Little Colonists Big Africa

Hey guys! This week we are talking about and reflecting on power, privilege and who gets generally tells the story after reading a piece from Adichie's The Thing Around Your Neck. Analyzing the stories we have read this year I was surprised when I found out that almost all of the narrators of the stories or the authors themselves, were underdogs or minorities. This is especially the case with this story as a continent is harshly colonized by a small group of individuals with firearms and superior technology. The citizens don't give in because they feel less than the intruders, but so that they do not create backlash or an even more strained relationship. So, while the colonists forcibly take the privilege and the power the new subsiding central population tells the story. See you all next week!

Just how fictional?

Personally I believe that historical fiction can hold the same importance and felt impact as a nonfiction book. What it comes down to and the big difference, is the how interesting the authors story is. While nonfiction can be very interesting, only so many crazy things can happen to one person at one time. On the other hand with historical fiction, events that may have actually occurred are potentially discussed and emphasis can be place on whatever the author believes is the most important.

Someone being reeducated might have a story to tell full of their adventures, but a story written from the perspective of someone the author has fabricated can tell a powerful story on the authors specific interests. With different language or tone, the author may be able to tell a more relatable story with a bigger impact than a historian publishing a nonfiction work. 

Up to this point

Hey everyone! As you may know this year I am taking English II and I actually just finished my first quarter. Thinking back on my journey thus far I feel as though I have grown as a writer. Yes my conventions are not perfect, but I am somewhat satisified with the progress nonetheless. That's not to say that I am not thrilled with a few other aspects of my first quarter. First off my procrastination has to stop along with my distraction in class. Aside from these problems that need to be fixed, I can continue to add in class discussions as I have been doing. I can also continue studying for reading quizzes while hopefully staying on task.
I have felt a new passion for writing this year I have never before had. I think it is largely in part thanks to the depth of the discussions in class. While I still have room for improvement I am happy with the changes I have made so far this year and hope to continue or improve the trend.

What would you do for a book?

Hey everyone, its been a little while, but this week we have a very interesting discussion. Banned books. As an individual that loves to culture myself and learn about others views and arguments, I rarely believe a book should be banned. Only in extreme cases, i.e. The Communist Manifesto, Mien Kampf do I actually understand why they are banned. But so rarely can a book do the harm these have done.

On this years banned book list, I was extremely surprised to see novels I had come to love such as The House on Mango Street had been chosen for the list. Having read it in school, I honestly feel so lucky to be taught by open minded educators who see the good in reading controversial texts. While some themes in Mango Street were dark and its portrayal of America was rather bleak, it ultimately opened my eyes to the life of those stricken with poverty. The irony in it all is the fact that the books being censored and shielded away from students are actually the books that open the most eyes to the world around them. With that being said I would go to far reaches to get a book even it was banned. I see the worth in the risky discovery of something new.  That is it for this week thanks for reading again. Come back next week and we will set sail and discuss a new adventure. Bon Voyage!

8th Place Trophy?

Hey everyone! Something has been weighing on my mind for way to long and I just have to put in my two cents. So, after reading a story in English about a society that promoted complete social equality, I was struck. How can people be equal and still maintain any quality of life or ambition?

Competition helps create the movers and the shakers in society and with nobody standing out, it is nearly impossible to innovate and make great things ever greater. Even worse is the fact that everyone is assumed to be a winner because they are equal. Personally that sounds more like a loser than a winner, rather than getting an award they get recognized for participation while undermining achievement and therefore losing. One can only take so much mediocracy before they lose all sense of ambition and drive. Yes, I believe everyone should be appreciated for their differences, but I do believe that people are allowed and should possess certain talents. That is it for this week bon voyage! See you soon!

Foie Gras?

Hey readers, this week we talk about choices. Choices and times that we stayed and realized the detrimental effect something might be having on someone or something, or times we were brave and simply walked away. Two such examples struck me.

When I saw my dog at the pet store I knew right away that he was perfect. Taking him home, we did some research on pet stores and were shocked to hear about the conditions of the puppy mills that the dogs came from. While I cannot do anything about it now, I know for certain as a family we will never give in and support something so terrible again. One other example comes from foie gras. As a huge foodie I decided to try something that much of my immediate family said I should try. Not really thinking about what I put in my mouth, I later realized it was force fed goose liver and swore off it forever. To this day some restaurants make me feel sick thinking about the inhumane torture of the birds. 

What makes these two examples significant to me is that both of them are effects of ignorance. The bad in both easily overlooked and many people "stay". While only a small victory I "walked away" and feel that much more informed. Until next week!

Fear or Fiction?

Hey everyone, this week I'm going to share with you a reflection on a quote from the novel The Culture of Fear. "Watch enough brutality on TV and you come to believe you are living in a cruel and gloomy world in which you feel vulnerable and insecure. In his research over three decades Gerbner found that people who watch a lot of TV are more likely than others to believe their neighborhoods are unsafe, to assume that crime rates are rising, and to overestimate their own odds of becoming a victim. They also buy more locks, alarms, and- you guessed it- guns, in hopes of protecting themselves. 'They may accept and even welcome,' Gerbner reports, 'repressive measures such as more jails, capital punishment, harsher sentences- measures that have never reduced crime but never fail to get votes- if that promises to relieve their anxieties. That is the deeper dilemma of violence-laden television"(Glassner 44).

As a well informed person I see the news on the television and try to use it to benefit my own reflection on the world. I look through the stories only trying to spark controversy, while paying attention to larger more widespread stories. With that being said, I do agree that watching the news and investing oneself in every murder or every kidnapping will no doubt raise awareness and fear in the viewers. The excerpt I just illustrated does however seem to stretch reality a bit, as those in government and legislative power should be well informed and have open minds. Just because a trial is shown on the television does not mean that a judge does not have to still go through years of training before visiting the courtroom. A single story of a masked assailant raiding a bank makes us scared of things like guns. Those watching news on channels only drawn to dramatic, violent stories will especially feel the impact. Living a life in fear is not without drawbacks as we learn from Nadine Gordimer's "Once Upon a Time." Fear significantly lowers quality of life and can make the population act in ways they wouldn't normally have.
So to all my viewers watch the news if you wish stay informed, but please keep an eye out for articles and stories devoted only to drawing in viewers. Until next week bon voyage! Captain Jack singing off.

Picture This

Hey all! This week I thought that I would do something different. I have decided to pick a picture and tell you what a caption couldn't. This picture was take during the summer of my 6th grade. While visiting the beautiful island of Santorini, I snapped this pic of the beautiful pearl white houses that seemed to hang right above the deep blue of the Mediterranean. But all of that could be interpreted by you the reader after viewing the image. 

After a long journey we finally arrived to the island of Santorini known for its picturesque beauty. I specifically remember looking out from our room and being blown away. Here I was, seeing something only a lucky few get to see, with the people I love, and not a single care in the world. I truly felt light and limitless. A caption wouldn't be able to express the smile on my face as we walked down the cobblestone streets or the warmth of the Greek sun on my pink cheeks. These moments will last forever.

Hopefully I've painted a picture and have expressed more than this picture ever could have. Until next voyage guys! Its Captain Jack signing off over and out.

Starting Things Off

Hey everybody it's Jack! I'm pretty new to the blogosphere, but I feel confident I'll get the hang of it pretty soon. So to start things off here is a little about me. This year I will be a sophomore at a great school in Newport Coast and have just started my school year and English II. I was born and raised in Southern California as an only child and have always been centered around my home and great family. Growing up I went to a small public school for elementary and a massive public school for middle school. Fun fact I love student council and was President at both schools! While President at my middle school I created a charity that donated iPads to the Children's Hospital of Orange County. The iPads with the money raised from my school wide garage sale and donations, were to be used by little kids before a scary operation or checkup to help take their minds off things. Before I get all side tracked, (trust me you'll know me really well by the end of my blogging days;)) let me just show you who I am. I think the quickest way is to show you my word cloud. Yes it does look like a mashup of random words, but please take a second and peruse what I identify as me.

 Whether it's just whats going on in the mind of a extroverted guy like myself or my past stories we are going on a voyage. I hope your ready to be Captain Jack's first mate! Bon voyage!