Sissy vanWinkle

complete freewill, determinism and destiny

2008-09-09T06:19:00.000-07:00

I actually have a belief on this. I believe that to an extent, your life is destined to be one way or another. You have the power to shape it, though. I believe that your environment and decisions can change the outcome of your life. They are all intertwined. Everyone is individual and therefore their individual decisions shape their destiny. No two people have the exact same life, so no two people can have the exact same destiny. Something has to be different, otherwise people would be walking around with the exact same thought, behaviors and lifestyle. At the end of the day you have a destiny, but you can choose it.

Battle Royal - I hope this is what you were looking for.

2008-08-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

The narrator has many forces pushing against him. Some of these are racism, society, and self-definition. The white men are, obviously, racist in the way that they act towards the black men. When the black men enter the room, the white people realize that their “entertainment” is there for the evening. They also make the black men feel inferior when they shock the rug with fake money, showing them that all of their hard work was for nothing. Society, both the white and black, encourages the black men to stay down, after all, so many black men volunteered for the battle royal. The narrator also has a problem with self-definition. He is a smart African-American man, which isn’t ideal for his society. His being smart places him in an uncomfortable place in both societies, and as a result, he is constantly looking for what he really is.

The narrator’s final speech is very symbolic. I imagined him talking louder and louder, demanding attention. His speech symbolizes his self-recognition. He realizes himself as a smart African-American man, and that he can be both. His speech shows his pride, which changes the story entirely. Had the narrator run off ashamed at the end, he would not be the same man in our eyes as he is now. Now, he has delivered a speech that demands attention and questions authority. Also, the narrator made more of an impression delivering his speech after the battle royal. His speech turns into a “Look. Look what you made me do. Now, look at how strong I am despite you.”

2008-08-21T05:58:00.001-07:00

The very old man with enormous wings is biologically just that, but he is also a representation of the town's beliefs and needs. The old woman believed, so the man became an angel. The priest was, suprisingly, a skeptic and tried to prove the woman wrong. At first, the old man was an angel for the family, then he was a means of profit, and finally a nuisance. The old man represents what each person needs and what the town needs. As much of a nuisance as he becomes, the old man is exactly what everyone needed.

2008-08-20T06:36:00.000-07:00

Why is this a perfect ending to this short?

Throughout the whole story the main character (mentioned from now on as Bub) judges Robert. The ending is appropriate because Bub understands Robert. He ends up understanding how he can love a woman and how he "sees" beauty. Bub becomes blind and realizes the beauty of the cathedral that they have drawn, calling it "really something". Robert says what a strange life it is, and the Bub never expected "this". What is this? Bub was blind for a brief moment, and he understood Robert and his life completely.

FINAL

2008-08-20T06:25:00.000-07:00

From Thanksgiving until Christmas, my family has a tradition. Whenever we go through the toll booth, we pay for the car behind us. It isn't a lot. 50 cents doesn't amount to much, but it always brings a smile on someone's face. A honk, and a wave.I believe in simplicity. The simple things in life are the best, and those things shape us. I believe that the 50 cents can fix a bad day.I believe that we did learn everything we need to know in kindergarten and that childhood pleasures are always necessary. In kindergarten I learned how to share, not to call anyone a name, and to clean up after myself. Not judging, spending time by myself, and being free are all elements learned so long ago. I practice these things everyday. I was happiest in kindergarten. I believe in good karma. I believe that picking someone up is the best thing to do, and that sharing crayons always means a lollipop. The simplest things, those taken for granted, are the most meaningful. The smile on a bad day and letting someone sleep a little longer at nap time should be a common courtesy. I believe in the beauty of simplicity. I believe it is beautiful to chase someone around the wooden jungle gym and falling just enough to rub some dirt in it. One of the nicest things I've ever done was sitting with the horse girl, all gangly and clumsy. The nice attributes you remember are the simplest. I will always remember when the popular girl extended an invitation and the time I got the only 100 on a test. I believe in karma and the simplest things will bring you the best karma. Which is why I believe in simplicity, it's beauty and impact on our lives is immeasurable.

Podcast- Rough Draft

2008-08-17T14:18:00.001-07:00

During all the war and economic crises, I have come to believe one thing: our government should be run by kindergarteners. Our country is unhappy and corrupted. If you look through a windon into a kindergarten room you will see one thing: simplicity. When fingerpainting time was serious and the teacher ruled all was when we were the happiest. Nap time under our favorite blankie kept everyone from getting grouchy, and we learned everything we needed to know.
There is a common school poster entitled "Everything I Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten."I believe in trying to live by this philosophy. When did we forget everything we need to know?
The fundamentals of life were taught, but seem to have been forgotten. Share. Resources and crayons are the same thing in this case. Keep your hands off other people, and especially don't blow them up. Don't call each other names like "axis of evil". Clean up when you need to, and don't let your trash kill everyone's earth. If you're grumpy, sit in the corner and don't talk. The UN is the teacher, she is supreme and tells you what to do. Listen. I believe that is how a government should be run, and that a kindergartener could do it.

Quote

2008-08-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

"...two warring ideal in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder."-Dubois

Podcast Preview

2008-08-15T06:43:00.000-07:00

I believe that everything the government should be run by kindergartners.