The Dumbest Generation

It surprises me how little some people know about the history of the US, the fact that some students didn’t know what a COLORED ENTRANCE sign meant scares me. I agree with Bauerlein, that the digital age is causing the younger generations to know a considerably smaller amount of information about the world, but I disagree that the digital age is stupefying kids. The point that Begley and Interlandi make is a valid one, that, while the younger generations don’t know a ton about the world they know plenty about other subjects. They talk about how many of these video games help kids learn about various subjects. I know that I learn a lot vocabulary from some of the games that I play. What is also important though is that kids don’t spend all their time trying to learn from videogames, and the authors of this article make that clear. The kids that learn from these videogames need to be able to take the skills that they picked up from them and transfer them into a job or the next super-car. I agree that reading a book can be far more productive in increases my vocabulary, and they do, but as the world moves farther and farther away from paper, not many kids are going to be reading a whole lot, and people need to take that into consideration. The older generations can’t expect things to happen exactly the way they did when they were younger, there’s new technology, new fashions and new ways of learning; and, while they may be different, that does not mean that they are worse.

Why Americans are so Often Restless int. questions

2. A society devoted to equal opportunity weakens the individual because the individual has to compete and stand out from so many more people than he would otherwise. In his book De Tocqueville writes, "the same equality which allows each man to entertain vast hopes makes each man by himself weak. His power is limited on every side, though his belongings may wander where they will." What De Tocqueville is saying here is that the equality that America stresses makes it harder for a man to rise higher in power. Because so many people have the same chances a lower percent of the people going for the same thing will get it. There are so many people that have an equal opportunity to get power that it is harder for people to get this power because they have to compete with more people to distinguish themselves from everyone else.

5. De Tocqueville thinks that Americans are restless because they don't know what they want. He states, "an American will build a house in which to pass his old age and sell it before the roof is on; he will plant a garden and rent it just as the trees are coming into bearing; he will clear a field and leave others to reap the harvest; he will take up a profession and leave it; settle in one place and soon go off elsewhere with his changing desires." Americans either don't know what they want or what they want changes to frequently that it is impossible to get them to keep still. With the means to get what they want Americans have the liberty to want everything, and many Americans if they dont have everything will do what they can to get everything. Because Americans dont know what they want they are always chasing the next "thing" and seem restless.

A Tale of Two Cities blog #1

Charles Dickens writes that Lorry is on his way to dig someone out of a grave. Lorry however, is not digging up a dead person in the literal sense but in a figurative sense. He is on his way to meet Dr. Manette, who was a political prisoner for many years and now doesn’t remember a thing, not even his own name. Dickens refers to Dr. Manette’s loss of memory as him being buried in a grave. In this passage Lorry remembers a conversation that he had with Dr. Manette where Lorry is asking him if he wants to be dug up from this grave. Dr. Manette responds by saying that he had abandoned all hope of being dug up, and when Lorry asks him if he cares to live, he replies by saying that he can’t say. In this conversation Lorry asks Dr. Manette if he wants to see “her.” At this point in the book we can only guess who this could be, but we find out that it is Dr. Manette’s Daughter. After Lorry asks Dr. Manette this question, Dr. Manette replies differently each time he is asked this. These varied responses show the reader just how out of it Dr. Manette is at the time. When asked this question Dr. Manette will either not remember his child, ask to see her, or ask to not see her, that he isn’t ready to see her yet. This passage in A Tale of Two Cities is an extremely important one and being “recalled to life” as Dr. Manette is being here, is one of the main themes of this book.

Blog 2

Freedom and survival are both important parts of human life. But, without freedom life has no meaning. Its good to survive, but in captivity I would imagine that survival wouldn’t be all that great. You might still want to survive, to see your family or for a chance at freedom again, but survival would be a hard and dull process. I do not think that I would be able to take not having my freedom. It would be hard to not be able to play when I wanted to and to not be able to go out into the city or town. The inclination to survive in captivity depends on the manner of how ones freedom is taken. If it is like a big-brother type of captivity I think that the will to survive is stronger than if you are slave to someone. In a big-brother situation, while you are pretty much told what to think, and you profession is chosen for you, you still have some freedoms. Your forms of recreation, while not ideal, still exist to some extent. You would still be able to watch TV, and go out of your living quarters to some extent. But if you are a slave, life would be much more difficult. Being forced to work in unappealing, if not life-threatening conditions for most of the day, then having to go strait to a small cramped space to sleep and eat is much tougher to bear. Whether or not survival is desirable depends on several scenarios. The first of them being, how long you have been a captive. If you grew up in one of these situations you wouldn’t know anything else, and while you would have an idea of a better life, the life that you are in wouldn’t seem nearly as bad as it would if you had come fro a life of freedom. The second scenario is whether or not you have something to go back to when you regain your freedom. If someone has a husband, wife or child to go back to if they get free, they are more likely to try and survive. I believe that freedom is more important that survival, and depending on your beliefs death might even be freedom.

Blog 2

Freedom and survival are both important parts of human life. But, without freedom life has no meaning. Its good to survive, but in captivity I would imagine that survival wouldn’t be all that great. You might still want to survive, to see your family or for a chance at freedom again, but survival would be a hard and dull process. I do not think that I would be able to take not having my freedom. It would be hard to not be able to play when I wanted to and to not be able to go out into the city or town. The inclination to survive in captivity depends on the manner of how ones freedom is taken. If it is like a big-brother type of captivity I think that the will to survive is stronger than if you are slave to someone. In a big-brother situation, while you are pretty much told what to think, and you profession is chosen for you, you still have some freedoms. Your forms of recreation, while not ideal, still exist to some extent. You would still be able to watch TV, and go out of your living quarters to some extent. But if you are a slave, life would be much more difficult. Being forced to work in unappealing, if not life-threatening conditions for most of the day, then having to go strait to a small cramped space to sleep and eat is much tougher to bear. Whether or not survival is desirable depends on several scenarios. The first of them being, how long you have been a captive. If you grew up in one of these situations you wouldn’t know anything else, and while you would have an idea of a better life, the life that you are in wouldn’t seem nearly as bad as it would if you had come fro a life of freedom. The second scenario is whether or not you have something to go back to when you regain your freedom. If someone has a husband, wife or child to go back to if they get free, they are more likely to try and survive. I believe that freedom is more important that survival, and depending on your beliefs death might even be freedom.

War

Is war ever a good thing? Is there any cause for which you would go to war?

War can be good or bad depending on how it is looked at. In the sense that people are dying and cities are being razed it is a bad thing. But the side that wins, depending on how they won and how many casualties they have, it can be a good thing, because sometimes they get land and even control over the opposing side’s government. Also in a sense World War II was a good thing for the USA because it gave lots of people jobs and pulled our country out of the great depression. While WW II was in a sense good for the US, it was devastating to almost all of Europe and Russia. Germany controlled most of the countries in Europe and many cities and towns suffered a ton of damage. Not to mention what happened to the Jewish people of Europe. Then on he other side I guess that WW II was a productive time for the Nazis. They came close to taking over Europe and wiped many Jewish families off of the world. So I believe that war is mainly a bad thing but if looked at from a certain perspective, it can be good.
The only time that I would consider going to war would be if the US got attacked on its home soil and needed more people to defend its borders. War is a messy thing and I would rather not have it directly in my life. If I did go to war though I would join the navy or be someone who directs things from a bunker or command center, not necessarily a leader though.

Where I Belong

I feel that I belong in a smaller community, like University High School. It is a small school and I fit in best there. I like smaller communities because you know everybody and you are never running into strangers or people that you should know but don’t. I don’t like the city because it’s too hectic and crazy. It is easy to get lost or separated from your group and could take you a while to realize that you are missing someone. I feel that I do not belong in Greece, even though my dad grew up there and it is part of my culture. I think this is because of a language barrier and a small culture barrier. I don’t know the language well, so if I were on my own I would be pretty much stranded. Because the culture of Greece and the United States is so different I feel like I’m on a different world. I belong in the United States, I’m not sure where in the United States but in the United States.

Euthanasia

Euthanasia- the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma. The practice is illegal in most countries.

I think that euthanasia should be the choice of the patient. If animals can be put out of their misery why should humans have to suffer from incurable diseases. If the patient wants to end their pain and suffering, and if they will never be able to live life pain free, then euthanasia should be allowed with consent from the patient. If someone was having immense pain almost 24/7 and that would last until they died, would you want to watch them suffer? Would you want to suffer if it was you in this situation? The patient should be able to choose whether they want euthanasia or not.

Why Do Dreams Fail

I think that dreams fail because the dreamer doesn't have the will to make their dream real. He dreams about what he is going to do in five years or what he is going to be when he grows up and then keeps on dreaming, doesn't do anything to get to his dream. People who reach their dreams are the ones who make the time to get there. People dream and dream and sometimes these dreams are what get them through the day, but if these people don't work to make their dreams come true then they wont go anywhere in life, they will be stuck at this place where they don't really want to be. Some dreams are harder to achieve than others but with enough hard work anyone can make their dreams come true. 

Of Mice and Men Anticipation post

I believe that when people are a vicim of a crime they should not be able to take the law into their own hands. If people could take the law into their own hands then the streets would be chaos. There would be people beating up other people right in the middle of the street. Also if people could take the law into their own hands then there would be no need for a police force. The people that aren't ones to take revenge will let the crime go and then the criminal would get away and wouldn't be punished. Criminals would learn to scope out their victims and find the people who wont take revenge on them so they wouldn't get punished for breaking the law. Being able to take the law into your own hands is something that we should not have.

Of Mice and Men post 2

It is extremely important for human beings to have a place they can call home. With out someplace that they belong they are always on the move and have sense that they need more. With out a home they cant have family or friends because they are always on the move, and never get the chance to settle down. Without family and friends they don't get the feeling that they have a reason to settle down, and the circle repeats itself. 

Of Mice and Men

George and Lennie's friendship is an important part of this book. Lennie is mentally challenged and so George has to take care of him, and in turn Lennie protects George with his size. Of Mice and Men is huge in friendships and the importance of having friends to talk to and rely on. Some of these friendships end abruptly even if neither participant wants it to end. The people in this book are in great need of people to talk to. They are just coming out of the depression so many of them are falling on hard times, and talking to a friend is a good way to vent. Being able to talk about their problems will help them improve their mood.

Romeo and Juliet

1.Do you think Juliet should have faked her death? Why or why not? 

I do not think that Juliet should have faked her death. It was a risky idea, and it would have been just as easy to run away. If Romeo could do it over an over again, then she could have done it too.

2.Why does Juliet kill herself when she could be free?

Because Romeo was her only love and she cant live without him.

3.Who was ultimately responsible for all of the death that occurred in the play? Why?

I think that Lord Capulet is responsible for these deaths. If he hadn't rushed the wedding or forced Juliet to marry Paris, Romeo and Juliet would have lived and lived happily.