Public Profession of Belief

I would like to begin by stating that chapter one of Paine’s The Age of Reason is one of the most powerful and candid statements on the involvement of the Church in religion that I have read in a very long time. I say this with such surprise because I have taken into consideration the fact that it was written in a time when freedom of speech didn’t present the same ‘freedom’ as it does today. I enjoyed it more so because I hold a very similar outlook on ‘dogma-contrived-beliefs’ and can relate to his frustrations with the church (regardless of the denomination).

I think if Paine was to view the world of faith today he would be happy to note that freedom of choice and freedom of speech has relaxed the creed-professed beliefs of churches and that attending these places of holy worship now is less about instilling fear into its patrons, and more about celebrating faith.

I am a true believer in one God. I also believe in modesty and the virtues we spoke of earlier, pillars which I live by and do my hardest to practice. However I can’t help but wonder where this world is headed to spiritually. Is it just me or does it seem that everyone has forgotten religion and our creator. Maybe they haven’t forgotten and they just don’t believe in God anymore? Maybe people never really believed in God anyway but only pretended to so as to fit in with church-going society as Paine had stated in his public profession?

All I do know is that when I watch the video clips of music artist these days, I can’t help but think ‘Godless industry’. When I hear the obscene lyrics of songs that are on today’s radio I can’t help but think ‘Godless society’. When I turn on the news and see malice and cruelty subjected on defenceless everyday people, I can’t help but think ‘Godless nation’. My point is that we need to find a balance between forced-religion and complete un-Godliness before our world turns into a wreck less and un-inhabitable place to live in. How we are supposed to achieve that in a society of people with such differing views and beliefs is beyond me. Maybe going back to our churches is a good place to start?
According to a recent poll conducted by Kirk Hadaway (minister for research and evaluation at the United Church of Christ’s Board for Homeland Ministries) weekly church attendance has dropped by 30% over the past 60 years. It is estimated that approximately 40% of Americans still attend Church (this includes Jewish, Christian and Muslim churches) however this number is slowly dwindling;

“Despite the rhetoric, active religious participation remains a minority interest
in American life." Tom Flynn, writer for Free Inquiry magazine, (1998).

I believe the declining number of church attendees is a result of many things. Firstly I deem it as the outcome of an absence of peer pressure. Just admit it; your neighbours will still love you if you don’t go to church (as long as you maintain the front lawn off course). I also feel declining number may be due to the aggressive approach the churches took in the past to ensure people came every week (threatening us with hell’s fury etc), it seems to have had the opposite effect and driven people away. I know from my own experience that when I am told I must eat piece of bread or drink a certain cup of wine to have my soul blessed I feel insulted because to me God is above these superficial man-created dogmas and rules.

Learning Reflection

I was not aware that prior to the thanksgiving dinners held by European colonists, Native Americans had been holding harvest festivals for centuries. I was also surprised to find that the bird of choice for dinner during the early period was in fact wild fowl and not turkey? After reading the two descriptions of the holiday (especially the quote from Edward Winslow) I was impressed to see the large emphasis on generosity and coming together of different people to give thanks to different Gods and how this still relates to contemporary situations today.

One thing that I am glad has changed over the years is the regulation concerning social status. In my home you get to eat whatever you please and it astounds me that things were any different in our history.

Second week virtues

Family: my family is continue to my life I have to take care of it

Growing up I lived under the same roof and ate at the same table as my parents and siblings until I was old enough to marry and start a family of my own. Because of my positive upbringing I have strong emotions towards the notion of family life and how things in a household should be. Spending time together is a very important staple in my life and it is something I press upon with my wife and children continually. My understanding of family has developed over the years and many experiences have helped shaped the beliefs I hold today.

The traditional notion of family has come a long way and as with all things, it has changed over time. Sometimes I wonder if it is just me, or does it seem harder to raise a family nowadays?

Regardless I make it my duty to provide and take care of my family and so far I believe I am doing ok. I try very hard to set a healthy example of how a safe family should coexist for my own children. By doing this I hope to instil in them positive notions on relationships so that when they are ready to start a family of their own, they too can set an example to their children. It’s sometimes hard to learn to collaboration with people in your family who have opposing ideas to you; but this is defiantly something I am working on. I also expect equal and valuable contributions in effort and time from every family member.
One thing I would like to improve on however is bridging the gap between members whom I feel distant to and involving them in my life more actively. Family to me is absolutely the biggest priority of my life and it is where the majority of my effort and time goes into, well worth the effort I believe.

Patrick Henry

St. Johns Church:
Walking up the hill towards St. Johns Church, where the world has been set, then repeated by thousands of politicians in the world, “Give me liberty or give me death.” When I walked up the steps to the church, I felt that the people were still there. You feel like Patrick Henry is saying his speech to them over and over again. Walking inside the church, I saw a guy dressed from the 1800s that was explaining to the groups of people and tourists about this moment in history, but I didn’t give any attention to him. I felt the spirit in the church and I kept hearing Patrick Henry giving his speech.

Extra Credit

Edgar Allen Poe Museum:
5 dollars with a AAA card is all you have to pay to learn more and see the interesting pictures and life stories of Edgar Allen Poe. Walking inside, you feel the spirit of sadness in the atmosphere. There is no life inside the rooms. It is quiet and dark. Whatever we say or talk about Edgar Allen Poe, is not enough words to show how he expresses his feelings and writes his poems. He provides to the world genuine writing that we will never be able to forget. His poems and stories will be taught throughout the future.

This is what I thought after I read the Raven.

"The Raven: is a symbol of imagination for a man that imagines a raven is a message from God, intended to relieve him from the pain because of how much he has suffered with a great loss. Also, the raven reflected Poe’s life experiences, including living a life of poverty and being orphaned at a young age and the losses of his beloved wife, and death after a long illness. As he lived a life full of negativity, he had a depressive state of mind over his loss. He lives in deep darkness.
The dark night remind him how weak, lonely and sorrowful he felt. It also reminded him of his lost love, Lenore. He gets a feeling and accepts what has happened in his life and he will accept the end. His wife soul and his past are constantly tapping at the door and then the window in order to make him remember.
"The Raven" is a sign of death. Also, the word, “Nevermore” shows that the narrator had enough pain in his life.
If we look to the raven as a massage from his wife, we will find the beauty and love of how he wanted to remember her or how her soul came back to visit her beloved husband.
If we look to the raven as sad and dark tale, we will see the death that came to take him away or to remind him the painful past?

Learning reflections for week 12

Virtues would be important to the well being of our society for many reasons except for the fact that we can hardly ever use it. If people used virtues all the time society would be in a very different place. I realize that no matter how skilled I am, I can always improve my abilities to prepare better to solve problems, make decisions, or decide in a reasonable and reflective way and make better choices.

Short List of My virtues

1) Family; your family is your life, therefore you have to take care of it

2) Temper; negative temper puts you down, positive temper cheers you up


3) Society; treat every person the way you want to be treated

4) Honesty; Be honest with yourself before you can be honest with others

5) Self content; internal determination means you should never give up


6) Destiny; if you want to liver, you destiny answer your call

7) Successes; Look behind and learn and Look to front to achieve


8) Personality; by knowing yourself you will able to know the others

9) Religion; belief in your heart and between you and God, talk about Abraham “Father of the Profits”


10) Communication; count till 10 before you say the world

11) Peace; starts in the humans mind not in humans acts


Hard work, self- discipline and a yearning for success have been some of the virtues I have maintained my entire life. I longed to be like those great people from the past who have achieved something and left their mark in our history.

As I am a determined person, I was determined to make these virtues a part of my daily routine. By organizing my thoughts into positive feelings I could maintain control (to some degree) of the days’ outcome. Sometimes I would try to place each one of the virtues I would like to work on in a particular day on a separate page in a small book (I learnt tis from the great Benjamin Franklin) and it is something that I must work harder on doing because that precise mental exercise really does work. It gets me thinking about how to achieve the particular virtue I have chosen for the day and I remain focused on achieving that goal and carrying it out. I also try to evaluate my performance with regard to each of the virtues on a daily basis however I aim to only have one main virtue to focus on for each week so that my goal is realistic and achievable. Furthermore by realizing that no one is perfect it actually inspires me to persevere when I have been feeling out of touch with my virtuous side and therefore I have the strength to keep going. I have promised myself to work on them for the rest of my life and make them a guide and support of my character. It is my own personal battle to improve on them every day in my life and it is a war that I am winning.

Honesty; be honest with yourself before you can be honest with others (this is what I am trying to improve)

Being honest with each other is getting harder these days; almost as hard as being honest with yourself. It’s not rare to find ourselves lying to our own minds let alone the dishonesty we express towards other people.

Unfortunately it is so much harder to tell the truth when you know what you are about to say may cause hurt to someone. I know lying is wrong and that regardless of the situation I should always tell the truth, however in some circumstances it just seems out of the question. One example is in my work place (as I am a hair dresser) I have to lie to keep my customers happy. For example if a customer picks a hair colour that I know will look ridiculous on him/her, I can only give my honest opinion to a certain degree or I will risk losing their business.
By stating ‘be honest with yourself before others’ I mean to say that once we have conquered our own demons inside we are strong enough to face the truth on the outside. If I am honest with myself then I can trust myself; and if I trust myself then I know myself better and have a stronger understanding of what is right and true. Therefore I can more easily portray this notion of truth through my communications with others and be honest with them completely. It is my goal to maintain this practice of refining my stance on telling the truth without hesitation, I would like it to become a second nature and something that flows easily as it should be.

Committee Response week 12

Harrison: I agree with you about the Global Warming, also, about Society, it is true has changed. Also, we should work to make to the earth more Green.
Deb: I always like your writing; you’re always passionate, motivational, and encouraging.
Margie: I like your solution for slavery, if everyone thinks like you we will be in better place.
Seth: I agree with you on spending in campaigns, it is outrageous, but my friend if you see the corruption in other country you will find out we are living in heaven.

Andy: I like the way you are comparing slavery, and I agree with you.

Reading this week was great, I liked the group’s thoughts and opinions.

Learning reflections for week 11

last a twelve weeks I learn to practice critical thinking is self-guided, self-disciplined thinking which attempts to reason at the highest level of quality in a fair-minded way. By practicing critical thinking steps, it effects my future decisions in a positive way, by using the intellectual tools that critical thinking offer – concepts and principles that able to analyze, assess, and improve my thinking. Also, it would prevent a lot of conflict because I would stop myself from saying ignorant and offensive things.

Week 11 Assignment

Rights, freedom, liberty, and happiness are the abstractions the birth of the Declaration of Independence gave us. They have also become the foundations of this country and helped to shape the cultural Identity of the America. Another abstraction that plays a major part in the Declaration of Independence is power.
The power sets the tone and shapes the citizen’s ideas of government and society. Throughout history, power is meant to strengthen the ability to do something in the strangest way. The power of government or social institutions rests in their ability to command people to do something they otherwise would not do and explains how to make the people pay taxes. The world power is the Declaration of Independence (it was the first sentence of the Declaration criticized the King's violation of powers given by god to all men).
The work that created the constitution was from group of men, who are the corner stone in our country and part of the turning point for generations to come. They were men who greatly helped shape America’s independence. Every one of the founding fathers has a unique way of thinking and a brilliant mind. If we wanted to talk about them, it would hard on us to describe them because there are not enough words to describe what they did , and the great impact they had an this country.
In my reading about Thomas Jefferson what he believe to be interesting. He believed the best way to have a government was to have worked for the people and be supported by the people. The government can be a mirror of the people; the better educated the people, the better the quality of government. In the late eighteenth century a brilliant and politically motivated man from Virginia is known most notably as the author of the Declaration of Independence. He played a significant part in developing the political parties we see today. He was our third president Thomas Jefferson. Also, he was behind Bill of Rights and the religious freedom which they were intended to protect individual and natural rights of people.

Benjamin Franklin was a scientist, inventor, and politician also he had many slaves himself, but he changed his belief after visiting an African American school where he saw that the children were equally and smart as white children. He was the first American who went beyond being a simple icon of America’s conquest for freedom, but he is truly an American hero.

Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Franklin believed our government would be the first in modern history to be based on rational ideas rather than traditions. The hero’s working together set the country free; as a result this spread to democracy and freedom abroad.

Slave Poem

Pain Pain they hold me by a chain
I work hard to buy my freedom, the price is the pain
I try to run away, they catch me again
They beat me and the blood gushed from my veins
How has the right to justify and abuse of my soul, cruelty still able to continue again?
From owner to owner, they played with me a game
The trees felt my pain and the rocks said not again
Pain Pain Pain
The whip said it isn't enough pain
The tear dripped on the rocks, and drew the word pain
Does anyone know where I remain?

Extra Credit

Hi, today I was reading about Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry after I finish I went to see the sit were the statue was adopted between 14th and Cary Street. In my way there, I felt and expect to see the two man shaking hand Ha-ha. I did ask sever people there were the statue shame not many knows anything finally I sow written word on the wall in parking lot. This is the pictures.

Learning week 10

After reading the essays and the classmates’ comments, I learned how much we are lucky that we live in such a place where we can express our feelings by writing or talking about them. I learned a lot about the history of slaves and how much it was expensive to gain freedom. I learned about the great people that made a difference in this world and how they were disobedient by fighting for their rights. Segregation is only one of the examples that I can name. When we read about these people including Thoreau, Dr. King, and Thomas Jefferson, people see how they made a difference in the world that we are living in today. They inspired reforms and overturning the injustice into justice. They put the steps from words that were written on a piece of paper to the actual events that occurred. They were the solid foundations that affected the freedom that we have today.

Comment week 9

Margie: After I saw the web site, it is terrible how in some places the savage behavior still exists and no one does anything about it. If we ask a thousand questions, why, why, I don’t think we will find the answer. Because the world busy with something else. Thanks for sharing this information.

Deb: I like the way you think you are a great person with a big heart. I like what you wrote “Yes, we live our little, basically wonderful lives and bitch and complain, but we are so very blessed! Many times, I have shed tears for what others suffer and what so many others could/should be doing for them.”

Learning this week

After reading about the slavery this week, I learned to accept that each person has their own unique thoughts and beliefs, and their own free will. And more than that, it requires us to honor and support those mindsets and beliefs at least, not try to change them, just because they happen to be different than what we choose to believe. I won’t need to forget all the lessons I have learned. I only have to accept the fact to respect others.

Slavery

What comes to mind when I hear about Slave labor-? First, the pictures rich people living a in house with a slave. Slaves spend all of their day s and nights toiling over what those rich people need. Historically, many people supported slavery and a majority even owned slaves because they felt that it was a necessary and important institution. The slave economy grew, and increasingly lagged in transformation, from railroad construction to supply the demand to the consumer. Many people feared that the abolition of slavery would result in an economic collapse. Owners of slavery developed arguments to defend their cause, from those how against the slavery. The morality of slavery was not the issue, but how it affected the politically and economically. Later this debate leads into war.
Slavery has been abolished by all laws around the world because it’s a form of humiliation for human beings. All humans within the law are born free and are given certain equal rights, so that no human is allowed to enslave another and keep them as their property without their own will. Slaves fought for their freedom because they couldn't accept being treated as if they weren’t equal to the other humans because of their skin color. Slaves saw the injustice and that’s what made them fight for their simple right which is freedom. Their masters knew that they weren’t for fair enslaving a human being, but they gave reasons to justify their behavior. Even though slavery has been abolished by the United Nations, it somehow still exists, but it looks different form the slavery we taught. Slavery still exists in China were all those people have to work to make clothing for the whole day and get paid a couple dollars. Inequality still exists in our societies were people of all races are still unequal.
Since the rise of the civil rights movement, human beings have been engaged in an ongoing debate about how best to control and defend the diversity. With all the talk about cultural diversity and tolerance for others, it is sad to realize how few people really understand the concept of not judging anybody by their ethnicity.
It is difficult to understand why people judge others by skin color, apparent age, city or country of origin, gender, and language. We should not label everyone within that box.
The evil remains in human minds to control others in many different ways. This evil still exists in the world and we have to do something about it. In some places people think it's alright as long as they are not slave themselves and don't have to directly deal with it. It is a fine line between master and slave the removal of the slave from the master’s obedience lead to the freedom, and therefore, to independence
No matter where they are or where they worked, slaves were generally given meager rations that were barely at the level of subsistence. I Believe, slavery was and still is very much alive. Somewhere in other countries they forced children of young ages to work. The International Labor Organization estimated that there were over a hundred million working children between the ages of 5 and 14. Why would such a wealthy people and big companies rely on the use of child slave labor? Slave children are one of the biggest issues around the world because it puts children in danger, it deprives them of an education, it is widespread and it's often hidden or invisible especially in agriculture, big industries and mines, especially in poor countries. Many people are strongly opposed to child labor and something should be done. However, it does not matter if working conditions improve. It is illegal to employ children in certain circumstances.
In some places in the world women are molested and rape every day. Also, every day a women are kidnapped and victims of sexual harassment. We are all guilty for not doing anything about it. In some cultures that are male dominated, women are raised to be servants to their husbands often by the way of arranged marriages. Women are beaten and being mistreated for insufficient dowry money because the groom’s family may be greedy and would like more items.
Slavery was a brutal, inhumane abuse of mankind. People were seized from their native land, and sold into lives of servitude in a foreign land or become a slave in their own country. Indeed, it was a tragedy on such a big scale. And it is this very notion.
The questions are impossible to answer: who was the most responsible?

Eeight weeks

They say that in every experience there is something new to learn. Something that challenges the way we viewed things or the way we thought about things. This is no less than true for my personal experience when I began attending this course. By involving myself in the weekly discussions and researching the tasks that were presented to us, I was forced to break the mould of my usual thinking techniques and therefore my communication skills were also tested when I tried to transfer my newly gained knowledge on to paper (or screen actually). I believe that my writing skills have developed a cleaner flow and structure, making it easier for the readers (such as yourself) to understand my opinion on a more academic level.

I have also enjoyed reading the work of my fellow classmates each week and seeing their interpretation of the questions that were at hand. I find it interesting how one task can generate so many different views and opinions that all differ based on the person who is writing it. Before I hand up my assignment every week I think I’ve read all there is to know on the author or poet relevant to that week; then I go and read the blog of a fellow classmate and realize, wow! I didn’t know that, and wonder how they got that information. The online blog was great idea because we all got to learn off each other and communicate our opinions if we didn’t agree with something. It felt like a safe environment to learn and help others learn, I believe I would enjoy doing other classes through the internet in the future.

When I say that my communication skills have been tested, I not only refer to the manner that I write for someone to understand my opinion, but also to the means in which I chose to present my work. Prior to this course I would have never had the courage or technical knowledge to present my work on the internet and I thought that the word ‘blog’ was an insect or something. I guess you learn something new every day.

One particular assignment that I found challenging was the one about the ‘sublime’. I really had to search deep to find what the word meant to others initially, and then I searched even deeper to find out what the word meant to me. When we were given the task of writing a letter/poem about a personal sublime experience; I never thought I would actually feel a sublime moment while writing about it. The poem of my brother’s death was a moving experience for me and it is something that will stay with me for a long time after this class is finished.

Another assignment that I have learnt a lot from is the one about the little house in the woods. I felt I could relate to the experiences that Thoreau encountered during this social experiment and also relate to his intensions. Learning and writing about this particular event in our history strengthened my courage to enjoy what I already have with my family and not worry about buying more.

By the end of Early American Literature, students should have acquired a number of skills that will aid them in future learning. This includes internet research skills that go beyond just Google and Wikipedia. I have learnt how to save links and create blogs etc, all of which I didn’t know before. Our writing skills should also have improved, form structuring our paragraphs to wording our newly gained knowledge in a manner that is easy to read and understand for everyone in the class. And thirdly our research and memory skills should have improved, from sourcing information in books and the internet etc; to remembering key words in certain chapters that we may have had to re-visit for other assignments that we have been handed.

All in all, my experience in Early American Literature has been a positive one, and it is a class which has tested me on many levels but one that I believe I have grown in also. I have enjoyed reading the feedback of my classmates and sharing my information I look forward now to the next step in my studies and putting all that I have learnt in this course to good use with the rest of my degree.

Learning reflections

What a great week! Readings "The Wound-Dresser”, “The Farewell ", and “The Death of an Infant" and especially “walking.” They helped me realize how much life is beautiful and how much I need to be alone with nature to relieve stress. It has also made me understand balance in my life and I realized that by developing an idea that makes me understand the meaning behind this new way of life.

Walking in nature

Working in a festival this weekend I took time to walk in nature. I saw dirt trails and small trees on both sides; I watched the steady flowing of water while the birds proudly perform their freedom songs. Arriving to the big stream I bend down and see my clear reflection in front of me. I put my hand in the water, it was ice cold. The numbness ran through my fingers. The cold water quickly refreshed my face. When I splashed the water on it, it washed away my anxieties and frustrations of this life.
I looked beyond the stream; there are a variety of flowers that filled the grassland, walking between the flowers, on that land, through a rainbow which makes me feel the rich soil. Crossing from stream to stream, I felt the other breeze, carefully merging the two scents into one fresh, clean smell of Mother Nature. I felt that there were unexplored treasures still in the forest undiscovered. The clouds are like cotton candy, in the midst of the blue sky. A bird catches a worm so it may feed its young. When the rough dirt trail ends, I sat down on a rock, picking at one rock ready to explore any new treasures. The birds serenade each other dancing and the squirrels play each other.
After a half an hour of deep, deep thought, I came to the conclusion that a strong influence in our lives comes from the beauty of earth. I felt overwhelmed and amazed by the power of nature. It is heaven.
Getting in touch with nature, for me, is about taking a look inside ourselves and opening the doors for our spirit to be free.

Mountains and hills,
Birds flying with a strong will!
Strong winds hugging the trees,
Kissing the branches lying on their knees!
Begging them, let me be, let me be
Let me be your sister and let me be your daughter
Let me be, let me be

Comment

It will be nice if I take a couple of weeks off and try to catch up with everything, but this cannot happen. I like to read everyone’s writing because every topic is very interesting.Deb- reading your writing! It is inspiring and especially when I read the piece “I would like to live more spiritually”. Meditation is a wonderful thing and combined with Yoga, it is good for the body, mind and soul.
Savannah: "If I died tomorrow, I could say that I was happy with the way things were going, and wouldn't have any regrets." Writing shows you how to live self reliant and independent. The discipline in your life will get you where you want to be. Keep enjoying your life because it is worth living.
Margie: I like the way you describe the sublime. It makes me (*silence*) speechless. It is true when a person experiences an over whelming incidence.
Harrison: “Sublime moments are the only type of drug that can only help you; rather than a substance you get in memories.” This is true.

Learning this week

I learn this week to writes openly and freely about any things come to my mind, and make the others see what I can see.
I learn to write and experiences of being alone with nature and be friend; with the seasons, birds and the rain, and write from a different state of mind. Also, when I read and write I could reach both emotional and intellectual levels.
However if a particular incident of my sublime, I could identify with my own personal experience.

Emerson, Thoreau and Poe Sublime

Thoreau allows his imagination to wonder in his writing and it is apparent he hasn’t held back on the rhythm and soul of his words. He writes openly and freely about the things he can see which others cannot. He writes of his experiences of being alone in the woods with nature as his only friend; about the seasons, birds and the rain. Thoreau’s external environment truly entertained him and allowed him to write from a different state of mind. He never measured life by material things; instead he measured it by experiences. If it proved to be mean, Thoreau would extract the essence of malice out of it and publish it to the world. However if a particular incident of his were sublime, he would identify with it through his own personal experience.

Thoreau wanted to reach his readers on both emotional and intellectual levels. As his audience, he tells us that wealth traps a person into a sort of contrary ownership, and then tells us to seek a shelter, but one that requires the least amount of work and time, so that we are left with enough spare time for reading, thinking or doing whatever it is that will make us happy.

Emerson’s work on the other hand speaks of how people use their minds to visually create what they see around them. He speaks of how he wants us to separate ourselves from all that we were attached to. He opens up on a personal level in one particular piece, the sublime moment when he lost his father, wife and two brothers; saying “It is my own humour to despise pedigree. I was educated to prize it”.

After reading some of the work of Emerson and Thoreau, I came to a conclusion that they both have written similar opinions on the aspects of simplicity and imagination. They also both pursued transcendentalist philosophy, and used it to a great extent in their writing. Both writers have a similar passion for nature and believed in living in harmony with it. They briefly state that individuals need to live their own experiences instead of living through old traditions and that the deeper meaning of life can be found through simplicity and nature. In addition to living simply, both men believe in the value of the soul.

Poe coming next

The Sublime

I express the sublime, the death of my brother.
I did wrote this poem

Brother
Brother left away
Why he left me half way
We should continue our life all the way
Growing older and we talk about what makes our hair gray
I miss fighting with him every day
I still wait for him every night when he stops by when going home on his way
I feel some time his spirit come in the hall way
God needs young angel, this way my brother left not coming back this way
It is God will I respect and axcept God way
My brother left me without saying good bye
Why, why, why, why
Brother, brother I miss you
I will see you one day

Khattar

Learning form last week

I did learn from Thoreau and Emerson, Language is one of the fundamental traits distinguishing learning of human beings. Every person has a different method of learning. Learning how to read is a process that takes time and needs the necessary tools to learn. By finding the way into classrooms, I have to follow the guidelines in the learning process by practicing and reading lots of books and articles. Also, learning and following the right steps gives a positive effect on the language acquisition and the development of reading abilities especially in English. Also, learning how to develop skills will improve the personality and self esteem. Also, understands what person read about, it is benefit of the ways of measuring student achievement

Week Five Assihnment

When asked to reflect on the quality of my current existence, I concluded that surely I was living a full life. In fact if the epitome of a full life was measured on a scale of one to ten (ten being the fullest one could possibly live) I estimate that I would be sitting comfortably at eight or nine even? That is however if living a full life was based on family status and personal contentment. If the scale was based only on belongings or (as Henry David Thoreou would put it) stuff, then my positioning might slide down a little towards the six-mark maybe.

We dream big here in America, and we want to set for ourselves and our children a great financial future. This however means we have to work very hard in the present and working very hard takes up a lot of time; time away from our family, our houses and our friends. I guess the point I am trying to make is that if we didn’t care so much about obtaining more things and owning stuff in the first place, then we would have more time to enjoy the things we have already acquired. This personal belief of mine was reiterated by the writings of Thoreou on his search for life fulfilment in the woods.

His two-year and two-month stay in a basic cabin near Walden Pond allowed him to realize that the source of joy and contentment was due to a multitude of factors, and belongings was not a primary contributor. He took up his residence at Walden Woods so as to "live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."(Wikipedia) Over that period of time Thoreou concluded that the four material necessities of life included food, shelter, clothing, and fuel. All else contentment could be acquired through means other than belongings.
The times we live in however tell a different storey. Shelter in this generation comes in two and three stories, food is always supersized; fuel comes at a high cost and clothing is almost unnecessary. His findings may have been correct to that particular era (nineteenth century) but in this day and age it isn’t so easy to live so simply. Even the simple things can cost a fortune. E.F. Schumacher summarized this by saying "Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction." (Wikipedia)

No one can deny the comfort and aid certain possessions can provide how ever after reading the works of Thoreou, I now see his intention in telling us how stuff (and the status stuff gives us) can get in the way of living a life worth living. Our chase to keep up with the Jones’s has seen many Americans today work more than one job, owe billions in debt on credit and spend more time away from family life (or what’s left of it) than we have ever in our history. Our endeavours of acquiring things have seen us also acquire the stress of endeavouring the acquirement of things. This disorder is as complicated as it sounds.
I have deliberately constructed my life in a manner that sees me maintain a balance between work and time that is precious to me (family time). That does not mean that I am not guilty of working overtime and weekends, however in my household we set specific hours of the day and the week to do regular things that bring us the greatest enjoyment. It is true that it isn’t what you have that brings you happiness but more of whom you have to share it with instead. Thoreau’s experiences and writings have helped confirm what I originally believed (that less can always be more) however I have also come to realize that sometimes I don’t always put that belief into practice. Maybe the realistic answer is to find the balance that brings both aspects together and that I should work harder at maintaining this equilibrium (than growing it) for a happy life that is continual.

learning reflection last week and Comments

Self reliance has given me a better understanding of how I should make my decisions in life. I have now been blessed, in a sense, with a vision, as perception, a way of understanding, which should be decreed as the standard form of understanding, although it isn’t standard at all. I have now come to learn that life should be lived with all intentions of fulfilling the contentness of self and ultimately it would transpire into action committed for the good of the majority, or all. Dr. Emerson’s insight into insight, if you will, is an enlightenment of them mind to think for itself and mine I will use to do so.

I’ve cherished the experiences of the life I have carried thus far, and will now be able to take and make a better use and understanding of how decisions are made and the path of life is taken. Enabling my regard in the light of my primary interest and ultimately benefiting society as a whole.
Savannah I like the way you see the life in positive perspective and accepting your destiny, and what ever happen in life its meant to be, I believe the same because we as human living experience in our life in every day.
Deb When I read what you blog I had realized that how much the life thought you and how much you learn from the past and this what give you the string to and self believe and the idea of (best- me) .What happen in life happen for rising we don’t know why, but we have to work hard and continue work hard to the end.
Margert When I read your literature I knew that your type person want to continue learning. I like what you wrought. “I am the one that worries about the little things. Where I have greatness I also have flaws. I focus on my future and always have a back-up plan. I am who I am, the best me.” Self believe give a person more power and strong capability to achieve a goal. This is what self reliance.
This has been such along week I had to work so many hours. I thank Margret, Deb and Savannah for the good comment, sorry friends I am not good for comment.

"American Scholar"

While reading Dr. Emerson’s “American Scholar,” I decided to take and dissect each parts of his speech into sections that I felt lead the topic of discussion in the direction where he wanted the students of Cambridge to ultimately view their place in America. Emerson states that America’s “…members suffered amputation of the trunk…” describing the severe loss of conformity in man to the lessons learned if one does not make the most of the learned opportunity using all possible resources to understand. Emerson also states that, “man metamorphosed dignity of his ministry,” meaning what ever one’s trade may be he must not lose sight of the passion of creating from reutilized fashions and endure understanding. In the right state every man can become “man thinking,” benefiting from learnedness and not succumb to a degenerate state, a victim of society. Every man is a student. All things exist for every man’s behalf. “Every pot has two handles, choose the right one. Nature has its cyclical phase. Scholar is he of all men where the spectacle he begins gazing. “Natures hastens to render account of herself to the mind,” it doesn’t wait on others to wait to understand it the same manner in which a manner that man should carry on in their own instincts. “Constant accumulation of classifying of facts,” that is how the world sees information but at the same time loses sight of it. Each method manipulated and made with the abstractness of the human mind. Insight through all that is around man will begin the directions of which man can create its own form of intellect becoming in a sense a creator using nature as the measure of what are his attainments. The mind of the past is inscribed where the influence of the past is portrayed and life in each of its sections of generation should be written for then the future can learn and continue to learn. But since perfection can exist or at least close to it, with in due time a sense of achieving perfection could take a course and possibly becomes some sort of perfection. Conforming by just reading and accepting a third degree of the understanding that should be understood is a great loss that can be reciprocated. A soul active while learning will be more progressive and instead of using the books to continue to live of, for, and by the past but using such to continue on forward using the minds own sense of good and fair using a solitude inquest genius is enemy of other genius. Reading made in a sense of subordinations but rather insubordination for the benefits of a gained intellect using almost all resources. One must be an inventor to read as well. Creative reading when the mind is embraced is as broad as the world. Normal readings are just complete utterance and these can only be brought to beneficent realms as thoughts ripen into truth and without actions are almost a sense of cowardness and the world is the shadow of the soul. I don’t see how man can go on without grasping every opportunity to mold the intellect producing the richest form of intelligence and culture.

For this, we ought not to follow the norms of the customs that followed us naturally, rather omit the standards that traveled with us across the Atlantic or instead of omitting completely take from which we can benefit and move forward; Documenting the steps taken.

"Self-Reliance"

Before I could begin comparing myself to the ideologies of Ralph Waldo Emerson I had to take a more in depth personal interview to see the fundamentals of how I carry myself throughout life’s experiences. Since reading Dr. Emerson’s work I’d been given a different perspective on how everyday life is carried out. One phrase that specifically had a sincere effect was when Emerson describes society as, “a conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members.” This began my journey of discovering whether I live within the realm societal constraints or do I carry out my actions based on what I feel is the overall good for my well being and its positive effects on society as a whole. Then I began to dissect all of my actions as steps in an organized diagram of a do-it-yourself dresser puzzle. Step one: enable a broad view of surrounding. Step two: question whether each situation is conformity or would I rather complete this action with my own regard. Regarding situations with a perception of my own respects and an intention of overall good, society as well as myself should positively benefit. I reached a conclusion that in order for me to become self reliant I needed to express my true self keeping with every opportunity to transcend the norms and enlighten the world with my offerings.
With my new found enlightenment I began a slight study for the past few days attempting to see how changing my decision patterns with complete disregard, in certain situations, to societal demands. I began to realize trusting in myself and my decisions I am able to enjoy my time, more intrinsically and not worry whether I am in conformity to society. I am able to appreciate my decisions for the absolute worth of the decision made because I truly felt it was my decision. After my utopian experiences I analyzed if there were any specific effects on society and realized that there was not much of a change of the characters of my society. My world around me carried on as it pleased but I did come to the understanding that if everyone truly felt the enjoyment of not conforming to societal demands they too would enjoy life as it should be enjoyed.
A little example that brought this to light for me was the whole idea of image brought about through what you wear, what kind of car you drive, where you live, and the friends you associate with, and so on. If you do not have the means to attain such an image then you almost feel the excommunication of society. Now I do know that self reliance and transcendentalism goes far beyond these miniscule societal constraints but I have also feared that these minute fundamentals will digress and conform societal values to these predisposed dispositions. So we all in a sense must become self reliant and go far beyond these radical ideas of conformity to achieve the true joy of self genius.

What have I learned?

It is already on third week of the semester. I feel like I have no time to do anything except checking the blog more than five time every day.
After reading a little about the history of the frontier, it emphasized how much their intentions and motivation helped shape this country. Basically their search for new land initiated a new revolution.
In the Seventeenth Century on the orders of the European kings (to explore new lands in search for gold) new cultures and new colonies were established. First we must give credit to the sailors whom risked their lives to explore these new lands, and second to the commitment of those people who fashioned a new system of growth which in turn nurtured what America is today.
The frontier became a templar to society. Wide spread settlements had a strong impact on today’s culture, traditions and communication. According to the works of historian Fredrick Jackson Turner, “the spirit and success of the Unites States is directly tied to the country’s westward expansion”. He believed that the savagery of the wilderness fashioned a new type of citizen; one which presented a new kind of strength and individuality. Those settlers who moved further west became more democratic in their characteristics. Anything new and exciting to the individual is a frontier. Early settlers felt compelled to move west and crave out their own lives. The opportunity who were willing to die because of their idea about America, land, Religions freedom, and no more poverty also searching for wealth.

"What Is an American?"

So I hear you want to migrate to America?
Firstly you need to know that America is referred to as a "nation of immigrants" because of our large open-door policy and our acceptance of anybody who wants to follow their vision of the American Dream. Also, immigrants are what help America to become America. It is the place for people who love their lives and freedom, regardless of where you come from.

There are however, a few questions you need to ask yourself firs! Are you ready to embrace freedom; ready to accept and bestow equality regardless of your shape, color and religion? Are you ready to contribute to a government that gives back to its people? If you answered yes tany of the above then I would like to welcome you to America!

I also am an immigrant and I asked myself the same questions ten years ago. I came here with my wife and daughter because I wanted to provide them with a safe lifestyle and give them the things I couldn’t in my home-country. We came here with enough money to just get by and with a little hard work and determination, we are now proud to call America, home.

Over the years you will learn that this country is right for those who value a fair and just law. It is right for those who put in an effort to get to know the names of their neighbors and for those who offer a helping hand in times of need. Anybody who’s lived a day on this earth can testify that there will always be times of need.

You will experience in America a prosperity that will motivate you for the future. You will also find that the system here supports a growing population. If you have the dream, America is the country that allows you to transfer it into reality; into ideas for the future, into thoughts of art and science.

Yes there are days where you will miss the familiarity of the village where you grew up; the fresh air and clear skies, the sun rising over the mountains every morning. And yes you may miss having all of you family live within a 6-mile radius; you might also miss the simple things like having the local store owner know you first, middle and last name; eating fresh fruits right off the trees that lined your house; always having someone to talk to.

But as an immigrant here you will welcome waking up to a neat street with lovely neighbors who always greet you on you’re to work. You will wake up to squirrels running across your front yard and a cardinal chirping its morning alarm instead of a rooster; all are wonderful things however at the end of the day, they’re different. And that’s one thing you need to prepare yourself for when you move here, you need to prepare for change.

The point I am trying to make is that with every decision there will always be positives and negatives; doubts and revelry, regrets even? However if we let fear of change dictate our decisions then we probably won’t have the strength to walk out of our front door. I might miss a lot of the things that shaped the younger years of my life back in Lebanon, but I couldn’t live without the things that have shaped my present life here in America today.

The soil here is rich and God has given America the gift of the rainy seasons which in turn has reaped fine harvests and green plains. Here you can climb ladders, whether socially, politically or economically; you can achieve what you set out to achieve.

America reflects your personality, whatever you want to be you can be; it offers stability whether it’s financial, educational or medical, the option is always there. America prides itself on first world sanitation services, the ability to purchase a house on a realistic income, the comfort of knowing your children attend a school where their education is a priority and daily luxuries. A person in America can satisfy their curiosity for knowledge and gain the awareness needed to establish and initiate their mission in life. The system here is organized in a way that allows people to provide a service for each other; in turn everybody is satisfying the next.
By coming to America you will discover individuals from all nations who blend into a new culture. America is a wonderful place to live; it’s my little piece of heaven, it’s my home. I am proud to be an American and I anticipate you also will be saying those words when you come here.

Something about myself

Dear fellow classmates, I would like to personally introduce myself my name is Khattar Hatoum and I am currently studying a Social Science Associate degree, however I am anticipating my transfer into a major in Psychology. What brought me to this class is a mixture of fulfilling class requirements and a will to expand my knowledge in English and its history in America.