Response to Dan's blog "Language"

The following is a response to Dan Adelman's February 21 blog:

I completely agree with what Dan says about language creating some of the biggest conflicts in society. When one looks at it, language is a huge instigator amongst many different people and cultures in modern day society. Whether it be, for example, an American tourist being ridiculed in France for his lack of knowledge on the French language, or just the accent of a man or woman of Arab descent, many people are quick to jump to fast, and often incorrect conclusions with regard to a person's race and/or nationality. The world that we live in today is extremely diverse, possessing thousands upon thousands of different cultures, backgrounds, and ethnicities. I also agree with Dan with respect to his point about sympathizing with Gloria in her trying times of being unable to express herself through language. To live in a society where I was a loner in the form of my race and nationality, and than to have to adapt to another culture's attributes would be an incredibly tough struggle.

Reaction to "The Socks" by Marjane Satrapi

For basically everything we have done in the class thus far, the material has predominately been that of written, and basically in story form all the time. However, "The Socks" by Marjane Satrapi had a different twist to it, which, I believe, made me like it more. In Satrapi's piece, the format was that of a comic book. I found this much easier to read, as well as comprehend. I also found myself moving from comic box to comic box, anxiously awaiting the next part of the story. As well as providing and interesting format, Satrapi also brought to the forefront the horrible living conditions for people in the Heavy-religious Islam cultures in the Middle East. Hearing about everything going on in Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan in the news is one thing, however, hearing about it from someone who lived directly through it is a whole different idea, and certainly a lot more interesting. I found it intriguing the amount of restrictions placed on the citizens of those countries under muslim faith. It seemed deeply unfair and flat out wrong for people to question their actions at all times for fear of breaking the law. As an American, it made more even more grateful that since I live in the United States, I don't have to undergo the daily worrying. This is obviously because I live in a country "of the people, by the people, and for the people." And after reading the horrors involed in Satrapi's piece, nothing can beat that.

Free Write From Class 2/9/08 -- When Have You Been Silenced?

I play ice hockey. I love to run my mouth out on the ice. It's part of my game. However, sometimes I run my mouth to the wrong people. For instance, one game, I just didn't stop talking to and aggravating this one defense man throughout the duration of the game. Every shift we were on the ice together, he heard my voice chirping in his ear. I didn't particularly have anything against him, it was just a matter of him being my opponent that evening. However, I should've seen my knock-out punch coming. Late in the game, I recieved a pass in the middle of the ice, only to skate directly into what I thought was a brick wall. Instead it was the defense man. I have never been hit so hard in my life. I flipped on my back and got the wind completely knocked out of me. For the rest of that game, and for one of the few times on the ice in my hockey career, I had been silenced.

Free Write From Class 2/11/08---My Ears at Age 12 or 13

My ears have always felt normal to me. I mean, I could hear out of them and they never hurt, so how could anything be wrong? However, there was something terribly wrong with them: they were too small for my head. Or so said my friend in school. One day, we were all sitting in class when I heard my friend Jesse say from the back of the room, "Josh's ears are so too small for his head." Immediately the class started laughing at me, and I didn't know what to do. It wasn't like Jesse was a bully in the school or anything; in fact, I considered him one of my better friends at school. However, from that period until the rest of the year, I became obsessed self-consciously with the idea that my ears were too small for my head. Was it true? Probably not. However, the face still remained that each day for about a year or so, I'd stare at myself in the mirror and pull them so I could try and make them grow. I hoped that it could work-hell, I was hoping for Dumbo ears in my predicament-but I knew deep down that nothing was going to happen. And it never did. My ears never seemed to grow. Jesse never said another thing after that one day, but the damage was done. He has since left me with an underlying conscience that my ears are too small for my head.

Reaction to John Updike's Piece, "At War with My Skin"

fter reading John Updike’s At War with My Skin, I had a general sense of sympathy for Mr. Updike. To grow up with such a difficult skin condition can be tough for anyone, but the fact that it was a genetic problem and his mother had it before him makes it especially tougher. However, to his credit, Updike has established himself as a well-known and talented writer. One of the small stories that he spoke about which truly touched me was the story about how he was turned down by the United States Armed forces because of his case of Psoriasis. Obviously, the upside to that is that one does not face themselves with the possibility of losing their life in war. However, that is also a very cowardly way to look at things. The fact that he didn’t get into the war because of the way he looked had to have bothered Updike, and as he stated, clearly bothered his mother. To me, I would be devastated if I was held back from anything because of the way I looked, especially something that I couldn’t control. Updike’s children were all in the clear from Psoriasis, except for his final one, of whom John does not go into much detail about. All in all, I found this reading to be quite moving and although perhaps not the goal, made me very sympathetic towards John Updike.

Body Collage

For the upcoming Body Collage writing assignment, I am debating as to which body part I will write about. I have narrowed down my choices to my ears, my hands, and my feet. The reason I wanted to talk about my ears is because I feel that I have experienced so much through them. The lessons taught to me by my parents, the many great forms of music I've heard, and even famous speeches that have been presented orally have all been a result of my ears. Another body part, my hands, have also been very important to me throughout my life. They have allowed me to excel in hockey, my favorite sport, as well as letting me be able to grip items and write my feelings down whether it be on a piece of paper or through a computer. The final one I am considering, are my feet. Without my feet, I would not be able to get around. I love to run, walk, and ice skate. Without my feet, none of those activities would be possible. Regardless of what I choose to write about, I am confident that I will be able to put together interesting information on the particular body part. Now it just comes down to me putting everything together and forming a series of vignettes on it.