The topic of today's blog is Stephen Colbert's "I Am America: And So Can You!" While the book that covers different parts of life according to Stephen Colbert is in no way serious at all, many of his opinions he expresses are believed by many Americans. Consider the average American and how they feel, about the religion of Catholicism.
Most Americans sot of have a 'don't know, don't care.' type attitude, which allows for total religious tolerance like what we have in our country. However, according to Stephen Colbert in his book...
Catholicism is the only reason that should be allowed in America. Catholicism is the only 'good' and 'pure' religion that will help you be saved by God. Whether or not Stephen is being serious, no one knows, however. We NEVER know when Stephen Colbert is actually being 100% serious on his show either, however!
The ironic thing about Catholicism however, is that there's lots of extra traditions in that religion, which are not talked about or discussed in the Bible. So how is a religion pure for having all these extra features and traditions which might actually go against the actual Bible itself?
For example; Think of how the Pope is worshiped and adored around the world. Could you consider the way he's treated as worshiping an idol? Which is one of the strictest no-nos in the Ten Commandments? Just a little something something to ponder.
Please do not take any offense to this if you are Catholic Mrs. Burgess. I apologize. I myself am agnostic.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
English Blog Entry #6
Yes. Ladies and gentlemen; It is time for another song-lyrics related blog. Only because I was listening to this song, and I noticed literary terms in it that coincide with our poetry unit! Oh snap! Seriously speaking, I love the song "Angels" by Robbie Williams to bits and pieces because my boyfriend, Chris, told me it was 'our song.' It has deep meaning to me, especially because I've been lucky enough to hear him sing the song to me. He sung the song to me one evening was when I was severely depressed. An emotional wreck of sorts, and that was around last July.
[Music Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF8unwxhNho]
And because the two of us are especially dorky, he would replace every part of the song that said 'Angels' with 'Cindy.'
Some of the lines outshine the rest, and it's these lines that will make -any- person who chooses to sing/recite the lyrics to someone, the true romantic.
"and through it all she offers me protection
a lot of love and affection
whether I’m right or wrong"
Right there, we get to see a bit of Robbie Williams experimenting with rhyming his verses of lyrics. A part of me is caught off guard seeing a guy admit to the fact that his woman is protecting him in a sort of way. Not to be sexist or anything, but normally, guys will take pride in and brag about being the protector of someone, and the dominant one in a relationship. [Hetero-sexual relationship speaking.] The idea of someone loving you no matter what happens though, is something we just don't see in modern music all that much either, and its' refreshing to find a song that actually discusses that.
"and as the feeling grows
she breathes flesh to my bones"
This segment of figurative language is probably one of my favourite in the song; it's rare to find someone who really does 'bring you to life' like what Mr. Williams is talking about.
The man who sings this to me is my angel.
[Music Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF8unwxhNho]
And because the two of us are especially dorky, he would replace every part of the song that said 'Angels' with 'Cindy.'
Some of the lines outshine the rest, and it's these lines that will make -any- person who chooses to sing/recite the lyrics to someone, the true romantic.
"and through it all she offers me protection
a lot of love and affection
whether I’m right or wrong"
Right there, we get to see a bit of Robbie Williams experimenting with rhyming his verses of lyrics. A part of me is caught off guard seeing a guy admit to the fact that his woman is protecting him in a sort of way. Not to be sexist or anything, but normally, guys will take pride in and brag about being the protector of someone, and the dominant one in a relationship. [Hetero-sexual relationship speaking.] The idea of someone loving you no matter what happens though, is something we just don't see in modern music all that much either, and its' refreshing to find a song that actually discusses that.
"and as the feeling grows
she breathes flesh to my bones"
This segment of figurative language is probably one of my favourite in the song; it's rare to find someone who really does 'bring you to life' like what Mr. Williams is talking about.
The man who sings this to me is my angel.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
English Blog Entry #5
Tonight, my time was spent deciphering Kayla's poetry that she had written, and asked me to critique before Creative Writing class tomorrow. For Kayla's privacy, I wont be posting her stanzas on here, because she's very self concious of her writing. But anywho~
Her poem was supposed to show thirteen views of a gun, one viewpoint being of someone who enjoys video games such as myself.
"BOOM, HEAD SHOT! YOU'RE DEAD." All the studies that I've read in my time that relate kids to video games and the amount of violent things they did, would focus on African American children. All the studies would rant on and on about how them playing Grand Theft Auto meant they would grow up to be a gang member. They had no general assumption for all video game players including people caught in a Suburbia Utopia such as myself. No general conclusion to whether or not increased amounts of violence occured in children, because of video games games.
For me at least, the studies don't even hold true. When I'm angry with a person, I don't think of shooting them or even something much less severe, such as slapping them across the face. I don't look at guns and think that they're 'toys' or 'items to use to pwn my opponents,' yet there's this general conception that we people play video games, are like that. Violent, savage beasts. [The whole talk of savage reminds me of Lord of The Flies. Hated that book!]
Reading Kayla's poem was refreshing though, because she didn't show any of those general misconceptions in her writing, from the gamer's perspective. She simply wrote the 'BOOM, HEADSHOT!' bit to be funny.
Though, a small part of me felt scared and vulnerable, when she talked about a person with depression holding a gun. The emotions traveled through me in waves; I had no idea why reading it felt so awkward. She talked about how they wanted to shoot themselves; End it all in just a moment. How would that turn out? Would they have any regrets if they had an opportunity to think about it after they died?
Hmm.
Her poem was supposed to show thirteen views of a gun, one viewpoint being of someone who enjoys video games such as myself.
"BOOM, HEAD SHOT! YOU'RE DEAD." All the studies that I've read in my time that relate kids to video games and the amount of violent things they did, would focus on African American children. All the studies would rant on and on about how them playing Grand Theft Auto meant they would grow up to be a gang member. They had no general assumption for all video game players including people caught in a Suburbia Utopia such as myself. No general conclusion to whether or not increased amounts of violence occured in children, because of video games games.
For me at least, the studies don't even hold true. When I'm angry with a person, I don't think of shooting them or even something much less severe, such as slapping them across the face. I don't look at guns and think that they're 'toys' or 'items to use to pwn my opponents,' yet there's this general conception that we people play video games, are like that. Violent, savage beasts. [The whole talk of savage reminds me of Lord of The Flies. Hated that book!]
Reading Kayla's poem was refreshing though, because she didn't show any of those general misconceptions in her writing, from the gamer's perspective. She simply wrote the 'BOOM, HEADSHOT!' bit to be funny.
Though, a small part of me felt scared and vulnerable, when she talked about a person with depression holding a gun. The emotions traveled through me in waves; I had no idea why reading it felt so awkward. She talked about how they wanted to shoot themselves; End it all in just a moment. How would that turn out? Would they have any regrets if they had an opportunity to think about it after they died?
Hmm.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
English Blog Entry #4
As I devour more and more pages of the novel I'm currently indulging in,
"The No ***hole Rule"; I find myself wondering more and more about just one simple question. This question, the author tries to answer, and yet there is no general answer that applies to every single case.
What compels and causes people to be just plain old jerks? In the work force, at school, at home, anywhere and everywhere. No, I would not like a cliché answer of 'Because they have a low self esteem,' hahaha. The only reason why I say that, is not to be a smart alec, but because I know plenty of people who have low self esteems. These people with low self esteems never act out or take their emotions out on someone else, they take it out on themselves instead. No one else ever notices them doing this either. No, I'm not saying taking your anger//grief//negative emotions out on yourself is necessarily the best thing to do; the people that I know who could be jerks, choose to show dislike to themselves instead however. No one else ever gets a glimpse of this dislike and abuse. Do the jerks just not know how to cope with their emotions? And hey, maybe they were never even taught the 'Count to ten, and take deep breaths.' rule as a little kid, which actually works.
What are the other reasons that someone may be a big jerk? The only other reason why I’ve ever seen someone act out, was because of boredom. Whenever I was home alone with Rick before he left for college, and he picked on me, I’d angrily ask,
“What the **** have I done to you? Do I deserve this?”
And I’d get the simple nonchalant response of,
“Nothing! I’m just bored.”
In my brother’s case, being a big jerk is just his sign that he’s not fully mature yet. And if this is the same case for adults, so be it. There will always be immature people, and not immature in the good way. Not people who enjoy ‘their inner child.’
Either way, actions really do speak so much louder than words. That seems to be a prevailing theme in “The No ***hole Rule”. That's also the one thing that I've learned from Mrs. Buckley. Actually, I was taught that idea from a poster she has on her wall. Whatever works.
"The No ***hole Rule"; I find myself wondering more and more about just one simple question. This question, the author tries to answer, and yet there is no general answer that applies to every single case.
What compels and causes people to be just plain old jerks? In the work force, at school, at home, anywhere and everywhere. No, I would not like a cliché answer of 'Because they have a low self esteem,' hahaha. The only reason why I say that, is not to be a smart alec, but because I know plenty of people who have low self esteems. These people with low self esteems never act out or take their emotions out on someone else, they take it out on themselves instead. No one else ever notices them doing this either. No, I'm not saying taking your anger//grief//negative emotions out on yourself is necessarily the best thing to do; the people that I know who could be jerks, choose to show dislike to themselves instead however. No one else ever gets a glimpse of this dislike and abuse. Do the jerks just not know how to cope with their emotions? And hey, maybe they were never even taught the 'Count to ten, and take deep breaths.' rule as a little kid, which actually works.
What are the other reasons that someone may be a big jerk? The only other reason why I’ve ever seen someone act out, was because of boredom. Whenever I was home alone with Rick before he left for college, and he picked on me, I’d angrily ask,
“What the **** have I done to you? Do I deserve this?”
And I’d get the simple nonchalant response of,
“Nothing! I’m just bored.”
In my brother’s case, being a big jerk is just his sign that he’s not fully mature yet. And if this is the same case for adults, so be it. There will always be immature people, and not immature in the good way. Not people who enjoy ‘their inner child.’
Either way, actions really do speak so much louder than words. That seems to be a prevailing theme in “The No ***hole Rule”. That's also the one thing that I've learned from Mrs. Buckley. Actually, I was taught that idea from a poster she has on her wall. Whatever works.
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