'Tis the season

Why is it that every year,
Teachers ask us to write a poem about winter and Christmas cheer?
I am not very clever.
I have never been good with poetry, not now not ever.
I don’t even like winter that much.
It is too cold of a season with the snow and such.
I am already cold most of the time.
Boy I hope I am almost done with my little rhyme.
However, there are some things I like about this blustery season.
Hot cocoa and snuggling under a blanket being the main reasons.
I also love the freshly fallen slow, all crystal white.
It is such an ephemeral sight.
During this time of year, I’ve had some of the best memories of my life.
I’m thankful for a lot and have trouble complaining of any strife.
So I guess I can get over the cold.
I have to enjoy life before I get old.
Cause let’s face it, past 30 it’s all downhill from there

EL FIN

Globalization

I love Chineese food. I listen to a lot of merengue, cumbia, and bachata. I’m pretty sure very few of the things I wear were actually made in America. Globalization is in everything we touch. America is a unique nation because there are so many different races and religions. It is one of the most globalized countries in the world and it also does the “globalizing” to other countries…I don’t think that is a word...moving on.

I’m not sure about how I feel about globalization. Theoreticaly speaking, globalization should be benefiting everyone financially and teach tolerance and all that good stuff. However, I can’t ignore when I hear about companies going over seas to exploit cheaper labor. Companies like Nike get associated with sweat shops for a reason. It angers me to hear about people barely able to get by on their pay when the multinational corporation is making millions a year.  It not only digs them in a whole, but it leaves many unemployed back home. I’m not saying that every business and every country should stay within its own boarders; globalization is a good thing.

Being exposed to different cultures and having options are all pros of globalization. It helps nations develop into a more cosmopolitan society. When nations are closed off from the world like Serbia was,as seen in the book, they are left behind. There is big money in being appealing to other places.

It doesn’t really matter how I feel about globalization anyway. It is inevitable. The United States tries to avoid following other countries and sticking to things that are “American,” but globalization still occurs.

Dad: He's out because of a groin injury. Me: (Giggle) Dad: You know the groin isn't the penis right? Me: ...

For the entirety of my life I have been incredibly average at sports (except soccer at which I’m just terrible). I could always play them decently enough to get by in gym class but not decently enough to really compete. I’m pretty okay with that. I’m not really into sports when it comes to seriously participating in them. Some of my best memories are from just messing around playing volleyball or softball with friends and family. What I really enjoy more is watching them (once again except for soccer).

I don’t know how my dad and I would communicate without sports. It kinda helps to get the ball rolling. Over the past couple years, our relationship has been a rocky one. I hate to admit it because I love sounding independent, but my parents’ approval does matter to me. I don’t like that it’s hard for us to talk, so since sports can ease the tension, I’ve become very appreciative of them. Sitting down watching a Cubs, Bears, or Hawks game has become one the few things we do together anymore. However, even without them I still like to watch my Cubbies.

I’m not sure why I love the Cubs. They suck pretty bad. Every season I watch every game despite the disappointment and heartache. Why? I guess because it has become instilled in me to love the Cubs. Both my parents and most of my relatives are Cubs fans. I know I’d be messed with relentlessly if I decided to switch sides. I couldn’t imagine being a Sox fan either. It’s just not possible for me to switch teams. I have too much loyalty and bias. I’m not even a northsider. I love the southside and have lived here my whole life. The Cubs have just become more associated with family to me than the Sox or any other team has.

The Group

I can’t be thankful for just one person in our philosophy class. In the back, we have a group going, so I have going to mention everybody.

Araceli: Your smile brightens my day…just kidding. But I do like your happy personality. You’re one of the few girls I know that’s not about drama. I’m happy I’m working with you and Sam in the project because I know I won’t be doing all the work like when I work with other people whose names I am not going to mention.

Jacky: My favorite Asian guy (he picked that title by the way). We go back since freshman year Spanish. You asked me for the answers back then, and you still do now. Some things never change. Good for you Jacky.

Shem (Grandson of Hem): My star dancer. We were in S.L.A. together, so you’ve seen me at my worst. Dude you’re awesome too bad I barely met you this year.

Campos: Oh Campos what can I say…skip. Just kidding that would be mean. All I can really think of is you need to believe in what you do more. That sounds really lame, but it’s true. Stand by your ideas.

Phil: PHILIP HOW HAVE WE BEEN IN THE SAME DIVISION FOR FOUR YEARS AND NEVER SPOKEN UNTIL THIS CLASS? That’s sad and really makes us look bad. You are so much fun to make fun of Campos with. You are the one in the group who sits there and makes us all look prettier. You have a key role and deliver everyday.

Jessica: You’re the only other girl in our discussion group. Thank you for helping me think while the guys are being their helpful selves.

A Letter to the Author

Dear Cormac McCarthy,

So…not sure what I’m supposed to be writing in this letter, but it has to be at least 250 words sooo I’m trying to kill some space.

Just kidding.

Not really.

Ok, I’m going to start for real now.

I really liked The Road. I love reading literature that examines the morality and basic nature of humanity. Some of the things in the book were absolutely horrid and made me feel disgusted, but it made a point. How far are people willing to go to survive? The sad thing is, most of what happened in the book would probably happen if there we some sort of disaster. It showed the best and worst of what people have to offer. It did give me some faith that some things will never change.

The love felt between parent and child or just within family in general can never be taken away. There will always be good people. Even in the face of death, the father and son remained the “good guys” until the end. I was very surprised that the book had a happy ending. Would it be too much for me to assume that it means you have an optimistic view of humanity too? Cause that’s what I got out of it.

Your writing style suited the book perfectly. It was very bare and with little structure. It almost seemed poetic rather than prose. It helped to set the atmosphere because it was also desolate and chaotic.

Sincerely,

Vanessa Rangel

the next chapter

Our road to extinction. Charles Bukowski discusses how the current state of society is an indication of where we are heading. Many choose to ignore or tone down the issues because it’s the easier thing to do. Well, it’s not the right thing to do. It would scare many to say the extinction of the human race is inevitable, but it’s true.

Bukowski isn’t making too far of a stretch when he says that eventually there will be nothing. Half of the events listed have already been happening. There is corruption everywhere in politics. Health care and the legal system benefit people with money the most. We are distracted by the Kardashians or the Lohans everyday. What are we really in control of anymore? What do we really own? The truth is the only things we do own are the most trivial objects. Even if you’re done making payments on your house, the government can still take it away. All they have to do is pay you compensation based on a price they create.

Yes, we are the most high thinking species on the planet, but that doesn’t make us exempt from extinction. It just means that it’s probably going to be done by us rather than another animal. It’s a very pessimistic view of humanity. I would LOVE to believe that if there were some sort of disaster, people would come together and thrive again. But I highly doubt it. The last line is very poignant to me: “The sun still hidden there Awaiting the next chapter.” We make up so little of the Earth’s history. We are just one chapter. When we are gone, we will be replaced by other life, and it will all happen again.

a direction for the class

A good class keeps students stimulated. It allows us the educational freedom to pursue our thoughts whichever way we please in order to come to an idea. It doesn’t have to be by a rigid plan or follow the schedule exactly. There should always be a little wiggle room. With more opportunities to think for themselves, students are given the chance to learn not only about a subject but about how their minds work.

So far, philosophy class has managed to do these things.
It’s one of the few classes that I actually have to think in. Yeah I know that doesn’t sound good, but it’s true. A lot of my past courses were mostly a one-sided lecture type of class where all we had to do was take notes. I like lectures but without discussion to back them up, they become forgettable. I don’t really talk a lot in discussions, but I do think more. For once, I begin to think backwards. Why do I think this way? How did I come to this conclusion? Is it really what I believe?

There is good balance between guidance and direction. We are not told what to think. There is never really a wrong answer…just some that are better. The direction we get is pretty basic, and it’s all we really need. I don’t like to be handed the correct answer and then memorize it. I’m curious to see how we’re going to wrap up the class at the end of the year. I think the unpredictability is a good thing.

And no I’m not trying to kiss up to the class…just putting that out there

poor girl...she has a face only a mother could love

The bond between mother and child is a stronger connection than one could articulate. It’s a sublime spark made even before birth. The child is literally part of the mother and nothing could replace that. Most of us have a weak spot for our moms. I know I could never talk bad about mine (and even if I do I feel terrible). I am a self-professed momma’s girl.

That mother and daughter bond is very strong between us. I know she cares. She may not be one of those traditional moms who cooks all the time or says her feelings, but it’s the little things that matter. I love it when we just sit on my bed and talk. She’ll tell me about her worries and then I to her. The way she still tries to clean me up or fix my hair shows that she has that nurturing instinct that I think is one of the more beautiful aspects of people. As annoying as it may be, nothing says, “I’m a mom,” more than when she tells me to put on a jacket because it’s going to be cold.

While reading The Road, it got me thinking about the bond between parent and child. Even though I’m older, I know that if I were left with either my mom or dad I would become dependent on them. It would become my duty to keep them safe and stay together. I couldn’t imagine leaving them after being through some of the things described in the book. The Road demonstrates how even in a post-apocalyptic hell-hole, a father will still put the happiness and well-being of his child above everything else. Parents are the only people that I can think of that will love you unconditionally.

how do I know what I know?

      How can I say for sure that I know what I know? Sometimes I find myself questioning whether or not we all come to a true consensus of knowing the same things. Like, how do I know for sure my perception of aqua is the same as that guy’s perception of aqua? It leaves me stumped. The only things we know are what we find true in our reality, things we’ve proven to be true by experience.
I know to not touch a sparkler because it’s very hot and hot burns. I learned this from a Fourth of July barbeque when I was six, and my parents thought it was cool for me to play with a sparkler. Yes, this is a very base example because everyone can agree that too much hot burns, but the important thing is that we know it to be true.
      When I say experience, I don’t only mean past experiences and memories. It also includes the senses, how we experience things. I don’t agree with Descartes. I feel that his level of skepticism allows too little to be true. I believe my perception to be true to me because it is what I have to go by. I don’t believe that I’m being deceived everyday by my senses. When I see my mom, I recognize her as my mom, and I know that’s my mom.
      Knowledge is very subjective. It depends on the individual’s personal experiences to determine what they know. However, there are universal concepts that we’ve come to agree on. Those are true facts.

you mean the world to me

Our meaning and why man has been put on earth is one of the fundamental questions people often ask. It is the root of everything. If we knew our meaning, than we would perhaps know our purpose. However, if we do in fact have no true meaning on this Earth, than do we have no purpose? I’ll admit that sometimes I feel like the most insignificant dot imaginable. There are billions of people on this Earth which is a mere spec in the galaxy let alone the universe. I know, it bums me out too. I’ve come to terms with the fact that there may not be a set purpose for everything. I’m not saying that it’s the truth set in stone, but I could see it as a possibility. But…I could never say that we have no meaning. Everyone is connected to one another, and everyone makes an impact in some shape or form. It all has to add up to something greater. I can’t even articulate what it is. Everyone (well most people) feel the need to accomplish something or have goals on life. Where does this desire come from? Other people must feel the same way as I do though or else no one would be asking, “What is our meaning?”

OMG

God damn it I don’t know where to start. What is God? Who is God? The word “god” has Indo-European descent and used to simply mean invoked one. It has always seemed like such an abstract concept to me. I say “god” all the time, but I never put much thought into it. I’ve never been religious, so God has never been a giant dude sitting in the clouds making it rain. What does God mean now in 2010?

God is put into so many things nowadays. The most annoying being politics. Whenever I hear people protesting gay marriage in the name of God, it makes me cringe. How could a God that’s supposed to promote holy virtues also promote hate and intolerance? People can’t claim to know the workings of God, and it’s ridiculous to try. People also always thank God during award shows AFTER they win. What about the losers? I guess God has his/her favorites too.

I don’t really know much about God or religion. To me religion is merely a guide to live life. I see the bible as a piece of literature with God and his many forms being the main character. I don’t think any of it really happened. God and religion were just supposed to be an incentive for people to live right so that after they die they go to heaven. This has been the hardest blog for me. I really don’t know how other people see God. When I think of my family, they see Him as being the one that looks after them and is responsible for all good. I guess that’s the nice way of seeing God. If I were to believe in him/her, I would probably look at it that way.

Does the Punishment Fit the Crime?

      Candide can never seem to get a break. Even after he gets kicked out of the castle, horrible things continue to plague him. Why? He hasn’t done anything bad. He just doesn’t know any better. The initial mishap (and one of the most significant) was him getting kicked out of his “Eden.” It wasn’t fair. It was a mutual expression of lust between him AND Cunegonde.
  
   As a matter of fact, Cunegonde learned this sort of behavior from Pangloss. Earlier in chapter one, it described an encounter between Pangloss and a chambermaid. Pangloss served as the serpent to tempt Cunegonde into engaging in the same forbidden activity he was. It was a little after that her and Candide got caught. Cunegonde and Pangloss should have been punished too. Although, it could be argued that eventually they were all kicked out of the castle and their paradise was destroyed.

     Candide was thrust into a world he wasn’t ready for. His naïve, optimistic nature led him to get taken advantage of or in some kind of trouble multiple times. He begins to question his philosophy as misfortune continues to follow him. The best of all worlds definitely isn’t the one he’s living in, and he’s forced to learn it the hard way. That’s the real reason his punishments are so unnecessarily harsh. It’s supposed to demonstrate how long can a person go on believing something even with increasing evidence against it. If he doesn’t begin to change, nothing good will ever happen.

My Modern Day Socrates

Socrates constantly questioned those to make them question themselves. How much do we all really know? Why do we believe what we believe? I’ve started to contemplate these types of issues much more lately. Partly because I’m getting older but also because of one person. His name is Eliseo, and he is my modern day Socrates.

Eliseo is a friend of mine that I’ve known for a couple years now. He’s one of the most interesting individuals I know. I’d never admit that to him though. He’s very good with advice and wants to be a high school counselor or psychiatrist one day. Maybe that’s why he’s so good at asking questions. Whenever we talk he always make me laugh or think.

I thought I knew a lot of things for certain before some of the conversations we’ve had. I remember one particular phone call. We started debating our views on fate. I stated that there is no such thing as fate because we make decisions that could alter our life drastically one way or the other. He started asking me to explain my reasoning further or why do I feel the way I do. I started off strong, (or at least I thought) but after some time I began to question myself. He never outright called me dumb or tried to prove his point but I ended up agreeing with a lot he said.

I guess the reason I like to keep him around is because he isn’t scared to question the big things in life. Whenever I have spare time or am just sitting on the train, I like to think. I’ll ask myself questions to see if I can answer them. I’m not crazy by the way. I owe it all to Eliseo. Again I would never admit that to him.

The Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living?

“The unexamined life is not worth living,” was said by Socrates over two thousand years ago. It’s amazing the power words can hold and how people still debate what he really meant. I can’t help but wonder if Socrates ever thought his work would survive through the trials of time and human memory? I mean think about it, his mind would be blown. Here I am, a seventeen-year-old girl writing an online blog entry to share with my high school philosophy class what I believe Socrates meant and not being forced to drink poison…haha get it because that’s how he died…too soon?


Anyway, we all live an unexamined life up to a certain point. When we are children we believe whatever our parents, family, or teachers tell us. My parents would teach me wrong words in Spanish purposely because they thought it was funny how I would run around saying…inappropriate things. In my defense I was a little kid, and my parents were the only thing I knew. Don’t worry though, I now know the true meaning to the lovely vocabulary I was once taught. I only achieved that new knowledge, however, by question.


“The unexamined life” is a life without questioning. It’s someone who has beliefs and values but doesn’t know why. It’s a necessity to question, “Why do I believe…” you fill in the blank. If we keep on living life without asking ourselves that or at least taking a moment to reflect, then we’re just living our parent’s life or our teacher’s life or whoever made that impact on you. You’re not living if you’re not acting as an individual, and that is a life not worth living.

My Eulogy

By the time you will be reading this I will already be dead. No I did not commit

suicide. I just figured who would be better to write my own eulogy than me. I would love

to say that I died doing something cool like shark wrestling, but I most likely got run over

by a bus or something (I’m a bit of a day-dreamer).

Well I, Vanessa Alexis Rangel, was born June 14, 1993 on what I’m assuming

was a beautiful summer morning. I was the daughter of two loving parents named Carlos

and Leticia Rangel and family meant a lot to me. I had a very strong bond with my sisters

that I still cherish. I was also a loyal friend who would have done anything to help one of

them out. I enjoyed making people laugh and didn’t like to bring others down even when

I felt glum. I figured things will eventually improve, so why dwell on the negative? I was

even lucky enough to have an amazing boyfriend that I often annoyed because of my

lack-of-thinking-before-I-speak disorder.

In regards to my accomplishments, I’ll probably be best remembered for being an

honor student at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. Being educated was always

important to me. I strived to be successful and to not have to depend on another to get

what I wanted. I used to dance a lot too. I loved music. I performed in and choreographed

for S.L.A. (Somos Latinos Aspirantes).

I would like to think I was a pretty good person. I lived a happy life that like most

had some rough patches, but I wouldn’t trade a single one of them. Mistakes and

challenges teach people the most whether they realize it at the time or not. There’s always

something else to learn. Well, except for me because I’m dead.

Vanessa Alexis Rangel

June 14, 1993- September 9, 2010