To put it simply: Yes, I would consider myself a transcendentalist.
My mother raised me to believe that everyone had "at least a little good in them" much like Emerson believes. Emerson believed that all people were inherently good. Sure, people make mistakes. That's natural, but when it comes down to it, we all really want one thing, to be happy.
One of the most convincing arguments Emerson presents is found in the passage, "I suppose no man can violate his nature,"meaning if all people are good, then people cannot be bad, which supports the idea that everyone can have an inner God.
I think that in terms of whose style of writing I prefer, I would have to choose Fuller. She writes quite a bit more artistically, and I am certainly a fan of that. I am also a fan of how she counters a few of Emerson's ideas. She presses that a woman can have just as much an "inner-self" as any man will or has ever had.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Cultural Trend: Putting Your Hair Up in .2 Seconds Flat
We've all seen it and cringed. That girl in your math class who looks like she slept with that messy bun on her head. WHAT IS SHE THINKING? Answer: She isn't.
I don't know what is wrong with today's fashion trends in high school, but I for one am pissed. Why would you purposefully make yourself look like you don't care what you look like? If you are gonna spend 20 minutes making your hair look a hot damn mess, don't talk to me because unlike you, I don't have time to waste.
When I see a girl with a bun or ponytail on top of her head (or in some incredibly severe cases, in her FACE), I wanna pull it out of that bun and out of her head. Does this sound extreme? Yes. Is it extreme? No.
The only time I allow my hair to look that much of a mess, is when I have no intention of another human or even animal coming into my presence for a good 24 hours. If I have to see you and your out-of-control hairball on your forehead in the halls, please apologize in passing, or wear a paper bag over your head.
I don't know who started this or thought it should be socially acceptable, but that person should be thrown in prison by the fashion police. I hope for the sake and eyes of all sane humans in the future, that this trend quickly disperses and disappears from the face of the earth.
I don't know what is wrong with today's fashion trends in high school, but I for one am pissed. Why would you purposefully make yourself look like you don't care what you look like? If you are gonna spend 20 minutes making your hair look a hot damn mess, don't talk to me because unlike you, I don't have time to waste.
When I see a girl with a bun or ponytail on top of her head (or in some incredibly severe cases, in her FACE), I wanna pull it out of that bun and out of her head. Does this sound extreme? Yes. Is it extreme? No.
The only time I allow my hair to look that much of a mess, is when I have no intention of another human or even animal coming into my presence for a good 24 hours. If I have to see you and your out-of-control hairball on your forehead in the halls, please apologize in passing, or wear a paper bag over your head.
I don't know who started this or thought it should be socially acceptable, but that person should be thrown in prison by the fashion police. I hope for the sake and eyes of all sane humans in the future, that this trend quickly disperses and disappears from the face of the earth.
Sound and Fury Response
I thought this movie was extremely riveting and opened my eyes to a culture I had always seen but never noticed. Sound and Fury took me into a place of "oh my God, this exists?" I never realized how different these people's lives, the deaf community, is from our own.
I grew up with a mother who taught me to embrace differences and accept everyone as the same. I never thought deaf people were much different than myself, aside from not being able to hear. The story of Heather and her family's painful decision to not give her the implant really made me think. At first, I was pissed. I was extremely angry. From my perspective, a life without hearing would be unbearable. If someone had the chance to live being able to hear not just music, but animal sounds, the patter of rain as it gently falls, or the tonal differences in people's voices that vary with emotion, it would be a shame not to give her that chance.
I calmed down a bit and tried to understand where the parents were coming from. Feeling alienated, or different, and having a group of people who have experienced the same struggles of course is an appealing alternative to a difficult transition of having your daughter gain hearing while you are left with 4 senses. Perhaps that sounds to strongly worded, but that's what was going through my mind.
I began to embrace the fact towards the end that there is obviously a reason these people feel so strongly about the beauty of deaf culture and it is their decision to raise their daughter a certain way. Do I support their decision? No. Would I do the same thing had I a deaf child? No, but that is partially because I have never experienced being part of the deaf community, partially because I would fall into a severe depression without being able to sing or hear music.
I have to admit though, Sir Kunkle, if you are reading, I enjoyed this video and thought it was immensely thought provoking.
I grew up with a mother who taught me to embrace differences and accept everyone as the same. I never thought deaf people were much different than myself, aside from not being able to hear. The story of Heather and her family's painful decision to not give her the implant really made me think. At first, I was pissed. I was extremely angry. From my perspective, a life without hearing would be unbearable. If someone had the chance to live being able to hear not just music, but animal sounds, the patter of rain as it gently falls, or the tonal differences in people's voices that vary with emotion, it would be a shame not to give her that chance.
I calmed down a bit and tried to understand where the parents were coming from. Feeling alienated, or different, and having a group of people who have experienced the same struggles of course is an appealing alternative to a difficult transition of having your daughter gain hearing while you are left with 4 senses. Perhaps that sounds to strongly worded, but that's what was going through my mind.
I began to embrace the fact towards the end that there is obviously a reason these people feel so strongly about the beauty of deaf culture and it is their decision to raise their daughter a certain way. Do I support their decision? No. Would I do the same thing had I a deaf child? No, but that is partially because I have never experienced being part of the deaf community, partially because I would fall into a severe depression without being able to sing or hear music.
I have to admit though, Sir Kunkle, if you are reading, I enjoyed this video and thought it was immensely thought provoking.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Presidential Lingo
Some presidential lingo has varied over the years, but has vastly stayed the same. Ironic for an ever-changing country. Each and every president said "America," "Freedom," and "United States" far too often.
Obviously, the words "America" and "United States" directly relate to each president's speech. Assuming that he is, of course, speaking of or addressing the country. However, so many other words were over used in speeches, that I wonder why our nations leaders have such small vocabularies. It also makes me feel like their immense over-usage of many "cliche" words reflects poorly on the educational system as a whole.
Most, at least many, presidents have very powerful speaking abilities. They are able to bring audiences to their feet. That is how they get elected. They have knowledge of the human-mind and persuasion. I just don't feel like many of them are gifted in the ways of the thesaurus.
It would be one thing if these presidents all had unique, selective groups of words that they used in their speeches throughout each of their presidencies, but each president has the exact same GROUP of words.
World-wide, many countries see the US as a stupid-country. Our president are the figure-head of our country, and if our president is seen as having a great stage presence, but very redundant content in his speeches, minimalistically his word-choice, I just don't see how that could be a positive thing.
Consistency is one thing, blatantly over-using certain phrases/words is another.
Obviously, the words "America" and "United States" directly relate to each president's speech. Assuming that he is, of course, speaking of or addressing the country. However, so many other words were over used in speeches, that I wonder why our nations leaders have such small vocabularies. It also makes me feel like their immense over-usage of many "cliche" words reflects poorly on the educational system as a whole.
Most, at least many, presidents have very powerful speaking abilities. They are able to bring audiences to their feet. That is how they get elected. They have knowledge of the human-mind and persuasion. I just don't feel like many of them are gifted in the ways of the thesaurus.
It would be one thing if these presidents all had unique, selective groups of words that they used in their speeches throughout each of their presidencies, but each president has the exact same GROUP of words.
World-wide, many countries see the US as a stupid-country. Our president are the figure-head of our country, and if our president is seen as having a great stage presence, but very redundant content in his speeches, minimalistically his word-choice, I just don't see how that could be a positive thing.
Consistency is one thing, blatantly over-using certain phrases/words is another.
I Am a Camera
I see things through my lens. I don't pretend to see something in you that isn't displayed on my screen. You can take back things you've said to me, but they are all on "film" at the end of the day. I will not forget them, and I will not erase them. After all, very few things can be completely erased. I have many buttons. If you press to many of them incorrectly I shut off. I will not take pictures if you want me to. I will not record a video for you. In the same sense, if you do break my trust or "push too many of my buttons," I will not be your friend. I will not help you.
I need to be recharged at the end of the day. If I don't get enough sleep the night before, I am a mess the next day. Unfortunately for humans that come in contact with me during the school week, this is often the case.
Depending on my angle, I can make you look good, but I can also manipulate my functions to make you look extremely unattractive. Not in a malicious sense, but if you don't see eye to eye with me, the angle will be slanted in a way that will certainly add more than "10 pounds," as they say. Not 10 pounds as in weight, but you will lose the opportunity of being friends with me. Never talk to me as if I am lower than you.
I am a camera in the sense that I have more functions than just one. I can take photos, videos, and even edit your pictures right on my screen, but if you haven't taken the time to read the instruction manual, you will never know how to properly use me. I am not going to be falsely modest. What you see on the packaging is part of, and is the most eye-catching part of who I am. I am a very confident, talented, smart woman, but if you never take the chance to see past the packaging, you'll never know how much more there is to me.
I need to be recharged at the end of the day. If I don't get enough sleep the night before, I am a mess the next day. Unfortunately for humans that come in contact with me during the school week, this is often the case.
Depending on my angle, I can make you look good, but I can also manipulate my functions to make you look extremely unattractive. Not in a malicious sense, but if you don't see eye to eye with me, the angle will be slanted in a way that will certainly add more than "10 pounds," as they say. Not 10 pounds as in weight, but you will lose the opportunity of being friends with me. Never talk to me as if I am lower than you.
I am a camera in the sense that I have more functions than just one. I can take photos, videos, and even edit your pictures right on my screen, but if you haven't taken the time to read the instruction manual, you will never know how to properly use me. I am not going to be falsely modest. What you see on the packaging is part of, and is the most eye-catching part of who I am. I am a very confident, talented, smart woman, but if you never take the chance to see past the packaging, you'll never know how much more there is to me.
Alligators/Crocodiles
I love Disney World, don't get me wrong, but why does every single ride have to have a fake alligator in it? WHY? When I go to Disney World I have to close my eyes during parts of the rides because I honestly FREAK OUT when I see alligators/crocodiles. Throughout this post I will use the words "alligator" and "crocodile" interchangeably, because to me, they are the same, TERRIFYING. I will also use "Caps Lock" frequently to display the amount of fear each of their beady eyes sends through my body.
I don't know where this irrational fear of "alligodiles" came from. I've always thought they were extremely scary. Now that I think about it. It probably came from watching "Peter Pan" once or twice too often as a little girl. Captain Hook got eaten by that weird crocodile that ticked like a clock EVERY time. I guess I just assumed, though my morality is better than that of the villainous Hook, that when an alligator saw me it would instinctively eat me. I have never seen an alligodile who has looked as if he/she could disprove this theory. They all look immensely intimidating.
Someday, perhaps, I'll get over this fear, but it really doesn't affect my life and daily habits very much, so I'll probably go on living with my hatred of the alligodile. It would probably be beneficial to be able to go on rides at Disney World and not get scared when I see an OBVIOUSLY fake alligodile swimming along side my boat in "It's a Small World."
Monday, November 7, 2011
Enchanted: The Life of Audrey Hepburn
Without a doubt, the late Ms. Hepburn is one of the most fascinating women to have ever walked this planet. Donald Spoto does her great justice in Enchantment. He has a great writing style and describes her life meticulously. It actually made me wonder how someone could possibly know so much about someone else's existence.
Her story is an interesting one. She was born in Belgium in 1929 and died almost a year to the day before I was born (in 1993). She was abandoned at a young age by her father and nearly died of starvation in World War II.
She then moved to the United States where she started acting in musicals and eventually starred in plays such as "Gigi." Her first starring role was in "Roman Holiday." She began getting recognition for her amazing talent and work ethic. She took on many comedic roles.
Later she began choosing darker more intense roles, perhaps because of her unconventional childhood, to display the immense amount of talent she possessed. She quickly became the Hollywood "it girl."
She was known for her impeccable taste in fashion. She was even inducted into the International Best Dressed List.
Her personal life was far from the perfection of her career. She had several failed relationships and marriages. She had two children, boys. Spoto suggests its relation to her father's leaving at a young age. She looked for affection as an adult that she had never experienced as a child.
She died of cancer at the age of 63, but because of her incredible work ethic and talent, we all still know exactly who she is. After all she coined the "little black dress." (wink) This book gave me an even greater appreciation for Ms. Hepburn and her amazing accomplishments.
Her story is an interesting one. She was born in Belgium in 1929 and died almost a year to the day before I was born (in 1993). She was abandoned at a young age by her father and nearly died of starvation in World War II.
She then moved to the United States where she started acting in musicals and eventually starred in plays such as "Gigi." Her first starring role was in "Roman Holiday." She began getting recognition for her amazing talent and work ethic. She took on many comedic roles.
Later she began choosing darker more intense roles, perhaps because of her unconventional childhood, to display the immense amount of talent she possessed. She quickly became the Hollywood "it girl."
She was known for her impeccable taste in fashion. She was even inducted into the International Best Dressed List.
Her personal life was far from the perfection of her career. She had several failed relationships and marriages. She had two children, boys. Spoto suggests its relation to her father's leaving at a young age. She looked for affection as an adult that she had never experienced as a child.
She died of cancer at the age of 63, but because of her incredible work ethic and talent, we all still know exactly who she is. After all she coined the "little black dress." (wink) This book gave me an even greater appreciation for Ms. Hepburn and her amazing accomplishments.
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