The experience of the unchangeable fate of misery is the most painful in the life of humans. When we have problems, we look for solutions, but when there are no solutions, we have only problems. A man named Richard Algear once said, "After every storm the sun will smile; for every problem there is a solution, and the soul's indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer". Which is true until the day we die. However, in Oedipus's condition, he is sentenced to live his life full of misery because of the things he did unknowingly, that caused the death of his parents, and the sickness in the air of Thebes. If Oedipus would have known who his true father was, he wouldn't have killed him, and likewise with his mother. It seems that whenever the truth isn't told, much more damage is done compared to the intended solutions behind which the truth was hidden in the first place. This idea can be visualized through the common problems we encounter everyday. Two months ago, the pipes under our sink in the kitchen were leaking, so we covered up the leaking points with duct tape, which worked well for a week, then it wore down and water leaked out even more. The holes where the water leaked got even bigger due to erosion. In the end, it got so bad that we had to buy a new pipes. We could have fixed the leaks initially by filling the holes with caulk or some other substance, but we were lazy and decided duct tape would be the easiest solution. We should have dealt with the situation with greater effort, and not relied on the easy solution of duct tape. We should have filled the holes and solved the situation completely. As we covered the holes with duct tape, they got bigger and more leakage came out. This same concept applies to lies. We use lies as an easy way to solve a situation, when really, the negative effects of the situation build up inside the lies until one day, everything comes out in mass quantities. This applies to Oedipus in that if he had been informed of the identities of his true parents, and his parents knew he was still alive, it is theorized that his life would have gone better. Oedipus was ordered to be killed when he was young due to his prophecy that stated he was going to kill his father and sleep with his mother. Oedipus was given false identities of his parents, which built up conflict and ended horribly. The truth of Oedipus's life was belied with "duct tape" which covered the truth, but at the same time built up the negative truth, until one day it all hit hit him, and he blinded himself. In society one can hear a lot about people covering up their problems with "duct tape", such as people who drink alcohol to relieve their troubles, or people who pig out on pie and whipped cream after they are dumped. They are just using temporary solutions to solve problems that need to be tackled at the source, not the surface.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi was a world class tennis player during the 90's and the early 00's. He admitted in his book Open that he used crystal meth during the 1997 season. This was obviously a poor decision and one that led him to wasting the 1997 tennis season. He says in the book that he "tanked" the semi-final match of the Australian Open in January of 1997 against Michael Chang just because he didn't want to play Boris Becker in the final. Andre made a very poor decision by using meth and this decision could have cost him his career. His decisions in 1997 led to his downfall in the rankings and his loss of integrity amongst the fellow competitors and friends in the locker room. The story of Oedipus is also like this. Oedipus murders the former king of Thebes and he in the process becomes the king Thebes. He also sleeps with his mother and fulfills the tragic prophecy laid out for him by one of the Greek gods. Oedipus's decisions cost him is crown as king and Andre's decision cost him an entire tennis season. These two men are great examples of how the choices we make in life can either lead to great success or terrible misery like the misery experienced by these two men. Both men made terrible choices in life and choices that shaped their future.
Humans Want to Know Everything
Three people told Oedipus that he really wouldn't want to know the truth,even his wife, and that it was horrible. But of course he got the old man to tell him the truth. This led to disaster. Oedipus made the poor choice of gouging his eyes out which was a decision where "two days later he would regret it"(Willy). He had the right to be insanely mad, most people probably would if they found out they were sleeping with their own mother. I am guessing that most people would want to know who their parents where. Especially if they knew a certain person knew. If you knew someone knew a secret about you, and when you confronted them they told you that it was a secret that was so bad that you wouldn't want to know. You would probably want to know what it was more than before.
Humans always want to know everything, and some things are better left unknown. I think that it is human nature to be curious, and that it is a characteristics about humans that leads to trouble, or great discovery. For example, I heard a story on the Jay Leno show about some guy who had been doing an online dating website, and he had been chatting/dating with a girl for a while and he really wanted to meet her in person. But the girl resisted because she didn't want to date in public and she thought she was unattractive. So the guy kept insisting that it didn't matter what she looked like because he liked her personality and he thought that she was a girl that he could really connect to, and wanted to start dating her in real life. So when they met it turned out that it was really his mom(she was divorced). Which was of course the most awkward thing in the world and they probably will never look at each other the same way again.
This guy was curious about who she really was and wanted to see her. But that led to disaster. Just like Oedipus wanted to know who his parents were, and that lead to disaster. These stories are on a completely different scale, but it shows the point that being curious can be disastrous, or great(if he fell in love with her if it wasn't his mom).
Humans always want to know everything, and some things are better left unknown. I think that it is human nature to be curious, and that it is a characteristics about humans that leads to trouble, or great discovery. For example, I heard a story on the Jay Leno show about some guy who had been doing an online dating website, and he had been chatting/dating with a girl for a while and he really wanted to meet her in person. But the girl resisted because she didn't want to date in public and she thought she was unattractive. So the guy kept insisting that it didn't matter what she looked like because he liked her personality and he thought that she was a girl that he could really connect to, and wanted to start dating her in real life. So when they met it turned out that it was really his mom(she was divorced). Which was of course the most awkward thing in the world and they probably will never look at each other the same way again.
This guy was curious about who she really was and wanted to see her. But that led to disaster. Just like Oedipus wanted to know who his parents were, and that lead to disaster. These stories are on a completely different scale, but it shows the point that being curious can be disastrous, or great(if he fell in love with her if it wasn't his mom).
Oedipus' Morality
Would you die in order to save thousands of people? Would you go under a curse that is far from unbearable instead of taking your life? These are questions that Oedipus had to face.
About a month and two weeks ago, we talked about morality. "Moral judgment is pretty consistent from person to person... [but] moral behavior, however, is scattered all over the chart," says Marc Hauser, a professor of psychology at Harvard University. All humans have different opinions and views, which creates different decisions of any question. Oedipus was an extraordinary person who wanted to do whatever he can in order for his kingdom to become better, but still had some bad moral behavior. As he said, he would even die in order for his kingdom to get out of the plague. Of course, most people would say that they would do die for others, but it is harder when it actually occurs to you and you have to make the decision. Even though Oedipus just said it, he goes under even a greater pain than that. Like the chorus said, "Better to die than be alive and blind (242)." Oedipus did not die, but was alive and blind, causing him to be worse of than dead, and Oedipus knows this. Even though all his pain would go away, is moral judgment of death is different than the common person. He is strong enough to go through the pain for he strongly believes in death over dishonor, even with the little honor he has. Although he had good moral for his kingdom, he was did not have good moral behavior when he killed Laius. I believe that he went too far to kill Laius and did not have a sensible reason in order to do so.
So I have a question to you, do you think that Oedipus is morally strong or weak, or even both?
About a month and two weeks ago, we talked about morality. "Moral judgment is pretty consistent from person to person... [but] moral behavior, however, is scattered all over the chart," says Marc Hauser, a professor of psychology at Harvard University. All humans have different opinions and views, which creates different decisions of any question. Oedipus was an extraordinary person who wanted to do whatever he can in order for his kingdom to become better, but still had some bad moral behavior. As he said, he would even die in order for his kingdom to get out of the plague. Of course, most people would say that they would do die for others, but it is harder when it actually occurs to you and you have to make the decision. Even though Oedipus just said it, he goes under even a greater pain than that. Like the chorus said, "Better to die than be alive and blind (242)." Oedipus did not die, but was alive and blind, causing him to be worse of than dead, and Oedipus knows this. Even though all his pain would go away, is moral judgment of death is different than the common person. He is strong enough to go through the pain for he strongly believes in death over dishonor, even with the little honor he has. Although he had good moral for his kingdom, he was did not have good moral behavior when he killed Laius. I believe that he went too far to kill Laius and did not have a sensible reason in order to do so.
So I have a question to you, do you think that Oedipus is morally strong or weak, or even both?
Tragedy
Life often hands you unexpected situations that leave you in shock. Sometime the situation is a surprise and it is good but other times it is a tragedy. A couple weekends ago a friend's mom died by falling down the stairs. She was fine till she went to the hospital the next morning and died. Tragedy had struck. Their whole lives and family dynamic would change in a flash. They have to come to a realization that things have just changed drastically and they have to figure out a plan to carry on. It helps to stick together and everyone has to do there part to stay strong. It is a very hard situation to handle but life shocks you in what it throws at you. Oedipus's life turns when he realizes he has killed his father and slept with his mother. He has committed murder and incest. He has had children with his mother. His city is dying of the plague he has caused and his mother has killed herself because of all these occurrences. Oedipus is dealing with it in a harsh manner by gouging his eyes out with a pin, therefore becoming blind. He has support from Creon but does what is best for his city by exiling himself in Thebes. Tough times call for people to come together and try their hardest to comfort all who is hurt. Tragedies bring horrible times but they also lead to strength. After you get a grip on the tragedy, become strong and carry on. Oedipus and all others experiencing tragedy do their best to stay strong and do what is right in their situation. Tragedy is a horrible downfall in someones life but they have to carry on.
Selfishness
In sports you are always told to be unselfish always trying to make get a better shot at the hoop by making that extra pass, or diving for ball even though it hurts. When i got to thinking most sports players reach their downfalls because they are too selfish and can only think of themselves. For example, the much hated former Cowboy, Terell Owens, is said to have ruined the Cowboys locker room turning players against players, and ruining the chemistry. This got me thinking of Oedipus because even though Oedipus is probably the least selfish person both Oedipus and Terell have tragic falls that lead to their downfalls. For Oedipus' tragic flaw is impatience for Terell, well Terell has a few you could start out with selfishness which in turn could lead to impatience, and worst of all he is very cocky. Like we have been discussing in class poetic tragedies lead to the downfalls of the characters and for Terell he was cut from the three previous teams for pouting, and blaming his poor performances on other teamates. In San Fransico Terell called Jeff Garcia, Jeff Garthia making an inuendo that Garcia was a homosexual. Personally i think this is ridiculous why even bother saying something like that because first of all Jeff Garcia is married to a model and it just ruins the team, like in Dallas when he turned players against players. It is very interesting how Terell can never be at fault it was always the quarterbacks faults Garcia, McNabb, Romo, and who knows maybe his new quarterback Trent Edwards. As it has played out in previous situations for Terell he has been eventually cut he becomes the enemy of his teamates. It is only a matter of time before he starts up his shanigans because his performances over the current season would are very horrible for as much money as he is getting paid. The downfalls of men can be prevented, but like in Oedipus the tragic flaw the character contains is inevitable leading to their downfall.
Jumping to conclusions
When Oedipus first found out that someone in the town had murdered the king before him, he started to find anyone to blame. H first started to blame the old man. oedipus had no right to blame this man, especially because he was blind. There would physically be no way for the old man to do it. Then he jumps to conclusions that Creon, his brother in law, did it. From what we know about Creon, he had much of the same amount of power as Oedipus did, except he didn't make the calls, Oedipus did. Oedipus had no idea who killed Laius, he just wanted to blame whoever he could, so that the burden wasn't on him. My sister and I, get in little arguments frequently. Most of these fights have to do with stupid things and they never make sense. One day, my sister lost her phone somewhere in the house. Without even looking for her phone, she blames me. She asks me what i did with her phone and where it is. She had no right to blame anything on me. The least thing she could have done was to ask me for help to look for it. Before we start jumping to conclusions, we need to figure out what is really going on, and take time to think, before judging people.
Michael Vick
This weekend I was watching some old footage of Michael Vick. These videos were of him back when he was with the Atlanta Falcons. As I was watching, I realized how good of a player he realy was. I also realized that he, just like Oedipus, cause his own down fall. In Oedipus' case, he was on his way to Thebes and along the way he ran into the king of Thebes and his caravan. The leaders of the caravan pushed Oedipus off of the road. This made Oedipus very angry revealing his tragic flaw. He proceded to kill all but one in the party in cluding the king. Although Vick did not kill anyone, he did support a dog fighting business that was housed in a house that he paid for. He was sent to about two years in prison and was not allowed to play in the NFL until this year. While in prison, Vick lost just about all of the speed and agility that he sepnjt so much time working on to be one of the most dominant players in the NFL. He now is a backup quarterback and does not pose the same threat that he once did.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
"The one with all the Rugby"
Over the last couple of weeks in class we have been discussing the elements of a tragedy, its origin, and what makes a tragedy more effective. We also discussed about Tragic Flaws.
We have discussed that Tragedy has its roots in religious rituals and comes from Tragoidia which is greek for "Goat Song." Tragedy began as a form of religious poetry that was spoken or sung by verse by a chorus. We also discussed poetic terms and how they relate to a tragedy. I think one term in particular relates to the main focus of Oedipus and life in general. Anagnorisis means recognition or identification. This is the point in a play when the protagonist understands the real situation and the circumstances of his life and is no longer ignorant. Unfortunately Oedipus the stubborn king of Thebes fights for the truth even though the people who know it are fully aware what the consequences are if they say it. When Oedipus finally hears the horrific truth that he has killed Lauis his father and the ex-king of thebes, a messenger gives Oedipus the worst possible news of all. His mother had killed herself because she knew the truth that the prophecies that were told long ago were real and that she had been sleeping with her own son for years. They also had two children together. When Oedipus saw his mother hanging in his private quarters he lost his mind. He takes two pins and blinds himself permanently. Then he calls for help to guide him outside so that his people who have stuck by his side even when the evidence was against him, the people who were stricken with a deadly plague that swept throughout the city of Thebes, these people, the only ones that still felt sorry for Oedipus and still respected him. Now they gazed upon their king the murderer that caused them so much pain. The Anagnorisis occurs when Oedipus relizes the horrifying truth that he is the king killer.
What would you do if you realized you had been sleeping with your own mother, and conceived two children? How would you react?
In my opinion I think Oedipus had every right to over react the way he did. I disagree with his pin blinding method, that was a little over the top, but he had just found out that he was the killer of his own father and the father to his mother's sons. The Peripeteia (a reversal of circumstances, a turning point, things turn from good to bad) of Oedipus's character was tragic and saddening.
Examples of tragic flaws can be seen in other ways such as on TV, in Movies, Books, Newspapers, and plays etc... In an episode of FRIENDS, (the one with all the rugby) Ross, Phoebe, and Joey are at the park awaiting Ross's decision to play a pick up game of rugby. Before going to the park they all watched some rugby games on ESPN. Although the footage of the games was quite frightening, Ross decided to go in and play. Right before he went in he told both of them that he needed to be "red Ross." Confused, Joey and Phoebe tell him they have no idea what "red ross" meant. After a few minutes of playing Ross came off the field in pain. He told the group, "I'm Red Ross!" Joey quickly responds, "dude if you back out there you are going to be dead Ross!"
Joey's comment foreshadowed Ross's downfall. At the end of the match Ross was in a lot of pain
and could barely move. Ross played to impress his british girlfriend. It was his own quick judgment
that led to his downfall. Oedipus to has this tragic flaw.
This is a Tragic play because our protagonist, Oedipus, goes from being a great king who saved his people from the riddler sphinx, to an exiled king killer.
Was banishing the ex-King of Thebes necessary? Would you have made the same decision?
Have you ever learned the truth about something that caused you to overreact and go nuts? Does this play relate to your own life? How?
Our Destiny
Oedipus' destiny is discussed many times in the play Oedipus by Sophocles. This destiny is to kill his own father and sleep with his mother. Oedipus does all he can to try and avoid fulfilling this destiny but the fact is that the gods already have his life planned out and there is nothing he can do to prevent this from happening. When reading Oedipus I realized that this idea of destiny is a lot like what I believe as a Christian. I believe that God has a plan for me and already has my life planned out. When I feel scared or like my life is going no where its nice to know that God already planned out how my life will be and it is something good. At times I try to change things that are not going my way, just like Oedipus' does, but there is nothing I can do about it and I just have to remember that. I know that Oedipus' destiny was harsh and unfair, I also know that maybe Oedipus' gods would do that, but i know my God would never give that destiny to anyone even if he felt they deserved it. Recently i have been hearing a lot about how the world is supposed to end in 2012 and although this scares me a lot, my mom is always there to remind me that God has a plan for me. The government may try to change the fact of the world ending, but the fact is if its in God's plan I believe it is going to happen, even if that means I only get to live until i'm 18. For Oedipus' the gods have a plan just like for me God has a plan.
Blind Madness
Our surroundings, feelings, emotions and people affect our everyday life. We all have our good days and our bad days. When things do not go our way or according to plan, it sets off the balance of our normal sentiments. Jose, my older cousin, is fun to be with. He is usually in a good mood and has an awesome humor! Nothing really irritates or bothers Jose. If so, he usually shakes it off and goes back to being his crazy self. But one time Jose lost it! Jose had a bad day at school and at home. His partner in a project was a slacker and Jose had to do all the work. He left his term paper on top of his bed and it was due that day. He stayed up late the night before to write an essay he forgot to do. He was late for school and he forgot his gym clothes. Jose was just having a bad day. When I went to visit later in the afternoon, he was quiet and grumpy. I tried to talk to him, but he would only ignore me or answer rudely. I did not know what was going on but I knew something was up. I tried to joke around with him and messed with just we always do, but this time I hit a nerve and he exploded!!! Jose began to shout and turned red. Boy, was I suprised and even a bit shaken. He started telling me why the heck did I want and why was I there. His response stung me a bit. I told him I wanted to visit him and just hang out. He told me to leave that he had alot of work to do and that I was bothering him. I retorted telling him that he didn't have to be a jerk about it. We got in an arguement, we were going back and forth, and some mean things were said. I said goodbye to my aunt and stormed off. The next two days, Jose came to my house. He apologized for his attitude and the things he said, which he did not meant. I apologized too and then I asked him what was going on. He finally told me of the bad luck he was having that day and that he just cracked under stress. Jose said he was sorry and he did not mean to take it out on me. We forgave eachother and then we went with my other cousins and all of us went to the movies to go watch Paranormal Activity. After his release of stress, frustration and anger, Jose returned to his fun loving self. It seemed like frustation and desperation transformed Jose into a different person. I am glad that the old Jose is back, and I hope to never see the frustrated person take over Jose ever again!
Jose's outburst reminded me of Oedipus' loss of control when he is under pressure and desperation too. Like Oedipus, Jose said pretty mean things and lost his rational thinking. In his moment of anger and desperation for an answer, Oedipus takes out his desperation on Tiresisa and begins to insult him. Oedipus also falsely accuses Creon of conspiracy without any definite evidence to support his accusations. Oedipus loses himself in the confusion of rage and desperation and becomes into a whole different person. Our emotions tend to change our response to things or how we deal with dilemmas. When we are angry or lose focus of our rational thinking, we lose ourselves into the blindness of madness.
Jose's outburst reminded me of Oedipus' loss of control when he is under pressure and desperation too. Like Oedipus, Jose said pretty mean things and lost his rational thinking. In his moment of anger and desperation for an answer, Oedipus takes out his desperation on Tiresisa and begins to insult him. Oedipus also falsely accuses Creon of conspiracy without any definite evidence to support his accusations. Oedipus loses himself in the confusion of rage and desperation and becomes into a whole different person. Our emotions tend to change our response to things or how we deal with dilemmas. When we are angry or lose focus of our rational thinking, we lose ourselves into the blindness of madness.
They Aren't All Bad
About two weeks ago, a terrible tragedy occurred. Malik Nadal Hasan, a military doctor at Fort Hood, went into a shooting rampage, shooting anyone or anything that stood in his way. Just recently, on November 15, 2009. A military doctor from Phoenix, named Dr. Zuhdi Jasser was interviewed by the "Dallas Morning News," about his views and opinions on the Fort Hood massacre.
Dr. Jasser told "Dallas Morning News," that he was stunned when he heard about the tragedy. He explained how him and Hasan were basically in the same situation. Both military doctors, but Hasan explained further why he did not end up like Hasan and experience the same downfall Hasan went through. Jasser says, that the difference between him and Hasan, was that Jasser was blessed with parents who taught him that he was an American who happened to be Muslim. Jasser's family came from Syria, and Jasser explains how never in his home, did he or his family refer to Syria as home, or say that their government was inferior to Sharia law or the Islamic State. Jasser later explains that the reason he joined the army, was because he felt a "deep-seated" obligation to give back to the country that gave him freedom, that no other country could give. Jasser was taught to value and love liberty.
Jasser believes that Dr. Hasan was brainwashed by a local Mosque he attended. Interestingly, over the years politics has been blended into Islam. Jasser explained that back in the Middle East, the safest place to discuss politics was in the Mosque. This is because in the Mosque, the government could not get a hold of anyone; and because of this, politics became a part of Islam. For example, Jasser remembered when he was at the University in Phoenix. He was at the Mosque he usually attended regularly. The Imam had a picture of an Iraqi lade holding a sign next to an American soldier saying, "I was knocked up by this soldier." Jasser was very offended by this and told the Imam if he had any idea what he had done. He brainwashed these college students to thinking that the U.S. Army was harassing innocent civilians in Iraq. This is what Jasser thinks happened to Hasan.
Jasser is worried that Hasan is not the only American-Muslim who was brainwashed. He feels that many young Muslims are being brainwashed into thinking that America is the enemy and they must attack the one country that gave them shelter from their oppressive dictatorship "homelands." Like Oedipus, Hasan had his own tragic flaw, although Hasan's was much worse than Oedipus'. Interestingly, Jasser compared Hasan to Lee Harvey Oswald. Like Hasan, Oswald was also in the military (Marines) who was becoming a Marxist. Jasser says that no one can deny that it was Oswald's Marxism that played a role in his hatred for America.
I believe that Jasser's points were very true, and I am happy that he thinks that this brainwashing must end. He is proud to be an American, and has risked his life in order to protect it. It is true though that Hasan could have taken a different path. The path that Jasser took, but sadly the anger and violence overpowered his heart and left him mad. "
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Truly an Idiot
In 2004 there was a presidential candidate named Howard Dean who possibly brought his downfall upon himself. During an important speech in Iowa he got carried away with his campaign and began to scream and make weird noises. He clearly didn’t realize what was going on because he kept doing it. The people listening and watching on TV were left in awe immediately when they heard it and lost respect for Howard. Several days later, it was reported that he was sorry and embarrassed about this whole situation and apologize. Clearly he didn’t win the presidency or make it very far in the elections, so in other terms he had a downfall that could have been from his speech in Iowa. Howard is exactly like Oedipus in the aspect that he did some that in the end would lead to his downfall, but didn’t realize it when everyone else around him did. When Tiresias was telling Oedipus and Jocasta about the news, Jocasta immediately realizes that she has been making love to her son and freaks out and ends up killing herself. Oedipus on the other hand looks like an idiot when he can’t figure it out. He soon realizes it right before he learns that his mom has killed herself. He is left looking like an idiot and is banned from the city. In conclusion, Howard and Oedipus could have this attitude and ignorance due to ego and their overwhelming arrogance.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
The Good Behind the Clouds of Sin
While thinking about Gilamesh and the interesting hero he is, I stumbled on a thought of a similar character from a category of story-telling I normally wouldn't reference: A video game. In Prototype, a game released on the Play Station 3 and X-Box 360 earlier this year, a man named Alex Mercer helps create a human-enhancing virus that goes wrong. After news of the virus is spread to the public, the scientist responcible for the public outburst, Mercer, is ordered to be executed. In his defense, Mercer steals a vial of the virus and threatens to unleash it upon the city if anyone attepts to subdue him. His pursuers do not restrain and Mercer drops the vial as he is shot to death. However the virus flows into his bloodstream, and essentially heals him. However, when he wakes up he notices he has super strength and has the ability to shift his body into many different shapes. In retrospect, the game is about Mercer fending off all the infected people the virus gets to in the city and seeing himslef turn into a true hero. Now Gilgamesh didn't unleash a virus on his people of Uruk, but he did treat them arbitrarily and have unconsensual sex with mass amounts of women. Gilgamesh and Alex Mercer are both heroes, and although they both did bad things of different magnitudes, they both appear to me as flawed heroes, and in the end, they both come to find peace and improve their qualities as people. Gilgamesh went on a long journey that involved fighting a demon and overcoming the loss of a true friend. Through that journey he came to find himself. Alex Mercer came to find himself through fighting off the havoc he caused in the city, and becoming a protector rather than destroyer. I believe the flawed hero is always the most interesting because one can relate to him or her. It seems to me that we all have a hero inside of us waiting to get out and do some good, but many times the good is outmatched by the clouds of sin we are born with.
Is Gilgamesh a Hero?
In my opinion Gilgamesh is not a hero for many reasons. First off, a hero should not cower in fear from demons like Huwawa, and fail to fight the Bull of Heaven until Enkidu had taken control of the fight. A hero should not take all of the credit for something that he really didn't do. Gilgamesh did just that, he took all of the credit for killing Huwawa and for killing the Bull of Heaven even though he couldn't have killed either of them without the help of Enkidu.
Last week I was watching the movie Beowulf and realized how Gilgamesh and Beowulf are polar opposites. Beowulf didn't take credit for actions that he didn't do and he didn't gloat about victories that he had mad. He also wouldn't say that he was "the perfect, or the terror" like Gilgamesh would. Beowulf was modest, and that is what a hero should be. Beowulf also didn't cry all of the time like Gilgamesh did. Beowulf fought without fear of anything, he would go into battle without worry about the result. He also didn't have a companion who was equally as powerful as he is like Gilgamesh had Enkidu.
So, Beowulf is an example of an epic hero with all of the attributes a hero should have, while Gilgamesh is lacking in those attributes.
Friday, October 23, 2009
why we still need religion
In class this week someone brought up the point that many religion is slowly loosing its place in society because of scientific advancements. Now that people are provided an explanation for earthquakes, hurricanes, and other previously mysterious occurrences, there is less need for a belief in God, gods and goddesses, and other higher powers. In my opinion however, there will always be a need for these beliefs. Although we may know how an earthquake happens and how a tornado forms, we will never know what caused those plates to move or why a it the wind blew it to that town. In the modern world we may have a scientific diagnosis for dying but that does not bring the peace of mind that religion does. Two weeks ago on my sixteenth birthday, I received a text from my dad telling me my grandfather had stage four pancreatic cancer and probably only had a few weeks to live. My grandparents are Episcopalians and therefore belief in heaven and hell so my grandfather is comforted by the though of spending eternal life in the heavenly kingdom. To be able to believe that you are going to heaven or whatever, regardless if it is true or not, is comforting and allows us to be able to accept the thought of mortality.
What makes a Hero? Gilgamesh vs. Enkidu
If you were to look up the word Hero in the dictionary it would read: a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Some might argue that Gilgamesh has the characteristics of a hero, but I would disagree. As the definition states a hero is one "who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities." The people abhorred the great King Gilgamesh, distrusting him and are just completely disgusted by him. Now Enkidu has the characteristics of a hero. He destroys the demon Huwawa, stands up to Istar, and dies for his noble actions. Gilgamesh cowards in fear in the face of danger and seeks immortality for himself.
I think this epic tale can be related to the movie Spider Man 3. The Hero Peter Parker as Spider Man and his arch nemesis Green Goblin Jr. have to put their differences aside and team up to kill Venom. Just as Gilgamesh had to cope with the idea that their is someone as equally strong as he is. They team up and destroy the evil demon Huwawa. Each one completes the other; Enkidu and Gilgamesh equals one super hero and if one falls the hero is broken.
Written by Bryan Tonti right at the deadline!
Journey
This year i recently joined crew. It seemed like a lot of fun at the time I was asked to join by a junior. They said that they needed 1 more girl to make a quad, so I was like why not! As the first practice came around I was nervous, but I gave it a shot. I did not realize that it would be such a difficult sport. It was going to be a very long journey, just to get in good enough shape for our first regatta. Gilgamesh never gave up when he was on his way to find the flower of immortality. We have practices 6 days a week from 4 to 6, but in the end it all works out. We work hard for a reward that is worth it all. It also relates to Gilgamesh because Gilgamesh and Enkidu, were better together, than they were apart. They were able to defeat the monsters when the worked together. In crew you are in a boat with 3 other people. If someone is lazy and does not want to work, then your whole boat goes slower, and you get nothing accomplished. You all have to work as a team and then everything will be okay. Today when i was rowing, i got sick on the water so i had to go in. I left my team behind, but they still finished their piece. Like Gilgamesh, when Enkidu dies wants to finish to find the flower of immortality. He succeeds, but in the end it is stolen from him. This makes him such a better person, he has learned so much from Enkidu, and through his journeys. He is a hero.
In the 2008 movie, Hancock, Will Smith portrays a superhero that is not always on some people's good side. At the beginning of the move he stops the bad guy's car but then takes it too far and flies to the top of a building and drops the car on a spike at the top of the building. We can pull from the movie that he has done something like this many times before. Gilgamesh is like Hancock because he is a guy that does not always appeal to the people. He, also like Hancock, is a questionable hero. In the beginning we know that he was sleeping with the most of the women in Uruk and no one could stop him just as Hancock was alone and everyone thought that he was the only one of his kind. One other similarity is the companion that each of the characters has but they have an opposite reaction. In Gilgamesh, Enkidu was Gilgamesh's counterpart and his only match. He and Gilgamesh were apparent best friends after their fight and were by each other until Enkidu's death. In the movie, Hancock's opposite was his only weakness. The longer they stayed together, the weaker he got. They are the only two of their kind on the planet and somehow always seem to find each other. Both of these stories have a questionable main character that ends up being the good hero.
The Long Journey
Throughout the cross country season, I have 2 friends that I can always count on to never let me fall behind and push me to be stronger. Last weekend was my first race with out them. I found myself, without even thinking about it, going slower than usual. They give me my mental strength to get through the pain after a mile and a half. This was different, I didn't have anyone beside me telling me to keep going. This reminded me of how Gilgamesh had Enkidu to help him carry on in his journey and when he got tired Enkidu would help him win his battle. I know have a small idea of the lonely journey Gilgamesh had to take without Enkidu. Gilgamesh made it through the journey and I finished strong in my race but it still didn't compare to the journeys with friends at our side. Friends are there to help and make you stronger when you feel weak.
Who Is the True Hero?
Yesterday in class Hunter Crow brought up the point that Gilgamesh wasn't a hero because he took credit for most of Enkidu's actions, and he compared it to Barry Switzer winning the super bowl with Jimmy Johnson's team. This got me thinking about whether Gilgamesh really is the hero or if Enkidu was the true hero in the story. In addition, i got to thinking about how people take credit for other peoples work all the time. It could be as simple as stealing a joke from a friend or as big as taking credit for a project that your friend did all the work but you were partners with him so you take credit. Just like how Gilgamesh says he killed the bull then mention that Enkidu helped him kill the bull, but in reality Enkidu started fighting the bull then Gilgamesh joined in. In a way i saw this as a low thing to do because hero's in my opinnion are better people for being humble instead of being all out their like i did this i'm the greatest. Gilgamesh likes to boast about how he was able to kill Huwawa or how he killed the bull. To the contrary Enkidu is kind of the quiet one who sits back and lets Gilgamesh take the credit when in reality he should be the one to take the credit. Although Gilgamesh does this in my opinion he is still a hero because even though he is cowardly at some points he still gets the job done with his companion Enkidu. Furthermore, i do still think Enkidu is a hero who displays more characteristics of a hero but i don't it he or Gilgamesh would have been able to become heroes without each other. I say this because when they are in the forest going to kill Huwawa both Gilgamesh and Enkidu run and hide from the face of the demon because they are afraid, but their companion comes to save them and together they accomplish great deeds no by themselves. Finally i think that the story of Gilgamesh is the transformation of a normal person to a hero. I say this because in the beginning Gilgamesh was always making the people of Uruk mad doing whatever he wanted, but by the end of the story he tried to take the plant of eternal life back to uruk to share with his people. I bring up this example because i am definately positive that in the beginning i think Gilgamesh would have eaten the plant the first chance he had and not have even considered sharing the plant. So what i am trying to say that no matter how one hates a person because of their past boast a heroic deed is a heroic deed making both Gilgamesh and Enkidu heroes.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Is Ignorance Really Bliss??
The world we live in overwhelms us instance gratification and immediate facts. We get instant texts, email, sports scores right in the palm of our hand. People today have very little time to think about what there future may hold because our future is now. Our lives are constantly bombarded by information and other people. I like having instant information because I have grown up with it. My mom didn't grow up with this kind of fast pace life so she doesn't like to constantly know what is going on around the world or what someone's facebook status is. This begs the question: Is ignorance really bliss? My mom thinks ignorance is bliss when the ignorance is from the daily information and instant gratification. She always says to me, "the best things you get are the ones you wait on most." I think this is very wise and something we often overlook. The story of Gilgamesh bring the question of "Is ignorance really bliss?" into focus. Gilgamesh is so fearful of dying, he seeks immortality. We, like Gilgamesh don't know when we are going to die and I think this is good. I don't want to know when I am going to die. I try to live everyday to the fullest and I am ignorant and not fearful about when I am going to die. My personal opinion is that ignorance is truly bliss but others may not agree. We live in a world where we don't have time to be fearful about what the next moment or day may bring; we have to react with whatever is thrown our way and respond accordingly.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Heros Get Remembered, but Legends Never Die
When one thinks of a hero, they think of an individual he distinguishes himself above all others, and saves everyone from danger. Another great aspect, when people think of heros, is that they have super powers.
In the story of Gilgamesh (2700 BCE), many wonder if Gilgamesh is really even a hero. Although he is three fourths god, he does not show the aspects of a hero. Unlike Enkidu, who is Gilgamesh's equal, shows many examples of heroism, but to me I believe he is above a hero; a legend. The reason why I believe Enkidu is above Gilgamesh, is because I think that Enkidu really knows better the difference between right and wrong, and he has self control. Unlike Gilgamesh who take any woman he wants and does whatever he wants because he knows he is above everyone else, Enkidu does none of that because he knows what is right and what is wrong.
I am convinced that if Gilgamesh is in fact a hero, then Enkidu is the legend. I believe this because, during the story of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh knows that he will die, and he wants to be remebered. It does not matter if he is remembered in a good way or bad way, he just wants to be remembered. However, with Enkidu although he dies, it is as if he never truly died because once he is gone, it is like his spirit still lives within Gilgamesh. Interestingly, once Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh seems to go through a metamorphosis and completely change into a different person; a better and more compassionate person.
It is like Enkidu lives throughout the story, and continues to live on after the story ends. Although Gilgamesh may be remebered, it is Enkidu who will never die.
by Andrew Leffer
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Gilgamesh-Hero or Not
Many people in class earlier today stated that Gilgamesh was not a true hero, but I believe that Gilgamesh is.
What makes a hero?
1. A hero is someone of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities
Gilgamesh shows courage by fighting the terrifying Huwawa and the Bull of Heaven. Although he did need Enkidu to help him with his courage, he did fight the pain of the death of Enkidu and went through the twelve passes by himself. No mortal has ever gone through the twelve passes, showing how he was strong mentally and physically. Every pass would make it harder to breath and he had to walk all night, showing his physical strength. Although walking for a night would not be that difficult, Gilgamesh walks at great distances, which is shown in tablet IV where he walks one hundred fifty leagues in three days where a normal man would in three weeks. Not only is Gilgamesh physically strong, but he is mentally strong. Walking in the complete darkness ALONE is scary, and many people go crazy because of it. Gilgamesh was frightened and even weeped, but he is mentally stronger than any other mortal.
2. A person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or idea.
Although Gilgamesh is not a good role model at the beginning, he changes into a good one. Gilgamesh used to do whatever he wanted, but after the death of Enkidu, he changes. I would say that Gilgamesh would be my role model after tablet 8. Gilgamesh truly shows that he loves his dearest friend, Enkidu, that he is strong both mentally and physically, and he can fight many obstacles, even by himself. Gilgamesh shows heroism through his killing of Huwawa and defeating the Bull of Heaven. People would say that a hero is not selfish though, or at least does good for the good of others. Gilgamesh was selfish, but he changes. In tablet 11, Gilgamesh shows that he is not selfish by saying "I will give some of the plant to the elders there, to share among them"(80).
3. Classical Mythology.
Many times in the reading, it will say that Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk and two-thirds god but one-third mortal. Since Gilgamesh is part god, part human, he is a demigod. Not only is Gilgamesh high is status, but he is incredibly strong and powerful. Gilgamesh shows courage, his ability to fight, and strength (as told before).
What makes a hero?
1. A hero is someone of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities
Gilgamesh shows courage by fighting the terrifying Huwawa and the Bull of Heaven. Although he did need Enkidu to help him with his courage, he did fight the pain of the death of Enkidu and went through the twelve passes by himself. No mortal has ever gone through the twelve passes, showing how he was strong mentally and physically. Every pass would make it harder to breath and he had to walk all night, showing his physical strength. Although walking for a night would not be that difficult, Gilgamesh walks at great distances, which is shown in tablet IV where he walks one hundred fifty leagues in three days where a normal man would in three weeks. Not only is Gilgamesh physically strong, but he is mentally strong. Walking in the complete darkness ALONE is scary, and many people go crazy because of it. Gilgamesh was frightened and even weeped, but he is mentally stronger than any other mortal.
2. A person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or idea.
Although Gilgamesh is not a good role model at the beginning, he changes into a good one. Gilgamesh used to do whatever he wanted, but after the death of Enkidu, he changes. I would say that Gilgamesh would be my role model after tablet 8. Gilgamesh truly shows that he loves his dearest friend, Enkidu, that he is strong both mentally and physically, and he can fight many obstacles, even by himself. Gilgamesh shows heroism through his killing of Huwawa and defeating the Bull of Heaven. People would say that a hero is not selfish though, or at least does good for the good of others. Gilgamesh was selfish, but he changes. In tablet 11, Gilgamesh shows that he is not selfish by saying "I will give some of the plant to the elders there, to share among them"(80).
3. Classical Mythology.
| a. | a being of godlike prowess and beneficence who often came to be honored as a divinity. |
| b. | (in the Homeric period) a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage, or ability. |
| c. | (in later antiquity) an immortal being; demigod. |
Many times in the reading, it will say that Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk and two-thirds god but one-third mortal. Since Gilgamesh is part god, part human, he is a demigod. Not only is Gilgamesh high is status, but he is incredibly strong and powerful. Gilgamesh shows courage, his ability to fight, and strength (as told before).
Barry Switzer wins the SuperBowl?
Recently in class, we have been learning and reading about the adventures of Gilgamesh. We quickly learned by the actions of Gilgamesh, or the lack of actions, that he is not truly the hero he is renowned for. We learn this when he is placed beside his new partner Enkidu. Enkidu is a strong believer in following the rules and showing respect. Enkidu is a true hero because he wasn’t famous, yet he fulfilled his duties to save people and even save the life of Gilgamesh. This Situation is very familiar to the 1994 Dallas Cowboys. After Jimmy Johnson retired from coaching, they hired a new coach named Barry Switzer. That year the cowboys had a 15-4 season and won Super Bowl XXX. Barry was recognized as a great coach. In reality it was Jimmy Johnson who should have gotten recognition. Jimmy had trained all of his players, recruited them, and got them ready for that season when Barry just stepped in. All Barry had to do was call plays and watch the Cowboys march their way to victory. The Cowboys and Jimmy Johnson represent Enkidu and their honest hard work to be the best football team in the league. Barry represents Gilgamesh because he walked on to the Cowboys just in time to win a Super Bowl. In the end, people are not truly heroes if they don’t put honest hard work into what they are trying to achieve.
Neverlasting Beauty
My little cousin (4 yrs. old), Paola, loves ladybugs and butterflies. She loves them so much!!! She catches them and then puts them in a jar and pokes tiny airholes for them to breathe. Paola gathers leaves, flowers, twigs, grass and water-- everything that she thinks the insects need. Sadly though, the butterflies and ladybugs do not last long. The butterfly's wings become droopy and the ladybug stops moving. Paola always cries when they die. I tell her that the ladybugs and butterflies need to be free instead of being in the jar. She concluded that if that is true, then the butterflies and ladybugs will live forever. So the next butterfly she caught, she let it fly in her room. Yet the butterfly still died. Paola did not understand why the butterfly died, for she did what I advised. I had to tell her that in the end, everything comes to a halt. I told her that even when they are not trapped inside a bottle or just free in nature, butterflies still die. Paola thought this sad, but I told her that although the butterflies have a short life, they have a beautiful one with freedom. This makes me think back to Gilgamesh, and how he learns that human beings are mortal and in the end they all have to die. Life is a neverlasting beauty.
The Nature of Gilgamesh
Most people would think Gilgamesh is a hero. He seems to be brave, courageous and can take charge. Although it may seem like he is a hero he really doesn't posses any of these qualities besides taking charge. I think Gilgamesh is rude, selfish and a coward. Gilgamesh will not even give credit to his companion Enkidu when without Enkidu Gilgamesh would not of been able to do anything. In fact Gilgamesh runs and hides in fear half the time. The fact of the matter is though after the death of Enkidu, Gilgamesh started to change, and I could not completely hate him anymore. Enkidu really was Gilgamesh's other half and without him he was lost. Finally after everything Gilgamesh was able to give credit to Enkidu even if he wasn't alive. I think Gilgamesh really started to see what was important in life. Sometimes it takes losing something to know what you had. I have seen this happen in my own family as well. My sister and I used to fight all the time, even over stupid things like who gets to ride in the front seat. I never appreciated her being there in my life and having her there to look up too and get advice from. My sister was always there for me when I had a problem. Wether it was with school work, my mom being annoying or boys. I never saw how much she really impacted my life until she went to college. Now I miss her like crazy and I am starting to realize how much I really need her in my life. Without her I qould of never been able to get through those tough days when my mom was on me about grades, or when my friend and I were in a fight. All I was ever able to think about when I was with her was our fights and how bossy she was to me. Like I said sometimes it takes losing something to realize what you had, for me it was my sister, my best friend.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
My Choice of Good or Evil Five Minutes Ago
About five minutes ago at about 10:40 P.M. (October 6, 2009), I looked at my e-mails. Reading each one carefully so that I would be prepared for school, I read one that was sent by my english teacher, Ms. Hepp. She asked me why I did not have a second blog post, and if I had a noteworthy excuse, to explain. My only excuse was that I forgot or that I had a regatta meeting that weekend, which I had to leave from school on Friday. I knew my excuses were no valid, for the blog post assignment has been assigned for three weeks. I had the decision of telling the truth (good) or telling a lie (evil). I know that lying is bad, but I thought that a little lie wouldn't hurt anybody, but then I thought that this lie could be on my concious forever. One lie could destroy my life (unprobable but could) and would definately hurt me. Then, I thought about what Confucius said about how to live one's life. I followed "the Way" and chose to tell the truth, that I had no reasonable excuse. Although I would have a zero on my homework, the truth is more powerful and my concious is clean.
I believe that human nature is good. Just doing something good can show one that there is good in the world, and that it is more common than evil. I had a choice, but my concious told me that it was better to tell the truth even if the circumstances are bad for me. Although Confucius said that it is okay to lie if it is to save, but I understand that it would be saving my grade, instead of someone and that would be greedy. I knew that I would not be able to sleep very well when I try to go to sleep. I would probably forget about the lie or even joke about it, but I know that someday that I would remember it and regret it. The choice of good and evil is everywhere. Choose the right decision, tell the truth. You don't even have to try, just do it with instinct.
I believe that human nature is good. Just doing something good can show one that there is good in the world, and that it is more common than evil. I had a choice, but my concious told me that it was better to tell the truth even if the circumstances are bad for me. Although Confucius said that it is okay to lie if it is to save, but I understand that it would be saving my grade, instead of someone and that would be greedy. I knew that I would not be able to sleep very well when I try to go to sleep. I would probably forget about the lie or even joke about it, but I know that someday that I would remember it and regret it. The choice of good and evil is everywhere. Choose the right decision, tell the truth. You don't even have to try, just do it with instinct.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Human Nature at School
We spend time analyzing others views on human nature; we read books, discuss them in class, and write essays about them. At ESD I think we all pretty much start off good. From beginners, most of us do everything we can to avoid getting into trouble or hurting someone’s feelings. Our favorite TV shows reinforce our good behavior with songs and stories but as we start to grow, we are influenced by older sibling and family; we learn its sometimes cool to rebel, and by the time first grade rolls around there are already cliques starting to form. Going to an Episcopal school, we are introduced at a young age the importance of living like Christ and treating others how we would treat ourselves. Unlike the school the boys in Lord of the Flies, ESD does not attempt to crush all freedom and although there are no doubt many rules here, they are mean to guide people to make their good decisions on their own. The schools likes Ralph’s can make people turn; because of the strict rules set in place, people are more likely to rebel.
Through the years, both our good and bad influences strengthen and can ultimately determine whether we remain good in life or turn evil. Its funny how easily we are influenced. I believe that ultimately, the majority of, if not all of, our grade is good.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Human Nature in Sports
After watching the football games last weekend, I realized that human nature has a lot to do with the intensity of a game. The players all have a certain level of anger that they release on game day. This burst of energy cover the three hours or so that the players battle for control of the score. This especially takes place in the college level. The student-athletes are competing for their school for the love of the game. The entire crowd that fills the stadium to the max is on their feet, in most cases, and cheering for their team to win. Weather it be their Alma mater or the school that they currently attend, the fans are excited for the first whistle. In the pros, they just play for the money, and the fans are there tho support their home team. Although the pros make better plays and hit harder, the intensity of the players is not as high as the college level. During the game, the human nature of the players is in a different range and they become more aggressive, thus making the game more interesting. This aggressiveness is the same as Hsun Tzu's depiction of human nature. He says that humans are born evil and through conscious activity they become not as evil. The players, although some may say are using conscious activity, do not think about how hard they should really hit the ball carrier. They just hit him as hard as possible in the hope that he will go down or lose the ball. A good example of this is the hit on Tim Tebow. The Kentucky player came around the outside and hit Tebow in the chest, forcing him to fly backwards and in to his teammate's leg. Tebow ended up motionless on the field for a few minutes before getting up and being carted off the field. It was later noted that he had suffered a concussion and he might not be able to play against LSU a week from Saturday. Tebow is there biggest threat and without him, the #1 ranked Gators might fall to the LSU Tigers. The hit from the Kentucky player was not just a normal hit, but he released his evil human nature out on the quarterback without any penalty. The fact is that the game of football is like that all the time and that is what the fans come to see. They want to see there team not only win but also they would also like to see a player get "jacked up"(hit hard) like Tebow unfortunately experienced. The game of football is all about unleashing your human nature and trying to hit the man with the ball. Human nature is a violent thing when released in the game of football.
Human Nature's Deadly Weakness
For the past few weeks, my class and I have discussed and argued the question, What makes us human? We used examples and exerts from Mencius, Hsun Tzu, and Confucius to help us formulate our own answers and conclusions. I believe Mencius's idea that "the tendency of man's nature to good is like the tendency of water to flow downwards." We are all born with goodness within, it all depends on the factors that affect us such as desire, greed, and curiosity that drives us to be evil. We also read an article in the December 2007 issue of Time Magazine called, "What Makes Us Moral?" In it were some interesting situations called, Moral Dilemmas. In one situation you are adrift on an overpopulated boat. You are sinking quickly and the only solution is to throw a sick member off the boat to save the rest of the crew and yourself. Now you know that this sick person is going to die, but by knowing this key detail would you still be able to throw him/her off? Could you make the life or death choice that no one else can? You have his/her life in your hands. Would you do it. I would, only because I know he/she will die anyway so why not save the rest of the crew. In the next situation "a runaway trolley is heading down the tracks toward five workmen who cant be warned in time. You are standing near a switch that would divert the trolley onto a siding, but there is a single unsuspecting workman there. Would you throw the switch, killing one to save five? Suppose the workman was on a bridge with you and you could save the men only by pushing him onto the tracks? (He's large enough to stop the train; you're not.) Suppose you could throw a switch dropping him through a trapdoor thus not physically pushing him?" (Kluger 57). Personally, I would use the trapdoor. I say this because I would never physically touch a man to save five people. I actually would consider diverting the train too. I would never push a man to his death. In the final situation you are in a war stuck in a basement with a group of people and a crying baby. You are hiding from the enemy, which is straight above you, and the baby decides that this is the perfect time to start crying. Now your stuck in a difficult and unethical situation. Smother the baby to save the group and yourself, or let the baby keep crying and get everyone killed? Now you are given the option to let the baby be yours or another person's baby. No one really knows what they would do in the actual situation. Most of us who say they would be the tough guy and follow threw with it are actually the ones frozen in fear in the corner. If it was my baby I probably could never even think about smothering it. But if it was the other person's baby I would lean more towards smothering it to save the rest of the group. Other examples were gathered from Hsun Tzu's "Man's Nature is Evil." I disagree with his views that all humans are created evil.
An example from my own life:
On one cool, fine winter night I was enticed by a sweet smell of freshly backed cookies creeping from the kitchen up the stairs to my room. As I used my ninja stealth I silently moved down the stairs and I noticed the room was clear. At once I lept onto my prey and took no prisoners. I heard footsteps in the distance, so reacting as any innocent young man would, I darted into the next room. The next thing I heard was "O MY GOD... WHO ATE MY COOKIES!!!" The voice was coming from non other than my dad. I went into the kitchen and I simply did what any good son would do; I blamed it on my mom. Now the thing I didn't know was that there was still cookie crumbs on my face even though I thought my quick swig of milk should have done the trick. The Jury (aka my dad) exclaimed guilty for murder of cookies in the 1st degree. I was sent back up stairs to think about what I had done.
Now the moral to this story is that one of Humanity's weaknesses is lying. That Lying is a way to cover up our desires. I desired more than one cookie and blamed it on my mom to cover it up. Also lying is bad and you shouldn't do it.
Written by your favorite student...
Bryan P. Tonti
What Trash TV Teaches Us About Human Nature
I was sitting on the couch a couple weekends ago with my cousins nanny, Chevy. Chevy has been there for us since we were about 2 years old. My cousins and I have tons of fun with her, but she watches all those reality ABC shows. One day while Corinne was at the doctor, Chevy and I decided to watch Super Nanny, the show were parents invite the "Super Nanny" to come tame their out of control children. Now looking back on that show, it relates to Hsun Tzu's philosophy on man's nature. These troubled children represent the evil people in the world and the super nanny represents the instructors or teachers. While the evil is running wild the instructor comes in an punishes the man. The teacher teaches them the ritual principles to keep evil out of man. Correspondingly, the Super Nanny comes in and punishes the children for their wrong doings and teaches them otherwise. Through this the children become much better behaved and less of a hassle for their parents. Super Nanny reflects Hsun Tzu's ideas to correct man's original nature of evil through punishment and instruction leading man down the right path to being inherently good.
A Story About my Nephew Relating to Hsun Tzu Philosophy
Sherry, a girl in Jakes 2nd grade class is always following Jake around wanting to talk to him, and play with him and his friends. Of course, since Jake is only in the 2nd grade he does not like girls, and does not want anything to do with them. Sherry always tags along with him and finally he has had enough, so he tells her to go away. When she doesn’t go away he pushed her down which hurt her and made her. My Uncle heard about this and punished him, he took away Jakes videogames, some privileges, and he didn’t let him hang out with his friends. This was only for two days, but that is a huge deal to a 2nd grader. After this incident Jake never touched Sherry again, although he would tell her to go away sometimes when she followed him. (And yes she still followed him even though he pushed her, 2nd graders forgive and forget easily) This shows Hsün Tzu’s philosophy that human nature is evil. It also shows that through strict discipline, humans are steered towards righteousness. Jake naturally wanted to do badly, and he did do badly. But through the discipline of my uncle he became better.
Humans Selfish Nature
Human nature can be defined as the psychological and social qualities that characterize humankind, especially in contrast with other living things. Human nature tends to stay true and honest, but when a situation gets bad they can resort to cheating or not being honest for their own selfishness. A great example of this is was Bernie Madoff who was a financier and a chairman of the NASDAQ stock exchange. He was convicted of the largest investment fraud on Wall Street. In the 1980’s when his stock exchange wasn’t doing well he decided to take some money from unknowing investors for personal profit. This is where it all began. Since he decided to take money he was stuck in a trap, and he had to keep taking money so that the investors in his firm never knew he took the money in the first place. He kept taking money until 2008 when he was caught and convicted. As the years went on he had to keep taking more and more due to his decision for personal profit in the 1980’s. When he was caught, it was estimated that he had stolen more than 65 billon dollars. Human nature can be cause humans to stay prosperous even if it takes cheating, to keep from failing or going under. Humans look back and regret it, but at the time they think it is the best thing to do. Bernie is the ultimate example of human’s nature to compensate for losses by being dishonest and cheating someone to put yourself in a better situation. It’s unfortunate that humans act this way but sometimes its in some humans nature to be selfish.
Human Nature
Today at school, as i was walking through the commons on my way to the parking lot, i found a key chain. Attached to this key chain was a wallet with a picture of a 6th grader and it had about 20 dollars in it. I did not know who this little girl was but i was determined to find her and give her, her keychain lanyard. I thought it would get to her easier if i personally gave it to her, rather than a maintenance person finding it and putting it in the lost and found. I searched all through the commons asking the other children if this was their friend or where she was. I finally went outside and saw her standing with a group of her classmates. I asked if the lanyard was hers and she nodded, looking a little embarrassed. For the past few weeks in class, we have been talking about the Human Nature and how different people see us. Mencius says that we are born good and to become evil, there has to be a force. in his quote "Water indeed will flow indifferently to the east or the west, but will it flow indifferently up for down? now by striking water and causing it to leap up, you may make it go over your forehead." Now, when i found that lanyard, i could have taken the money out of it and left it to be found on the ground, but the good in me decided to find that little girl. I am sure that most of us would have not taken the money, unless we were pressured which is the FORCE that would cause us to be evil.
ANNA LEIB
In class we read two articles on human nature. One was Is Morality Natural? by Marc D. Hauser and the other was What Makes Us Moral by Jeffrey Kluger. Although we read these articles a while ago I can not get the questions asked out of my mind. Would I be able to push someone off a sinking lifeboat, even if they were already about to die? Could I divert a train to kill one man instead of five? Could I kill my crying baby to save the lives of others? Could I kill someone else's baby? All of these questions have been running through my head and have been making me think. For starters I do not think I could do any of things but I would not be opposed to let someone else do it. The thought of killing someone with my own hands made me already feel guilt but then the fact that i was letting someone else do it made me feel no guilt at all. Looking at the situation now though I realize I should feel just as guilty for encouraging someone else to do it. This is human nature. Humans see something going on and just because were not involved makes us feel as though its okay when really it is just as bad for us to not do anything about it.
Love Is Never Forgotten
The battle of Iwo Jima was one of the deadliest and most horrific battle the United States had with Japan. Estimated that 7,000 U.S soldiers lost their lives, and 20,000 more were wounded, and for Japan, they lost about 21,000 men. War is a terrible thing. It changes the most well-mannered gentlemen, into raging monsters carrying items that are used to kill.
On Sunday September 20, 2009 there was an article in the "New York Times," titled "With Love, From Iwo Jima." In this article, a man by the name of Franklin W. Hobbs III was a man who was orphaned at ten and lived with his wealthy grandparents. While at Harvard, he was forced to drop out because he was enlisted in the army, where he fought in Iwo Jima. When he was in Iwo Jima, Hobbs was walking on the island with his partner Schnarr who was a school teacher. While walking with him, Hobbs stumbled across a dead Japanese soldier who was lying lifelessly by a cave. Interestingly, Hobbs noticed that the man had no wounds on his body. No bullet wounds no mortar wounds; NOTHING! What caught Hobbs' eye, was a white envelope sticking out of the dead soldiers chest pocket. In it contained a drawing of children, and a photograph of a little baby girl.
The Japanese soldier's name, was Matsuji Takegawa. Unfortunately, he was sent over seas and never got to meet the baby girl in the photograph. Matsuji told his wife to name the daughter Yoko, which means "ocean child." Growing up, Yoko never thought of her father as a honorable man, in fact she almost ignored his existence and only acknowledged "his government pension pain for her schooling." Yoko's dream was always to go to the United States, and when she was 28, she left Japan and settled in New York City where she got married and had a baby girl. Later though she divorced her husband and struggled financially.
Decades after the war, Hobbs never forgot about the envelope he had found in the soldiers pocket. It was all framed and hung up in his son's room. When one of Hobbs' Japanese friends was going to Japan, he gave her the envelope to take with her to see if the envelope and the picture could find the family it belonged to. Amazingly, the envelope managed to find the Takegawa household.
While in New Jersey, Yoko gets a phone call from older sister Chie. Chie told Yoko that the envelope of her father was sent to their house. Yoko was shocked and went to Japan. Before Yoko was united with the letter, she said, "'My daddy carried the letter with my picture in his body, in his bosom." Then she says, "I felt something, a spirit, come down in my body. This is treasure, a treasure carried so much love to me. Before, i go to school with his money. But no, he sends his love to me." If it was not for Franklin W. Hobbs III, Yoko would still have those inaccurate thoughts about her father.
In this article, human nature is shown as a loving uniting form. Hobbs did not have to take the time to find the family that the envelope belonged to, but his good nature invoked him to go out and do what was right. Yoko realized after meeting with Hobbs, that her father kept that envelope containing her picture, as close to his heart as possible. This showed Yoko that her father really loved her and she realized the true meaning of her father, not just the fact she was going to school. Before, Hobbs and Yoko's father would be pointing guns at one another, but today they would hug and socialize. Yoko represented her father when Hobbs met her for the first time.
Andrew Leffler
Religious Human Nature
Human Nature has been studied for centuries by the most influential people in the world. In class, we have looked at the teachings and philosophy of Confucius, Mencius, and Hsun Tzu. These three men lived in ancient China and they all had different views on the essence of Human Nature, though all three men were guided by the Confucian teachings. Last week a man of the Islamic faith plotted to blow up the Fountain Tower in Downtown Dallas. This was a terrible plot and thankfully it was thwarted by the FBI before anyone was killed. This man wanted to commit "violent jihad" for his God Allah. I am of the Christian Faith and some of my friends are Jewish and Islamic. I know this man was Islamic and in todays society we sadly associate all Islamic people as terrorist or people that could harm us. Is it our human nature that makes this association? The religion of Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world and most Islamic people are normal, moral, hard working people. I think our human nature is to associate all terrorists with the Islamic faith and this is sad to me. We lived through the terrible events of 9/11 and we were scared by that day. All religions have their own unique rules or laws to live by. I think that our Human Nature is to be evil because we are all sinners but I don't like when a society associates one persons' actions with that of an entire race or religion.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Solid as a Rock
After talking about Golding and his view on human nature, we students got to look at two contradicting views of human nature through Mencius and Hsun Tzu. We learned that Hsun Tzu believed human nature to be decidedly evil and that Mencius believed human nature to be inherently good. All of us were asked to write a paper on how we feel about human nature and whether we think it is good or evil, and I couldn't help but ponder deep into the back of my head to find to try to find something I had done to sum up how I felt about it. It came to me when we were paving our poolside a couple weeks ago. I had to lay a bunch of different stone slabs in order so that they would come together and form a walk-way. They were great looking stones; comprised of shiny minerals like those seen on tops of mountains. I was told to get off all the dirt and sand off of the stones so the other workers could lay down cement and seal everything. So I brushed off all the dirt from the stones but whenever I laid one stone down to brush up another the first one would get dirty all over again. I was never able to get all the dirt off of all these stones! I believe that at the core of human nature, we are all good, bright, and strong. However we get dirty from time to time because of the earth and how many chances it gives us to mess up. When we get dirty and commit sin we try to brush off all the dirt covering our true selves through forgiveness, then we get dirty again, and do it all over. Hsun Tzu makes a good point when he says good is done through conscious activity because sometimes we do get lazy and become hesitant to brush the dirt off ourselves. However, under all the dirt we are good, strong, shiny, and solid as a rock.
Good vs. Evil
The other day i was watching a show called Lockup: San Quentin and it reminded me of our discussions whether mans nature is good or evil. In this particular show a camera crew goes to various high security prisons, in this case to San Quentin, but in other shows they go all over the country interviewing inmates whether they are on death row or in the minimum scecurity for that facility. When the inmates are being interviewed at first you wonder why they got in prison because they seem to be good hearted people but throughout the show it becomes more and more evident that they may talk smooth but in reality they aren't telling the whole truth. It reminded me of class because when we were studing Mencius everyone believed that his philosophy was right and a person always wanted to do good but when we studied Hsun Tzu everybody changed their views. I find myself doing this in these shows becuase one wants to think that they are really good people but as the show goes on it becomes harder and harder to believe that they can be good. In addition, in one case an inmate got in trouble and they always tell the cameras they didn't do and try to make themselves look better than they really are but when the evidence is revieled by the officers it almost always ends up in the inmate getting in trouble. Also when the camera crew interviews people who all they want to do is hurt people it brings in a new element that most people would like to believe doesn't exist. In one episode this inmate called himself Macgyver because he could make weapons out of anything things that would originally be thought harmless. This guy made a ice pick weapon out of Jolly Ranchers, yes the candy, he melted them down to make an ice pick them when they harden they could easily kill a person. Also "Macgyver" is always trying to hurt or kill somebody else he treats life as if it were a game and the object is to kill as many people as possible. When I see things like it is really hard to believe in human nature being naturally good but like Hsun Tzu I like to believe humans can be good with strict training and rules.
Puppy Enforment 101
About two weeks ago, my cousin Lilly got a new labrador puppy. Lilly named the new puppy "Choco" because of his chocolate colored fur. Choco is a very energetic, happy-go-lucky pup with enough energy to wear both Lilly and me. "With a new puppy, comes responsibility and patience," my aunt warned Lilly. Playing with Choco is always fun, but training him is a slow tiresome process. Lilly and I began this "Puppy Enforment 101" course and the first lesson was: Potty Training. Training Choco not to go to the bathroon on the carpet floor was tough. Choco would pee anywhere and everywhere in the house. Lilly, being younger than me, did not like the idea of scolding Choco when he used the bathroom inside the house. She said that it's mean and it hurt Choco's feelings. I explained to her that the only way to teach Choco not to pee on the living room carpet was to first teach him that what he is doing is unacceptable. After Choco had another "accident", Lilly and I used the scolding tactic. Each time Choco had an "accident", we would scold the puppy. We taught Choco that it's ok to use that yard by giving him treats or by praising him when he would follow through. Choco learned that if he peed on the carpet or inside the house, he would get scolded. Obviously, neither human nor animal likes to get in trouble and therefore tries to avoid it. Gradually, Choco no longer used the house as a lawn. Now Choco is fully potty trained! After observing this training course and how Choco reacted to the teaching styles, I realized that rules can exist but they are worthless if no one enforces them. In the article, "What Makes Us Moral" it states, "a sense of right and wrong [is] useless until someone teaches you how to apply it" (Kluger p58). Choco did not know that what he was doing was wrong, until Lilly began scolding him. Through admonishment, Choco gradually learned that using the house as a lawn was not approved by Lilly. Choco must have linked Lilly's disapproval with his actions and began to take his bladder issues outside. In the article, "Is Morality Natural?", Hauser explains " We [humans as well as animals] generally do not commit wrongs acts because we recognize that they are wrong and because we do not want to pay the emotional price of doing something we perceive as wrong" (Hauser p.65). I assure you Choco didn't like to be scolded and didn't like to see Lilly upset, therefore he began to do as he was praised and stopped doing what he was scold. Now Choco is 100 percent potty trained and graduated from the "Puppy Enforcement 101" course! ^_________^
Friday, September 11, 2009
While I was going about my summer reading, I realized that I had unconsciously been making character comparisons from one book to another. The LOTF and The Kite Runner have no similiar plots but the characters in the book have a lot of similiarities. Assef, the protagonist in The Kite Runner, reminded me a lot of Ralph. Both have a lot of inner problems that they both need to address but neither one seems to be capable of doing so. Jack and Assef, who is one of the antagonists in The Kite Runner, also have many things in common. They are both extremely sadistic and like to be in control of others. The adult that Assef becomes is exactly what I would imagine Jack would have been would he have stayed on that island for much longer.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Leadership By Force
This week in class we spent a day around the Harkness Table discussing leadership and exp owed by great leaders. The discussion we very productive and there was great insight from everyone. The leadership qualities that were shared included charisma, good speaker, courage, and leading by example. The night after the discussion I went home and I talked leadership with my parents. I told them that during the discussion two people came to mind with very similar leadership style. These to people are Jack from The Lord of the Flies and the President of the United States Barack Obama. Jack was a very forceful leader who instilled fear in the people that followed him. President Obama during the campaign was a very good speaker, had great charisma, and was a very likable person. To this day, President Obama has led by force. He is not a forceful leader in the sense Jack was but President Obama is a very manipulative leader. The president is a great speaker and this helps him to manipulate people into whatever he wants. People are so in awe of his wonderful charisma and verbiage that they do not think for themselves and they go with whatever he says may it be right or wrong. Jack was also a forceful leader but he led by putting fear in people and then taking violent actions against his rivals. Jack was savage unlike President Obama and Jack had a great following. Jacks' piers always complied with what he said and they never questioned him. Neither of these people has true leadership qualities like leading by example, or being able to listen to someones' ideas. Jack and President Obama always have their way; their way or the highway. By no means am I saying that President Obama is violent or savage, I just think he leads by force and so did Jack. These two men exemplify how to lead by force but they both have completely different ways of going about it.
Interconnection between Rules and Ethics
The beginning of this year has set off with a bang as we dive deeper and deeper in to what Golding has to say in his book, The Lord of the Flies. I believe the greatest point Golding instills in his book is how we all take better to ethics than we do rules. In other words we should be expected to rely on the pre-existing ethical principles of people more than the enforcement of laws when trying to make a well-established society. I think this statement is true but I look at all these other countries around us where poverty is abundant and suicide bombs go off, and I think to myself, "why aren't we like that?". Is it because we're all forced to go to school and practice proper etiquette? Or is it because we are better at enforcing laws than other countries are? I don't think I'm mature enough to fully understand every aspect of forming a well-to-do society but I think I have a theory. I have an explanation that truly voices my opinion on the subject. I believe at the heart of a strong nation there has to be standards and principles, but in order for that heart to work there has to be laws that act as the blood that that heart pumps through the body that is society. That blood nourishes and cleans that body and keeps it intact. Without the heart the blood cannot be pumped and without blood the heart becomes useless. I believe Golding was trying to say that laws enforced on people without ethical understandings to back them up become hollow and are easily broken. This concept applied to my friends and I a couple summers back. One day we decided we would improve our treehouse in our backyard by adding a roof , carpet, tv, xbox, dvd player, disco ball, and a couple kids who were too adventurous to stay inside the house. We lived in our own little world away from our parents when we were in that treefort. We could talk about whatever we wanted and do anything we wanted, as long as we didn't get caught. So we made rules to make sure none of us would ever make a catastrophic mistake and get us in a lot of trouble. Our rules were: 1. Take your shoes off before you come in, 2. Don't spill your drink anywhere, 3. Don't do anything Jesus wouldn't do. But after a while we forgot to take our shoes off, we spilled a lot of drinks and stained the carpet, and we did do a lot of things Jesus wouldn't do. So the treefort became a place where we would try to bend the rules. One day we bought a mega-phone and yelled at our neighbors telling them they were ugly and another day we threw urine-filled water balloons at them. The treefort became more about having fun than making sure we were taking care of ourselves. If we ever had a conch up there it would have been gone by that time. Much like in The Lord of the Flies, we stopped caring about rules, we just wanted to live our lives in the most lively ways we knew how, because we didn't fully understand the ethical principles of proper behavior, the rules were easily broken.
Lord of the Flies/Aniaml I Have Become
The boys on the island have become monsters, which is caused by man's essential illness, which states all humans contain evil. In 3 Days Grace's "Animal I Have Become", Adam Gontier, the vocalist of 3 Days Grace, sings that even he has " become...this animal" that he "can't control". He continues saying "it's not the real" him and pleas for "somebody [to] help [him] tame this animal". In Lord of the Flies, all the boys, except for Simon, turn into the beast/animal that is created due to evil. Because the boys have become so evil, they cannot control themselves for they don't understand what is right from wrong. Only the boys with conscious, Ralph, Piggy, and the twins, ask to be released from the beast/animal inside them. Like Adam who says that he "can't escape this hell", the boys are trapped and cannot escape off the island. Adam wishes he "could get through this nightmare" like the littluns wanting to stop the nightmares of the beast. Although Adam and the littluns believe that it is a nightmare, the beast/animal is real. Because the animal/beast "still [has] rage inside", it strives for more. Jack is constantly wanting to strive for his wants, and goes with his instinct which is to become leader and to kill. Adam begs for someone to "help [him] believe it's not the real" him. When the boys are rescued, the boys come to their senses and cry because they understand what they have done and their real selves come back.
The Most Dangerous Game
A few months ago, I read a story called the Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell. This is a story about a man who also gets left on an island while going on a hunting expedition. He falls off his yacht and finds the nearest island. Long story short, he meets another hunter and that man decides that he is going to hunt the the most dangerous game, that being a human being. The main character, Mr. Rainsford is being hunted and he must make smart decisions or else he will be killed. He uses his knowledge to outwit and defeat his opponent. I chose this to represent the Lord of the Flies because of the savagery that was implied for humans to hunt humans. Both Ralph and Rainsford are being hunted by humans and both actually make it out alive. Although the tactics and opponents are different, both of these humans find a way to save themselves from the horror that would come had they been captured. They were both suited for the mental composite for both of their opponents, Rainsford was a well respected hunter and was even on his way to go on a hunt, he had been all over the world hunting all kinds of animals, so he used the techniques that he had learned on his adventures on his enemy. All Ralph knew how to do was run, and that is all that he needed. Jack and his clan were not as smart as the other enemy but since they were kinds it was reasonable. As Ralph ran and ran, the group that followed was still chasing him all the way to the beach. Once there he stumbled to the feet of a naval officer, who saved the children. Rainsford on the other hand had to save himself with clever wits and ingenious tactics. Both of these humans had to avoid the savagery that was forced upon them and overcome it with something that could over come the savage human nature that was chasing them. The savagery only come out in the most sincere occasions when only violence can solve the issue for that particular person. Ralph and Rainsford were not overcome by savagery but yet they knew how to counter act it and finally escape the clutches of the enemies.
Travis Conine
Travis Conine
Similarities to Football
In a way I can compare football to our discussions over Lord of the Flies and how the boys give the impression like they will never be go home to their parents. The boys on the island are stranded and it seems like they will never get saved and will have to stay on the island forever. For a week of our football two a day’s we went to Detroit, Texas (I still don’t know where that is) and I especially knew that week was going to suck when our coaches started calling it hell week. Every day was degrading I remember counting off the practices with my teammates until we were leaving that Friday and finally going home. It seemed like an eternity everyday waking up early going through two painful practices, two hours each, and then the easy but still annoying special teams practice. Even though none of the guys cried at night wanting to go home I remember a couple of guys calling their parents asking them to come pick them up just so they could get out of the misery of practice. I don’t know how the boys on the island could survive without air conditioning especially on a tropical island with humid temperatures. In our two a day’s the Texas heat was unbearable the humidity was god awful and we were physically being tortured but to manly to admit it until after practice. The boys on the island must have been miserable because at least we had something to look forward in leaving they had no hope and were just sitting there hoping and hoping to be saved. Also on the island the boys turned more and more like savages everyday and in football people turn into different people when they step out onto the gridiron. In football as one of our coaches says, “You have to get nasty so you can turn your swagger on at the end of the game.” In addition to that everybody seems to turn on this new aggression against their opponent like they just killed your best friend and you just want to pound them to the ground. Football is a special game you have a few rules but other than that you’re free to hit each other as hard as you want with no consequences but are actually rewarded when you make a big hit. For example, this year we get Slurpees if we hit a kid hard enough or make a big play like an interception or a fumble recovery. I guess this is kind of like Jack becoming the center of attention for killing the pigs because when you get a Slurpee everyone is surrounding you asking for a sip or asking, “How did you get a Slurpee?” In Lord of the Flies the boys turn into savages because that’s the way they seem right to live and in Football its promoted to hit hard or be nasty but once practice is over or the game we all snap back into reality and become normal human beings just like when the boys were rescued.
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