Thursday, October 29, 2009

Who is this guy? Blog Post

Meursault: Man of Mystery, Existential Thinker, Secret Sad Man, or Big Jerk? And is he human? And how does he make us feel, and do we know anyone like him, and how do we think people are supposed to be and why do we think that? Why did Camus make this character this way—what reaction is he intending to get from us? Can we connect with this guy? Can we understand what it’s like to be a stranger? The first few chapters pretty sum up what kind of person Meursault is. He is no Man of Mystery or Existential Thinker. It is nearly impossible for him to be an Secret Sad Man because this heartless man, somehow get bitches, so I dont think he is a sad man. Beside when his mother died, he doesnt seem to be upset. Is he an Big Jerk? Something tells me he is and something tells me he's not. Meursault goes both ways. It is like at the first 2 chapters when his mother die, he wasn't showing any reaction or emotions. And he actually think when his mother is gone; nothing really changes. "it occurred to me that anyway one more summer was over, that Maman was buried now, that I am going back to work, and that, really nothing had changed." P.24 His mother is gone, nothing seem to bother him. Nothing really thrill this guy which tells me he is a jerk.

But somewhere is chapter 3. he actually show his feeling out to a dog. He realize that his neighbor dog was being treated horribly by the owner and he wants to help. And he also sort of help his other neighbor, Raymond Sinites, by telling him what to do to the girl that cheated on him. He also helped him to write an letter for him. SO I am not sure if he is a big jerk, I just have a feeling later on the book, he wish his mother has never left him, because his life is meaningless without her.

Meursault, he makes me feel angry. He has no respect for nobody but himself. He is like an observer. He just smoke and observe the enivornment around him and comment on the things he is seeing. I dont think I am able to connect this guy with anyone but probably toward the end... I am able too. I think some of us can understand what it's like to be a stranger because stranger just live in their own imagination in their little box. It is like when I was reading the book, I really couldnt really feel or understand why he felt that way when his mother was buried. I just dont see people like Meursault. Never!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Huckabees Blog Post Assignment

I heard that I heart Huckabees was a great movie but too bad I missed almost the whole movie and actually have no idea what it is about. When Mr.Manley ask us to respond to this question: "Do we live in a world that is meaningful and makes sense?" At first I didnt understand what the question meant but come to think of it, I do think we live in a world that is meaningful. This question seem so simple but I just cant get the whole meaning out. Part of me thinks the world is meaningful but another part of me says it doesnt. So I am just going to stick with; the world is meaningful. Everyone of us are connected in certain ways. We all have to inhale. We all have to eat and drink. We all have to sleep. We all have to pee and poop. We all have a heart. But everyone acts differently, their actions or personality determine who they are. The reason I said this world is meaningful is because I see why there is a purpose of being born then approach death. I know that everyone is afraid of death but thats how it will be for us. Our mind control ourselves which controls the world, and god control us. God is the one who made us. I am guessing he wants everyone to experience how life would be like, and when the time comes, we either be next to him or underneath him. Every person is born to have an carrer or a history, but why do we have to face death?

Barack Obama, he is our first black president. It has been centuries since New York has a black person for a president. Wont that make black culture feel special? They're now part of the nation. "We" belong togehter as one. Obama was chose to be president because "we" including god believe that he will be able to help us. Every presidents gave in some supports to New York, so we can live better. Now if Obama ends today, the world will be meaningful because when the younger generation learn about the pass history; they will say "I am glad I am a New Yorker." "Hey! thats my grandfather who gave hopes for us to live longer." Dont you think Obama's children have great support and protection if his/her parent are able to make this city rise? The younger generation will learn about us, how the world has change in several years. If they learn that we gave supports, they will learn from our footsteps.

"The White House"... doesnt these 3 words make your body feel a little bit static? When you say "The White House" dont you feel strong and condifent? The White House is a place where you want to be. Whoever comes out that building or whoever put a foot on that building, has done something meaningful for us. Or when you say "The Pledge of Allegiance" dont you just want to cry and it helps you to grow? Each time i say the pledge of allegiance, i feel my heart gets bigger and bigger. It forces me to fight for this country and never surrender. "Is that meaningful?"

Dont you feel lucky that this world mean something? We never lost in a battle. We never ever back down from a fight. We have president(s) and government to help us to live better. We have the armies and maries to fight for this country. In this world, we have everything we need. I was also listening to this song, "Empire State Of Mind" by Jay Z feature Alicia Keyes, the lyrics makes me feel a lot stonger... it helps me to grow and become a better person. So the world is meaningful.

http://www.elyricsworld.com/empire_state_of_mind_lyrics_jay-z.html#

Friday, October 16, 2009

Personal Manifesto: "This I Believe"

David Banach. Who is David Banach? And why are we studying about him? Is he the next Obama that will take us to the next level to succeed in life? Is he the next person that will say the words...? “Yes We Are Free?” Will he call himself “The Pursue of Happiness?” Quite frankly we don’t know that much about him. All we know is that David Banach is a member of the Saint Anselm College Philosophy Department. Professor Banach’s main interests were in Science, the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead, and in technology. There were several interviews of why professor Banach loves teaching chemistry. In one of his interview “Meet the Philosophers Series number 9,” David Banach said that during junior year, he watch a commercial that says fix this device with formulas which will make your life shiny for 10 years. This commercial influenced his life to become a Science Geek. David Banach was always interested in science topics and was fascinated of how these ideas interact with him to the world. And how these scientific topic gave him a chance to finally see who he was and helping himself to find his way. He was draw into philosophy because he found that science has a connection to the human lives and the study of nature.

David Banach also wrote a lecture about “The Ethics of Absolute Freedom.” In his first lecture Banach mentions “What can the absolute freedom of absolute individuals mean?” Banach is trying to say that it is impossible to communicate with the world directly. Only we know over selves very deeply, everyone sees the world in a different way. If someone very close to you tries to explain their feeling to you; you pretty much won’t have any ideas of how they are really feeling. Words don’t always help us to understand, only action or having the same similar experience helps us get closer to other people. “Only we feel our pains, our pleasures, our hopes, fears immediately, subjectively from the inside.” Within ourselves we only can truly understand our own perspective in life. Only over selves knows what we want and need.

David Banach also pointed out some points of how we are trapped inside our mind, not able to realize what other people are thinking. We are stuck on our “island of subjectively.” You see what you want to see. You see what you wish to see. You see what you think you saw. Your mind, beliefs, ideas, knowledge, past experience, and emotions interferes with your senses and changes into subjectivity reality.

Personal I think that this concern about being subjectivity to ourselves seems pretty interesting. It defines who we are. I don’t think it is necessary for people to know what we have in mind or how we are feeling. It is impossible for everyone to have the same thoughts because if we do this world will be so stupid. If everyone brain function the same way then how can we contributed knowledge to make this world a better place. Banach believes that even thought we live on the same planet; we are trapped to our own subjective views that cannot be defined.

I remember last Monday, when I left the city to go visit Stony Brook, I felt very excited that I have this opportunity to step into my next future home. I was thinking to myself that if I get away from my friends and families for once, I will do much better in college. I wasn’t going on the trip alone; I went on the trip with some old friends I haven’t seen in a while. “I though to myself, hey maybe it aren’t so bad to live with some old friends, they won’t bring me down.” But as soon as I recognize one of my friend’s face, my heart starts to pound. I couldn’t believe she is “now” backing into my life. After all these years, I was trying to get away from her; she appears at the wrong time. It has been 3 years since I want her out of my life, she didn’t want to give me a chance, so I just have to find someone that can replace her. But, now, after seeing her I want to get in touch with her even though I have a girlfriend. I feel completely torn down. One of her friend realizes I was upset and tries to comfort me. “It has been so long, I was trying the best I can to forget her but once I saw her… my heart starts aching.” “I feel life I need her more than anyone but I don’t want to hurt my own girlfriend.” “I know how you feel, Quinn” she said to me. “Everyone faces live differently and you probably live better off without her.” “Someday you get what you want.” We talked about this for an hour and I believe that every word she said to me. Both of us has the same thoughts and understand the modern world of facing true loves. But, after, reading David Banach’s lecture, I think the talk with my friend was completes a waste of my time. “No one else can feel what we feel, and we cannot feel what’s going on in anyone else’s mind.” Do we really understand each other? Do you think anyone really knows who we are? We don’t, we just live and play a significance part of life.

People spend their lives searching for happiness and freedom. Something that can let them know that they have freedom to do whatever they want. People all over the world are trying to find that very special thing that aloud them to be separate from others. It is like saying everyone has their goals to accomplish and they search for what really defines them. As what David Banach states, “I am more then just these… I am free to do whatever I choose.” If we are free to do whatever we want, then we are the same. I disagree with David Banach because we are not free and we are defiantly not the same. But don’t think it is the end of the world. Just don’t think about negative stuff, set your mind onto the positive side. You will live to be an thousand. You won a lottery ticket. Just live your life the way you wanted to. Don’t let this negative influence control you and take away your happiness. No one deserves this kind of punishment.

As I was thinking to myself, will this affect me? Of course it will affect me. The world is trying to take away my happiness and the only way to live in this world is to be happy, so I’ll not back down, neither should you. I'll surely eat the same foods as you; I’ll surely wake up and travel to school with you. I'll surely fight my part of life with you. And i am surely we have goals to achieve. The point of this essay is to let you people know that freedom equals to happiness. This can help you tackle many goals. If you have no idea what i am trying to say... go and find a bum and ask him/her do they have freedom and can they find happiness in their freedom? Apparently not, they set goals for them but they didn’t really want to achieve it... so they are out in the street. They are free to do whatever they want but are they happy? I don’t think sooooo.... so please live the way you want your life to be.

I believe that there’s a purpose why god made us. Each and every one are assigned differently to play a role in lives. Every one has their own ability to truly find their own values. You control every part of your body, your words, your action, no one can really change who you really am. You have to realize what is inside you and don’t worry about the outside of you. God has a reason to create you and you are the only person that will go through life the way god wants you to. So just live with passion and don’t worry what will happen in the future. And remember don’t let the world control you… let your mind control the world.

Friday, October 2, 2009

HW: Blog Comment #3

To Egypt C a.k.a E!Boogies #15 Spot

Egypt i love your headline "I AM TRAPPED!" it shows me that you understand our typical world, that we are not quite free. Your paragraph make a lot of sense which also show me you are a strong writer. You just stick all your major points into one piece and explain it well with great examples.

I totally agree with you that we are not free because there are some rules we still have to respect. Like what you said... if we're free why do we have to go to school and do homework. Why can't we just get drafted to the basketball league and play against Kobe Bryant or Lebron James? Following the laws doesnt lead to freedom which of course doesnt lead to happiness either.

Good job Egypt. But next time try to make your blog longer. You know how much i love reading your blog. Thanks for sharing. Good development.

-Quinn W a.k.a a.z.n quinny woooo #3

HW # 3- Response to Part III and/or IV of Banach's Lecture

Before i get started on this essay about Banach's lecture, I want to ask you a couple of questions. Somewhere inside of you do you think you're free? Do or can you find happiness inside of you? Do you think your lives has a meaning when you were first taken out from your mother's stomach? Do you ever wonder what is the point of being born then died a few years later? Speaking about life and death, in Banarch's third part of his lecture he announced that everyone will eventually die. So what's the point of living and having to go to school then get an job and at last, living with an happy family? The only purpose that we are here to experience the meaning of life is trying to learn and get to feel what exactly is "happiness and freedom." Some of you think where will you be at when you are dead... either next to god or still trying to push a rock up the hill.

Yeah, i got your mind thinking. You probably wonder what most people are going to say or do or asking your friends/families do they have any suggestion of how to turn this around. No one knows what to do. Can you predict what your life will be like in the next 2 days or week? You probably got a new psp or finding a new girl/boyfriend. Your mom died in a car accident. Obama was shot... what are we going to do? Well just enjoy your life. Dont think it is the end of the world. Just dont think about negative stuff, set your mind onto the positive side. You will live to be an thousand. You won an lottery ticket. Just live your life the way you wanted to. Dont let this negative influence control you and take away your happiness. No one deserve this kind of punishment. Dont let the world control you... let your mind control the world.

As i was thinking to myself, will this affect me? Of course it will affect me. The world is trying to take away my happiness and the only way to live in this world is to be happy, so i'll not back down, neither should you. I'll surely eat the same foods as you, i'll surely wake up and travel to school with you. I'll surely fight my part of life with you. And i am surely we have goals to achieve. The point of this essay is to let you people know that freedom equals to happiness. Which can help you tacle many goals. If you have no idea what i am trying to say.. go and find a bum and ask him/her do they have freedom and can they find happiness in their freedom? Apparently not, they set goals for themselves but they dindt really wanna achieve it... so they are out in the street. They are free to do whatever they want but are they happy? I dont think sooooo.... so please live the way you want your life to be.

And moving on to lecture 4, i dont think it is such a good idea to take anything from people. It is like dont let anyone put happiness into your life... you try to find your "own" happiness. And that's why many people are becoming less active and lazy. We are all human and we have a mind, 2 hands, 2 feets and a heart. Why dont we use those body structure to help us find happiness and freedom.

Thank you.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

H.W # 4 Comments

To Bao Lin Z,

Hey Bao Lin, awesome paper you have written. You are such a great writer. You paper is so strong and deep. It is truely understanable and enjoyable. I appreciated your knowledge of coming up with great thoughts. I bert you put a lot of effort into this draft. You have my mind flowing on your paper which makes me understand myself even more.

You came up with following up questions which are a great way to start your paper. You explain how often time people get distracted by something else and try to forget about it but it is hard to control your mind. You have to fight your mind in certain ways just to focus on yourself. I totally agree how you stated that "people's abilities are limited." It seem like your mind is control by another person and wanted you to do something, but really we dont want to do what our "mind" sometimes tell us to do. For instance, "daydreaming" is a way of gettin distracted even though you dont realize you are doing it. Or say that you failed the same test a lot of time and you think about suiciding but seriously who wants to die. I dont think we're free at some points, such as obeying the laws or your parents. Keeping your thoughts and feeling inside of you doesnt show you that you are free.

Bao Lin, your paper is amazing... i cant even argue with you. I feel the same way as you..."I rather just be myself and accept the fact that i will never be free..." It is like sometimes we just have to keep on walking at the same old path and cant accept the fact the society is making us suffer. Thanks a lot for sharing your essay and i enjoy it. Good thoughts and development.

To Lieb Y,

Hey Lieb, awesome paper you have written. You are such a strong writer. Your paper is amazing and thoughtful. I bet you put a lot of effort into this draft. It is clear and you have broken down your major points, to make it easy for [us] to understand. Your paper almost sound like Bao Lin, talking about freedom.

I like how you started out with a couple of questions and then explain why you feel this way. You explain how we the people has the right to make our own decisions and free to become whoever we want, but theres a limited to our freedom. Good quotes you pointed out from Banarch.

Aww man Lieb, your paper really got me thinking and feeling nervous. I want to live a better life and i really want to feel exactly the meaning of the word "happiness" I enjoy your paper but you got me thinking when i dont want to think [right now] You support your paper with many great quotes and thank you for sharing your idea. You really got me thinking about what will my life be like in the next 5 years?