Throughout the fall 2009 semester there have been numerous types of essays presented. Three essays in particular include the ethnography, the annotation project, and the argument against convention. Each piece of writing served as a vehicle to develop different writing skills and reinforce basic grammar and style issues. The process of developing the aforementioned essays allows one to review their writing skills and evaluate their overall process.
Writing the ethnography began with choosing a topic which I could vividly remember. Since I recently attended my first country concert, I figured it would be fresh in my memory. By making a list of details from the things that stood out in my mind, I was able to organize the information that my ethnography would contain. After creating the basic structure of the essay, I added specific details to make it more interesting to the reader. Next I received feedback from my instructor as well as my classmates which I took into consideration during the revision process. The major changes made to my essay were in regards to the introduction and the conclusion. The ethnography served as a valuable tool which mainly improved my ability to write in great detail.
The annotation project proved to be interesting as it allowed for discussion of a vast array of information. The image I chose was a political cartoon that lent itself to numerous issues surrounding America’s current war on drugs. The main issues I chose to write about included visual rhetoric, the bills of rights as it relates to the war on drugs, the prison industrial complex, the Ku Klux Klan, the cost of the war on drugs to the taxpayer. Next I gathered valid sources to find information and created an MLA style works cited page. After viewing the information I wrote about the topics I previously chose in about one paragraph per topic. Finally, I added in text citation where needed and check for grammatical errors. The annotation project allowed me to evaluate my ability to write research style material and review the format for a works cited page.
Another piece of writing creating over the semester was the argument against convention. The assignment was to purpose a conventional idea and then challenge it. The topic of my argument essay was against religion. By examining the consequences of religion over the years, a valid argument against its positive effect on society can be made. After developing the main ideas of the essay I added specific details and examples which further supported the argument. This essay allowed me to evaluate my ability to make and support a valid argument and challenge a conventional idea.
The English 11 course contained interesting assignments that encouraged writing in different styles. Although the use of blogging in an English class was new to me, it added depth to the class by allowing for easier peer editing and teacher student communication. The assignments presented in English 11 improved my overall writing skills by forcing me to evaluate my strengths and weaknesses.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Rough Draft Article Against Religion
An Argument against Religion
The concept of religion has existed, in some form, since the beginning of human society. Although main stream society may readily accept the idea that religion adds value to and advances the human race, in reality it does more harm than good by impeding scientific advancement, breeding extremism, producing violence, and perpetuating stereotypes and discriminatory ideals. Religion is little more than a social control that will soon be obsolete.
Religion has managed to be opposed to almost every significant discovery or research through out recorded time. When Galileo dared to suggest that the earth in fact orbited the sun, he was declared a heretic and forced to recant his findings in fear of suffering persecution. During the crusades countless works of art were destroyed if they were deemed to be blasphemous or pornographic. Even today, religion continues to challenge scientific discovery by attempting to discredit the theory of evolution and instead preach creationism. Anything that impedes scientific discovery impedes human advancement and is harmful.
While religion serves as an obstacle to discovery, it has the opposite effect in the cases of extremism and violence. The notion of organized religion serves as a vehicle for extremist groups and violence. The deaths that come as a result of suicide bombers and hijackers who believe they will be rewarded in the afterlife are a direct result of religious propaganda in the Islam faith. Abortion clinics that are bombed by Christian extremist groups always prove to be the most ironic. To voice their supreme belief in the protection of human life, they are taking it with their own hands. While these incidences may be occur in single instances, throughout history there has been events on a much larger scale.
When considering violent events resulting from religious influences, the Crusades without a doubt resulted in the most deaths. In the beginning of American society, the Salem witch trials took the lives of numerous falsely accused citizens and painted a perfect picture of religious extremism at the conception of a new society. Many years later a man by the name of Adolph Hilter caused a mass murder of the Jews in Germany in the name of a superior race. Most recently the religious extremist group Al Queda took thousands of lives after hijacking airplanes carrying innocent civilians. The warriors of traditional religion are now applying a method of total war in their attempts to enforce religious ideals and practices.
Religion, in addition to causing countless acts of violence, perpetuates oppression and discriminatory behavior against numerous groups of people. Homosexuals are quite often a common target of religious groups. There is a negative connotation to homosexuality when discussed by religious groups and many view the act as mere sin. While everyone is entitled an opinion, the opinions of dominant religious groups have a far reaching grasp that even affects our laws. Because religious opposition to gay marriage exists, homosexuals have been denied the lawful right to marry. It is religious ideal that has lead to a discriminatory act against homosexuals.
At first glance religion appears to serve a valid purpose to society as a whole, but things are not always as they seem. Whenever there exists an organization that wields as much power and influence as organize religion there will be corruption.
The concept of religion has existed, in some form, since the beginning of human society. Although main stream society may readily accept the idea that religion adds value to and advances the human race, in reality it does more harm than good by impeding scientific advancement, breeding extremism, producing violence, and perpetuating stereotypes and discriminatory ideals. Religion is little more than a social control that will soon be obsolete.
Religion has managed to be opposed to almost every significant discovery or research through out recorded time. When Galileo dared to suggest that the earth in fact orbited the sun, he was declared a heretic and forced to recant his findings in fear of suffering persecution. During the crusades countless works of art were destroyed if they were deemed to be blasphemous or pornographic. Even today, religion continues to challenge scientific discovery by attempting to discredit the theory of evolution and instead preach creationism. Anything that impedes scientific discovery impedes human advancement and is harmful.
While religion serves as an obstacle to discovery, it has the opposite effect in the cases of extremism and violence. The notion of organized religion serves as a vehicle for extremist groups and violence. The deaths that come as a result of suicide bombers and hijackers who believe they will be rewarded in the afterlife are a direct result of religious propaganda in the Islam faith. Abortion clinics that are bombed by Christian extremist groups always prove to be the most ironic. To voice their supreme belief in the protection of human life, they are taking it with their own hands. While these incidences may be occur in single instances, throughout history there has been events on a much larger scale.
When considering violent events resulting from religious influences, the Crusades without a doubt resulted in the most deaths. In the beginning of American society, the Salem witch trials took the lives of numerous falsely accused citizens and painted a perfect picture of religious extremism at the conception of a new society. Many years later a man by the name of Adolph Hilter caused a mass murder of the Jews in Germany in the name of a superior race. Most recently the religious extremist group Al Queda took thousands of lives after hijacking airplanes carrying innocent civilians. The warriors of traditional religion are now applying a method of total war in their attempts to enforce religious ideals and practices.
Religion, in addition to causing countless acts of violence, perpetuates oppression and discriminatory behavior against numerous groups of people. Homosexuals are quite often a common target of religious groups. There is a negative connotation to homosexuality when discussed by religious groups and many view the act as mere sin. While everyone is entitled an opinion, the opinions of dominant religious groups have a far reaching grasp that even affects our laws. Because religious opposition to gay marriage exists, homosexuals have been denied the lawful right to marry. It is religious ideal that has lead to a discriminatory act against homosexuals.
At first glance religion appears to serve a valid purpose to society as a whole, but things are not always as they seem. Whenever there exists an organization that wields as much power and influence as organize religion there will be corruption.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Annotation with additional source
Boortz, Neal. Somebody's Gotta Say It. New York City: Harper, 2007. Print.
The modern day War on Drugs proves to use methods that are more expensive that other options and create more of a burden for taxpayers. The current method used known as domestic law enforcment, which simply refers to the laws and law enforcement. Rather than treating drugs as a criminal offense, the government could instead offer treatment. When considering the efficiency of the two options one must remember that, "To reduce drug usage by 1 percent through treatment programs would cost about 34 million, while doing the same through our current domestic enforcement method costs about 238 million" (Boortz 204). By changing the method by which the government deals with drugs, the same overall goal could be accomplished for a fraction of the price.
The modern day War on Drugs proves to use methods that are more expensive that other options and create more of a burden for taxpayers. The current method used known as domestic law enforcment, which simply refers to the laws and law enforcement. Rather than treating drugs as a criminal offense, the government could instead offer treatment. When considering the efficiency of the two options one must remember that, "To reduce drug usage by 1 percent through treatment programs would cost about 34 million, while doing the same through our current domestic enforcement method costs about 238 million" (Boortz 204). By changing the method by which the government deals with drugs, the same overall goal could be accomplished for a fraction of the price.
Annotation Post
A political cartoon is a visual argument that relates to the broad topic of politics. According to Anthony Blair, “arguments have the primary purpose to influence people to change their beliefs, other attitudes, or conduct” (Blair 47). In political cartoons an argument of a political nature is made, and in most cases seeks to change the way in which one will vote. Using visual images to present an argument proves to be an effective way to present an argument due to the speed at which one absorbs visual information as opposed to verbal. For example, “Television shows today show about one to four dozen moving visual images in a 30 second spot, and we have no trouble processing the information. I it would be impossible to express 30 different propositions verbally in that amount of time” (Blair 51). Political cartoons prove to serve as an effective vehicle for arguments to be presented.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Argument against Convention
Although mainstream society may readily accept the idea that religion adds value to society, in reality is does more harm than good by causing a suppression of new ideas, as well as, producing violence that would otherwise not occur.
- The crusades and their connection to the dark ages
- religion's denial of scientific discovery and theories
- wars resulting from religious ideals
- religious extremism
- discriminatory ideals and values
Annotation Paragraphs
There are numerous right wing extremist groups that presently exist in modern America, and the Ku Klux Clan is one of them. The KKK was founded by six college students, who were also former Confederate officers, in Tennessee in 1966 (Anti-Defamation League). When the group realized the fear that their antics evoked in people, they used this to their advantage by recruiting new members. When the KKK grew large enough in numbers an organizational structure was formed. According to the article found on the Anti-Defamation League’s website, there was a supreme leader known as the Grand Wizard who served over the entire Klan, which was divided into “a number of realms, dominions, provinces and dens, which were in turn led by Grand Dragons, Titans, Giants and Cyclopes (Anti-Defamation League). Although the organization allowed the group to prosper in its infancy, the internal conflicts eventually impeded the organizations growth.
Annotations Paragraphs
America’s current War on Drugs is a danger to the integrity of the American Constitution itself. The Bill of Rights, which is contained in the Constitution, guarantees American citizens with certain inalienable rights. In efforts to eradicate drugs in American society, the government has infringed upon numerous rights ensured by the Constitution. Among these rights include search and seizure, as well as, a reasonable expectation to privacy. As Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall reminds us, “there is no drug exception to the Constitution” (qtd. in Wisotsky). It is important to consider the overall consequences of this alleged, War on Drugs, whether they are intended or not. The aforementioned points can be best put into words by the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court who stated, “If the zeal to eliminate drugs leads this state and nation to forsake its ancient heritage of constitutional liberty, then we will have suffered a far greater injury than drugs ever inflict upon us. Drugs injure some of us. The loss of liberty injures us all”( qtd.inWisotsky).
The Prison Industrial Complex has proven to be a center of controversy in the United States. Prisons prove to be valuable to the growth of any city’s economy due to the private businesses that profit from the construction and maintenance of these facilities. When the interest of private businesses and the economy begin to have influence over the criminal justice system, is when the Prison Industrial Complex sets in. “A hotel has a strong economic incentive to book every available room and encourage every guest to stay as long as possible. A private prison has exactly the same incentive” (Schlosser 4). When you consider the aforementioned quote, it is not hard to see why legislation such as mandatory minimums had increased in past years. In his farewell address former president Dwight D. Eisenhower issued a warning to the American public stating, “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex” (qtd. in Schlosser 1) The Prison Industrial Complex is the modern day version of the Military Industrial Complex and in much the same way, should be guarded against.
The Prison Industrial Complex has proven to be a center of controversy in the United States. Prisons prove to be valuable to the growth of any city’s economy due to the private businesses that profit from the construction and maintenance of these facilities. When the interest of private businesses and the economy begin to have influence over the criminal justice system, is when the Prison Industrial Complex sets in. “A hotel has a strong economic incentive to book every available room and encourage every guest to stay as long as possible. A private prison has exactly the same incentive” (Schlosser 4). When you consider the aforementioned quote, it is not hard to see why legislation such as mandatory minimums had increased in past years. In his farewell address former president Dwight D. Eisenhower issued a warning to the American public stating, “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex” (qtd. in Schlosser 1) The Prison Industrial Complex is the modern day version of the Military Industrial Complex and in much the same way, should be guarded against.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Works Cited
Works Cited
Blair, Anthony. "The Rhetoric of Visual Arguments." Defining Visual Rhetoric. Ed. Charles A Hill. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Elrbaum Associates Inc, 2004. N. pag. Print.
Gray, Mike. Drug Crazy: How we got into this Mess & How we can get Out. New York City: Random House, 1998. Print.
"Ku Klux Klan History." Extremism in America. Anti-Defemation League, n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2009.
Schlosser, Eric. "The Prison Industrial Complex." The Atlantic Dec. 1998: n. pag. Web. 22 Nov. 2009.
Wisotsky, Steven. “A Society of Suspects: The War on Drugs and Civil Liberties.” Individual Liberties, Free Markets, and Peace CATO Institute. Oct 2 1992. Web. 12 Nov 2009.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Revised Text Wrestling Assignment & Response
“Our Cell Phones, Ourselves” Summary
In, “Our Cell Phones, Ourselves,” author Christine Rosen uses examples to get across her main point which centers on the issues of privacy and courtesy. The article discusses the development of cellular phones through recent history, and how they are most often used. Rosen delves into why most people feel the need to owned and operate a cellular phone. Issues of rudeness and detachment are touched upon throughout the article and it is summed up with a discussion of the effects of cellular phones on society as a whole.
The appearance of the first cellular phone was introduced to the world by the Motorola Company in 1983; it was known as the DynaTAC. The technology of cell phones continued to grow, and in the years following the permeation of cellular phone ownership spread through American Society. According to the article, which sites its information to Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, “There were approximately 340,000 wireless subscribers in the United States in 1985; by 1995, that number had increased to more than 33 million, and by 2003, more than 158 million people in the country had gone wireless.”
People become so dependant on cellular phone ownership and usage due to convenience and safety. Parents feel a need to provide their children with cell phones in an effort to keep track of them and in turn, keep them safe. In the workplace it can increase productivity by allowing employees to check in from the field, as opposed to being forced to find a land line. Not all uses of cell phones are as constructive.
As with all forms of technology, there are unintentional negative consequences. One example of a negative consequence is what Rosen calls, “adulterous behavior.” Before the invention of cellular phones, married couples would generally be able to monitor the calls that their significant other was making or receiving. Cellular phones, especially prepaid cellular phones, provide an untrustworthy spouse with a secret form of communication. While this may be no excuse or even a cause for “adulterous behavior,” it certainly has an effect on its practice.
Another negative consequence of cellular phones is, “withdrawal from public space.” The concept of public space focuses on the public areas one perceives to be a shared area. When one carries on a conversation in a public area, on a cellular phone, they are actually intruding on the public space that is meant to be shared with others. The use of cellular phones in public also signals a sense of social withdrawal. According to the article with information cited to sociological studies, “It (the use of cellular phones) is the intentional removal of oneself from the social situation in public space.”
Rosen sums the article up by discussing the major problem of cellular phone use. The major problem, according to the article, is the “deinstitutionalization of personal bonds.” The more one uses their cell phone in public, the less available they are to communicate with the public. Personal relationships are increasing, but contact with the general public is decreasing.
The article described this lack of contact as an “erosion of the face-to-face community. This problem leads to distrust and anxieties that are at a level of paranoia.
Rosen’s article, “Our Cell Phones, Ourselves,” discusses few positives of cell phone use and ownership, while focusing mainly on the proliferation of cellular phones in society and the negative consequences on the individual and society as a whole.
The subject matter of Rosen’s article proves to be eye opening when viewing the behavior in society. It seems no matter where one may be, there is someone using a cell phone. Whether it is in a workplace, a school, public transportation, or even a church, it seems no place is left sacred. The generation that has grown up with cell phones has become progressively withdrawn from society, and seems to respond to every awkward or uncomfortable situation by using a cell phone to avoid it. While providing a sense of ease to life’s everyday tasks, people are missing out on face to face contact and the chance to meet new people. However convenient cell phones may be, one must stop to consider if the trade off is truly worth it. I, for one, am skeptical.
In, “Our Cell Phones, Ourselves,” author Christine Rosen uses examples to get across her main point which centers on the issues of privacy and courtesy. The article discusses the development of cellular phones through recent history, and how they are most often used. Rosen delves into why most people feel the need to owned and operate a cellular phone. Issues of rudeness and detachment are touched upon throughout the article and it is summed up with a discussion of the effects of cellular phones on society as a whole.
The appearance of the first cellular phone was introduced to the world by the Motorola Company in 1983; it was known as the DynaTAC. The technology of cell phones continued to grow, and in the years following the permeation of cellular phone ownership spread through American Society. According to the article, which sites its information to Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, “There were approximately 340,000 wireless subscribers in the United States in 1985; by 1995, that number had increased to more than 33 million, and by 2003, more than 158 million people in the country had gone wireless.”
People become so dependant on cellular phone ownership and usage due to convenience and safety. Parents feel a need to provide their children with cell phones in an effort to keep track of them and in turn, keep them safe. In the workplace it can increase productivity by allowing employees to check in from the field, as opposed to being forced to find a land line. Not all uses of cell phones are as constructive.
As with all forms of technology, there are unintentional negative consequences. One example of a negative consequence is what Rosen calls, “adulterous behavior.” Before the invention of cellular phones, married couples would generally be able to monitor the calls that their significant other was making or receiving. Cellular phones, especially prepaid cellular phones, provide an untrustworthy spouse with a secret form of communication. While this may be no excuse or even a cause for “adulterous behavior,” it certainly has an effect on its practice.
Another negative consequence of cellular phones is, “withdrawal from public space.” The concept of public space focuses on the public areas one perceives to be a shared area. When one carries on a conversation in a public area, on a cellular phone, they are actually intruding on the public space that is meant to be shared with others. The use of cellular phones in public also signals a sense of social withdrawal. According to the article with information cited to sociological studies, “It (the use of cellular phones) is the intentional removal of oneself from the social situation in public space.”
Rosen sums the article up by discussing the major problem of cellular phone use. The major problem, according to the article, is the “deinstitutionalization of personal bonds.” The more one uses their cell phone in public, the less available they are to communicate with the public. Personal relationships are increasing, but contact with the general public is decreasing.
The article described this lack of contact as an “erosion of the face-to-face community. This problem leads to distrust and anxieties that are at a level of paranoia.
Rosen’s article, “Our Cell Phones, Ourselves,” discusses few positives of cell phone use and ownership, while focusing mainly on the proliferation of cellular phones in society and the negative consequences on the individual and society as a whole.
The subject matter of Rosen’s article proves to be eye opening when viewing the behavior in society. It seems no matter where one may be, there is someone using a cell phone. Whether it is in a workplace, a school, public transportation, or even a church, it seems no place is left sacred. The generation that has grown up with cell phones has become progressively withdrawn from society, and seems to respond to every awkward or uncomfortable situation by using a cell phone to avoid it. While providing a sense of ease to life’s everyday tasks, people are missing out on face to face contact and the chance to meet new people. However convenient cell phones may be, one must stop to consider if the trade off is truly worth it. I, for one, am skeptical.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Sources for Annotation Project
(Prison Industrial Complex)
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/199812/prisons
(Ku Klux Klan)
http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/kkk/history.asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America&xpicked=4&item=kkk
(War on Drugs)
http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-180.html
(Visual Rhetoric in Political cartoons)
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/199812/prisons
(Ku Klux Klan)
http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/kkk/history.asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America&xpicked=4&item=kkk
(War on Drugs)
http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-180.html
(Visual Rhetoric in Political cartoons)
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Article Summary (Rough Draft)
“Our Cell Phones, Ourselves” Summary
The article entitled, “Our Cell Phones, Ourselves,” was written by Christine Rosen, and addresses numerous issues related to cell phone use. The article begins by discussing the development of cellular phones through recent history, and how they are most often used. Next, Rosen delves into the issue of why most people feel the need to owned and operate a cellular phone. Issues of rudeness and detachment are touched upon throughout the article and it is summed up with a discussion of the effects of cellular phones on society as a whole.The appearance of the first cellular phone was introduced to the world by the Motorola Company in 1983; it was known as the DynaTAC and was used for business purposes. Soon after the invention of DynaTAC, in 1987, the Nokia Company followed suit, and launched its own cellular phone that made the technology slightly more available. In the years following the permeation of cellular phone ownership multiplied exponentially in American Society. According to the article, which sites its information to Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, “There were approximately 340,000 wireless subscribers in the United States in 1985; by 1995, that number had increased to more than 33 million, and by 2003, more than 158 million people in the country had gone wireless.”
There are numerous reasons mentioned as to why people become so dependant on cellular phones, but two are given most often. The two significant reasons for cellular phone ownership and usage are convenience and safety. When a college student participated in a classroom experiment in which she had to give up her cellular phone for 48 hours, her feelings about it were summed up in the following quote.
“I felt like I was going to get raped if I didn’t have my cell phone in my hand. I carry it in case I need to call someone for help.” This quote was significant in the article because it helps to paint a picture of how dependant on cellular phones people may become. Parents also feel a need to provide their children with cell phones in an effort to keep track of them and in turn, keep them safe. In some cases, the cellular phones are considered to be necessary for survival.
The other significant reason for having cellular phone is convenience. The ability to pick up a phone and make a call can serve several purposes. In the workplace it can increase productivity by allowing employees to check in from the field, as opposed to being forced to find a land line. One realistic example this article illustrates is a woman at a grocery store who has forgotten her list. Rather than returning home to retrieve the list or wandering haphazardly through the store, she can simply take out her cellular phone and call her husband that may then read the list to her. While the aforementioned situations prove to be positive effects of cellular phone use, not all are as constructive.
As with all forms of technology, there are people who use it for negative purposes. One example of a negative is referred to by Rosen as, “adulterous behavior.” Before the invention of cellular phones, married couples would generally be able to monitor the calls that their significant other was making or receiving. Cellular phones, especially prepaid cellular phones, provide an untrustworthy spouse with a secret form of communication. While this may no be an excuse or even a cause for “adulterous behavior” it certainly has an effect on the practice of it.
Another negative effect of cellular phones expressed in the article is that which is referred to as “withdrawal from public space.” The concept of public space focuses on the public areas one perceives to be a shared area. When one carries on a conversation in a public area, on a cellular phone, they are actually intruding on the public space that is meant to be shared with others. The use of cellular phones in public also signals a sense of social withdrawal. According to the article with information cited to sociological studies, “It (the use of cellular phones) is the intentional removal of oneself from the social situation in public space.” This removal may seem insignificant, but when viewed from a broader construct it can prove to be quite damaging.
Rosen sums the article up by discussing the major problem of cellular phone use. The major problem, according to the article, is the “deinstitutionalization of personal bonds.” While the use of a cellular phone may allow for more contact with loved ones which in turn can build a bond of trust, it decreases the amount of contact one may have with the general public and strangers. The article described this lack of contact as an “erosion of the face-to-face community. This problem leads to distrust and anxieties that are at a level of paranoia.
The article “Our Cell Phones, Ourselves” proves to be an eye opening realization of what cellular phones are doing to society as a whole. The proliferation of cellular phones in society is growing at a progressively high rate, and the negative effects of this are becoming increasingly apparent. Rosen points of the benefits of cellular phone use, but focuses mainly on the metamorphosis of society as a result.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Image For Annotation Project?
6 Topic Areas:
1. 18th Century Slavery
2. 21st Century War on Drugs
3. Issues of Race in Drug War
4. Prison Industrial Complex
5. American Penal System
6. Ku Klux Clan
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Revised Ethnography
The Country Music Fan
It is seven o’clock on a Thursday and I drive home from work, as is my usual routine. The radio is set to a random preset that came with the car (which I bought three years ago), and a Taylor Swift song is playing. I could not be sure of which song it was because I have never been a fan of country music. I am full of liberation due to my upcoming day off. While running through a list of things I could do with my day off, my phone begins to ring out that high pitched sound I had forgotten to change. I turned the radio down and answered my phone with a lively hello.
“Do you want to go to a concert tomorrow,” replied the voice. It was my cousin Chris, and I knew it because he was never one for simple courtesies. The phrases “Hello” and “What’s up” were not normally a part of his vocabulary.
“Sure why not I have the day off anyways,” I answered.
“Nice,” he responded in an approving tone. “Meet us at the Comcast Center at noon and you might want to bring a cowboy hat.” The call was promptly ended after that statement because like I said, not one for courtesies. My mind wandered for a minute or two about why in the hell I might need a cowboy hat, but I figured it was a thought best left alone.
As I was getting ready for bed that night I wondered what kind of concert I would be attending in the morning, when it suddenly hit me. It is going to be a country concert. When my cousin went away to the military he served with people from all over, and some of their interests rubbed off on him. One interest in particular was a new found love of country music, which he was determined to disseminate to everyone.
The next day quickly came and I found myself en route to the Comcast Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts. I was about three car lengths away from entering the parking lot when I noticed something a bit out of the ordinary. There were trucks in every direction I looked. While that may not sound odd to most, most may not understand what is meant when I say truck. These were not your everyday pickup trucks. They were enormous, super lifted, huge tire bearing trucks. With me in my tiny Geo Prism they may as well have been monster trucks, and believe me when I tell you the two are quite comparable in size. Although the vehicles proved to be formidable in nature, the people provided a stark contrast.
While waiting in traffic, slightly annoyed due to my impatient nature, I could not help but to people watch. It was not long before I realized why my cousin had advised me (in his own way) to bring a cowboy hat. Most of the men were bare backed with cutoff jean shorts, while the woman wore white shirts and some type of denim bottom. Both the men and the women were, of course, wearing cowboy hats. One thing that I did not see in the entire crowd was a name brand label. They seemed to have a general disregard for fashion and placed more of an emphasis on comfort. This rejection of the middle class status symbol of clothing is a telling detail of a country fan.
Every truck had the tailgate down and the grill cooking. I could almost hear the meat sizzling over the fire. Large blue coolers were scattered around the trucks with their tops continually opening and closing. While driving through the parking lot, the sound of country music filled the air. Listening to the music allowed me to pick up on a few phrases that are particular only to country music fans. For example a bar is not a bar. A bar is a Honky Tonk. Also, when someone tells you to, “Shut your mouth and slap your grandma,” it merely means they are surprised. As it turns out, country fans have a language all their own.
As I pulled into the back parking lot I noticed my cousin’s truck parked in the back aisle, so I pulled into a space near his. I got out of my car, but before I had a chance to gather all of my things the sound of a distinctive song began. It seemed quite out of place at a concert, but it was the Star Spangled Banner. The crowd in an almost immediate response grew noticeably quieter, and the large truck that the music was bellowing from provided at roof top for a man to wave an American flag from. While this event may have appeared to be out of place to me, it was not what truly stunned me.
When the country’s national anthem began playing from those speakers, people almost instinctively removed the hats from their head and stopped whatever they were doing. Each member of the crowd gazed at the large flag as if they were captivated by everything that it stood for. The song came to an end, and the cheering and shouting evoked from the spectators made their feelings about it apparent. It is rare to be in the presence of such a great sense of patriotism.
I finally got my things together and made it to where my cousin, accompanied by his friends, was just finishing setting up the tents. I put my cooler and ticket under a table and was greeted with a cheeseburger and a shot of Jack Daniels.
“What’s up,” exclaimed my cousin as he handed me a beer to wash down my whiskey and burger. You see, when he has a drink or two, the conversational courtesies seem to present themselves more often.
“I have been here close to one hundred times and I have never witnessed a crowd quite like this one,” I replied with a slight chuckle. He let out a hearty laugh and took a swig of his beer.
“Yeah,” he responded. “It takes a certain kind to be a country fan.”
The concert had not even started yet, and I already had an eye opening experience in regards to what country fans are truly about. They're hardworking people who have a deep rooted sense of patriotism. They sometimes partake in excessive behaviors, but reject the norms of the middle class of that they are also a part of. Even in Massachusetts, the last place one would expect the country lifestyle to be embraced, there are countless members. Being a country fan is more than merely listening to the music, but having a certain state of mind.
The day after the concert, I found myself driving home from work again at seven o’clock. My cell phone started to ring, but this time there was no high pitched sound to be heard. The phone sang a country song with the simple lyrics, “No shirt, no shoes, no problem.”
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The Country Music Fan
It’s seven o’clock on a Thursday and I drive home from work, as is my usual routine. The radio is set to a random preset that came with the car (which I bought three years ago), and a Taylor Swift song is playing. I could not be sure of which song it was because I have never been a fan of country music. I am full of liberation due to my upcoming day off. While running through a list of things I could do with my day off, my phone begins to ring out that high pitched sound I had forgotten to change. I turned the radio down and answered my phone with a lively hello.
“Do you want to go to a concert tomorrow,” replied the voice. It was my cousin Chris, and I knew it because he was never one for simple courtesies. The phrases “Hello” and “What’s up” were not normally a part of his vocabulary.
“Sure why not I have the day off anyways,” I answered.
“Nice,” he responded in an approving tone. “Meet us at the Comcast Center at noon and you might want to bring a cowboy hat.” The call was promptly ended after that statement because like I said, not one for courtesies. My mind wandered for a minute or two about why in the hell I might need a cowboy hat, but I figured it was a thought best left alone.
The next day quickly came and I found myself en route to the Comcast Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts. I was about three car lengths away from entering the parking lot when I noticed something a bit out of the ordinary. There were trucks in every direction I looked. While that may not sound odd to most, most may not understand what is meant when I say truck. These were not your everyday pickup trucks. They were enormous, super lifted, huge tire bearing trucks. With me in my tiny Geo Prism they may as well have been monster trucks, and believe me when I tell you the two are quite comparable in size. Although the vehicles proved to be formidable in nature, the people provided a stark contrast.
While waiting in traffic, slightly annoyed due to my impatient nature, I could not help but to people watch. It was not long before I realized why my cousin had advised me (in his own way) to bring a cowboy hat. Most of the men were bare backed with cutoff jean shorts, while the woman wore white shirts and some type of denim bottom. Both the men and the women were, of course, wearing cowboy. One thing that I did not see in the entire crowd was a name brand label. They seemed to have a general disregard for fashion and placed more of an emphasis on comfort. This rejection of the middle class status symbol of clothing is a telling detail of a country fan.
Every truck had the tailgate down and the grill cooking. I could almost hear the meat sizzling over the fire. Large blue coolers were scattered around the trucks with their tops continually opening and closing. While driving through the parking lot, the sound of country music filled the air. Listening to the music allowed me to pick up on a few phrases that are particular only to country music fans. For example a bar is not a bar. A bar is a Honky Tonk. Also, when someone tells you to, “Shut your mouth and slap your grandma,” it merely means they are surprised. As it turns out, country fans have a language all their own.
As I pulled into the back parking lot I noticed my cousin’s truck parked in the back aisle, so I pulled into a space near his. I got out of my car, but before I had a chance to gather all of my things the sound of a distinctive song began. It seemed quite out of place at a concert, but it was the Star Spangled Banner. The crowd in an almost immediate response grew noticeably quieter, and the large truck that the music was bellowing from provided at roof top for a man to wave an American flag from. While this event may have appeared to be out of place to me, it was not what truly stunned me.
When the country’s national anthem began playing from those speakers, people almost instinctively removed the hats from their head and stopped whatever they were doing. Each member of the crowd gazed at the large flag as if they were captivated by everything that it stood for. The song came to an end, and the cheering and shouting evoked from the spectators made their feelings about it apparent. It is rare to be in the presence of such a great sense of patriotism.
I finally got my things together and made it to where my cousin, accompanied by his friends, was just finishing setting up the tents. I put my cooler and ticket under a table and was greeted with a cheeseburger and a shot of Jack Daniels.
“What’s up,” exclaimed my cousin as he handed me a beer to wash down my whiskey and burger. You see, when he has a drink or two, the conversational courtesies seem to present themselves more often.
“I have been here close to one hundred times and I have never witnessed a crowd quite like this one,” I replied with a slight chuckle. He let out a hearty laugh and took a swig of his beer.
“Yeah,” he responded. “It takes a certain kind to be a country fan.”
The concert ended up being an eye opening experience about what country fans are truly about. They're hardworking people who have a deep rooted sense of patriotism. They sometimes partake in excessive behaviors, but reject many of the middle class norms. Even in Massachusetts, the last place one would expect the country lifestyle to be embraced, there are countless members. Being a country fan is more than merely listening to the music, but having a certain state of mind.
The day after the concert, I found myself driving home from work again at seven o’clock. My cell phone started to ring, but this time there was no high pitched sound to be heard. The phone sang a country song with the simple lyrics, “No shirt, no shoes, no problem.”
It’s seven o’clock on a Thursday and I drive home from work, as is my usual routine. The radio is set to a random preset that came with the car (which I bought three years ago), and a Taylor Swift song is playing. I could not be sure of which song it was because I have never been a fan of country music. I am full of liberation due to my upcoming day off. While running through a list of things I could do with my day off, my phone begins to ring out that high pitched sound I had forgotten to change. I turned the radio down and answered my phone with a lively hello.
“Do you want to go to a concert tomorrow,” replied the voice. It was my cousin Chris, and I knew it because he was never one for simple courtesies. The phrases “Hello” and “What’s up” were not normally a part of his vocabulary.
“Sure why not I have the day off anyways,” I answered.
“Nice,” he responded in an approving tone. “Meet us at the Comcast Center at noon and you might want to bring a cowboy hat.” The call was promptly ended after that statement because like I said, not one for courtesies. My mind wandered for a minute or two about why in the hell I might need a cowboy hat, but I figured it was a thought best left alone.
The next day quickly came and I found myself en route to the Comcast Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts. I was about three car lengths away from entering the parking lot when I noticed something a bit out of the ordinary. There were trucks in every direction I looked. While that may not sound odd to most, most may not understand what is meant when I say truck. These were not your everyday pickup trucks. They were enormous, super lifted, huge tire bearing trucks. With me in my tiny Geo Prism they may as well have been monster trucks, and believe me when I tell you the two are quite comparable in size. Although the vehicles proved to be formidable in nature, the people provided a stark contrast.
While waiting in traffic, slightly annoyed due to my impatient nature, I could not help but to people watch. It was not long before I realized why my cousin had advised me (in his own way) to bring a cowboy hat. Most of the men were bare backed with cutoff jean shorts, while the woman wore white shirts and some type of denim bottom. Both the men and the women were, of course, wearing cowboy. One thing that I did not see in the entire crowd was a name brand label. They seemed to have a general disregard for fashion and placed more of an emphasis on comfort. This rejection of the middle class status symbol of clothing is a telling detail of a country fan.
Every truck had the tailgate down and the grill cooking. I could almost hear the meat sizzling over the fire. Large blue coolers were scattered around the trucks with their tops continually opening and closing. While driving through the parking lot, the sound of country music filled the air. Listening to the music allowed me to pick up on a few phrases that are particular only to country music fans. For example a bar is not a bar. A bar is a Honky Tonk. Also, when someone tells you to, “Shut your mouth and slap your grandma,” it merely means they are surprised. As it turns out, country fans have a language all their own.
As I pulled into the back parking lot I noticed my cousin’s truck parked in the back aisle, so I pulled into a space near his. I got out of my car, but before I had a chance to gather all of my things the sound of a distinctive song began. It seemed quite out of place at a concert, but it was the Star Spangled Banner. The crowd in an almost immediate response grew noticeably quieter, and the large truck that the music was bellowing from provided at roof top for a man to wave an American flag from. While this event may have appeared to be out of place to me, it was not what truly stunned me.
When the country’s national anthem began playing from those speakers, people almost instinctively removed the hats from their head and stopped whatever they were doing. Each member of the crowd gazed at the large flag as if they were captivated by everything that it stood for. The song came to an end, and the cheering and shouting evoked from the spectators made their feelings about it apparent. It is rare to be in the presence of such a great sense of patriotism.
I finally got my things together and made it to where my cousin, accompanied by his friends, was just finishing setting up the tents. I put my cooler and ticket under a table and was greeted with a cheeseburger and a shot of Jack Daniels.
“What’s up,” exclaimed my cousin as he handed me a beer to wash down my whiskey and burger. You see, when he has a drink or two, the conversational courtesies seem to present themselves more often.
“I have been here close to one hundred times and I have never witnessed a crowd quite like this one,” I replied with a slight chuckle. He let out a hearty laugh and took a swig of his beer.
“Yeah,” he responded. “It takes a certain kind to be a country fan.”
The concert ended up being an eye opening experience about what country fans are truly about. They're hardworking people who have a deep rooted sense of patriotism. They sometimes partake in excessive behaviors, but reject many of the middle class norms. Even in Massachusetts, the last place one would expect the country lifestyle to be embraced, there are countless members. Being a country fan is more than merely listening to the music, but having a certain state of mind.
The day after the concert, I found myself driving home from work again at seven o’clock. My cell phone started to ring, but this time there was no high pitched sound to be heard. The phone sang a country song with the simple lyrics, “No shirt, no shoes, no problem.”
Monday, September 28, 2009
Personal Essay First Draft
The Taunton green is a focal point of the city due to its location and
proximity to major locations such as the court house and the post
office. When driving around the green there are numerous things one can
expect to see. Lofty statues of soldiers serve as a memorial to World
War one and give the town common a sense of historic value. The lawn
remains well maintained and benches fence the perimeter of the area as
if inviting one to take pleasure in the communal space. The cascading
water of the fountain serves as background noise and helps to drown out
the traffic noise of the rotary, and in turn creates a more relaxing
atmosphere.
It was not until about the age of 10 that I noticed something out of
the ordinary, or at least what I then believed was out of the ordinary,
going on at the center of town. While driving around the green with my
mother in her light blue Toyota one sunny Friday morning, I remember it
was Friday simply because my mother had picked me up from school that
day as was our custom, I noticed that there was a woman sleeping on one
of the benches. The woman had deep black skin with short curly hair of
the same color which was matted to her head. She had a small frame
which was emphasized by her emaciated figure and deteriorated face. Her
clothing was tattered and worn as if it had never been washed or
changed for that matter. The lanky body of the woman was sprawled out
as much as possible on the narrow bench and her right arm was stretched
out overhanging the bench with her shoulder serving as a makeshift
pillow. I remember thinking how uncomfortable that bench must be and
that she would be much better off napping at her house. I decided at
that point, that since my mother knew everything I’d better ask her.
“Mum,” I began in an inquisitive tone, “Why is that woman sleeping on
the green?” “Well Samantha, the green is her home,” she declared in a
matter of fact tone as if it were common knowledge. I was beyond
confused at this point. How could someone’s home consist of a park
bench in the middle of the city? I had to inquire further, “Why does
she live on the Green?” She went on in an attempt to explain the why
and how of homelessness to me, but my mind went wandering too much to
comprehend what she was saying and her words became quiet and far away.
Simple questions began to race through my mind. What does she do when
it gets cold outside? Where does she cook her food? How does she bathe
and use the bathroom? Ignorant questions from a naïve child mind I
suppose.
There is a tremendous amount I have learned about life and people
living it since that drive with my mother. I have learned that homeless
people lack the necessary means to live in the competitive capitalist
economy on which the United States thrives, or fails depending on how
you look at it. I have come to understand that homelessness is common
in a heavily populated city and that few places, if any, are able to
escape its grasp.
Even with the aforementioned realizations under my belt, there is
still a child like naivety that lies in my mind. I still wonder how the
homeless manage to survive without a home and what it takes for them to
perform everyday tasks that many take for granted. The more I consider
the lives of the homeless though, the more I realize that they are the
same as the rest of society performing mundane tasks to survive. We are
all just people trying to get along in this journey we affectionately
call life, the best we know how.
When I see homeless people in passing, I still feel much the same as I
did that Friday driving with my mother. There are still a countless
number of questions racing through my head. Still a pit in my stomach
and knot in my neck from the unexplainable guilt I feel for being
better off or maybe even luckier than they are. Although many feelings
remain the same, there is one significant difference. When I first
learned that a homeless person existed, I saw them as a foreign entity
of which I had no connection with. I realize now that people are just
people, not categories based on wealth.
It may have been just another one of the countless Friday drives with
my mother, but to me is was a life changing moment that shaped my
perception of people and society as a whole.
proximity to major locations such as the court house and the post
office. When driving around the green there are numerous things one can
expect to see. Lofty statues of soldiers serve as a memorial to World
War one and give the town common a sense of historic value. The lawn
remains well maintained and benches fence the perimeter of the area as
if inviting one to take pleasure in the communal space. The cascading
water of the fountain serves as background noise and helps to drown out
the traffic noise of the rotary, and in turn creates a more relaxing
atmosphere.
It was not until about the age of 10 that I noticed something out of
the ordinary, or at least what I then believed was out of the ordinary,
going on at the center of town. While driving around the green with my
mother in her light blue Toyota one sunny Friday morning, I remember it
was Friday simply because my mother had picked me up from school that
day as was our custom, I noticed that there was a woman sleeping on one
of the benches. The woman had deep black skin with short curly hair of
the same color which was matted to her head. She had a small frame
which was emphasized by her emaciated figure and deteriorated face. Her
clothing was tattered and worn as if it had never been washed or
changed for that matter. The lanky body of the woman was sprawled out
as much as possible on the narrow bench and her right arm was stretched
out overhanging the bench with her shoulder serving as a makeshift
pillow. I remember thinking how uncomfortable that bench must be and
that she would be much better off napping at her house. I decided at
that point, that since my mother knew everything I’d better ask her.
“Mum,” I began in an inquisitive tone, “Why is that woman sleeping on
the green?” “Well Samantha, the green is her home,” she declared in a
matter of fact tone as if it were common knowledge. I was beyond
confused at this point. How could someone’s home consist of a park
bench in the middle of the city? I had to inquire further, “Why does
she live on the Green?” She went on in an attempt to explain the why
and how of homelessness to me, but my mind went wandering too much to
comprehend what she was saying and her words became quiet and far away.
Simple questions began to race through my mind. What does she do when
it gets cold outside? Where does she cook her food? How does she bathe
and use the bathroom? Ignorant questions from a naïve child mind I
suppose.
There is a tremendous amount I have learned about life and people
living it since that drive with my mother. I have learned that homeless
people lack the necessary means to live in the competitive capitalist
economy on which the United States thrives, or fails depending on how
you look at it. I have come to understand that homelessness is common
in a heavily populated city and that few places, if any, are able to
escape its grasp.
Even with the aforementioned realizations under my belt, there is
still a child like naivety that lies in my mind. I still wonder how the
homeless manage to survive without a home and what it takes for them to
perform everyday tasks that many take for granted. The more I consider
the lives of the homeless though, the more I realize that they are the
same as the rest of society performing mundane tasks to survive. We are
all just people trying to get along in this journey we affectionately
call life, the best we know how.
When I see homeless people in passing, I still feel much the same as I
did that Friday driving with my mother. There are still a countless
number of questions racing through my head. Still a pit in my stomach
and knot in my neck from the unexplainable guilt I feel for being
better off or maybe even luckier than they are. Although many feelings
remain the same, there is one significant difference. When I first
learned that a homeless person existed, I saw them as a foreign entity
of which I had no connection with. I realize now that people are just
people, not categories based on wealth.
It may have been just another one of the countless Friday drives with
my mother, but to me is was a life changing moment that shaped my
perception of people and society as a whole.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Reflections of Brainstorming
Brainstorming possible topics for my personal essay proved to be a nostalgic experience. After conjuring up moments in my life that have proved to be memorable, it became clear that most of the significant lessons learned in life are learned as a child. It did not take me long to decide that my personal experience would be an event from my childhood. One experience that came to mind was an ordinary drive with my mother around the Taunton Green one day. Growing up in a large city provides countless opportunities for life lessons, and a life lesson is exactly what I received on that drive. It was important to chose a location of which I was familiar with in an effort to ensure vivid imagery. I also found that choosing an event that brought about a realization allowed the words to flow more freely and gave the story more of a point and pivotal moment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)