As human beings we have a tendency to underachieve—to short ourselves on our full potential. It seems we are pre-convinced that we can only reach a certain point and then have to turn around. In reality, however, there is a strength inside of us that we never knew possible. We are predestined to be something great—to do something great-- but we don’t always uncover enough strength to get there. Brian Tracy explained the concept of potential well when he said “the potential of an average person is like a huge ocean un-sailed, a new continent unexplored, a world of possibilities waiting to be released and channeled toward some great good.” When we’re young it’s almost like we live in a bubble, our world is full of smiley faces and butterflies; we are completely unaware of the evil that surrounds us. Growing older and older causes us to encounter new experiences, meet new people, and finally realize what the world is really like. The outside world slowly becomes clear through glimpses. Constantly it informs us we can’t do things; it is a wall that hinders us from what is on the other side. As long as our eyes are set on what’s ahead, our full potential will become visible. There is always an adventure calling our name, all that’s needed is the time to listen for it.
As we grow, change and learn, we walk through life with people on either side of us; there to guide our steps or to pick us up when we fall. It is impossible to go through life alone. The wall we climb is not one we can do without a foothold. God gifts us with family and friends to encourage us—to keep us going. Often times, the only thing we need on a bad day is a simple uplifting word, and that is just what these relationships are for. Many times they act as more of a supernatural aid than friend; they teach us, they help us, they love us even when we’re not worthy of love.
Our lives are a journey and even though we embark on it with many other people, it is still our individual journey and we have the capability to steer any way we want. It is clear as we go along that what is ahead is not always going to be easy. However, if life was completely ‘smooth sailing’ we wouldn’t learn. The majority of the wisdom that we accumulate over a lifetime is simply from making mistakes. Making these mistakes and facing the challenges that we do is what truly shapes our character. Our life is merely a road of trials by which we learn to grow into what we’re truly capable of becoming.
Two men, whose lives are portrayed through the novels The Once and Future King and Fahrenheit 451, are tested through multiple situations to fulfill their true potential—the destiny that is in store. Though their life stories are great opposites they are bound by the Hero’s Journey in its simplest form. They encounter many of the same opportunities to prove their strength to themselves as well as to those surrounding them.
Arthur, of The Once and Future King, longs for adventure, just like any young boy would. This is the clear reasoning behind why Arthur and his selfish brother, Kay, took Cully, the hawk, into the Forest Savauge. When the bird wouldn’t return to the ground, however, the boys found themselves in a bit of a crisis. They waited as patiently as they could but soon Kay lost hope and returned home, while Arthur stayed beneath the tree. The sun set lower in the sky and still Arthur waited. Later in the night a peculiar character came along, far from chivalric but dressed from head to toe in knightly apparel, King Pellinore explained his mission. He had been sent to capture the Questing Beast for many, many years. Their encounter was short but just what Arthur needed to gain hope. He began looking for a way home and stumbled upon a small cottage, where he met a magical man who called himself Merlyn. Arthur decided he had to take this man home and present him to Sir Ector as an educator. Arthur’s unexpected stay in the forest was the beginning of continuous trials that were meant to build Arthur’s character, along with his heart. This man he discovered seemed to hold wisdom meant for him, convincing Arthur he had been on a quest all along. Once he reached the castle he couldn’t help but exclaim, “Look! I have been on a quest.. I went on a quest for him” (37). Little did he know this quest was more important for him than anyone realized.
People come in and out of our lives all the time, but there are special circumstances when someone comes into your life and leaves you with something that changes you as a person. By following a hawk into the forest, unaware of where it might take him, Arthur uncovered a new path for his life. He was forced to find a strength within him to be his own hero. He overcame fear through simply having the strength to step forward even when he wasn’t sure what was ahead. While in the forest “[Arthur] found that, although he was frightened of the danger of the forest before it happened, once he was in it he was not frightened anymore” (20). When we’re standing on the outside of something it can seem larger than any journey; a clear example of this is life. There is so much ahead of us, so much that we have yet to see and accomplish, it is a great deal to imagine and can seem overwhelming, but the key is to take it one step at a time. Arthur was in unknown territory and was still able to sincerely look ahead to the next thing and eventually find himself in safety once again.
Returning home with a strange character of whom he insisted be hired as a mentor was surprising to even Arthur himself. Sir Ector agreed and Merlyn moved into the castle. Little did the family know what was actually in store for them. Merlyn was not only a magician but he could also see things from an extremely different perspective. He was, in fact, aging backwards. Instead of getting older, this sage was getting younger; he had already seen the future and was looking towards the past. When it came to Arthur’s future he was quite the expert. The lessons he had in store were to build Arthur into the strong man Merlyn knew he would be someday.
Merlyn’s ways of teaching were different than any other. He taught Arthur through life experiences; changing him into various animals; stressing the fact that, as humans, we learn the most through our own experiences. All along Merlyn knew what life had ahead for Arthur. His only task was to appropriately prepare Arthur for the great responsibility he would carry on his shoulders one day. All along he only longed for Arthur to see his people for their true needs and longings—to see his people through different eyes. Running a kingdom takes more than knowing just simple literature and mathematics; Merlyn knew it was important that Arthur understood the way people think and the different ways a kingdom could be ruled—with war or equality.
Merlyn was able to teach Arthur many essential life values, which he would find useful in the future. Even though Merlyn was Arthur’s mentor and teacher, he became a friend and a father as well. His task was to teach the boy all the wisdom he would need to rule his people and through this time of teaching he came to respect the boy as if he were his own. And once it came time to let go, he left Arthur with words from his heart. “I know the sorrows before you, and the joys, and how there will never again be anybody who dares to call you by the friendly name of Wart. In future it will be your glorious doom to take up the burden and to enjoy the nobility of your proper title: so how I shall crave the privilege of being the very first of your subjects to address you with it—as my dear liege lord, King Arthur” (209).
Before Arthur could obtain this respected name, he had to acquire enough wisdom to become that leader. Merlyn transformed him into multiple different animals to expose him to an assortment of lifestyles. Through living as these animals he was able to see firsthand, essentially what the needs of his people would be one day. One of the his transformations, possibly the most altering, was when Arthur became a badger. He made acquaintance with a wise friend of Merlyn. Their meeting wasn’t so much about learning of the ways of the badger; instead, the reasoning behind the behaviors and power of the human being became clear. Badger tells a story describing how every embryo of life was asked if they would like to be improved at the beginning of time. Each one said yes and God granted them their wings or beaks, and whatever else was desired. But when it came to the humans’ turn, they simply replied with, “Please God, I think that You have made me in the shape which I now have for reasons best known to Yourselves, and that it would be rude to change. If I am to have my choice I will stay as I am” (192). God granted the humans ruling over everything. Through this transformation, Arthur learns of the origins of his power and what God’s true plan for the world was when he created the creatures that now walk upon it.
Through each lesson taught by Merlyn, Arthur is able to experience life through very different eyes. When the badger challenges him to look at his own people in a different way, everything becomes clear. God put his people on this earth to do His work, but not very often do they truly honor His wishes. War was never supposed to be a habitual event, people were meant to live in harmony with each other and build up God’s creation instead of tear it down. When talking about this, Badger says “Well, it is true that man has the Order of Dominion and is the mightiest of the animals—if you mean the most terrible one” (193). The power that was given to us as people over this earth has been abused and wasted. So much of our time on earth is filled with violence and sadness when it should be used to shape our nation into all it can be—to reach its highest potential.
Arthur was not the only one to learn of his capabilities through lessons like these. Montag, the determined main character in Fahrenheit 451, encounters trial after trial of which he must get through in order reach his goal.
A question is a powerful thing. In Guy Montag’s routine life a question was all he needed. While walking down the sidewalk one day he came across a beautiful seventeen year old girl, Clarisse, whose curiosity with life causes him to see things in a different light. She asks him, “We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?”(52). Her innocent nature and simple questions lead him to wonder what the purpose of his life truly is. He begins to notice things and feel a sense of emptiness for the first time. He was bombarded with questions; “How do you get so empty? Who takes it out of you”(44). He works as a fireman, burning books day after day. At one of his jobs he witnesses a woman ask to be burned with her books. This causes Montag to wonder what the significance of books really is. Even though it is completely against the rules of society, he begins to sneak books home to explore their meaning. Through a few simple questions Montag found a new drive, a new reason to wake up every day. He had something to figure out.
The majority of students as well as those in the workforce like to work towards something, a common goal. They find these goals through many circumstances. In Montag’s case it didn’t take much for him to change his view on his lifestyle. Sometimes all we need is for someone else to say what we’re thinking out loud. People ask themselves all the time what their true purpose is on earth, but having someone else ask it out loud can act as a light switch, enough to inspire an idea. This girl’s innocent questions were ultimately meant to change Montag, to call him to adventure. He had now unlocked a curiosity inside of him and there was no turning back.
From his call, Montag is provided with aids who help him more than he truly knows. He really is given two different aids; Clarisse and Faber. In the beginning Clarisse saves him from completely throwing away his life—living with no purpose. She simply makes him think about where he is headed and the things he has left behind. Even in death Clarisse still helps Montag. Her death challenges him to find the truth, to find what’s missing in the world. He then finds Faber—a man who knows how the world once was but just doesn’t have the energy to bring it back. Montag is his energy. Together they do all they can to save the books; to save the people. Even though Montag goes through many hardships and runs into many people that only want to bring him down, he goes on, knowing that what he believes in will benefit him as well as his people more than anyone knows or understands. Losing literature could send the world into an infinite tailspin for the worst, but only people like Faber or Montag take the time to really see it.
So often we don’t have all the capabilities to accomplish everything on our own. There are certain things we can achieve—certain standards we can always reach without anyone giving us a little shove. But so many take that little shove for granted. Just a single word of encouragement or those moments when just having someone near is all you need, can seem supernatural—like magic, the reassurance you feel. Faber encourages Montag by reassuring him he’ll be there all along. Together “we stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought. We have our fingers in the dike. Hold steady. Don’t let the torrent of melancholy and drear philosophy drown our world. We depend on you. I don’t think you realize how important you are, we are, to our happy world as it stands now.”(62). Montag really had to do all the figuring out, himself. Faber and Clarisse just provided him with a helping hand when he needed it. They asked the right questions and said the right things to keep him going. This was just the aid Montag needed. As human beings we need the same thing. We can become discouraged so easily and most of the time all we need is a simple act of kindness—a smile or subtle compliment is more powerful than anticipated. In Montag’s case, he was flooded with encouragement.
There are some people in the world that often get in the way of what’s really important. For Montag this hindrance was his own boss, Beatty. The man is constantly questioning Montag and attempting to convince him pushing forward is worthless. This situation is equivalent to a child being told Santa isn’t real, but the child is too convinced to hear. The innocence and the determination of Montag was like that of a child. Beatty even makes an effort to elaborate on the history of books--where they came from. He quoted different poems and excerpts from books, only trying to prove the emptiness of them, but it was worthless. Montag was convinced; he was not going to give up hope anytime soon. So many of the things Beatty said could’ve strayed Montag from his path-- from his mission-- but he stayed strong.
These conversations that challenged Montag were only tests—trials necessary to prove his strength. Arthur, in The Once and Future King, went through similar steps to leadership when he was transformed into different types of animals. While Arthur’s situation was more fictional, Montag’s was an example of what people go through every day. People all around us insist on challenging our beliefs or ways of life and this is exactly what Montag was put through. He found something to really believe in and fight for but was not allowed to live for it. However, Montag sets a strong example. Who is anyone to tell us we can’t do something? If we have the confidence in ourselves and the willingness to take risks, we can accomplish anything. Pushing forward can take a lot sometimes but as long as we do, we can gain an abundance of knowledge that will benefit us forever. The world is always going to test us, the road ahead is never going to be easy. That is why the years of youth are so important. It is where we build our base, our foundation determining what the rest of our life could be like.
These men have one large thing in common. They both were forced to mature in a very short amount of time and they both became more than they ever thought possible. The experiences they were forced into and the people around them mad them reach until they could touch the stars. Arthur was taught to become a king when he was just a young man. And Montag found a passion and had to find a confidence within him he never knew before. Their lives changed quickly, but for both, they found it for the good and possibly just in time. For Arthur, he could’ve never known his highest potential and for Montag, he could have lost all chances of reaching it. The smallest bit of question can drive a person to accumulate more understanding of themselves than someone can over a lifetime. Both characters were tested and questioned all along the way only being lead to find their true values, which in the end they were able to uncover; finding something to live for. Ben Herbster once described our lives in this simple statement, “The greatest waste in the world is the difference between what we are and what we could become.” What lies in our future is unknown to us now, but if we fight through life each and every day glimpses of our life ahead will be revealed. Arthur and Montag reached for the stars and gained the world.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
A Human View
An essay response to the novel The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene.
In the novel, The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene, the life of Jesus Christ is ironically portrayed through the life of a flawed, unworthy priest. "It was for this world that Christ had died; the more evil you saw and heard about you, the greater glory lay around the death. It was too easy to die for what was good or beautiful, for home or children or a civilization-- it needed a God to die for the half-hearted and the corrupt." (97)Just as Jesus was of no value to the Jews, this priest had lost all respect. Aside from the fact that religion was illegal, the priest had made many mistakes and committed many crimes that caused judgment. Although, there were still some that followed the beliefs of the priest, they longed to find God once again and they believed the only way they could do so was through the priest.
Often times when he would near a village, immediately the priest would be asked if he could listen to confession. This shows the villagers obvious concern with their wrongdoings. As humans we are naturally imperfect, the only man that has ever walked this earth that wore the title of perfection was Jesus Christ. The irony of this is that the priest is the Christ figure; he is far from perfect, however. We strive to be perfect, but the reality of the fact is that the world's view of perfection is much different than God's view of perfection. Once a human being figures that out they can admit to needing help. No one can walk alone; they can't make all these decisions on their own.
The novel is laid out in a way that is parallel to the passion. As it begins the priest is called by a young man with a donkey to help his mother. The young man allows the priest to ride his donkey, just as Jesus rode his donkey into Jerusalem. The priest, however, was lead into an alley of filth and dirt, while Jesus walked upon palms; this is true irony. Along with being lead through such grime, the priest also missed his ship. This ship was meant to take him away from the land that hated him so; it was to provide an escape for him. Many of the other priests were long gone, this priest was one of the few that were left. Christ had the power to escape his death, but he chose not to. The priest could have boarded the boat and never looked back, but he chose to go help this poor woman and he gave up his freedom. Doing good can look so unattractive while evil can draw us in so strongly. In the bible there is a reference to how hard it is to do good in this world we live in. Matthew 7 :13 says Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. The world stands on one shoulder-- tending to sound much more attractive-- and God stands on the other, it is our responsibility to choose which side to listen to.
After Jesus entered Jerusalem he called his disciples for one last meal: The Last Supper. He talked of the breaking of his body and the pouring of his blood. He displayed to the disciples the reason he was to give his life-- to save the world. The priest was given some sandwiches before he finally left for the village that held the murder. The sandwiches were from Ms. Lehr-- a woman that he had stayed with. "He was aware of an immense load of responsibility: it was indistinguishable from love." (66) As he turned to leave, he was leaving behind all that he knew, the people he cared for, he was going to lose his life so they could gain from it. We tend not to think of losing someone as gaining anything but, in this time killing the priest seems to be the only thing that will bring peace to such a broken world. People were losing their lives just so the government could find the priest. Once he was found innocent lives were not sacrificed. It is amazing that all the hostages never spoke a word about the priest's location. They gave their lives for the priest; they gave their lives for a man they barely knew. They were God's examples of humility.
As the priest traveled alongside with the Mestizo uncomfortably, he knew the man had no good in his heart and had no drive to help the priest in any way. As they got further and further, the priest realized he was walking with Judas. In the Bible, Judas was a disciple who betrayed Jesus. He went to the government and turned Jesus in for only a small amount of money. Before he did this Jesus told the disciples as a whole the one of them was to betray him. This is parallel to the moment that the priest becomes aware who he is walking with. "He knew. He was in the presence of Judas." (91)
Shortly after Judas turns Jesus in to the officials, police are sent out to arrest Jesus. They find him in a garden praying to his father. The officials take him to Pontius Pilate immediately. In the novel the priest is arrested for use of alcohol. They catch the priest, after chasing him through the city. He is brought to the Lieutenant and is forced to stay at the jail for a night. The irony of a religious man getting arrested is unbelievable. Christianity stresses the importance of staying pure and following the commandments. God knows that humans are imperfect but he always forgives us, even before we do something, he has already forgiven us. That is why he came to this earth, so he could be the ultimate offering-- the ultimate sacrifice.
There is a difference between all other religions and Christianity, we have grace-- the ability to forgive. It is apparent that we are imperfect and even though we were made in God's image, we make mistakes and God is gracious and forgives even before we ask for it. "But at the centre of his own faith there always stood the convincing mystery-- that we were made in God's image. God was the parent, but He was also the policeman, the criminal, the priest, the maniac, and the judge." (101) The priest, though he was a religious man, made mistake after mistake, but was forgiven by God. He suffered through small punishment, but life is paradox. You must go through that which is hard to see that which is beautiful.
The priest and the Mestizo were traveling to hear the confession of a man who was both a murderer and a thief. When they arrived there the priest was able to talk to the man and work to convince him that he must confess. The man died soon after. This is parallel to the bible because when Jesus was on the cross he had two men next to him: a thief and a murderer. It is apparent that Graham Greene is trying to display the life of Jesus in complete irony. After the man died, the officials arrived at the hut where the priest was. They had come to take him away. The priest was to the point where he felt it was best to just go along. They took him back to the city and the next morning he was shot. Jesus was brutally nailed to a cross and displayed for all to see. His suffering was a blessing however. He had come to this earth to save and he was leaving it content with what he had done. When the priest left the earth, he had accomplished all he could as such an imperfect man.
Every life is important, whether a certain person accomplished enough in the time they were given is not for a human being to determine. Jesus had prayed that God would forgive the officials while he was hanging on the cross. He displayed humility and grace to all around him. Even as the men brought hammers to his palms he was praying that they would get more out of their life here on earth than they were at that moment. As the priest left the world he was leaving behind a mass of imperfect beings just as Jesus had done. In the novel, The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene, two lives are ironically intertwined to recreate the passion through a human body. For we know Christ was perfect, and Greene displays how far from perfect man really is when compared to Jesus who walked the earth flawless for over thirty years. We can't grow without learning first. Jesus came to be our teacher, he knows we need his help.
In the novel, The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene, the life of Jesus Christ is ironically portrayed through the life of a flawed, unworthy priest. "It was for this world that Christ had died; the more evil you saw and heard about you, the greater glory lay around the death. It was too easy to die for what was good or beautiful, for home or children or a civilization-- it needed a God to die for the half-hearted and the corrupt." (97)Just as Jesus was of no value to the Jews, this priest had lost all respect. Aside from the fact that religion was illegal, the priest had made many mistakes and committed many crimes that caused judgment. Although, there were still some that followed the beliefs of the priest, they longed to find God once again and they believed the only way they could do so was through the priest.
Often times when he would near a village, immediately the priest would be asked if he could listen to confession. This shows the villagers obvious concern with their wrongdoings. As humans we are naturally imperfect, the only man that has ever walked this earth that wore the title of perfection was Jesus Christ. The irony of this is that the priest is the Christ figure; he is far from perfect, however. We strive to be perfect, but the reality of the fact is that the world's view of perfection is much different than God's view of perfection. Once a human being figures that out they can admit to needing help. No one can walk alone; they can't make all these decisions on their own.
The novel is laid out in a way that is parallel to the passion. As it begins the priest is called by a young man with a donkey to help his mother. The young man allows the priest to ride his donkey, just as Jesus rode his donkey into Jerusalem. The priest, however, was lead into an alley of filth and dirt, while Jesus walked upon palms; this is true irony. Along with being lead through such grime, the priest also missed his ship. This ship was meant to take him away from the land that hated him so; it was to provide an escape for him. Many of the other priests were long gone, this priest was one of the few that were left. Christ had the power to escape his death, but he chose not to. The priest could have boarded the boat and never looked back, but he chose to go help this poor woman and he gave up his freedom. Doing good can look so unattractive while evil can draw us in so strongly. In the bible there is a reference to how hard it is to do good in this world we live in. Matthew 7 :13 says Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. The world stands on one shoulder-- tending to sound much more attractive-- and God stands on the other, it is our responsibility to choose which side to listen to.
After Jesus entered Jerusalem he called his disciples for one last meal: The Last Supper. He talked of the breaking of his body and the pouring of his blood. He displayed to the disciples the reason he was to give his life-- to save the world. The priest was given some sandwiches before he finally left for the village that held the murder. The sandwiches were from Ms. Lehr-- a woman that he had stayed with. "He was aware of an immense load of responsibility: it was indistinguishable from love." (66) As he turned to leave, he was leaving behind all that he knew, the people he cared for, he was going to lose his life so they could gain from it. We tend not to think of losing someone as gaining anything but, in this time killing the priest seems to be the only thing that will bring peace to such a broken world. People were losing their lives just so the government could find the priest. Once he was found innocent lives were not sacrificed. It is amazing that all the hostages never spoke a word about the priest's location. They gave their lives for the priest; they gave their lives for a man they barely knew. They were God's examples of humility.
As the priest traveled alongside with the Mestizo uncomfortably, he knew the man had no good in his heart and had no drive to help the priest in any way. As they got further and further, the priest realized he was walking with Judas. In the Bible, Judas was a disciple who betrayed Jesus. He went to the government and turned Jesus in for only a small amount of money. Before he did this Jesus told the disciples as a whole the one of them was to betray him. This is parallel to the moment that the priest becomes aware who he is walking with. "He knew. He was in the presence of Judas." (91)
Shortly after Judas turns Jesus in to the officials, police are sent out to arrest Jesus. They find him in a garden praying to his father. The officials take him to Pontius Pilate immediately. In the novel the priest is arrested for use of alcohol. They catch the priest, after chasing him through the city. He is brought to the Lieutenant and is forced to stay at the jail for a night. The irony of a religious man getting arrested is unbelievable. Christianity stresses the importance of staying pure and following the commandments. God knows that humans are imperfect but he always forgives us, even before we do something, he has already forgiven us. That is why he came to this earth, so he could be the ultimate offering-- the ultimate sacrifice.
There is a difference between all other religions and Christianity, we have grace-- the ability to forgive. It is apparent that we are imperfect and even though we were made in God's image, we make mistakes and God is gracious and forgives even before we ask for it. "But at the centre of his own faith there always stood the convincing mystery-- that we were made in God's image. God was the parent, but He was also the policeman, the criminal, the priest, the maniac, and the judge." (101) The priest, though he was a religious man, made mistake after mistake, but was forgiven by God. He suffered through small punishment, but life is paradox. You must go through that which is hard to see that which is beautiful.
The priest and the Mestizo were traveling to hear the confession of a man who was both a murderer and a thief. When they arrived there the priest was able to talk to the man and work to convince him that he must confess. The man died soon after. This is parallel to the bible because when Jesus was on the cross he had two men next to him: a thief and a murderer. It is apparent that Graham Greene is trying to display the life of Jesus in complete irony. After the man died, the officials arrived at the hut where the priest was. They had come to take him away. The priest was to the point where he felt it was best to just go along. They took him back to the city and the next morning he was shot. Jesus was brutally nailed to a cross and displayed for all to see. His suffering was a blessing however. He had come to this earth to save and he was leaving it content with what he had done. When the priest left the earth, he had accomplished all he could as such an imperfect man.
Every life is important, whether a certain person accomplished enough in the time they were given is not for a human being to determine. Jesus had prayed that God would forgive the officials while he was hanging on the cross. He displayed humility and grace to all around him. Even as the men brought hammers to his palms he was praying that they would get more out of their life here on earth than they were at that moment. As the priest left the world he was leaving behind a mass of imperfect beings just as Jesus had done. In the novel, The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene, two lives are ironically intertwined to recreate the passion through a human body. For we know Christ was perfect, and Greene displays how far from perfect man really is when compared to Jesus who walked the earth flawless for over thirty years. We can't grow without learning first. Jesus came to be our teacher, he knows we need his help.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
An Undiscovered Strength
an essay on the novel Life of Pi, by Yann Martel
Life is journey upon journey to find yourself. You grow older everyday, learning new things. You are exposed to situations that force you out of your comfort zone. In the novel, Life of Pi, by Yann Martel, a young man travels across the expanse of the earth discovering the strength he never knew he had. "The individual soul touches up on the world soul like a well reaches for the water table. That which sustains the universe beyond thought and language, and that which is at the core of us and struggles for expression, is the same thing." (48-49) This world that we live in has the ability to change us in ways we never knew possible. As Pi travels across the unknown he finds that he has skills and strengths that he would have never discovered as a small town boy.
Living in Pondicherry was quite modest and simple. As Pi grew older he grew more and more curious. He became exposed to religion on a trip with his father. His curiosity got the better of him and he found himself caught up in multiple religions; Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. In this area of the country and this generation we aren't exposed to very many religions. It is common for people to be Catholic, Lutheran, as well as any denomination of Christianity. They follow the same guidelines and read the same book. Some see religion as just part of their routine, while others live by it, spending day after day improving their walk with their God. Something Pi discovers that not many people see is that all religions have something in common; they all are on a mission to reach God. The only difference is the path they take to get there. Pi reaches a point where he is overwhelmed with understanding. "I was filled with a sense of peace. But more than the setting, what arrested me was my intuitive understanding that he was there--open, patient-- in case someone, anyone, should want to talk to him; a problem of the soul, a heaviness of the heart, a darkness of the conscience, he would listen with love." (52) He realizes the importance of believing in something, of having something to call his own. The relationship he creates with God is strong and unbreakable; a relationship he had never thought possible.
His family soon decides to part from Pondicherry and start a new life in Canada. He is ripped from his sources of religion; his ties are broken and he is forced to continue on his own without guidance although in reality he is still with God. Finding himself on a ship with men who find it funny to drink too much at night and lose control of the ship in the morning, Pi ends up as the only known survivor of a shipwreck. He then experiences hunger, loneliness, and fear. Adapting to these feelings becomes second nature to Pi Patel. He uncovers ways to provide for himself with limited supplies. Once living in a small town, getting everything handed to him as needed, he is now required to take care of himself and maintain his own wellbeing-- something he has never had to do before.
He begins with the simple concept of food. Slowly he begins to find ways to catch fish and collect water. From the little survival experience he's had, he begins to learn. Aristotle once said "One must learn by doing the thing, for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try." This is what Pi was discovering. Though he had never really needed to catch food for himself or collect fresh water, he was now learning through experience. He was surprising himself with all that he knew how to achieve. As people in this world we learn of new skills we have everyday. And as we go on, those skills mature and grow. Pi finds his routine; he goes about the same things each day improving upon them. "A little bit of hope-- hard earned, well deserved, reasonable-- glowed in me." (176)
In our world today it is necessary to have a career in order to support a home and a family. As we work through school and onto college we acquire more and more knowledge. To do this we have to expose ourselves to different situations. We find out what we enjoy and that plays a huge part in what we do for the rest of our lives. When Pi is on this journey, it seems there is a representation of life. Pi begins to find himself and discover new traits that had never been uncovered before. When he lands on Mexico and eventually starts his life in Canada these discoveries affect his way of life and the person he becomes. In the novel, Life of Pi by Yann Martel, a young man finds his place in life after journeying from the discovery of God to a higher realm of self confidence and understanding.
Life is journey upon journey to find yourself. You grow older everyday, learning new things. You are exposed to situations that force you out of your comfort zone. In the novel, Life of Pi, by Yann Martel, a young man travels across the expanse of the earth discovering the strength he never knew he had. "The individual soul touches up on the world soul like a well reaches for the water table. That which sustains the universe beyond thought and language, and that which is at the core of us and struggles for expression, is the same thing." (48-49) This world that we live in has the ability to change us in ways we never knew possible. As Pi travels across the unknown he finds that he has skills and strengths that he would have never discovered as a small town boy.
Living in Pondicherry was quite modest and simple. As Pi grew older he grew more and more curious. He became exposed to religion on a trip with his father. His curiosity got the better of him and he found himself caught up in multiple religions; Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. In this area of the country and this generation we aren't exposed to very many religions. It is common for people to be Catholic, Lutheran, as well as any denomination of Christianity. They follow the same guidelines and read the same book. Some see religion as just part of their routine, while others live by it, spending day after day improving their walk with their God. Something Pi discovers that not many people see is that all religions have something in common; they all are on a mission to reach God. The only difference is the path they take to get there. Pi reaches a point where he is overwhelmed with understanding. "I was filled with a sense of peace. But more than the setting, what arrested me was my intuitive understanding that he was there--open, patient-- in case someone, anyone, should want to talk to him; a problem of the soul, a heaviness of the heart, a darkness of the conscience, he would listen with love." (52) He realizes the importance of believing in something, of having something to call his own. The relationship he creates with God is strong and unbreakable; a relationship he had never thought possible.
His family soon decides to part from Pondicherry and start a new life in Canada. He is ripped from his sources of religion; his ties are broken and he is forced to continue on his own without guidance although in reality he is still with God. Finding himself on a ship with men who find it funny to drink too much at night and lose control of the ship in the morning, Pi ends up as the only known survivor of a shipwreck. He then experiences hunger, loneliness, and fear. Adapting to these feelings becomes second nature to Pi Patel. He uncovers ways to provide for himself with limited supplies. Once living in a small town, getting everything handed to him as needed, he is now required to take care of himself and maintain his own wellbeing-- something he has never had to do before.
He begins with the simple concept of food. Slowly he begins to find ways to catch fish and collect water. From the little survival experience he's had, he begins to learn. Aristotle once said "One must learn by doing the thing, for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try." This is what Pi was discovering. Though he had never really needed to catch food for himself or collect fresh water, he was now learning through experience. He was surprising himself with all that he knew how to achieve. As people in this world we learn of new skills we have everyday. And as we go on, those skills mature and grow. Pi finds his routine; he goes about the same things each day improving upon them. "A little bit of hope-- hard earned, well deserved, reasonable-- glowed in me." (176)
In our world today it is necessary to have a career in order to support a home and a family. As we work through school and onto college we acquire more and more knowledge. To do this we have to expose ourselves to different situations. We find out what we enjoy and that plays a huge part in what we do for the rest of our lives. When Pi is on this journey, it seems there is a representation of life. Pi begins to find himself and discover new traits that had never been uncovered before. When he lands on Mexico and eventually starts his life in Canada these discoveries affect his way of life and the person he becomes. In the novel, Life of Pi by Yann Martel, a young man finds his place in life after journeying from the discovery of God to a higher realm of self confidence and understanding.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Farenheit 451
Relation to Farenheit 451
Teenagers can be so violent and mean to eachother. Clarrisse talks about gangs of teens hanging around theme parks just waiting to pounce on a helpless kid. And when they speed down the highway swerving and going crazy. These are all forms of teen violence and this isn't just a problem in the book it's a problem all across America.
Teenagers can be so violent and mean to eachother. Clarrisse talks about gangs of teens hanging around theme parks just waiting to pounce on a helpless kid. And when they speed down the highway swerving and going crazy. These are all forms of teen violence and this isn't just a problem in the book it's a problem all across America.
Scenario
STATE NOTICE.
The government has received $200,000 to spend as needed in the state. If you have any problems to report please contact Tad Martin. He will be collecting all reports/complaints and they looked over by the state government, and decisions will be made so every cent will be spent wisely.
Send to:
PO Box 15326
Madison, WI 53701
The government has received $200,000 to spend as needed in the state. If you have any problems to report please contact Tad Martin. He will be collecting all reports/complaints and they looked over by the state government, and decisions will be made so every cent will be spent wisely.
Send to:
PO Box 15326
Madison, WI 53701
Friday, January 29, 2010
Teen Violence
Dear Domestic Violence Center of Wisconsin,
My name is Olivia Ritchie. Milwaukee County has been my home for 10 years as I've attended Milwaukee Public Schools. I find pride in involving myself in every opportunity possible and developing strong relationships with other students and neighbors. Although at times it can feel like a dangerous place to spend my time with. Slowly I've learned to adapt and look out for myself and those I love; sticking up for those who can't stick up for themselves. Pain is a hard thing to deal with and if I can prevent even just one person from that situation I believe it will make a difference.
This year has been a difficult year, however. One of my fellow students punched and knocked out his football coach; there have been many teachers filing workers compensation cases, due to assault; boys of a young age have been caught vending guns; everyday, people are mugged when walking down the street . Sadly these things occur more often than just once. I feel it is my responsibility, as well as my fellow students, to change this. As I've observed these things it seems the only thing I can do is turn to you for help.
Recently, it has come to my attention that you've received $200,000 from the government to spend as needed. Well, teen violence is a problem all over the state, as well as all over the world. As a teenager myself I feel the most good influence comes from the next generation--the people who have already been through it all, they've seen and experienced it. They are the wise ones, we just need time to listen. Although, you may think we can grow arrogant and completely disregard what our elders say, I think by showing that there are people that have little faith in us, would be the answer. So often, teens can feel so unimportant and we constantly seem to get the excuse "you're too young", when we really are not. We've been through the same amount, if not more, of hardships. Most of us are mature, beyond our years. I believe that by showing us our opinion matters--our life matters-- this is the answer.
It's a scary world and no one can really change that. I feel that the way some students act, by pushing away any help, they are only trying to cover up that fear. Bringing in someone who was once in that exact situation--someone these we can relate to-- this is what would make a real difference. Even if some don't take it to heart, we can always say we tried and maybe, just maybe, we could change a few lives and direct some on the right track to success.
As these thoughts crossed my mind, I felt I should do a little research for you. I came across many elders who I believe could relate the greatest. There is a gang conference that is held and speakers come from all over, and all walks of life to share their stories and skills. One man I came across, TJ Leydon, is a former neo-Nazi gang member. I felt that this would be a very relatable man. He's fallen to the deepest of depths, feeling the pain and the guilt. It seems his testimony would be extremely appropriate and affective for my age group. High school is when most of the peer pressure starts and the decisions you make can be life changing; whether these changes are for the best or the worst is up to us as people.
Counseling is a concept that many people grasp onto, but it doesn't work for everyone. Teenagers, especially avoid this idea of help, they prefer looking to their friends for advice-- advice that, at times, can be unpredictable. Counselors are wise but most of the time can not be related to. I feel that if they put people like TJ Leydon into struggling high schools, counseling would be much more affective. The students would be able to talk about their problems and feel like there wasn't just empty advice bouncing back at them.
Like counselors, police are suited to handle violent and emotional situations between teens, but to me, and I'm sure I am speaking for the entire student body, they are only doing their job and they only care for a short amount of time. If we were able to bring in people who could truly see and feel what these struggling teens are going through, the recovery would go much more smoothly. The truth is, we just need someone to show they care and they believe in us. That means more than anything in the world. As a teen I can feel so insignificant and not good enough for anything. It's that stage in our lives where we stand right in between a kid and an adult--a hard place to be. You receive freedom but much less than you feel is right.
I'm sure it is understandable to all that growing up is hard, but the journey is great. When you're young you wish you were older; when you're old, you wish you were younger. The human population never really seems to be satisfied. Yes, teen violence is a problem and yes, kids do make some terrible decisions, but they just need a little help. Using the money you've received to sponsor these ideas, could change lives. And isn't that our goal? We only long to help and protect the people of our great country; the United States of America. Please consider what I've said. I speak for my generation and hope that together we can create a better tomorrow. "Together we stand, divided we fall". ~Martin Luther King Jr.
Thank you,
Olivia Ritchie
Milwaukee, WI
Thursday, December 24, 2009
True Love Stays
True love is a concept that many have yet to grasp. Although, why do so many long for this feeling? Why do so many spend their days searching for this? The answer to this: love is the closest thing we have to magic. In the novel, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, love stays, never leaving, through every terrible word or thought, through every rise or fall, through every smile or frown. After such cruelty from Pip, Joe stays—his loyalty and love for Pip, everlasting.
As a youth, Pip grew to be Joe’s companion, Joe’s escape. They were inseparable and worked through every hardship, growing fonder of each other through it all. “But I loved
When Joe discovers that Pip is home and ill he immediately goes to tend to his every need. This loyalty is a shock to Pip. “For
As Pip grows stronger each day, Joe becomes more and more detached. Though he loves Pip with all his heart, his fear of getting hurt and pushed away once more is obvious. Joe’s strategy is to give Pip no reason to push him away, for he will already be gone. But the thought of Pip will hold a place in his heart for eternity. To show this to Pip, he pays off the young man’s fine for him. Seeing this, he realizes how he’s lost his chance of apology. Instantly, he sets out for home—on a mission to mend the ties between Joe and himself. For Joe fled before he was able to show how he had changed; how he had found himself once more and was regretful of his behavior—longing to fix what had been broken.
It is a glorious thing to find what truly matters to you. Sometimes you don’t see what you have until you’ve lost it—and finding it once again can be the adventure of a lifetime. Pip realized this slowly, but the important thing is to see what truly matters before you lose it. Take nothing for granted and your chance of losing those things will lessen over time. Joe comes to nurse Pip back to health. He comes with a humble heart and a caring heart. Through all that Pip has done to him, he comes, bringing no complaint. Throughout this novel, love is apparent; the truest of love is demonstrated through the most wounded of relationships. This only proves that love can find you, and love can stay—bringing joy to what once was silence and abandonment. “I have been bent and broken, but—I hope—into a better shape. Be as considerate and good to me as you were, and tell me we are friends.” (489)
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