'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