We had a rather heated discussion in class on Thursday about the use of the “n” word. I just wanted to throw my two cents into the heaping pile.
While we were arguing about who can use the word and whether or not it was ok to say it, things were somewhat chaotic. It seemed like everyone had an opinion, and most people were very strongly grounded in whatever theirs was. It wasn’t until after class that I was really able to take a step back and form my own opinion. The only thing I could really come up with was one question. Why would you want to call someone that? Regardless of whether you’re someone who “can” or whether its “ok,” why would you want to? It’s kind of like in kindergarten, when they would tell you, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Well, I think that still holds true now.
I do know that’s not the way most people think. Just take a walk down any hallway in our school and you’ll hear people swearing constantly. This probably won’t stop anytime soon. I’m just saying, though, that we should take a look at why we say the things we do, because they do have an effect on people. You shouldn’t say something unless you have a solid reason for it, and if it’s something cruel and insensitive, you just shouldn’t say it at all. Call me naïve and old fashioned, but it’s true. Just because something happens all the time doesn’t mean it should.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Why Math Tests are out to Get Me
It’s a Monday. There is no world in which a math test on a Monday is a good thing. Nevertheless, I studied all weekend and the time has come. Right before the test starts I run to the bathroom. Not thinking about anything except the dreaded upcoming exam, I open the door. And smack it right into my forehead. At first and can’t even contemplate what just happened. Then the blood rushes into my head and my eyes fill with tears. I can’t believe what I just did. How am I supposed to take this test with such a headache?
At this point I feel it necessary to state that I’ve never really enjoyed math tests, headache or no headache. Honestly, I don’t know many people who do. As the years progressed and the math grew more and more difficult, my dislike for them grew into more of a trepidation. This apprehension gets a jump start as soon as the teacher announces when the test is, about a week or so before it actually happens. After that, I’m able to put the dread away and focus on the myriad of other things going on. Even so, the night before the test inevitably arrives, and that’s when the real panic sets in. I didn’t study enough. I forgot how to do this problem. What if I totally fail? Through all of this detritus floating in my head, somehow I manage to sleep and escape for a few hours at least. Then in the morning, it’s back to the real world. I try hard to not think about it. I attempt to focus on what I’m doing right then. But all too soon, it’s time to go up to the third floor and tackle my nemesis.
On the particular day of the door debacle, the test doesn’t go as bad as I had feared it would. I got the test back on Tuesday, with a fat B+ at the top. Not perfect, but definitely acceptable. I’m actually feeling pretty happy. Then my teacher tells us. We have another math test on Friday. Oh, crap.
At this point I feel it necessary to state that I’ve never really enjoyed math tests, headache or no headache. Honestly, I don’t know many people who do. As the years progressed and the math grew more and more difficult, my dislike for them grew into more of a trepidation. This apprehension gets a jump start as soon as the teacher announces when the test is, about a week or so before it actually happens. After that, I’m able to put the dread away and focus on the myriad of other things going on. Even so, the night before the test inevitably arrives, and that’s when the real panic sets in. I didn’t study enough. I forgot how to do this problem. What if I totally fail? Through all of this detritus floating in my head, somehow I manage to sleep and escape for a few hours at least. Then in the morning, it’s back to the real world. I try hard to not think about it. I attempt to focus on what I’m doing right then. But all too soon, it’s time to go up to the third floor and tackle my nemesis.
On the particular day of the door debacle, the test doesn’t go as bad as I had feared it would. I got the test back on Tuesday, with a fat B+ at the top. Not perfect, but definitely acceptable. I’m actually feeling pretty happy. Then my teacher tells us. We have another math test on Friday. Oh, crap.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Poor Bluie. Does he know what he is? I’m not going to attempt to understand the workings of little fishy minds here. I was little once. I had fish (still do, actually) and I found that they are impossible to comprehend (and they don’t really make good friends. Every time I tried to talk to them or “play” with them they shimmied away. So they may not have been the best pets ever.) Personally, I always wanted a cat. That’s why I feel bad for Bluie, and my fish too. They aren’t loved as exactly what they are, they’re loved and what we wish they were. Adam Gopnick says it this way, that Bluie was, “a fish passing as a hamster hoping to be a dog.” Therefore, it seems Olivia loved Bluie not because he was a fish but because he was a placeholder for the dog she wanted desperately. But is that really true? Maybe she grew to love him for what he really was, an itty bitty blue fish with a penchant for getting stuck in castle windows.
This brings me to another point, or another fish at least. Reddie. The villain fish. Or maybe just the jealous one. Every story has a villain and jealousy is a classic motive. Until last week though, I didn’t know it was a motive for fish! I thought it was absolutely genius the way Gopnick’s son decided that Reddie was the rogue of the story. Kids can be so smart and have such good ideas, I’m constantly reminded to be more like them. Their ideas can be so simple yet so creative. It’s truly amazing.
I guess my point is just that fish, like people, are complex. That they aren’t always as simple as they appear on the outside. It’s a lot to get from a short narrative about a couple fish, but that just shows that it’s possible to get so much from so little.
This brings me to another point, or another fish at least. Reddie. The villain fish. Or maybe just the jealous one. Every story has a villain and jealousy is a classic motive. Until last week though, I didn’t know it was a motive for fish! I thought it was absolutely genius the way Gopnick’s son decided that Reddie was the rogue of the story. Kids can be so smart and have such good ideas, I’m constantly reminded to be more like them. Their ideas can be so simple yet so creative. It’s truly amazing.
I guess my point is just that fish, like people, are complex. That they aren’t always as simple as they appear on the outside. It’s a lot to get from a short narrative about a couple fish, but that just shows that it’s possible to get so much from so little.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Thoughts on Lies
(For all of you not in 3rd block AP Comp, we read an article about lying to kids on Friday for our choice essay discussion time. Just in case you wondered.)
I was thinking about why parents lie to kids and I thought of a reason that we didn't read about. Parents lie to kids sometimes because they want their kids to admire and respect them. They also don’t always want their kids to do what they did. If your son asks you if you ever stole something from the grocery store, you’ll probably say no, even if you did, right? We don’t want our kids to make mistakes the way we did so we won’t admit to making the mistakes in the first place.
Wouldn’t it be better to tell them the truth, “Yes, as a matter of fact, I did take a Hershey bar that one time,” and to tell them how guilty you felt afterwards than to pretend it never happened? They might learn more from someone who did something bad and learned their lesson from it than from someone faultless who they’re supposed to imitate.
If you always tell a child that you never made a mistake, that’s setting a pretty hard precedent for them to follow. Even though in reality, you weren’t as perfect as you tell them you were, they’ll still see you in that light. I think that if we were to tell them the truth, they’d be able to relate to us better and learn from us even more than just trying to be perfect. That’s just setting them up to fail, something no parent wants.
The things we lie about are not always going to be as simple as swiping a Hershey bar from the store shelf. What if your child asks you if you did drugs or had sex before marriage? What would you say? I don’t really know what the best thing to do is when that happens, probably to just tell the truth, but I’m not really sure. I definitely think we should start to contemplate that before we get asked, though.
So…to lie or not to lie? That is the question. A question that I don’t have a solid answer to. But in my opinion, when in doubt, tell the truth.
I was thinking about why parents lie to kids and I thought of a reason that we didn't read about. Parents lie to kids sometimes because they want their kids to admire and respect them. They also don’t always want their kids to do what they did. If your son asks you if you ever stole something from the grocery store, you’ll probably say no, even if you did, right? We don’t want our kids to make mistakes the way we did so we won’t admit to making the mistakes in the first place.
Wouldn’t it be better to tell them the truth, “Yes, as a matter of fact, I did take a Hershey bar that one time,” and to tell them how guilty you felt afterwards than to pretend it never happened? They might learn more from someone who did something bad and learned their lesson from it than from someone faultless who they’re supposed to imitate.
If you always tell a child that you never made a mistake, that’s setting a pretty hard precedent for them to follow. Even though in reality, you weren’t as perfect as you tell them you were, they’ll still see you in that light. I think that if we were to tell them the truth, they’d be able to relate to us better and learn from us even more than just trying to be perfect. That’s just setting them up to fail, something no parent wants.
The things we lie about are not always going to be as simple as swiping a Hershey bar from the store shelf. What if your child asks you if you did drugs or had sex before marriage? What would you say? I don’t really know what the best thing to do is when that happens, probably to just tell the truth, but I’m not really sure. I definitely think we should start to contemplate that before we get asked, though.
So…to lie or not to lie? That is the question. A question that I don’t have a solid answer to. But in my opinion, when in doubt, tell the truth.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
How I Write
When I write, I usually just dive right in. I used to prewrite extensively, but I've found that if I dive in right away and fix it later, my writing ends up more fluid and less "chunky." I don't want my writing to sound rehearsed and insipid, I want it to be relatable and genuine. Occasionally, it's good to take a minute and organize my thoughts before I start talking about them, but not frequently.
I like to write when it's silent, just me and the keyboard. A nice pointy pencil and blank piece of paper will also suffice. I love listening to music while I work, but I find that when writing, it's more productive to have utter silence. I'm complacent to just be alone and focus on what I want to say. I find that my best writing happens when there is absolutely nothing else for me to think about, nowhere for my mind to wander, nowhere for my hands to roam.
My feelings when I write are somewhat harder to describe. That's quite possibly becuase I have differnt emotions when writing about different things. My find myself feeling excited, zealous, even occasionaly fearful. However, I would have to say that most of the time, I just cannot wait to get my thoughts out and share them with the world. Really, isn't that what writing is?
I like to write when it's silent, just me and the keyboard. A nice pointy pencil and blank piece of paper will also suffice. I love listening to music while I work, but I find that when writing, it's more productive to have utter silence. I'm complacent to just be alone and focus on what I want to say. I find that my best writing happens when there is absolutely nothing else for me to think about, nowhere for my mind to wander, nowhere for my hands to roam.
My feelings when I write are somewhat harder to describe. That's quite possibly becuase I have differnt emotions when writing about different things. My find myself feeling excited, zealous, even occasionaly fearful. However, I would have to say that most of the time, I just cannot wait to get my thoughts out and share them with the world. Really, isn't that what writing is?
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