Summary to Life Is Precious or It’s Not by Barbara Kingsolver
The shooting that happened at Columbine High School in Colorado, was a very tragic event which occurred Tuesday, April 20, 1999. Two seniors, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold went on a massacre, killing 12 students, one teacher and injuring 24 other students before killing themselves. Kingsolver bases her article around this event.
She feels that the media is to blame for kids, mainly boys wanting to pick up guns and bombs and behave the way that they do. She also states that the government and the NYPD, the Marines, as well as other glorify killing in the eyes of children.
I understand why she might feel this way but I would have to disagree with her. People are so quick to point toe blame on someone else whenever tragedy strikes. But what people should be doing is looking at the person who is doing the crime.
This person has their own mind and knows the difference between right and wrong. If a person acts out, it is usually out of anger or resentment. They are wanting to punish people for hurting or rejecting them. At times it is because they want to be heard or noticed. Not because they were listening to a song or watching something on television.
A person who picks up a gun is usually a person who is weak. They are unable to stand up and fight their own battle. So they get something that empowers them and makes them feel invincible. They suddenly look to demand the respect that they have always sought after and they want to make they people who made them feel like a nobody take a walk in their shoes and see how it feels.
So even though I get where Kingsolver is coming from, I don’t think we should point the finger at others for the choices a person makes. And even the victim sometimes wants to point the finger he is also at fault for allowing people to get under his skin. Just remember if you point your finger at someone, three fingers are pointing back at you.
Add a comment May 13, 2010
Summary to Do We Really Need Movie Ratings by the Editors of CINEASTE
Movies are filled with so much violence, sex, drugs, inappropriate language and behavior. I would hate to tell my eleven year old son that it is alright for him to go and see a film without knowing what type of content this film contains.
Films should definitely have ratings. The ratings that are being used today are not as accurate as they were when I was younger. So I would definitely have to agree with the editors who wrote this article. They talk about how some content is sexual with full frontal nudity where some films are not yet rated. Now-a-days, even child cartoons have sexual connotations. I think that a better job can be done with the ratings on these films for the sake of our youth.
People wonder why our kids are acting grown, it is because they are impressionable and pick up on everything. If they see two girls or guys kissing, they are gonna think that looks fun, let’s do that to. If they see a man and woman humping one another they are gonna want to do that as well. Give parents the chance to make that decision for their kids. Not just for their kids but also for themselves.
We have older people who also enjoy going to the movies that don’t want to see certain images on the big screen. Give them a fair, honest warning. There might come a time when someone’s heart may not be able to handle the shock.
Movie ratings are a must. They are there for a reason. A movie should be presented like a menu, the main title, the movie rating, the descriptive copy, and the price.
Add a comment May 12, 2010
Summary to Why We Crave Horror Movies by Stephen King
Stephen King has a mind of his own when it comes to his views on why we crave horror movies. He feels that all people are mentally ill and and have a dark side. He also states that people who have hysterical fears, make scary faces when no one’s watching, or talks to themselves fall under the same category.
First, not everyone likes or craves horror movies or thrill rides. Some people are not adventurous at all. And not only that, but even if a person does fall under one of the categories that he mentioned doesn’t mean a person’s mentality should be questioned. Some people are fearful of things because they have been traumatized. We never know what the reasoning is behind the given fear.
I have known people who often talk out loud to themselves. They do this because they want to hear what it is that they are thinking so that they can better evaluate the thought. And the faces, they are just for pure entertainment, I have often done that myself, whether I was alone or with someone. At times it was because I was evaluating a wrinkle on my face.
I am not one who is crazy about horror movies, but I do watch them sometimes. They help me to expand my thoughts for the what if factor. If that was me, I would do this or do that, or now I know what not to do if I ever get in that type of situation.
Stephen King may be right when it comes to some as to why they crave horror movies. But for me, I do not fit the profile. I am not mental. I don’t talk to myself or have a dark side. What may be true for some is not true for me, I am normal Stephen, no mental insanity.
Add a comment May 12, 2010
Summary to As They Say, Drugs Kill by Laura Rowley
“The fastest way to end a party is to have someone die in the middle of it. At a Party last fall I watched a 22-year-old die of cardiac arrest after he had used drugs. It was a painful, undignified way to die. And I would think that someone who shared the experience would feel his or her ambivalence about substance abuse dissolve.” This was how Rowley began her article as she gave reference to an incident that occurred at a point in her life.
Drugs has a major influence on so many lives. When you speak about them and want to get your point across, you don’t pat someone on the knee and say it will be alright. You have grab someones attention and let them know that there is a problem. And that is exactly what Rowley does. She grabs your attention instantly. Another good thing about this is she is speaking from experience in her article.
She explains the atmosphere so that you are better able to place yourself there. Like a normal college party with drinking, darts, joking around, passing joints. They were also doing psilocybin, hallucinogenic mushrooms, which was the main choice of drug for that evening. How you imagine beer cans are scattered around and the stuffing from the couch from the party the night before.
Next she describes the boy who goes into shock and how he falls to the floor and seizes as well as how others react and how it would and should affect her and her friends and associates. But the sad thing about it is, this young boy who lost his life had a previous experience like this before. But this time he wasn’t so lucky.
You would think that this would caution people not to want to use drugs, but this is not the case. Drugs take the user to a whole other world. For some reason they feel that they are invincible and time is on their side. They don’t care how much they are hurting themselves and the people around them. All they care about is getting that next high.
We know that drugs kill, but only at the hand of the user. So know that we can only help those who want to help themselves.
Add a comment May 12, 2010
Summary to article Of Headless Mice and Men by Charles Krauthammer
Scientist are focusing on cloning. They give good reasoning as to why this is important for society. But is it just. I say this after reading this article. Krauthammer discusses how scientist want to clone exact replica of humans without heads just for the organs. The experiment was done on mice. Here is an exert from the article which was written January 19, 1998. “During the past four years, one group created headless mice; the other; headless tadpole. For sheer Frankenstein wattage, the purposeful creation of these animal monsters has no equal. Take the mice. Researchers found the gene that tells the embryo to produce the head. They deleted it. They did this in a thousand mice embryos, four of which were born. I use the term loosely. Having no way to breathe, the mice died instantly.
The problem that I have with this issue is if this same technique were to be used on the human anatomy, that is like instant decapitation of a human being. Because even though they would have no head they would still be lifeless humans. The article states that scientists are wanting to manufacture these clones of people to make them immortal. Scientists need to realize that they are not God. Our faith lies in the man upstairs. You can replicate all you want but if the Lord says it’s your time, then what can you do.
Krauthammer makes some good points and arguments in this article about banning cloning. In a general statement about cloning he make a valid point,”But there is a problem with a clone. It is not really you. It is but a twin, a perfect John Doe Jr., but still a junior. With it’s own independent consciousness, it is, alas, just a facsimile of you.” and I totally agree.
Add a comment May 12, 2010
Summary to “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”
Our class led a brief discussion about white privilege. This was after having read an essay entitled, White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack , written by Peggy McIntosh, associate director of Wellesley Collage Center for Research on Women. The essay opens up by McIntosh quoting herself saying, “I was taught to see racism only in individual acts of meanness, not in invisible systems conferring dominance on my group.”
As McIntosh continues on in her essay she later states,”As a white person, I realized I had been taught about racism as something that puts others at a disadvantage, but had been taught not to see one of its corollary aspects, white privilege, which puts me at an advantage.
Then she continues on to say, “I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege. So I have begun in an untutored way to ask what it is like to have white privilege. I have come to see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was “meant” to remain oblivious. White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools , and blank checks.”
These statements opened my mind up to many thoughts about the way that society treats others in comparison to the way that white people are treated. I would definitely have to agree with what is being said. Even though society has come a long way it still has a longer way to go. There are so many things that minorities will never have the opportunity to fully experience or understand because we are not white
It doesn’t matter how much we do, how hard we work, how much money we have, what person we marry, who’s ass we kiss. We will never have white privileges. If I were to go into a 5star restaurant well dressed with designer clothes and had millions in my purse. A white couple also enters that same restaurant/social lounge well dressed . This is a place that is known for catering to people who have high dividends. Guaranteed the white couple would get in before me.
White people are not stereotyped like other races are. They are not looked down upon. The list of Daily effects of White privilege that McIntosh describe are perfect examples. Here are a few of her points:
5. I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed.
19. I can speak in public to a powerful male group without putting my race on trial.
21. I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group.
These are just a few. This essay was written in 1988, so a lot of the items she has listed have been modified due to changes in society but not really.
It is a point that is true no matter how you look at it. White people are privileged. That is just the bottom line. It is just that some or more privileged than others. Some by way of money and skin. Others may be privileged just by skin alone.
One more small thing I wanted to point out. Have you ever noticed that if you hear the word white it is always associated with purity. Why does a white lie have to be a little one. You also have Angel food Cake. If you are a virgin you get married in white. White doves also signify purity. And so does the white rose.
Add a comment April 15, 2010
Summary of “Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria”
“Walk into any racially mixed high school cafeteria at lunch time and you will instantly notice an identifiable group of black students sitting together. Conversely, there are many white students sitting together, thought we rarely comment about that. The question is “Why are all the black kids sitting together?”” This was written by psychologist, Beverly Daniel Tatum.
This exert from her book, Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria, is very well written, thought out, and argues a great point about racism and a need to belong. She has taken the time to break the situation down and see where the division between races first begins.
When kids are young playing together they seldom let the color of their sin affect their socialization. And as kids get older and move into middle school they do tend to begin to hang out in groups with people of their own nationality. I think it is because of the comfort level kids tend to find with their own peers. Not only that, but it could also be a sense of responsibility as well. Feeling that they might be outcast by their own race if they choose to hang out with another race.
I would also have to agree with Tatum in the effort to discuss and teach our kids about race. They should know how they should handle situations of this nature should they ever come face to face with these types of situations.
This is a good idea because the black race is faced with so many stereotypes, not just the black race, all races, the minorities. We all are singled out in so many ways, never judged on who we really are. Rather we are judged on what society has perceived us to be.
I am in aw of how she breaks this transition down in stages. Taking you from childhood to adolescence. It is so true how a child’s innocence doesn’t truly allow them to tap into the true understanding behind the the stereotyping that goes along with the color of your skin. She even goes in to use her son for an example about how he, at age ten, would be quicker to tap into the fact that he is tall for his age rather say make a statement about a person’s race. Tatum also breaks her stages down to understanding racial identity development, the encounter stage, and coping with encounters.
Add a comment April 14, 2010
Summary to “Don’t Blame The Eater”
“Don’t Blame the Eater”, written by David Zinczenko, talks about fast food being one of the main causes for childhood obesity. This article came about in relation to two kids filing a lawsuit against McDonald’s for making them fat. In his article Zinczenko states, “I tend to sympathize with these portly, fast-food patrons, though. Maybe that’s because I use to be one of them.
That is exactly what he is doing, sympathizing with these kids. In an attempt to make a valid argument by stating how kids are raising themselves by coming home to an empty house while mom works. They are faced with the only option to go to a fast-food establishment to get a meal. An affordable meal . Then he also goes on to mention that if the teens would drive down the streets, it would be hard to find a place to purchase a grapefruit.
All of this is a good argument but it is also irrelevant. I say this because I do blame the eater. I also blame the parents. The eater has choices on the menu when they go to McDonald’s. They could also choose not to go at all. The parents have the option to take that money that they are leaving for their kids and go to the grocery store. Healthier meals can be prepared at home and you also get more for your money. Also there is a place to get a grapefruit, the supermarket, a convenience store sells fresh fruit and health food and snack options as well.
People never want to take to blame for their own actions. They always want to point the finger at anyone besides themselves. No one force fed these girls to eat this food. They did this to themselves. They knew the consequences behind their actions and that they were the only ones to blame.
Zinczenko also states how he learned to manage his diet due to joining the military and getting involved in a health magazine. That’s a prime example of these girls having an option to be able to control themselves and make different choices. Not only that, but the parents should have been paying closer attention to the situation and monitoring these girls eating habits.
Zinczenko argued a good point and he used a lot of very good information. Yet he has me on the opposite end of the argument. I do blame the eater.
Add a comment April 14, 2010
Summary to “Crack And The Box”
In the article “Crack and the Box” author Pete Hamill tries to relate being addicted to crack and being addicted to television go hand in hand. As I read over his argument I found it not very convincing at all.
Hamill fills his article with lots of facts, but the facts, yet the facts fail to support the argument. I understand where he is going with his argument but his method is a bit off track. He is pointing the finger more at television than where the finger should really be pointed. It is true that the media has a tendency to glorify mischief and mayhem in relation to the fast life. But television isn’t the main influence in our kids lives.
I also do not believe that television is addictive. I do however believe that drugs and video games are addictive. But television, it has an on and off button. I don’t think I know of anyone who is addicted to it. Granted there are some who are drawn to favorite shows. I just don’t know of anyone who is zombie-fied by TV like a crackhead.
When you get down to the core of why people do drugs, you first have to know that it is a choice. Then you have to know why that choice was made. The influence and knowledge behind the drugs doesn’t come from TV alone. That is just a very small dot on the canvas of the big picture. Many times the knowledge starts at home. Kids are learning about drug use first hand, right out in the open. They also have their friends, associates, and random people that they pass by on the streets that they don’t even know.
Let’s not forget about school. Even though we have the D.A.R.E. Program, this opens up kids curiosity who never knew about drugs at all. I remember when I was in school, I had never heard about drugs to that extent until D..A.R.E. Officers came and talked to us. Many of us had never heard of huffing by the end of the day everybody was sniffing their markers, just to see what the officer was talking about. Didn’t get that from television.
The point that Hamill should have been point out should have been that TV glorifies drugs if he wanted to use the facts stated in his article. He could have also stated that drugs are a two headed dragon, building up lives on one side and tearing them down on the other. But when it all comes together the wrath of the two-headed drug dragon is very destructive in the end.
Add a comment April 13, 2010
Summary to Three Days To See
Helen Keller was a very intelligent woman who was afflicted at an early age in life. Her disabilities set in on her at eighteen months. As she grew older she didn’t let her incapacity defeat her.
In 1933, Keller wrote an essay entitled, “Three Days To See”. In this article Keller gives a response about what she would like to see if she were given her sight back for three days. She also speaks about what it would be like if others were to lose their sight for three days as well.
The opening statement of Keller’s article reads, “I have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life. Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight, silence would teach him the joys of sound.” Does not this statement alone make you take the time to sit back and wonder what that type of journey would be like. Then suddenly you close your eyes and embrace all that is going on around you just to bathe in its glory for you know you have taken so much for granted
Keller uses a lot of her emotions to catch your attention. It is very hard to argue with her about the situation because she makes a very relevant point. One reason is that she lives by experience. Keller lives in darkness on a day to day basis. Looking at my like, I know that I definitely take so much for granted and do not appreciate a lot of the simpler things in life. Things like the way my son son turns his head to the side and pokes his lip out and up tight to the corner on the right, giving me those puppy dog eyes with a hint of an attitude hidden behind then as he says, “ uh huh!” as he agrees with me when we are joking around and I ask him a question.
I now think about not being able to see my mom’s face, her smile, the laughter in her eyes. Being able to just look at her and know when she is feeling upset or in pain and not wanting to say anything. If I couldn’t see I wouldn’t be able cook or do hair, my whole life would be none existent.
Keller has taken her personal experience and caused me to put a whole new outlook on life. I never thought about looking at my life in that aspect before. The way that she broke it down in such detail is amazing. She teaches you to look at life with your glass half full in a rose colored glass.
Add a comment April 12, 2010
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