Scrapin goats

The role of fear in our modern society is manipulated by person/peoples to achieve political goals or to put blame on other person/groups. A modern example of scapegoating is after 9-11 many Americans targeted people of Middle Eastern ancestry as possible terrorists. Scapegoating is usually put on to people who are “guilty by association” and stereotypical traits. Scapegoating at its most extreme is genocide, which hasn’t been a problem for Americans, nor the rest of the world to commit. Society scapegoats because of greed and ignorance. The conflict is started when two or more parties have a triangulation of desires. As tension increases on both sides, one person (the scapegoat) gets expelled or killed by the group, and the cycle repeats.   

                Society puts blame on others because it is only part of human nature. Scapegoating is seen not only many times in US History, but hundreds or even thousands of times in world history. Not only are scapegoats put on the wrong people, but usually leave tension through groups of people years after the a “scapegoat event”. Another arguably modern scapegoat would be treatment of blacks and other minority races. As having my own personal experiences growing up in a very Hispanic family, cops target darker Hispanics more often than any Caucasian. It’s common for whites to blame the economy on Hispanics or saying racist things because colored people are often scapegoats. Colored people are more likely to be pulled over, searched or put in jail. The scapegoating of colored people in the US will not end for a certainly long amount of time. 

Separate Wars, Similiar Experiences

The Vietnam and Iraqi wars that America has participated are mostly seen as senseless wars to the American people. The wars were fought for two different reasons yet you can draw and compare experiences from American veterans of the war. Not only have I had experiences with my father, and lived with him when he returned from the war, but every soldier handles themselves after their war by taking the best path for them. Whether it is to talk about it to others, or go to therapy, they find a way to make it best for them. Kobe Bazelle is an American soldier who keeps a blog and talks in Iraq. The blog he talks in is not only a coping mechanism for him but he's also helped others along the way. Kobe states "sometimes people never know how they are helping others" (14:18) regarding a woman who emailed him on how she lost her son in the war before he made it home. In Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried”, Obrien used the book he wrote to cope with his own struggles from the Vietnam War. O’Brien states in the book “I can be brave. I can make myself feel again.” (P. 172 O’Brien). The quote deeply underlines the extreme emotional and conscious pressure he had put on him, and still could be there. Both examples serve as how both soldiers from different wars can relate on the same level, and can tell their story to us.

Simple decisions in time of war can put one or more people in danger. For example, Bazelle talks in his blog about how a stupid placement of ammo almost cost him and others their lives. "Having the ammo on the outside of the vehicle was the worst fucking idea ever and whoever had that idea should be fucking shot.” The decision was based off orders, and they could do nothing about it. In “The Things They Carried” Lt. Jimmy Cross followed orders, into where he put Kiowa in a deadly position. Kiowa later lost his life, leaving Lt. Cross with nothing but shame and gut eating guilt. "But it was a war, and he had his orders...A stupid mistake. That's all it was, a mistake, but it had killed Kiowa"(P. 161 O’Brien) Mistakes are made even in life threatening situations, yet life goes on whether a person moves on and recovers, or being slowly drowned by their own guilt. Two very different wars, yet the same pain and encounters are shared. 

Blog Assignment 1

The Things They Carried and On Keeping a Notebook both highlight the importance of telling and sharing stories to keep them alive. Based off fact, stories are never told %100 truthfully based off our mood, setting, etc. Human perception rather exaggerates certain things or people and changes a story completely based from the author. Both authors (O’Brien and Didion) agree that story telling proves to be more believable and interesting, usually because they are remembered and told from eventful moments in a person’s life. "By telling stories, you objectify your own experience. You separate it from yourself. You pin down certain truths. You make up others. You start sometimes with an incident that truly happened, like that night in the shit field, and you carry it forward by inventing incidents that did not in fact occur but that nonetheless help to clarify and explain" (O'Brien, 152). O’Brien is clearly stating that objectifying your own experience is better than the factual happenings from the event you experienced. I agree with what O’brien is stating, because my experiences have me made me the person I am today whether it was for the best or worse.  The tools (experiences) that we are given in life determines the person we are, depending on how we interpret them and how we absorb them. Didion further supports the idea by saying "So the point of my keeping a notebook has never been, nor is it now, to have an accurate factual record of what I have been doing or thinking" (Didion, 83). Didion plainly states that it was never for facts or records and continues in the next paragraph. “Very likely they [relatives of Didion] are right, for not only have I had trouble distinguishing between what happened and what merely might have happened, but I remain unconvinced that the distinction, for my purposes, matters.” (Didion, 83). When Didion compared the “same” memories to other family members, they told her that her memories were wrong based off their own memories. The pinnacle of the subject is that every person has unique experiences that we will never have. Everyone you know is in their own little world experiencing some things we will but from different angles. Not only is every person special in their own way but their experiences are as well.

                Identity can play a key role in Authors writing. The author can use their Identity in many was such as affiliating themselves with certain ideas or sending a message to the reader of their own ideas. As previously said before, our experiences determine who we are, and that is our identity. As humans we can look at our own selves and our own body and distinguish our identity, and look at a decade old pictures and identify ourselves and our differences.  As you read The Things They Carried, O’Brien feeds an eating guilt thinking and writing about the war, wishing he could never experience the horrible events that transpired. “But the thing about remembering is you don’t forget. You take material where you find it, which is in your life, at the intersection of past and present.” (O’Brien, 83) O’Brien identifies himself with his memories who makes him into then person he is. Tragic and first time memories stick with us with most as we are the most vulnerable to the stimuli that affects us. That is what identifies us is the memories that still linger in our brain, teaching us valuable lessons or putting your mind into a less healthier state. To add on Didion states “It all comes back. Perhaps it is difficult to see the value in having one self’s back in that kind of mood, but I do not see it; I think we are all well advised to keep on nodding terms we used to be whether we find them attractive company or not. Otherwise they turn up unannounced and surprise us, come hammering on the minds door at 4 a.m. of a bad night and demand to know who deserted them, who betrayed them, who is going to make amends.”  (Didion, last page). We must accept who we are and our identity, and even our past identitys because we must make amends to the things we have done to others, and the things they have done to us. Whether what we write down is true or not, the memories we hold dear to us is what matters, and what molds us into who we are. The importance of writing is not only to hold memories, but to help us learn as people, and give us experiences that can mean something to us. 

Random Notes to My Son Analysis

I have learned various lessons from the poem “Random Notes to My Son” by Keorapetse Kgositsile but I did not understand most of the poem at first glance. Prior to reading the poem I had very little background knowledge about the poet Kgositsile. When I first read the poem, it came off as very complicated and complex, only some things made sense. I took a very ignorant and close minded approach to the poem only due to the fact that I chose this poet because he is the father of a rapper named Earl Sweatshirt. I had many questions on what certain phrases or things meant, and after hard research and studying I found my answers. But I’m glad I took the time to study Kgositsile and the poem because not only was I educated on his struggles, but I was given advice I can use for the rest of my life. I may not have the same experiences or struggles as him, but I can use his advice in my life. The poem does not have one meaning like most poems do, but several different lessons to absorb.

As soon as I started reading the poem I did not understand very much of it. “Beware, my son, words that carry the loudnesses of blind desire also carry the slime of illusion.” Kgositsile is talking to his son Earl, in which he is talking about his sons early productions in rap which had dark lyrics but with no dark intent in “real life”. He is telling his son that words are very powerful tools but if used incorrectly only serve as an illusion to distract people from the truth. His son did take notice of this and changed his style in his latest LP, but it great advice to anybody. “Dripping like pus from the slave's battered back” was an extremely hard simile for me to analyze. Before, I thought it was a reference to slavery or apartheid in South Africa. His simile means that illusions are also beat into us from our culture, just like a slave is beaten by its master, shaping ourselves into people that we aren’t.

In the second verse Kgositsile give a horrible image through smart and foul word play: “But here now our tongue dries into maggots as we continue our slimy death and grin.” Kgositsile is saying that people today are losing the ability to speak about anything meaningful, like the messages he writes through his poetry. The poem continues, “Except today it is fashionable to scream of pride and beauty.” Kgositsile continues his message into saying that people today only talk to about superficial topics such as wealth, jewelry, and appearance instead of deeper human issues. There is a large amount of dramatic advice given to Earl and readers of the poem.

Kgositsile left his son at the early age of six, to which he writes about his son’s feelings. “Confusion in me and around me confusion.” Earl had a hard life growing up without a dad only to rely on his Mom, who was a single parent. Kgositsile may not be directly approaching the song “Chum” Earl composed and sung, but he does understand his son’s confusion and struggles. Earl talks about his struggles with his dad through his rapping, “It’s probably been twelve years since my father left, left me fatherless And I just used to say I hate him in dishonest jest When honestly I miss this nigga, like when I was six And every time I got the chance to say it I would swallow it.” (Chum, Earl Sweatshirt). Kgositsile was never there for Earl as a kid, so he reaches out to him through is poetry.

“Today we move, we move?” Was the last line of the poem. I did not understand it the first couple times I read it. The repetition of the words “we move” imparts a call to action, and away from passivity. Kgositsile has given great advice and has helped me take a step back from the world and reevaluate myself. I’m going to turn this knowledge into life advice, and think before I do things or say things. I have not only learned a lot from this project, but I have learned so much from this class, including writing and open mindedness. 

Coach AP interview

The day before the interview, James and I rushed to Coach Paddocks classroom to speak to him about our interviews. As we approached the classroom we did not hear his booming, calm voice. Instead we found his student assistant doing assistant activities. We questioned the student assistant asking where Coach Paddock is, having her only reply in murmurs. In the meantime we messed around and cracked jokes. I wrote on the white board Coach Paddocks favorite numbers, "420 ÷69=Dong". James was amazed by my cunning math skills and my Einstein sized brain. The student assistant left early, and not soon after, you could hear a faint noise of someone walking in flip flops outside the hall. Coach AP walked in apologizing for the wait, and he quickly noticed what I wrote on the board, only to laugh knowing it was me. I scheduled my interview with him for Friday, and made my way back to my favorite class Advanced World lit. & comp. taught by my favorite teacher Mrs.Cawlfield.    

The day of the interview I walked into Coaches classroom, only to be greeted with a warm smile from Coach and asking how I was. I aid for Coach 4^th period, so I patiently waited in my seat preparing for the interview until he was done teaching. As I keep restudying my poem, over and over again, I finally come up with a few questions. As soon as Coach finishes his lecture he approached me saying “So should we do this interview in the hall, or where would you like too?” To which I replied “The hall will work, its fine.” I followed Coaches footsteps to outside in the hall, handing him my computer and got ready to record the interview. “I got you coach here we go.” I pressed the record button and thought to myself what questions should I ask after he’s done analyzing the poem. Once he finishes he hands me back my laptop only to say “wow.” His face was not only surprised but was amazed by the poets writing. I put my interviewer face on and ask my first question of the session, “What is your opinion on the poem?” Coach Paddock pauses and thinks for a moment. “ I think there is some amazing advice in there, in terms of what the father is saying to his son about blind desire can lead to ultimate downfalls, uh because it will blind you from the truth and from the correct path that you would want.”

I thought hard to summon a new question to my mind, but thankfully beforehand I wrote some questions on a separate document. “In any part of the poem can you find relatable or identifying with yourself?” He shot a look to the ceiling to find inspiration in himself to answer the question, “Um, sometimes yes because as a coach your ultimate goal, you know in a competitive world is try to win the championship, but were also in the business of molding young people into showing them the right way to act upon things and act. So you’re constantly tested on ethical decisions on how you treat people and the way you approach your job, unbridled ambitions can be dangerous at times.” I managed to comprehend his words and thought about what he said, but swiftly changed my mind to another question to ask him. I paused for a moment as a couple walked in the hall laughing and talking so they did not interrupt out interview. Coach and I made eye contact again and we continued the setting we had.

“What do you notice most about the poem?” I inquired. Coach Paddock again then paused and glanced away down the vacant hallway and faced my eyes again. “I think that the language was pretty striking, you know when it makes references to slaves and their battered backs, the pus, I mean there is some very descriptive vocabulary that brings some tragic images to mind as you read. So it really kind of connects in terms of significance in the words the poet was using.” I desperately tried to think of more questions to ask him, for only I had three written down, and thought I could think of more on the spot. I finally asked one of my last questions. “Is there anything you find confusing in the poem?” Instead of pausing he answered fairly quickly, spewing words out of his mouth like Busta Rhymes would in any of his verses. “The only thing I’m not sure of is the author African American or not because the talk of black power and things like that. I do not know if that is negative that he is approaching to his son or a positive. I’m not really sure of whom the author is or if there is an attentive audience of this poem other than his son.”  The mood of the interview shifted to us both having the feeling it was over. I concluded our talk with one last thought to ask, due to the fact I did not come fully prepared with a full list of questions. I blurted out my dull-witted amateur question, “ So uhh is that the only part you’re confused about?” to which Coach replied “Yeah, I think so.”

“Alright!” I exclaimed in my inside hall appropriate voice. Coach then said, “Was that deep enough for ya’? You sure you don’t need more? This interview was only about five minutes!” He smiled brightly eagerly waiting my response, “Nah coach that’s it, thanks a lot!” We walked back into the somewhat mellow hard working math classroom, he patted me softly on my back. “Anytime ya need help buddy you can come to me!” I sat down in my seat to recap and think about the interview. I put in my music and let my mind wander. Not only was I glad to learn more about Coach Paddocks opinion, it helped me know him better as a person. Coach is not only an authoritative figure I can look up to, he is a deep passionate man I can learn from as a genuine human being. The only thing I regret not doing is asking better questions. 

Keorapetse Kgositsile

Keorapetse Kgositsile was born September 19th. 1938 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Between the 1960's and 1970's he played an influential role in the African National Congress and made extensive progress in African-American literature. Kgositsile was exiled to the US (reasons unknown) between the years of 1962-1970, and he reached his peak of his literary career. During his time in the US he married twice both ending in divorce and each wife having one separate child. Thebe Kgositsile later became a rapper inspired by his friends in LA and inspired by his father's (Keorapetse) poems, even though Keorapetse left his children at a their young age. Later in his life he received well deserved awards for his deep writings about missing his son and the unjust system of apartheid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6RXqJwOvMM

poem

RANDOM NOTES TO MY SON

Beware, my son, words
that carry the loudnesses
of blind desire also carry
the slime of illusion
dripping like pus from the slave's battered back
e.g. they speak of black power whose eyes
will not threaten the quick whitening of their own intent
what days will you inherit?
what shadows inhabit your silences?

I have aspired to expression, all these years,
elegant past the most eloquent word. But here now
our tongue dries into maggots as we continue our slimy
death and grin. Except today it is fashionable to scream
of pride and beauty as though it were not known that
'slaves and dead people have no beauty'

Confusion
in me and around me
confusion. This pain was
not from the past. This pain was
not because we had failed
to understand:
this land is mine
confusion and borrowed fears
it was. We stood like shrubs
shrivelled on this piece of earth
the ground parched and cracked
through the cracks my cry:

And what shapes
in assent and ascent
must people the eye of newborn
determined desire know
no frightened tear ever rolls on
to the elegance of fire. I have
fallen with all the names I am
but the newborn eye, old as
childbirth, must touch the day
that, speaking my language, will
say, today we move, we move ?

Julio Fitzgibbons and Lydia H.

"Om is the bow; the arrow is soul.
Brahman is the arrows mark;
Strike it with steady aim."(Hesse 7)

"The sun would be shining, or else the moon, and he was once more a Self oscillating in the cycle; he felt thirst, overcame the thirst, and felt new thirst." (Hesse 14)

"Quietly,calmy, with a hidden smile, looking rather like a healthy child, the Buddha strolled down the path, wearing his robe and placing his foot upon them." (Hesse 25)

"He realized that something had left him, the way a snake's old skin leaves it."(Hesse 33)

Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka was born on July 3rd 1883. He was born in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary which is now modern day Hungary. He was born in a middle-class Jewish family in an area of people who spoke Czech. He was fluent in both German and Czech finding it hard in which to consider himself a German or Czechoslovakian as the community grew more of a national identity. He grew a lonely as a child from his parents being gone on business days and a troubled relationship with his father. Kafka attended German Charles-Ferdinand University of Prague in 1901 and obtained a degree of Doctor of Law in 1906 and took an interest in Czech literature. For the next 5 years Kafka worked for 2 different insurance companies, despite hating the job he rapidly went up through the ranks and positions and reports were well received by his superiors.  Later in 1911 he opened an asbestos factory in Prague with his partner Karl Herman. During the time he owned it he had a particularly positive attitude towards donating his time to his business, but later gained more of an interest in writing. In 1915 he wad drafted for the military but his insurance prohibited him to saying his job was playing an important role in the war, to which he later tried to join but couldn't because his tuberculosis. In 1918 the Workers accident insurance institute put Kafka on pension due to his illness but there was no cure at the time so he spent most of the rest of his life in sanatoriums. Kafka had a strong influence on genres such as existentialism philosophy. He is not noted for many quotes but rather his views and perspective. Not only was his way of writing unique to others but his thoughts and experiences. He is credited with having the biggest impact on 20th century literature by Harry Steinhauer. Kafka was not famous during his life nor death but soon after. Kafka died June 3rd 1924 due to his turbucolis closing his windpipe which lead to starvation.

Kofka pictured at a young age

Prague Kafka's Residence

Franz as a young adult

The university he attended

The disease Kafka fell fatal too

Hebrew Translation:

1. [On] Tuesday, June 3, 1924 (1/2 Sivan 5684 on the Jewish calendar)
2. The glorious young man Anchel Kafka [Franz's Jewish name] passed on
3. Son of the respected Mr. Hanich Kafka [Hermann's Jewish name]
4. And mother Yettel Kafka [Julie's Jewish name]
5. May his soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life.

Source: http://german.about.com/library/gallery/blfoto_kafka01det.htm

Reflection 3/3

My favorite canto was most likely 14. Although I do not agree with the punishment I thought it was creative and cruel. Raining fire and burning sand is most likely the worst punishment someone can receive. My least favorite was the 1st one as I found it unfair. Although they were not being punished horribly for not believing in god (when Christianity did not even exist) I think they still could have proved themselves through purgatory or any other way. I really do not think the people in these Canto's deserve the pain they receive solely because its human nature that we would curse "our" god or not believe in a religion that did not even exist at the time.

REFLEXSHUN

I'm really enjoying this Dante's Inferno project besides all the work and stuff, its extremely time consuming. I got canto 23, so thank god I did a little bit of studying before some people, or some fool would grab it. I'm pretty interested in listening to other peoples Canto's as long as their not boring. If I put as much effort as I think I am i hope i can score well to pick up my grade, I have not been feeling well about it and also disappointed in myself, it's all on me. This is probably my hardest LA class I've ever taken so I need to amp up on this project and the class itself.
Other then LA this week has been alright. I saw the Lego movie and had no idea what was going on. Schoolboy Q's Oxymoron new album has already leaked even though it comes out tomorrow. Every song on there is on FIYAAAAAAAAA. Wrestling is finally over so I can focus on school and gaining weight, its nice not to starve yourself and have no idea whats going on in class from being dehydrated. I really want to see that Disney movie Frost or Frosted, I heard its icy (get it, cause its cold)

This pic looked tight

Shawty Wanna Refecltion

This week in LA and in general was pretty laid back. I liked making posters and researching better then writing long complicated essays about long complicated topics. Plus i guess you can say my homework was pretty much watching a movie and that was even cooler. I still gained some valuable knowledge about tragic heroes and about literature in general. Your super cool and chill teacher Ms. Cawlfield, I'm just sayin' the class should move to making more posters but learn at the same time, so everybody wins.

Personal Hell

According to the Bible Hell is technically a lake of fire that you burn in for all eternity after death. I for one do not believe in hell, but if it exists it would be horrible. My personal hell would have constant repeating(like music or specific sounds), constant torture without a break, and constant itchiness. And centipedes, God needs to burn every god damn one of those on earth. I don't really have anyone specific to be in my hell, maybe like some annoying rich kids from here, but they eventually make their way back up to heaven once the realize what horrible and ungrateful people they are. People who murder and rape should also be in hell, especially pedophile, pedophiles are the one exception that I wouldn't let escape. Every minute would feel like an hour to them and every hour would feel like months. Everyone would suffer enough till they redeem themselves through pain.

1. In my hell, everyone would go to hell, every single person. Every person has done something wrong, hurt someone or screwed someone over out of their own happiness or will. Everyone has a horrible part to them. Some will have an extremely short period in hell and some will have an extremely wrong, it depends on how much suffering and hurt you have caused to others within reason. Hitler was a horrible horrible person, and overall he was a demon. But he would be able to work his way out of hell, he one the first dictator/leader to lead an anti-smoking campaign as well as animal abuse was not tolerated, people were strictly punished unde him who hurt innocent animals. I DO NOT have a soft spot for him, but of course everyone has a good side to them and can work their way out of hell. My hell is not based off religion, but your own self.

2. The punishments can range to torture to mentally breaking down a person. Some people would burn for eternity, others can have there teeth pulled out over and over again. I know its brutal but it is supposed to be hell lol. People who had a decent life with not hurting others wouldn't suffer much, they would just be pushed to their limit by working out or something. Nothing to hard for good people, but everyone needs punishment. Another punishment would be peeing an endless amount of kidney stones or incorporating the persons in fear into their hell.

3. The person will wake up in a freezing cold room with no windows. Completely empty except for a screen. All of a sudden, the screen clicks to life. A title card pops up: "Adam Sandler's Jack & Jill". You will starve and freeze for what feels like eternity, until a door opens up to the next room. One through the door the person will walk into an empty white room as they must live every persons life they have caused harm to and realize how it effected them. Hell does not have a specific look, as people will make it through hell there own way. After so many weeks, months, or years it takes them to realize what they have done to other people. Not only will they gain wisdom from realizing what they have done, but become enlightened in a sense, experiencing all the bad things they have from a different point of view. The next room is their punishment so it justifies heir actions and tortures, pushes their limit, or just messes with the person. Depending on the person they will have redeemed themselves and walk the escalator to heaven, but some will stay in hell for eternity and get what they have deserved.

4. Well everyone goes to hell, and almost everyone can escape by redeeming themselves. The only people who cannot escape are pedophiles, and people who dedicate their whole life to be selfless and the will to make others suffer. I would give them the same punishment that they gave to other people, over and over again. Their are some truly evil people that should not escape and never would.

5. The phoenix is the symbol of hell, because everyone (with few exceptions) will be brought down into their own ashes, until they are "reborn" into a new person. They have gained wisdom, and redeemed themselves to be a better person overall. 

6. Everyone is in hell no exceptions.