life

Unseen Beauty

muhammadc324 20-1 B, hadi, Response to Literature, Writing , , , , 1 Comment
Unseen Beauty

In the novel You Know I’m No Good by Jessie Ann Foley, Mia’s journey portrays the impact of feeling unnoticed and insignificant on her perception of beauty and self-worth. Her experiences, from observing the night sky to navigating interactions in her science class and harbouring a desire to rewrite her past, illustrate the intricate connection between a sense of insignificance and a distorted view of beauty and self-value.

How many stars are in the universe? | SpaceMia’s observation of the night sky serves as a powerful metaphor for her yearning to discover and embrace hidden beauty. Sitting by Lake Onamia, she marvels at the sky’s brilliance, wondering if the sight has always existed without her notice. “As I sit on that damp log, gazing up at the lacy pattern of inlaid pricks of fire, I can’t help but wonder if the sky has always looked this magnificent and I’ve just never noticed. It’s as if the most beautiful things are always the easiest to miss.” This observation hints at her realization that her feelings of insignificance might have clouded her ability to appreciate beauty. It reflects a deeper longing to uncover the unnoticed things in life, mirroring her desire to acknowledge her value in a world where she feels that it is unseen. Furthermore, her experience in the science class emphasizes her sense of being overlooked. Being the only freshman among senior students in an honours integrated science course, she starts questioning her teacher’s intentions, and wonders if she was put there with the intent to diminish her. “I was the only freshman in the class; I’d been placed there because of my test scores. No one really talked to me, not even my lab partner, Scottie Curry.” Moreover, she expressed a strong desire to go back to her freshman year, wishing for an opportunity to make different2,400+ Time Travel Clock Stock Photos, Pictures & Royalty-Free Images - iStock choices that could lead to a more fulfilling life. “I would easily be able to get into any of those Ivy League colleges, too—if I could just get the chance to go back to freshman year and do everything all over again, differently.” It emphasizes her desire for recognition and a chance to redefine her value, shedding light on how feeling insignificant affects how she perceives herself in her life.

Ultimately, the novel portrays the intricate interplay between feeling unnoticed and a distorted perception of beauty and self-worth. Through Mia’s journey, readers are reminded of the transformative potential of self-acceptance and the importance of recognizing one’s worth even when feeling unseen. The narrative is a testament to the resilience and potential for growth when individuals acknowledge her significance, embracing her unique beauty beyond external validations.

Sources:
https://www.google.com/search?q=stars&sca_esv=587264773&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA937CA937&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiAn8bT1vCCAxXfMTQIHTjSBDEQ_AUoAXoECAIQAw&biw=1710&bih=976&dpr=1.6#imgrc=jXkfH7SyIlUFgM
https://www.google.com/search?q=clock+time+travel&sca_esv=587264773&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA937CA937&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&sqi=2&pjf=1&ved=2ahUKEwit1uHy1vCCAxUoPjQIHZAWC0oQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1710&bih=976&dpr=1.6#imgrc=gARoOg90K_XNvM
https://www.google.com/search?q=silhouette+of+a+girl+night+time&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwig7r7H1_CCAxWAIDQIHZMFB1oQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=silhouette+of+a+girl+night+time&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoFCAAQgAQ6BggAEAgQHlAAWO0PYPMQaAFwAHgAgAHAAYgBhAySAQQxLjEwmAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=sxlrZeDIMIDB0PEPk4uc0AU&bih=976&biw=1710&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA937CA937#imgrc=dBRIrKYetQIupM

 

Secrets of the past

myles425 myles, Response to Literature , , , , 6 Comments

Keeping Secrets Can Make You Sick | Tufts NowIn “Unbecoming,” Jenny Downham deeply connects the general idea about how complicated families can be and equally how important they are, which I can relate to. This book conveys how a family can have different views on problems and how to solve them. Some interpret this as the disturbing side of a family, but the author, Jenny Downham, also shows the importance and lovingness of family.
The first of the main characters you will learn about is the youngest of the three ladies. Her name is Katie. She has been struggling with her sexuality, which she first shows when she has her friend over. They are having small talk, which becomes talking about who they are romanticly interested in. This delves deeper into Katie being a lesbian, and she is having trouble because she likes a girl that she can’t reveal to her family, so it makes it awkward when Katie is at home because she doesn’t think her family would understand what she’s going through. After all, the rest of her family is straight, at least in romance. Next, we get the mother of Katie, Caroline, who struggles with almost everything as her past starts catching up.
An example of this is at the beginning of the book when she gets nervous that her mother will be staying at her house because she just lost her lifelong partner. As she picks up her mother, her mother offers her kids to go and buy some food. This causes Caroline to get nervous and overprotective, which restricts her kids’ freedom. Still, at the same time, she is a loving mother, which is essential for any family so they can develop in a warm, kind environment. Finally, we got the grandmother, Mary. She is the grandmother of Katie, who has Alzheimer’s and has just lost her long-term partner. After years of mysterious absence, she comes back. Even with Alzheimer’s, she is capable of anything. From these different points of view, you can see how people’s insecurities can affect families, but they are also essential so you can overcome problems and grow as a person.Caring for family is what motivates people worldwide | ASU News

 

This theme of how families can be complicated but important can relate to me because, like in most families. Problems can arise, and you can get tense because if you talk to your family, they may not understand your situation, like the main characters in Unbecoming. This personally relates to me because I’ve had problems in the past, being nervous about telling my family about a problem with my chest because of a scar. So whenever I tried to talk to them, I got worried and didn’t tell them, which just caused massive tension in the house. Finally, my parents convinced me that family was here to help me, not hurt me; the tension dispersed from the conversation like fog. I was confident they would support me with my problem, which helped with my problem and strengthened my confidence in how important family is to your mental development.

 

 

 

Links:

1.  https://now.tufts.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium_768w_768h/public/uploaded-assets/images/2022-11/221201_secret_life_of_secrets_1070132669.jpg?h=e5aec6c8&itok=nIQghKIc

2. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.asu.edu%2F20191203-caring-family-what-motivates-people-worldwide&psig=AOvVaw3GwOtd1M2y0g7m_tGNanFv&ust=1701397858360000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBAQjRxqFwoTCJiiqovX6oIDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAK

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and Personal Connection’s

emma1523 emma, Personal Response , , 4 Comments
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and Personal Connection’s

The caves described in Plato’s allegory of the cave can be seen and interpreted in many different types of ways. In my personal opinion, I interpreted them as a way to symbolize growth in a person in their personal identity and personal well-being as they grow older and develop new traits and personality.  A personal connection in my life that connects to the caves, are the types of things that help me grow as a person. This includes my friends and family, as well as things that help me want to keep going in life and pursue certain interests of mine which includes Animal Welfare. Specifically speaking, I have worked in the Animal Welfare field for many years now and have always been very thoughtful about taking care of animals and promoting the well-being of animal safety, especially since I volunteer at an animal shelter. Since I have worked in that field for quite some time, I have seen a lot of really damaging things that have happened to animals. I find that despite the hardship that comes with working in such a crazy environment, I have luckily  been able to build a lot of resilience and the ability to help animals in certain ways that others may not be able to, as they have not seen the same things I have. As well as this, I have a very close connection with animals and do want to pursue Animal Welfare in the future so this has really helped me pursue happiness and be able to know that I am doing a good thing for the world and for myself.

Another thing that connects to the caves and personal growth is my friends and close people I have in my life. I have found that through certain influences  and the care that others have given me I have been able to learn to care much more for others and be able to support other people in many types of ways. I have a lot of empathy for other people which has helped me grow myself as a person and I believe this has also helped me expand my enlightenment. Growing as a person and learning from mistakes made in the past, are always something that takes time and require help from others. Even spending time in a positive environment can help change your viewpoint, and help change how you respond to certain situations in the future. Humans build off other people, and this is a great example. The people around you can be described as “caves”, as they are people who believe that knowledge comes from what we see and hear in the world, and how the world functions itself, which can be a good thing. People can free themselves from darkness, if they understand that you must experiment with new ideas in life. Life is a process of growth, and only builds on overtime.

Overall the caves can be seen differently due to the certain aspects that can be analyzed in many different ways. This depends on each person’s perspective of the actual story. Caves can symbolize many different things in many different people’s lives.

 

Image Citations

“Original Paintings for Sale.” Saatchi Art, www.saatchiart.com/paintings/personal-growth/feature%C2%A0

“Personal Growth by Cynthia Decker.” Fine Art America, fineartamerica.com/featured/personal-growth-cynthia-decker.html

“Self Improvement Paintings for Sale.” Fine Art America, fineartamerica.com/art/paintings/self+improvement

Villani, Mark. “‘We’re in Crisis Mode’: Calgary Humane Society Hopeful for Adoptions as Animal Shelter Hits Full Capacity.” Calgary, CTV News, 26 May 2023, calgary.ctvnews.ca/we-re-in-crisis-mode-calgary-humane-society-hopeful-for-adoptions-as-animal-shelter-hits-full-capacity-1.6415180

Allusion to an Allegory

dane566 20-1 B, dane, Response to Literature, Writing , , 9 Comments

Growing up, you weren’t exposed to much. The only things you knew were how to hold a phone, occasionally try in school, watch movies, and in extreme cases, sleep. You lived the same simple routine. The only things you thought were hard were whistling and rolling your R’s. If you’re being honest with yourself, you only remember this because your parents showed you pictures. They showed you a picture of your sixth birthday today. You vaguely remember the toys you got that day, and how you ended up not using them. You liked your Toy Story figures too much to abandon them. 

Like a spider, your eighteenth birthday creeped up on you. Though it feels like you just had your seventeenth. You tell yourself you’re excited, but deep down you’re scared for your life. What happened to your Xbox and Toy Story toys? How do taxes work? Nobody ever taught you in school. People told you about them, and said they were hard. You didn’t expect them to be this hard though. On the contrary, you have full freedom now. It’s gratifying, but nothing has ever horrified you more. What are you supposed to do with all of your time? You don’t even know how to cook yet, as your parents always did it for you. You might just have to stick with microwaved ramen and leftover fast food for now. Everything is scary. Why is everything scary? You were told being an adult would be fun. This isn’t fun.

Since then it’s been a few years, and contrary to your belief, it is fun. You’re still trying to get a handle of things, and you only barely understand taxes now. That’s okay though, you’re getting by. This isn’t to say you aren’t still stressed, but you’re having some fun, right? This isn’t that awful. You might even be having more fun than you were as a teenager. Life is definitely harder, but being self reliant comes with a lot of freedom. You had your first beer a couple of months ago. It didn’t go incredibly well though. Apparently, after you had a few too many drinks, your friends had to drag you away from somebody you thought was Chris Evans. You might have to tone back on that in the future. Eventually, you get a good enough gist of being an adult to help others with the things you were so scared of. You had friends to help you out, so you feel an obligation to assist others who go through the same thing. 

However, something odd happens when you decide to help. These kids are still in high school. You try telling them about what the transition is like, and how scary it can be at first, but they shrug you off. Why’d they do that? You were just trying to lend a hand. Hold on. You did the same as them when you were their age, didn’t you? Yes you did. You probably just tried to forget it in an attempt at saving yourself from the embarrassment. Why would those kids react any differently? You eventually realized how much you needed the assistance, so they probably will too. You know you’ll be there to help. Until then, it’s their loss. They have to cope with being scared of everything and stressed all the time now. Hopefully they grow out of it at some point or another.

While growing up can be daunting, and even appalling to some, it has its perks. You can’t lie, your life is pretty awesome right now. You get to meet new people all the time, and in the future, you’ll be able to take classes that actually interest you. School might actually be fun then. That’d be pretty cool, right? Imagine how awesome it would be if school was fun. Who knows, the angsty high school kids might even grow up to be pretty cool (or the polar opposite if they aren’t careful). It would be odd if you ended up being friends with them. You’re enjoying your life a lot now. The change was initially really scary, but with your friends’ help, you got through it. The process is slow, but definitely worth the time and effort. You hope that eventually others will come to realize the same thing. As long as you’re patient with them they’ll get through it, just like you did.

Citations – 

Reflection on Double Trouble – Maryann Lucas – http://oilpaintingsmaryannlucas.blogspot.com/2011/01/reflection-on-double-trouble.html 

Hanging Out with Friends and Talking, Rebecca Krutsinger – https://stlws.org/2023/01/15/our-congratulations-69/

Dancing at a Bar, AM FineArtPrints – https://pixels.com/featured/dancing-in-a-bar-01-am-fineartprints.html

Life’s Joy and Despair

richar1966 20-1 A, Personal Response, richard , , 4 Comments
Life’s Joy and Despair

[1]
          Life is a journey where individuals encounter good and evil, joy and despair, happiness and sadness. The result is that our lives are often like a roller coaster, full of twists and turns, ups and downs. On the other hand, men and women, boys and girls go through life uniquely; a person may have a happy childhood with friends and family but also encounter sadness in adulthood and end up with difficulties in work or with relationships. Or, someone could live a young criminal life, fighting to survive, only to later change their ways and become a priest, sharing good results and faith. No one lives life without experiencing both the good and the bad.

[2]
          Much of this turbulence in life is seen in the poem, “The Hidden Fence,” by Rita Joe, in which the speaker, acting like the Spirit of the First Nations people, shares initial experiences of freedom and happiness, only to sadly see it transform into confinement, and subsequent defiance. Personally, I found a number of connections to the speaker and the emotions discussed in the poem.

After analyzing the poem, I made a theme statement that expresses the journey through life that people might face, will face, or already have encountered: “According to the text, individuals experience joys and, unfortunately, confinement along their journey in life; however, they must also simultaneously reclaim their identity and discover purpose despite the restrictions.”

Delving into the poem, the speaker personifies the old-aged Spirit of the First Nations people and laments the story of their past living in a free, open land, where the world is populated with friends and allies only to see it lost. The speaker was then imprisoned with no way of resisting and had to abide by their captors’ wishes. The speaker signs their consent with an ‘X,’ and this diminishes their pride, symbolized by the feather. Clearly, the speaker is frustrated to see the vast and open-spaced land they used to travel on with pride, but now there are barriers and other restrictions imposed on them by white culture. Ultimately, the speaker wants the freedom to teach others about their amazing culture.

I feel connected to the speaker’s history and sorrows because, like everyone else, I have experienced both positive and negative events. One notable instance occurred during my seventh-grade year when I was subjected to bullying by a group of boys at school and on the bus. I had done nothing to provoke or disturb others; I simply minded my own business and kept my distance.

[3]
          The bullying was senseless and seemingly without reason.  I felt trapped and kept asking the same question, “Why?” Why did I get picked on? Why did this happen to me? and Why was this even possible? I questioned how a world where I did nothing to hurt anyone could feel so sad, hopeless, and cruel. However, I did not allow the bullying to stop me from reporting them and standing my ground. I found help from others to stop the bullying and got multiple apologies. What had once been a good period, then marred by negativity, eventually turned positive again when I formed friendships with those who had once bullied me. Through this experience, I discovered a sense of freedom I had not realized I needed to reclaim. The connection between the speaker’s history in sorrows and my own experiences of bullying and friendship lies in the shared theme of transformation and resilience.

Just as the speaker laments the loss of their freedom and the enforcement of restrictions on their life, I too felt trapped and questioned the world’s cruelty during my bullying experience. However, like the speaker, I didn’t allow these negative experiences to define me. Instead, I found the strength to stand up, seek help, and eventually, even form friendships with those who had once been my harassers. This transformation mirrors the speaker’s desire for freedom to teach others about their culture, as I also discovered a sense of freedom in reclaiming my own identity and standing up against injustice. It’s a reminder that even in the face of adversity, individuals have the capacity to evolve and find their voice.

[4]
          In conclusion, the poem suggests that people initially have freedom and a clear identity but later face confinement and resistance. Through the Spirit of the First Nation, the speaker recalls past joy, space, and their desire to share their culture despite the challenges they face. The poem expresses our determination in rediscovering our true selves and purpose, even when confronted with adversity, and emphasizes our steady commitment to sharing and connecting with others.

 

 

 

 

 

[1] – Left Side – https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/one-god/34

[1] – Right Side – https://biblicalcounselingcenter.org/get-in-trouble/

[2] – Snipped off the poetry analysis handout

[3] – https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/student-mental-health-resources/

[4] – https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_hope_can_keep_you_happier_and_healthier

 

A Life Like Watercolours

Vincent 20-1D, Personal Response , , , , , 8 Comments
A Life Like Watercolours

Watercolours are horrible. I’m sorry but I despise using them. Why are they so runny yet not at the same time, difficult to use; flowy and messy like my life right now. Sure they can be used to create sometimes decent art with meaning, but not often. Literature, as a written form of art, is far superior to watercolours in the ease of manipulation to create a hive of meaningful statements. The following blog draws from various quotes which paint a better image of my life than watercolours will ever do. 

“They who dream by day are cognisant of many things which escape those who dream only by night”

A short story by Edgar Allan Poe, Eleonora follows an unnamed narrator who lives with his aunt and cousin in the Valley of the Many-Coloured Grass. After many years of living together, the narrator and Eleonora begin to fall in love with one another, however, this love was not meant to be and eventually leads to the narrator leaving the valley after her death. The quote discusses how dreams, specifically daydreaming, can provide individuals with insight over those who do not.

Multiple notations from this passage can be taken and applied to one’s life; similar to how I have done. Though daydreaming can be viewed as unproductive by some, for me it directs the creation of ideas and visions for projects in my life. Unlike dreaming in one’s sleep or using watercolours, daydreaming allows the user to remember said dream in addition to influencing the direction of the images. All this daydreaming helps release my creativity and assist in consolidating a vision for projects, which is helpful as I am an artist. 

Furthermore, dreaming in general is one form which an individual may use to escape from the reality around them. In Eleonora, the narrator does this to some extent in his imagination or viewing of the valley and world he lives in. The descriptions of the valley greatly coincide with his mood in the story; with happiness in a flowering valley and sadness within a withering one. Personally, I do daydream often to leave reality and everything happening around me. Though chaotic and cluttered, my mind is often a safe haven from the tribulations confronting the fortress in my mind. Daydreaming to distract myself happens when I am bored in, say physics class, or when I am just trying to avoid all the problems in my life, say using watercolours or being in physics class. Maybe this is why I struggled in that class.

“So, even though you have broken my heart yet again, I wanted to say, in another life, I would have really liked just doing laundry and taxes with you.” 

A movie directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere, All at Once, follows Evelyn Wong as she struggles to balance managing her struggling laundromat, a declining marriage with her husband Waymond, on top of decaying relationships with both her father and daughter. While having a meeting with an IRS agent, Evelyn suddenly experiences an eye-opening delve into the multiverse and takes control of alternate realities of her own life. Through these different realities, Evelyn races to defeat a threat to the multiverse all while reconnecting with herself. The passage is used by Evelyn’s husband, Waymond, in response to Evelyn referring to their normal life as ‘unfulfilling’ and ‘sad’. Waymond helps open up his wife’s eyes to the joy that can be found in their everyday lives. 

The core message of the quote resonates with me; how the simple mundane tasks we do every day cumulates into something more meaningful. I feel like many of us can relate to this with our relationships with our parents, or at least I can. Despite all the challenges which appear in a relationship, the only reason the connection still exists is from some sort of affection hiding underneath all the conflict. The little moments of life you spend with those you love are what truly build one’s happiness. Though they may not have been seen as much in the moment, once these simple things are gone, you start to miss them. Friends who you took for granted as you saw them every day will one day disappear and you are only left to reminisce about the memories you had together.

Furthermore, many of the themes explored throughout the film connect me on a personal level; such as relationships with one’s family. As a teenager, I am sure all of us at some point have had difficulty connecting with our parents; meeting the expectations they have of us or simple disagreements which rapidly flow out of control as combatant colours. Our parents usually parent us in a similar manner to the way they were raised; they see that they turned out fine so why not do the exact same to raise their children? However, as a result, negative attributes are passed down and generational trauma is formed. This is seen in the movie through Evelyn’s relations with her father who raised her and then her daughter who she raised in a similar parenting style; both of which led to unhealthy, dysfunctional relationships. Furthermore, just as a person descended from an Asian immigrant family, numerous cultural elements within the movie connect with me on a personal level. This includes the usage of some Cantonese, my native language, being used in the movie in addition to the Lunar New Year celebration depicted.

The above quotations and countless others not listed here resonate with me more than the watercolour piece I did last month. These passages flow to illustrate a finer image of my life and the mush of emotions locked up in this bag of flesh. This blog may have unveiled more about myself or maybe it did not, but at the very least you know that watercolours are one of my least favourite mediums to use.

Citations:

  • https://stock.adobe.com/ca/search?k=watercolor%20painting
  • https://www.google.com/searchq=dreaming&rlz=1CAGZLV_enCA947CA947&sxsrf=AJOqlzXW2F5T7I7OgxMjXdxggHzZQVj2Qg:1678325147012&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj34dGx2M39AhXMFzQIHbJnAE0Q_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1536&bih=714&dpr=1.25#imgrc=8gSKoGYsmS-GpM 
  • https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6710474/ 
  • https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/intergenerational-trauma-representation-around-globe-effects-das 

Unity — The Missing Piece of Humanity

omar4282 20-1 B, Response to Literature, Writing , , , , , , , , , , 0 Comment
Unity — The Missing Piece of Humanity

What is unity? It is the act of togetherness. It is when people like me and you go and meet up at a café and watch the Final match of the world cup with people laughing and cheering with joy. Unity can never ever include discrimination, racism, humiliation, and poverty. All of these factors crush Unity and without it, the world may as well be lost and in disarray. On the other hand, if unity is achieved, a nation can be considered to be a paradise with no issues and problems that could lead to dire consequences such as violence and rebellions. Unity is what every nation should strive for. Unity binds the world in hope. Unity is happiness.

See the source image

We Shoot Children Too, Don’t We

By Dan Almagor

What is the significance of humiliation in the line, “That humiliation./ Of patients forced to wipe the writing on the walls”

Dan Almagor’s We Shoot Children Too, Don’t We is filled with criticism towards the nation of Israel against their treatment of the Palestinian nation. This quote from this amazing poem is nothing short of that criticism. Let us start off with the first two words of this quote, “that humiliation.” This quote is significant as it highlights the “humiliation” and torture of the Palestinian nation that was incited by the Israeli nation. The Israeli soldiers humiliated the citizens of Palestine by making fun of them and torturing them, breaking any hope of unity that could have been created between Israel and Palestine.

See the source image
In this image, humiliation is shown as the destruction of all peace and hope in the world 💔⚠️

This leads to the last section of the quote, “Of patients forced to wipe the writing on the walls” This is quite significant as Dan Almagor attempts to successfully show us using imagery of how the Palestinian people were tortured. This specific quote can be directly interpreted as people who have mental disabilities being humiliated and shamed by the Israeli people.

In the context of this quote, humiliation is also emphasized in the quote, ” Of the old water carrier/ whom soldiers ordered off his donkey/ and rode on his back, just for fun.” This quote means that the soldiers ordered a man off his only mode of transportation, and the soldiers rode on the man. This was very good example of humiliation and the torture that is seen throughout Israel/Palestine. This serves the same purpose as the quote that I am responding to, but it shows how much the Israeli nation really harmed the Palestinian people and broke the unity in the region.

 

For this question, I do not have a close connection, but I have seen humiliation in action, destroying unity and friendships with ease. When I visited Switzerland last year (which a beautiful country by the way), I saw humiliation before my eyes. As I was riding a Tram, (A train that goes on regular civilian roads) I saw two boys that looked like they were in high school visibly making fun of a girl when I was passing by a residential area to get to the countryside.

See the source image

 

Now, I do not really understand any German (with the exception of saying Hello and Thank you) to make out what the kids were saying but their expressions were more than enough. I think back to this incident and relate it to this question since humiliation prevented these three kids from ever befriending each other which is, in other words, no hope of unity.

 

Lady Liberty 

By Tato Laviera

What phrases, words, or segments of the poem stood out to you? What does it mean and how does it connect to the human experience?

This poem was very deep. As a result of the amount of depth and meaning in the poem about freedom, flaws, and improvements, there were numerous phrases, words, and segments that stood out to me. I can narrow this down though. I believe that the most significant phrase in Lady Liberty by Tato Laviera is, “Let us concentrate on our weaknesses,/ on our societal needs.” This quote means that the United States (America) as a nation, must focus on the weaknesses that falter their nation’s unity. These flaws can include racism, political instability, and many more consequences that are damaging to the United States.

See the source image
In this image, a person is handing over a heart which can be said to caring for the other individual as an act of kindness to achieve unity and happiness ☮️❤️

 

This ties to the human experience as people in the United States cannot be happy unless everyone around them is happy which achieves unity and kindness. For example, if the nation of the United States focuses on making the rich richer and the poor poorer, there will be a significant divide that will crack the unity in the United States in two, and bring the destruction of peace in this country.

Therefore it is essential to follow Tato Laviera’s advice on focusing on the flaws of a nation instead of boasting while people are unhappy and suffering.

 

See the source imageSee the source imageThis quote that really stood out to me showed unity. Since we all have to focus on our weaknesses that divide us apart. A personal experience I had about this was during my science fair in Grade 8. I have always been very interested in virology and microbiology, so I decided to research about Bacteriophage (A virus that does not attack human cells, only bacteria), I loved that topic!

I did have a partner though. He did not agree with my topic since it seemed quite boring to him. He wanted to choose if superluminal space travel (Faster than light [FTL]) was possible or if humans were confined to only subluminal space travel (slower than light [STL]).

See the source imageI disagreed with his topic as well, and this created a major dilemma. With only a week left until we had to submit our research, we decided to combine both our topics into fantastic topic, which was seeing the effects of space travel of the bacteriophage’s actions.

Even though we didn’t make it to the city wide competitions, this projected showed the unity that we achieved if we put our differences aside and how the amount of work we can get at any time!

Conclusion

As shown by the two responses to the poetry seminars and personal experiences, they both talk about one common and relevant theme, unity, happiness, and hope. Both poems and their questions, We Shoot Children Too, Don’t We and Lady Liberty emphasize the fact that without unity, dire consequences usually follow close by. While We Shoot Children Too, Don’t We talks about the consequences of the absence of unity and Lady Liberty talks about what we have to do in order to achieve unity. Both of them have one main message; unity is the key to peace. prosperity, and friendship.

See the source image

Sources

 

 

  •  Vodka, Prisitine. “Do You Always Take the Blame for Things You Didn’t Do? Today Is Your Payback Day! #BlameSomeoneElseDay #Pristinevodka: Disney Characters, Disney, Disney Princess.” Pinterest, May 13, 2017. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/357754764139315971/.

 

 

  • Information obtained from Poetry Seminar #3: Made By: Sanjay, Ammaar, Aayan, Ziyan. To present Lady Liberty By Tato Laviera || See one of the individuals listed above for Poetry Seminar link for more information

 

  • Information obtained from Poetry Seminar #5: Made By: Omar, Elmedin, Shiv. To present We Shoot Children Too, Don’t We By Dan Almagor || See one of the individuals listed above for Poetry Seminar link for more information

Lebanon

ayahh3827 20-1C, Free Choice, Writing , , 5 Comments
Lebanon

To many people they consider the place they live and grew up in to be home. For me my home isn’t where I live or where I grew up in, my home is in Lebanon. Miles and miles away is the place I call home. A small village in Lebanon that holds a very special place in my heart. I have not been to Lebanon in a very long time and it feels like I’ve lost a part of me. The memories and laughs that I always look back on makes it very hard not to feel hurt about not being there with the people I love.

My family and I would go to Lebanon every other summer and would have the best time of our lives. We were surrounded by family, friends and giggles coming from every corner you would turn. The  best part of where we live in Lebanon is the fact that all of my family lived within one minute walking distance from each other. And my grandparents’ house was right in the middle. Most of our time was spent at my grandparents house due to them obviously being older and due to respect for them. From the morning till late at night my brother and I would be running around with our cousins making the best memories and obviously getting into a little trouble here and there. Yet we always ended the day and started it in the same place which is what makes Lebanon so special to me because i can’t have that here. 

I have not been to Lebanon in almost five years. That’s the longest I have ever been away from my home. We haven’t been there in so long due to the economic state that Lebanon is in and has been in for so long now. Everything there is very expensive and it is hard to live there, let alone go there to visit for a few weeks.

Thinking about the next time I will be able to go to Lebanon makes me so happy. But I know that I won’t be going there anytime soon. I always remember to cherish the amazing memories I have there and to look back at pictures and just hope a little longer that I can be reunited with my home.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joub_Jannine

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Lebanon

https://thehagueacademy.com/project/inclusive-governance-and-leadership-lebanon-2018/

Conforming To Social Pressures

kulvansh167 20-1C, Response to Life , , 4 Comments

When one is around social pressures, it may cause a timid individual to have their beliefs changed, thereby, resulting in an individual’s life being changed for the worse.

Social pressures can cause a lot to a person, for many fitting in and doing what others want them to do is how they live their life. Especially those who are not confident in themselves and those who want to be accepted. Social media is a big part of what pressures people to do things differently, believe in different ideologies, or criticize others for their “wrongs.” These platforms are also very addictive as teens growing up look for these to waste time or have other social interactions. This as result can cause one to change for the worse, having their identity changed and no uniqueness to themselves. When growing many make their own identity through knowledge and experiences. However, when pressures were put onto beings many conform to them and change based upon set standards. This is where my thesis statement is made from, when one is around social pressures, it may cause a timid individual to have their beliefs changed, thereby, resulting in an individual’s life being changed for the worse. Due to pressures around us beings, it can cause an individual to reform the way they are or the way they think because of what they may have seen online or around themselves. This can further lead to a time where one could go through many different identities and their true identity is masked by the others. All this can result in one being very closed and not being able to break out of their shell as they forget who they truly are.

I can significantly relate to this thesis as in my life I have really changed who I am just to fit in. Social media has played a huge role in this as I got very addicted quickly, I would always wish to be like others, have what they had, or wished their life. This would then in turn push me to change the person I was since I had no strong belief in myself which would lead to a weak identity. A lot of who I was, was just not the real me, I lived a double life where at school I would pretend to act like I enjoyed things when I really did not. I would change up my whole personality and identity based off of one criticism. At one point I had realized I had lost all the uniqueness of myself, my family’s culture, the language I spoke, and my religion. To this day I have truly lost most of it, I don’t follow the rules of my religion, speak my family’s native tongue fluently, and don’t understand traditions in my culture. I really connect with this thesis statement because it is easy to fall into a trap of adhering to social norms and other beliefs instead of having one identity, the true identity. One must accept and acknowledge who they are; change is based on self-assessment and goals rather than outside pressures.

True Vision Blind Eyes

japraas752 20-1 A , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments
True Vision Blind Eyes

Through color can an individual experience life in its full form. True color shows a perspective of the world where everything they see has more meaning outside of the obvious. Through the significance of looking versus seeing, can people be filtered out from the monotone black and white, to the optimistic colorful mix. Human interaction being the making of a bond through methods of feeling and emotion is vital for individuals to live a happy and open life. Open being understanding, like the blind man in the short story, Cathedral, written by Raymond Carver. The act of seeing in Cathedral is linked to physical eyesight, yet seeing involves a higher level of engagement. The storyteller/narrator demonstrates that he has complete vision. When the narrator arrives, he looks at his house and wife, as well as at the blind man. Because the narrator has working eyesight, he assumes that he is higher and stronger wiser than the blind man, whose name is Robert. The narrator claims that Robert’s eyesight prevents him from being able to make a lady like his wife content, let alone live a regular life. The wife’s husband is convinced that vision is everything, and he makes no effort to perceive anything beyond the surface. This explains why he doesn’t really know his wife. Robert, in comparison, has a much deeper meaning to the use of seeing even with the conflict of not physically being able to. Robert better  understands the narrator’s wife despite the fact that he has never seen her. This is because he has a greater sense of value and understanding of life. The irony of the short story reflects on how even people with eye sight or understanding may not be able to get a full grasp of what’s going on whereas people who may not be as privileged will because they don’t assume like the ones before. The narrator reflects a man of monotony as the story reflects that he has no meaning in life and judges a person based on physical characteristics. Reflecting on more relatable examples, this individual is the one who goes about their day with no emotional status, leading them to become dull and bland. On the other hand an individual like Robert is one that senses emotion through personality traits and seeks to find a person’s true self through in depth relationship building and creating strong bonds. 

 

Reflecting on my personal history I feel that I have been on both sides of the story. There was a time where because of my constant low grades and inability to do work I dug myself a rabbit hole where I would not put in effort for human interaction or school work because I couldn’t see a reason to do so. At this time everyone around me felt like shadows moving around, going about their lives. I was like a stop sign where all my friends would go about passing me while checking in once or twice even if I wouldn’t reply. This posed a great conflict because at that stage I was not able to do anything with my life. My light through that dark tunnel were my close friends as they reminded me how life was once colorful. They were as significant as the blind man in the short story as they led to my awakening and getting my life back on track. Now I can successfully go about my business and keep a great circle while also doing good in school because I know that the impossible is only as impossible as I make it. This bump in my life taught me a great lesson that sometimes one must pretend to be blind to truly see what the full picture is. This short story reflects how the difference in looking and seeing can play the greatest factor in an individual’s personality and therefore life itself.