Opinion of The Plague (The Plague 2)

Well thanks Camus for your slow paced, death abundant, depressing, and unenticing read. But what do I expect from a book about the Black Death, peace and flowers? Nah, I knew what I was getting into, but I didn't understand why the read was so boring this time around. I enjoyed the stranger, I enjoy philosophy, but I dread the Plague for some reason. To fully absorb the context of each page I'd have to reread it. It felt like half-ass reading to me because everything between the lines was full of boredom and depression. Text that was irrelevant and characters though you tried to make them interesting, had nothing to them because they were all effected by the Plague nearly the same. Besides Cottard who enjoyed his freedom of not being imprisoned.

I didn't hate the story, I didn't hate the book, I just plainly hated the read and the non-relating text within the read. Maybe I have bad taste, sorry Camus. But unlike the Stranger my attention span for absorbing the text was 5 pages every time I picked up the book.

What I did like was the realistic view of how people would react at first to such an epidemic. Shock > Denial > Panic > Abandon Hope > Blow all their expenses > Live the final days of their life to the best it can be.

I think that is as realistic as it can get, and when something like the Plague occurs, it's only instinct to run and isolate rather than stand and fight, which I think from the beginning would have saved all those people. Also in every plague book there's gotta be someone like Paneloux who blames it on God and his smiting on the sinners in the world. Yes, I know it happened in real life and people believed it, but it really was an ignorant claim that God is punishing all for the sins of some. I also think that the fact that Camus had to state that there was a Christian boy who died made Paneloux's views invalid was unnecessary because the people should see the absurdity in his claims from the start.

Is Man An Idea? (The Plague 1)

Rambert states "man is an idea if he is incapable of love."

I think all man are capable of loving. Therefore, I'm siding with Rieux in that man is not an idea. We see humanity, 6.974 billion people living in the world as of 2011, and if death passed through majority of that number, would one fight for those people or the idea of a person's right to living in the world. I for one would choose to fight for the people who currently live here and not the idea that we should be living because I still have yet to know that.

Rambert says Tarrou is incapable of dying for an idea. Taking man being an idea out of the picture, I think any true man can die for the ones he loves. Tarrou can definitely die for people he cares about, more so than any other man on the street can fight against the plague for the "greater good" of humanity. If everyone came together, not fighting for the idea of man that doesn't exist, and fought for the brothers and sisters around them, wouldn't there have been a chance to combat the illness? So is man an idea? Yes. But is that idea worth fighting for? No. The people who are close to you, and take part in making that idea a whole are the ones worth fighting for.

Open Letter to Parents

Parenting is hard, I think we get to see that come around fifteen years of growing up and seeing the stupid things we've done in the past. But as a parent one has to just let it go, we're kids and we learn from our mistakes. Not everything can be taught solely from listening and following you, we just want to be our own person and learn from that. So don't make us do anything we don't want to do, push us in the directions you want, and if we like it so be it. Don't force those vegetables down our throats, that's what the Gummy Flinstone vitamins are for. Punishment is okay for drugs, grades, and alcohol, but don't punish your kids over stuff you couldn't do as a child. That excuse is ridiculous and times have changed, it's time to let go, kids should be able to sleep over their best friends' houses, and they should also be allowed to go out once in a while with friends if they really hadn't done anything wrong.

To my parents, I've been on the lucky end of the stick, I think. Everything you've done to or for me helped me be my own person, you didn't push too hard, but just enough. Mom has let me be responsible and make many of my own choices. Dad you've been hard on me my whole childhood, from schools to sports to health, and its paid off, I know now why you did it and it made me better in the end. So you guys did your job, I turned out okay I guess.

As long as your child does their work in school, does what they like to do, and stays out of trouble, what other means is there to parent them on? To all the parents who's kids fit those 3 things, I think you've succeeded your job in being a parent. Thanks.

Civics

Dogs really are a man's best friend. But to not pick up after your dog's crap in the grass in the park or in the middle of the damn sidewalk is wrong. There are civic duties people are entitled to. Not picking up after your dog is one of them that annoys me the most when one is ignorant not to do a simple task owning a dog requires you to do. Nobody wants to clean up after you or your dog so why make them do it? Take for example you or your child are in a restaurant or public place, hell a Starbucks. And one of you throws up all over the place. Is the owner/barista really expected to clean that up after you? Nobody really wants to, and not picking up your dog's sh!t is the equivalence of just getting up and leaving that Starbucks after soiling it with the remnants of last night's dinner.

There are duties that are expected of the ordinary person. Like chores that our parents give us. I think that shows us as kids that there are certain duties that we have to do. Now instead of within the household there are duties to society to just be a decent human being and pick up after your dog.

Is Poverty A Choice

Some people cannot choose whether they are in poverty or not. Being born into it or living in an area that is stricken by it are examples of not being able to choose. But the idea of the choice to remain in poverty is in the person's freedom. I believe anyone can get out of poverty if they try. Although some areas can be typically a lot harder, ex: Southie. I think it is not entirely their fault that they are in that state of poverty.

Like the Phillipines, still stricken with poverty because the U.S Government deemed they were unfit to run their country by themselves after fighting against Spain for their independence.Because of outside factors, they remain in poverty and are struggling to better their economy. There are people that rose out of that poverty but it is their will and determination to do so. I believe being homeless is a choice. If they are unable to take the money they receive from begging and find a job, they choose to just keep begging. It is their inability to get out of poverty and that is why poverty is a choice. 

Integration:Separation

The U.S is known for being an integrated country, and "because their government is just and as there is nothing to render them wretched, there is nothing to engender riots and tumults." (Rights of Man, Paine) This quote was made prior to the civil war, and so this defines England's perspective in particular of the United States. Have we ever met those standards that Thomas Paine held to us? I think not. Although we are integrated racism still exists. Would it have been better to be separated instead of segregated? Maybe we would've saved the feelings of a lot of people, but it would have been a lot harder to make the transition to integration if we were separated to start with. Racism can't be stopped in society, because it is taken into account with everything we do with others. Stereotypes advertised all throughout media, are taken seriously even by professionals. Chicago is a more racist city than we know. Beatings and violence over domestic disputes can be considered acts of racism when we look at it. One can see it as being at the wrong place at the wrong time but the majority will tend to look at the situation oh a gang of (so & so race) beat up a couple kids of (so & so race) in the North or the South side. As long as their are two different races there will be people who see it as a racial dispute and wrongful act of violence.

Integration is a decision for most people. I believe that the people who fear integration should move to their homeland and be ignorant there. If they have the nerve to go to America and complain about integration its just sad because America isn't 'theirs'. That is why racism is so frowned upon. America has always been seen as the well diverse country that doesn't care about color or religion. Yet there are still people here that enforce that there should be separation. Which just outright disgusts me.

Malcolm X

"I believe one should forgive the person or persons who have committed atrocities against oneself and mankind. But this does no necessarily mean one should forget about the atrocities committed." (The Dalai Lama)

I don't think I'm in any position to speak about racism in general for others, because I have never gone through it. I can say however that it does exist still today, although it's light. Racism is still there, amongst our friends, family, and complete strangers. Can we really help it? Can we stop it? I don't know the solution to that but Malcolm X did a phenomenal job in showing the wrongdoings him and his brethren had faced due to it. 

The first 12 chapters of his autobiography leading to him being imprisoned was depressing. How his father was murdered, family separated, and the life he was forced to lead because of it. Personally I wouldn't know what to do when faced with racism. I'd probably feel anger. But there would be this question in my mind, constantly, "why?".

Malcolm X is more than justified for his actions through everything he's been through. Throughout the reading, it was just frustrating how the people would be so immoral to oppress him and his people. He has the right to call his enemy the devil, he has the right to use violence but instead doesn't. His attempts at resolving these conflicts were intelligent, rallying people to his side with ethos, logos and pathos.  

Musick Review.

My favorite song for a long time to come
 

 Otherside by Macklemore. Now making it big I've been listening to him since 2011. Yeah yeah I'm sooo cool because I listened to him first. But truthfully this is the song that stands out the most to me throughout his whole musical career. I've seen him live, and he's played this song, and by the end he was crying. Maybe the saddest thing I've seen coming from any rapper. The song is touching, and sends a serious message to a lot of drug users. Its unlike to hip-hop artists today that rap about the ho*s, money, and how good of a rapper they are. Macklemore raps about real problems in this song. A true artist accompanied by a great background/beat maker Ryan Lewis who highlight his voice and his lyrics so that every verse and every bar hits the audience. Other great songs by him that haven't been shown spotlight to include, The Town, Wings, and Victory Lap.

Alone

The very thought of being alone to me seems both good and bad. There are various ways one can view being alone, whether it be at home-alone, at complete silence, being outlandish, or without presence of other live creatures. I think they all relate with one another when the people you know are with and around you that determine true lonesomeness.

Most will agree that barring oneself from nature, from humanity, and society will make them truly alone. I picture it like I Am Legend, without the creatures that come out at night to eat your flesh. If that were to ever happen yes, then that would make that person truly alone. But a more realistic alone to me is being without love. A flaw to it could be that even if you say your family passed away that your never alone because they are always there watching you. But I think one who has nobody to love, no family, no friends, no companionship, is very alone. Then again that seems to be very hard to achieve as companionship seems natural to me, if you don't have friends you make some, if nobody wants to be your friend you get cats. Love for someone I think is what is really required to decide whether your alone or not.

Something I Have Found Meaning In

Thanksgiving has passed, and Christmas time is coming around, the holiday of giving. Both involve heavy family activity. That is what I have found meaning in my life so far. The idea and the purpose of a family to a person. It affects how that person turns out to grow, their actions, and their sense of affection. The idea of a family is beneficial to any individual even if that family is abusive. My reason being that an abusive family can make that person stronger, independent, and give them drive to be better than their family.

Nonetheless, family contributes to each and everyone's unique personality. When I think about it, if my family weren't there for me, then I would be a completely different person. Without them I don't even want to imagine how hard or different my life would be now. I have complete faith and trust in them and through the years of living with them is how I have come to conclude that the idea of a family has meaning to me.

First Quarter Review

I enjoy philosophy. I enjoy the many different approaches to a belief or an idea and thats what makes it enjoyable to me. Freedom of choice in a class. But when philosophical arguments turn into who's right and who's wrong I find it pointless. The point of philosophy is to dwell on the possibilities and choices like we did in the beginning of the year. It has now evolved into what person's views on life are and whether they are right and wrong.

About the assignments, I enjoy the readings given to us in class so having us answer those questions are nothing because they're so simple they just ensure that we read. The blogs on the other hand are tedious. I feel like they're a chore. They can easily be done with an in-class discussion. I like that you don't assign unnecessary homework for "points to grade". Except for assignments you give the substitute for us to do in class when your not present. Those are pointless and a waste of time just to make sure we are busy in class.

Election

Camus being the debbie downer he is, doesn't find meaning in life. Death is significant to life, and our only purpose is to experience the life we live. Therefore I think he wouldn't vote for anyone. He wouldn't care who would win the election as long as it didn't prevent him from living the life we view as absurd.

Voltaire on the other hand with a disgust towards corrupt religion and government (noted in Candide). Seems like he would vote for nobody as well. Both philosophers want simplicity in their lives. They would probably want minimal government presence in their lives and choose not to vote. Knowing the nature of Voltaire in Candide, peace and prosperity between the people, as well as protection from the government, I feel as if he would lean more towards the Democratic party if forced to vote.

Meaning of Life

There's no meaning to life. Plain and simple. We all exist to live, be happy, and do whatever the hell we want. Some people devote their life to god, others to helping civilization, and some thirst knowledge of this very subject. Why are we here? What is our purpose? The only purpose we have is to live the life we choose as we are all responsible for our own fate. God can be there to guide us. Education can be there to better us. Sports can be there to drive us. But when it comes down to the very root of our existence, we live to enjoy the life we have. To experience life with the people around us we call friends and family. With life comes death, and when one dies the world will eventually move on. Life is unfortunate for some who don't get to live to their full potential. Its sad, but the truth. Like Sisyphus, there was no complaint about pushing the boulder up the hill for eternity. He chilled out, and found joy from torture. His joy in life was that walk of boulder free glory down the hill to start over again, and he accepted it. It's a good interpretation of my meaning of life. To just be lax and not give a damn about whatever boulder was in your way from living life.

Candide's Punishments

The Past : the slightest misdemeanor, crime, punishment, or fault could result in serious consequences. Some which are outright ridiculous and yet the people accepted them. Those were the laws, and it is because of those faults that society did not want to disobey the law. Speaking in Candide's time, his petty crimes as little as kissing Cunegonde in front of the king, resulted in severe punishment. So the question is, does it fit the crime? Speaking in Candide's time yes, but for modern society of course not. Candide could have been sentenced to death if requested but the king had figured hey lets just cut him up through the gauntlet, he will probably die there. In today's world that would be unacceptable but hey Candide did commit a crime as little as it may be one could argue he deserved it. Living a life outside the castle, in a world where he thinks all is for the best thanks to his philosopher Pangloss. Suffering after every chapter, but for what? A girl who was love at first sight to him. Going through all this trouble, for a girl whom he supposedly loves does not justify all the crimes he had commit. One does not deserve to suffer as much as Candide does in this passage, but he should not just go around killing religious figures and monkeys and brother in laws, all for a girl. That deserves punishment, were it to be in modern day society, that would be a death sentence. So in my opinion Candide has been let off the hook more than enough when it comes to these crimes.

How Do I Know What I Know?

How does one know what they know? Everything mankind has ever encountered has been recorded and examined. Everything is passed on, and like the saying goes, "you learn something new every day". I believe that is true, unless one lays in solitary away from all society. Through the internet is in my opinion the source for much of the information that I know. The average person uses the internet about 13 hours a week. No matter what they are doing on the internet they know or learn something new.

And I believe I know what I know through schooling, parents, and just living. It starts out when your a child, naive and innocent, with a "buttload" of curiosity waiting to be answered by your creators. Whether it be through communication or through records, one cannot very well erase something you know. Just by getting through the day I learn many things, for instance not to wear socks more than three times before washing them, no matter if you take a break from them and use another pair only to come back to the dirty ones. It is through self experience though, that you can really trust that you know what you know.

The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living

When I was little, I was always a very curious child like most others, but one thing I never did was ask my parents those questions like "are there aliens", "why the sky is blue", or "where did humans come from". Don't get me wrong, I was curious, but I also liked to find things out for myself. Like the fairy-tale and fantasy creatures were nonexistent. I found out by myself that Santa and the Tooth Fairy weren't real. Therefore, I do agree that the unexamined life is not worth living. There are questions that should remain mysterious to us, as we have gone over in class.

Living a life where every thing and every answer is handed down to you on a silver platter with no quest for any answers is not worth living. Life would be lived without questions, and without curiosity, therefore life would be absolutely boring. Examining the lives we lead today is what makes us human beings. Curiosity plays a big role in leading an examined life as Socrates has. And without it, humans would have no way of advancing as a species. 

Eulogy 9/7

eu·lo·gy

[yoo-luh-jee]

noun, plural eu·lo·gies.

1.

a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especiallya set oration in honor of a deceased person.

2.

high praise or commendation.

Justin was a happy young dapper, who always kept mind to his own business. Never got into any trouble, and was really shy till his later years. Not a particularly large fellow, but aspired to become big to his peers in school and out. He took a knack at sports, where he excelled at most of his early years. Some would even go as far to nickname him monkey-boy. Full of energy and excitement, sports is where Justin learned to escape the shadows of being shy. No longer was he quiet, he grew to be independent and strong, all because of sports. Not to say that he wasn't independent and strong before-hand, but just gained a tremendous amount of testosterone more than he previously had. He had always been the man of the house. Since his father and mother parted ways, he was always the one to take care of his younger sister. To add to his self dependance, he picked up a job at a family restaurant at the age of twelve, and had been working there during his schooling years to help support his mother. He was always a nice kid, not really disliked, and put others before him. He'd always wanted to put a mark in the world, make a difference. He will be missed dearly.