner.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Me, me, me, it's gotta be all about ME!
Greetings everyone!
Most of you that are reading this have probably known me for quite some time and many of you may not have. Nevertheless, you're going to learn something about me in the following paragraphs.
THE ACTIVITIES
My life for the past four years has revolved around high school and those activities that are satellites of it. During the school year, a day for me might involve coming in anywhere between 5:45 or 7:30 in the morning. I might work-out before school and then at least three out of five mornings a week I'll have a meeting. Those activities that require me to attend those meetings are some of the most important, defining parts of who I am...or so it will say in my college application essays. Specifically, those activities are mainly student government related.
The school day is probably the easiest part of my day. I make it through class on the premise that I'll get sleep later that night so I don't have to sleep in class (it turns out I just never sleep). The hardest classes are the ones that are designed to be easy because if I don't like the topic or find it too easy I just won't pay attention and I get really bored. For instance, I hated sitting through Econ and Poli Sci but loved AP Physics and AP US History. From classes I go to a sport.
Yes, sports. Football in the fall, swimming in the winter, track in the spring with an average of two weeks in between each two seasons. Of those two weeks in between, one is usually three days of rest and all the the other days are in the weight room. During football season or swim season, it is not uncommon for me to be at school for over 13 hours. My longest day was probably 5:45 AM-9:00 PM. It's pretty obvious by that evidence and to anyone who knows me, that I put enough time into school-related activities that it's slowly killing me.
THE SOCIAL LIFE
It doesn't exist on weeknights usually...unless I get hooked on Facebook and talk to someone for a long time. Bedtime during the school year is 9:00, sometimes as early as 8:00. If homework isn't done by 9:45, it's not getting done that night. Of course, that's going to have to change this year.
On weekends during the school year I either embrace the opportunity to do nothing (but I can't remember the last time I could do that), or hang-out with friends somewhere. During the summers I'm too busy during the day to hang-out but I'm usually out at night.
THE FAMILY
I have a younger brother that will be a sophmore this year. His name is Joseph and he is beastly. He's bigger than me and looks like a tank. He's finally come to his senses and is putting his power to good work on the football field.
My mother, Toni, is wonderful. There are obviously times that we are at each other's throats for no apparent reason but she'd do anything for me no matter what. She's probably one of the best moms any kid could ask for even if she is a bit protective.
My father's name is Tom. He can never sit down so he's always outside in the garden or going for a walk or something. He's been really into genealogy lately to keep him busy in the cold weather.
MISCELLANEOUS
My favorite type of music is the blues. When I say blues I mean any and all of it. Anything from Robert Johnson to Eric Clapton to Sonny Boy Williamson to The Who to The Temptations to The Black Keys to G. Love. I'll listen to anything but my favorites are always bluesy and rockin' beats with some soulful vocals or no vocals at all. I enjoy listening to it and playing it on guitar, harmonica, and sometimes piano.
I also really enjoy poetry and the written word in general. I don't like reading it much but I love hearing things read and I love writing them too. That's something I'll bet a lot of people wouldn't guess about me. I like the playfulness of the classic Shel Silverstien's Where the Sidewalk Ends and I like those random inspirational ones. One of the best is The Man in the Glass which is of an anonymous author.
I feel that words, especially in the English language, are some of the most powerful tools, weapons, and instruments that we hold. The best part is that almost everyone is capable of hearing, speaking, or writing them. I love writing and that's why I've signed up for AP Comp and I hope to expand my knowledge and abilities.
I look back on this passage and realize how many times I've referred to myself in the first person and each time I see an "I" or a "me." I've realized something:
It is the sick, self-serving state of our language that the only word to be capitalized regardless of context, situation, or where it appears in a sentence is that word that denotes the speaker or writer as the subject. That single letter is always capitalized and always stands tall and slender above the rest. It would be the Anglo way to create a written language that does this.
It's 11:00 PM now and I promised myself I would be in bed at 9:00 tonight because I've been very tired lately. I can't stop lying to myself. I also can't stop saying that monosyllabic, monocharactered word.
Most of you that are reading this have probably known me for quite some time and many of you may not have. Nevertheless, you're going to learn something about me in the following paragraphs.
THE ACTIVITIES
My life for the past four years has revolved around high school and those activities that are satellites of it. During the school year, a day for me might involve coming in anywhere between 5:45 or 7:30 in the morning. I might work-out before school and then at least three out of five mornings a week I'll have a meeting. Those activities that require me to attend those meetings are some of the most important, defining parts of who I am...or so it will say in my college application essays. Specifically, those activities are mainly student government related.
The school day is probably the easiest part of my day. I make it through class on the premise that I'll get sleep later that night so I don't have to sleep in class (it turns out I just never sleep). The hardest classes are the ones that are designed to be easy because if I don't like the topic or find it too easy I just won't pay attention and I get really bored. For instance, I hated sitting through Econ and Poli Sci but loved AP Physics and AP US History. From classes I go to a sport.
Yes, sports. Football in the fall, swimming in the winter, track in the spring with an average of two weeks in between each two seasons. Of those two weeks in between, one is usually three days of rest and all the the other days are in the weight room. During football season or swim season, it is not uncommon for me to be at school for over 13 hours. My longest day was probably 5:45 AM-9:00 PM. It's pretty obvious by that evidence and to anyone who knows me, that I put enough time into school-related activities that it's slowly killing me.
THE SOCIAL LIFE
It doesn't exist on weeknights usually...unless I get hooked on Facebook and talk to someone for a long time. Bedtime during the school year is 9:00, sometimes as early as 8:00. If homework isn't done by 9:45, it's not getting done that night. Of course, that's going to have to change this year.
On weekends during the school year I either embrace the opportunity to do nothing (but I can't remember the last time I could do that), or hang-out with friends somewhere. During the summers I'm too busy during the day to hang-out but I'm usually out at night.
THE FAMILY
I have a younger brother that will be a sophmore this year. His name is Joseph and he is beastly. He's bigger than me and looks like a tank. He's finally come to his senses and is putting his power to good work on the football field.
My mother, Toni, is wonderful. There are obviously times that we are at each other's throats for no apparent reason but she'd do anything for me no matter what. She's probably one of the best moms any kid could ask for even if she is a bit protective.
My father's name is Tom. He can never sit down so he's always outside in the garden or going for a walk or something. He's been really into genealogy lately to keep him busy in the cold weather.
MISCELLANEOUS
My favorite type of music is the blues. When I say blues I mean any and all of it. Anything from Robert Johnson to Eric Clapton to Sonny Boy Williamson to The Who to The Temptations to The Black Keys to G. Love. I'll listen to anything but my favorites are always bluesy and rockin' beats with some soulful vocals or no vocals at all. I enjoy listening to it and playing it on guitar, harmonica, and sometimes piano.
I also really enjoy poetry and the written word in general. I don't like reading it much but I love hearing things read and I love writing them too. That's something I'll bet a lot of people wouldn't guess about me. I like the playfulness of the classic Shel Silverstien's Where the Sidewalk Ends and I like those random inspirational ones. One of the best is The Man in the Glass which is of an anonymous author.
I feel that words, especially in the English language, are some of the most powerful tools, weapons, and instruments that we hold. The best part is that almost everyone is capable of hearing, speaking, or writing them. I love writing and that's why I've signed up for AP Comp and I hope to expand my knowledge and abilities.
I look back on this passage and realize how many times I've referred to myself in the first person and each time I see an "I" or a "me." I've realized something:
It is the sick, self-serving state of our language that the only word to be capitalized regardless of context, situation, or where it appears in a sentence is that word that denotes the speaker or writer as the subject. That single letter is always capitalized and always stands tall and slender above the rest. It would be the Anglo way to create a written language that does this.
It's 11:00 PM now and I promised myself I would be in bed at 9:00 tonight because I've been very tired lately. I can't stop lying to myself. I also can't stop saying that monosyllabic, monocharactered word.
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