Clarity?

Laying on the ground trying to distinguish which is farther-the clouds or the sky-and which is more alive-the leaves on the ground or the ones in the trees-a sudden moment of clarity descends in a gossamer chariot and I am overwhelmed by the chittering of the birds and the singing of the squirrels, the chiming of the cars and the roar of wind chimes. My senses are assulted by the warmth of the wind and the smell of sunshine. Somewhere a child barks while two dogs laugh over the absurdity of it all. Frogs play a sweet tune on minute violens and the crickets croak in harmony. Fingering the thorny edges of a leaf I had lain down large. I stand up small, the urge to write has risen within strong and undeniable within my breast.

Resulting in a Resounding Alleluia

Alleluia cries the blessed trees, for they have yearned to recognize the wail of sympathetic woodsmen as they bend their vulgar weapons of destruction to the mean, yet obligatory, task of desecrating what they shall now recognize as the majestic efficiency of the forest. Alleluia sings the spirited birds. as they flee their nests, for they now know that their homes are destroyed only out of the bitterest necessity and no longer from wanton greed. Alleluia cries the mother of nature, for her children are now understood, they are now appreciated, and what more could any mother ask for, what more could any living creature ask for, than the respect and empathy of their earthly brethren?

Yet, one must ask oneself to evaluate the validity of that last statement. And, once one has found said validity, one must ask oneself under what context is that statement applicable. There are many who would agree that man has no higher responsibility than to the advancement of his own race. Where humans are concerned there are no definitive laws governing the etiquette between Homo Sapiens and all earth's creatures deemed subservient to their covetous whims- said creatures thought subservient are considered merely tools for the human race to wield, and, in conjunction with the creation of further cavalier mayhem, tools we will use to propel our race into a "Golden Age" of stability and control. Yet, consider for a moment, current sentiments about domesticated animals. Many a pet owner will give more consideration to his pet's needs than to his own. Why is this, one must wonder. Well, is it not because, through time and interaction with said pets, the owner can more easily recognize the merit and beauty within their animal? Is it not fair to say that familiarity breeds beauty? And from beauty does one not grow to cherish?

Our beloved Fido is no tool but a companion. Nature too is a companion, but a more vital one than Fido will ever be for it creates and sustains beauty and life. It is both reasonable and correct to say that Mother Nature has inspired all that is beautiful within the human race; she has nurtured us at her breast and though she is a hard mistress, she has not stolen what she could not grant once more. Let us, therefore, in the realm of common decency, return the favor and destroy not that which what we don't understand. For the moment, humans live in tolerance of nature's wild fancies, and similarly, the earth tolerates the human existence. Each force will strike out on occasion-the earth with weapons composed of dirt, wind and water-the humans with the destructive elements of rude axes and angry guns, of the blunt force of machinery and the acidic touch of chemicals. And the trauma created by both forces will, once more, be endured in both ignorance and burgeoning apathy by the human race and by nature's adaptive healing.

Nature and the human race are the deciding factors in earth's history. Like the mythical Titans who battled from sunrise to sunrise creating and destroying, so too have these two forces struggles. This confrontation has been near constant, and will remain that way as the majority of people live, unfettered by guilt, while the economy gluttons itself off of the reckless annihilation of out natural world, its animals, and its finest gift to man- tranquility.

To accept and to understand truth, to sense and to experience with naive innocence, to know serenity as the aged trees do- this is the phenomena of nature, the phenomenon of its eternal adaptations to rapid change and of the amnesty it bestows upon the alien forces that intrude upon its territory. One must only experience this state of natural repose and enlightenment for but a second to recognize it is a state essential to humanity's sanity. This awareness of nature is the greatest and most imperative responsibility we hold toward the natural world, if not the only true obligation. Let not wanton, materialistic hunger provoke the obliteration of the natural world. Instead, may one comprehend the havoc one inflicts upon the environment when one alters it and may he weep with the environment's inhabitants at the desecration of so much splendor.

To cherish-to learn from- to immerse one's self in earth's natural surroundings is to permit Mother Nature to speak her case and she is not only an eloquent speaker, but she has the bearing and majesty to influence the most callous of hearts into contemplating the value of such an obviously splendid force. Would that the brilliance of nature permeate all aspects of life. And oh! the immeasurable sorrow and anguish of a life without the beauty of such botanical wonders and spectral glories that the natural world is so eager to impart to us.

Time, the perpetual paradox: eternal unto itself, yet so fleeting for the mortal, the greatest illusion man has yet created for himself, and yet, the only recognized illusion for which there is no controversy. The gift of this valuable commodity, which all wish to buy but none sell, is the only obligation one holds to the natural world. The time to contemplate nature's absolute being, the time to garner the reverence due for nature's creatures and of the plights they suffer at our hands.

Indeed, in payment to a force that not only abided our infantile existence but helped sustain it, what could one do but offer nature our understanding as it once did for us. Alleluia cried the red men, for the mother of creation has given them a hearty herd of antelope to hunt. Alleluia cries the old man, for the mother of creation has heard his prayers and rain has fallen on his dying crops. Alleluia cries the poet, for he witnesses the earth's grandeur and is inspired.



Well, yet another Cutt-throat paper. I'm very unhappy with this one, although my teacher seemed thrilled with it. It sounded too pretentious to my liking. I know that's probably ridiculous but...
And there were far too many awkward sentences. I mean, yes, usually I allow a few awkward sentences elbow their way into my paper, but I usually limit it to about 2; this one was rife with ungainliness. Doesn't that sound like an oxymoron? Sooo pretentious yet much too awkward.
*Sigh* Such headache, but, I'm done with school- for the summer at least, then comes my senior year followed by what is supposed to be the rest of my life.

Oh! If Nina is reading this then "HI!!! ^^ How are you?!".

Sunshine Week Contest

Our Governor held an essay contest concerning open government and "its importance upon a democratic society". I, sadly, did not win (though I am about to post the losing article on my blog). I am not too offended because I know next to nothing about government policies, I only wish that I could read the winning entries. *Sigh* Alas, they have not been posted anywhere.

Anywho, here's my essay:

Democracy’s Bulwark

As one more erudite in the political spectrum than I, John F. Kennedy once boldly claimed of his beloved American government, “We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.” The grand institution that is democracy was founded upon thoughts similar to the above, and has been fortified by both the great laws proclaiming liberty and equality, and by the more controversial laws occasionally bordering on the obscure. The contributions of open government to, not only our democratic government, but also to the businesses and society being governed are immense. Open government can, arguably, be regarded as one of the most auspicious qualities any democratic society could hope to possess.

Ensuring the opportunity for mutual discussion is imperative, especially, for example, when formulating the educational standards that will be implemented in a school. The educational system is a major pillar of any lucrative society and from that profitable society stems the political and economic growth of a prosperous country. It is obvious, therefore, that for there to be a prosperous country, there must be an educated foundation. From this need arises one important aspect of open government: public collegial bodies may not meet privately to discuss a matter pertaining to their career. In education, open government allows parents the opportunity to assess the standards their children must meet, therefore, offering their young scholar a better chance to advance in the academic world and, in turn, granting our country a higher chance of success. This is but one example demonstrating open government’s aid in creating a thriving society.

Obstructing tyrannical practices employed by politicians, the wealthy, and other influential members of society, is another fundamental aspect of open government. Political machines are prime examples of the autocratic system our government would affect were it not for laws like those we’ve christened the Sunshine Laws. By definition, a political machine is an unofficial system for organized politics that use surreptitious means and immoral practices to assuage their own political desires. Tammany Hall, one such political machine, is infamous for its considerable impact and influence upon New York politics. Tammany Hall controlled Democratic Party nominations and implemented patronage in Manhattan by exploiting the greed and ignorance of a few, to change political history for everyone, therefore, defying the very essence of both democracy and America itself. The Sunshine Laws require that similar assemblies renounce their furtive nature and allow the public to supervise the legality of their actions or otherwise endure penalties, thus assuring democracy.

Even when under tranquil conditions, politics are rough waters to tread. To allow America to abandon democratic practices akin to open government would be to reintroduce the dark age of clandestine establishments composed of avaricious business owners conspiring with politicians for their own corrupt ends, effectively terminating our democratic existence.

An "Ode" To Madness

Up fly the prickly burs of reality casting visions of fire around me.

These burs cling to the heavy cloth of reason and experience enshrouding my mind.

There they dig, fester and burn, refusing to disentangle themselves,

Denying my mind comfort,

Denying me happiness.

Oh Happiness! That feeling of infantile enjoyment so long lost,

How I yearn for you now.

I will cast off these heavy, uncomfortable clothes!

Leaving bare my mind, free of the encumbrance of rationality!

But how! This bare mind is of no comfort, for it is buffeted and scarred by the torrential winds of life.

No comfort for the dumb, no comfort for the rational.

No happiness anywhere...except...

I will gather my scattered memories of youth,

Collect my juvenile logic

I will sew them together into a patchwork cloth of pastel coloring.

A cloth I am able to drape over my bareness.

Once more the world holds happy reason,

And once more can I find happiness.

*I feel I must remind my audience that I have little care for poetry, this was yet another idea stuck within my subconsciouse*

Cynisism to Naivette

If you've read the previous entry then there is no doubt you'v come across my seemingly queer assertion "so naïve in their cynical approach" . I might not have decided to type this post explaining it save for the fact that my mother chose to contest my assertion, stating that it was an oxymoron. (I'll show her who's the moron....okay, bad pun....and her observation is correct if one only looks at the surface meaning of my phrase. However, I have a tendecy to waste my small allotment of free time pondering the deeper meaning of silly phrases that I usually make up to begin with.)

Well, I'm not one to state things that I can't support and I had, actually, been thinking about the naivette of cynism a lot lately (one of my friend's attitudes to life brought me to this, admittedly strange, conclusion).

My thinking is, and know that this will probably not come out in an verbally economic way, that many cynics are...caught up in the romantacism of being cynical. I mean, it was great with Eyore, but, come on.

Those who boast cynisim are so caught up looking for the evil in life, they miss the good. An example: Eyore was so caught up in what might happen if a butterfly was to land on his house, he never stopped to wonder at the beauty of that small insect, or why it was he was blessed by multiple visits by it.

Cynics seem to be in some sort of contest, who has the gloomier outlook on life, and they spend so much time proving to other people that they are cynical, that they miss the good (the good that they are steadily driving out of the victims of their complaints).

To be naive is to be gullible, ignorant, and forthright. Is not someone who ignores the good in favor of the "Almighty Bad" ignorant to God's grace around him? Is one who believes every bad tale about human kind, but is skeptical about the tales of heroes, thinking, well surely they held a personal stake in the matter, gullible? And forthright? Well, we've already established that those who are cynical are in a competition to see who can be the most cynical, therefore, they share every bleak and cheerless assertion they have with anyone unlucky enough to hear their assessments.

We've all been victim to the dreary ponderings of some cynical person standing next to us in line for some activity or another. We've heard them complain at amusement parks, bewail the hot sun on summer days, or the bracing winds of autumn. I enjoy those things, I thank God that I've been blessed with them.

The most tiring thing, I find, about these pessimists are their tendency to bemoan things that they are not willing to fix. It's great that they don't appreciate the state of children in Rwanda, but ask them to donate to a charity for those children. No. They are too cynical to believe the money will do any good. So then ask them to start their own charity, to speak out against the horrors going on inthe world. Once more, no! They "know" that one person couldn't possibly make a difference.

I don't complain when the problems in my life could have been fixed with more initiative on my part. And, I try not to complain, ever, because I realize how blessed I am to have what I have, while others have trouble making it through the day. One day, I plan on trying to help those people, in whatever why I deem most effective. But until I make that effort, I shy away from the horrors forced into my view by those to naive to look elswhere and realize the wonders around them, while I do look elsewhere.

We are only human, and yes, we can only do so much, but lets appreciate the gifts God has seen fit to bless us with and use them to better the world. And, if that's too much trouble for some, then I hope they will keep their noses out of the world's trouble and look to life's blessings instead. Everyone will be much happier that way.

Cutt-throat and "The Great Gatsby"

As you might have inferred from the title, I have been assigned a new paper from Mrs. "Cutt-throat", a name I have christened her with because of her intense grading methods.

This is the final draft of my Rogerian argument over Nick Carraway's character (it was once a draft, but I've finished it so...).

Have fun ^^

An Apparent Machiavelli

In his tragedy Othello, William Shakespeare forewarns those of jealous temperament “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on". That this line can be used in many contexts is doubtless, but for my own purposes, I turn it to the critics of The Great Gatsby and all who would renounce the character of Nick Carraway with cynical assertions to his cowardice and terrible dishonesty. To explore the complexity of Nick’s character is to watch the moral growth of a young character as his views upon the world evolve into fantastic, and rather painfully honest, assessments. Exploring Nick’s growth will hopefully impart to those, so naive in their cynical approach to The Great Gatsby, the startling revelation that people can be honest in their approach to delicate topics, such as Nick does for said topics exemplified in Fitzgerald’s novel.

Those critics who operate under the afore-mentioned, emerald-eyed social niche will consider Nick a detestable character due to the “dishonesty beyond redemption” and moral cowardice he demonstrates throughout the novel. Nick was obviously a modern day Machiavelli: his apparent surreptitious reasons in refusing to accept Gatsby’s questionable job proposal, his secrecy concerning his friend Gatsby and second cousin Daisy’s affair from the scornful eyes of the public, all the while continuing a friendly acquaintance with the victimized husband, are all obvious ploys for social power. What’s more; Nick, this craven, grants reprieve to the bold and egotistical, yet ethically juvenile, Tom from a justifiable, stern, and boldly contemptuous lecture.

Nick’s faults are obvious, his failures apparent. He even fails to find his friend, Gatsby, an honorable group of people willing to attend his funeral. How could such a poor and amoral man ever come into the confidence of so many happy, wealthy people such as Daisy, Jordan, Tom and Gatsby? Why was he not cast down sooner from their amity? Nick’s actions could effortlessly be interpreted as conceited attempts to grasp the ephemeral prominence promised by wealth. However, I do not view Nick’s actions as selfish and I believe to do so would be to deny the book, The Great Gatsby, its charm. Tis natural to envy the positive traits of others, in this case, Nick’s honest, reliability, or to view those traits with suspicion born from pessimism; to do so, however, detracts from Fitzgerald’s story. How can we appreciate the poetic tragedy of The Great Gatsby when our narrator is a piebald composed of varying shades of deceit, corruption, and fecklessness? The answer to that, austere though it may be, is that you can’t.

Nick was, arguably, Fitzgerald’s most crucial character; throughout the novel Fitzgerald reminds his audience, through Nick, that our narrator is free of that common human vice: bias judgment. At the beginning of the novel, Nick divulges his habit of ambivalence, stating, through the instructions of his father, he’s “inclined to reserve all judgments” (page 5 paragraph 1). Nick starts the novel with a straightforward assertion as to his character, tempering it only with the understandable admission that even this tolerance for others has its limits. Contrary to what many would assume, this admission strengthens Nick’s reliability because it is a statement of humility, not one of moral vulnerability. This continued humility and honesty is seen often throughout the book, especially in his relationship with Jordan. From the beginning of their relationship, Nick acknowledges the fact he doesn’t consider the continually superficial and jaunty Jordan as a serious romantic interest. At the height of their relationship, Nick still wont devote himself entirely to Jordan because of his peripheral awareness of the girl left back home to whom he’s been “writing once a week and signing the letters “Love, Nick,”” (page 64, continued paragraph). His honesty in dealing with all people, despite his own feelings, is a poignant reminder of the respectability Nick possess.

The most potent of reminders for Nick’s character is his final meeting with Tom Buchanan for it is then that Nick makes his significant revelation that the inspiring rich are little more than children. Nick’s refusal to criticize Tom and Daisy’s actions stem, not from cowardice, but from a deep awareness that this indulgent group were ignorant to the consequences, to the absolute havoc, that ensued following their moral vacations. “I shook hands with him” Nick states, “it seemed silly not to, for I felt suddenly as though I were talking to a child” (page 188 paragraph 1). A child indeed, one who is pampered and oblivious to his own selfish faults, that is an excellent way to describe the Buchanans whose money has secluded them from social responsibility.

The Great Gatsby depicts an intimate and culturally relevant story that suggests an enduring message, a message that is made all the more relevant to contemporary society due to the consistency of the moral character, Nick. To see the story in black and white would be pure fallacy and Nick extinguishes that prosaic theory of dual pigmentation with his sangfroid disposition. His honesty transforms this perverse tragedy into a rich text, something his critics will surely have neglected to realize due of their fascination with continued, cynical observations.

Everything

I, of course, must give credit to Don Henley for inspiring this rather short entry.

I just wanted to...say, for lack of a better word, that I believe the most ominous, and yet most consolatory, of sentences is "Everything can change".

I'm not going to explain why-it's rather self explanatory-or, at least I think it is.

Writer's Block

Words fall from my mind, landing in a tumultuous heap at the bottom corner of my page

There they lay; broken phrases and unknown words quibbling amongst themselves,

Vying for the precise order in which to place themselves upon the lines above

"Luscious" appeals to my wicked side, pleading to be placed next to "Rose",

Hoping to form a cliche metaphor for ripeness and beauty

I hold back the sinful urge to combine them and turn my attention to "Pale"

"Pale" throws a mighty tantrum to be placed next to "Skin"

However, he's easily defeated by "Alabaster" which suggests a light from within

A word much more poetic than the dull, white "Pale"

"Oh, how the meadow lark sings

With worries not about iambic pentameter

His lines do not rhyme, each tune is unique..."

Wait, no!

Not a lark, but a jay bird, or three!

Is that more poetic, doth that please the tongue to speak?

Maybe if we compare them with a luscious rose

Oh, Evil cliche that disturbs my verbal sea!

The bottom line you ask?

I hate poetry!

A Note...of sorts

I'm making this note in regards to my last blogger entry. As you might already know, I'm often compelled to explain the reasons behind my entries and that is what this entry is about. The PSA (public service announcement) should have probably been placed under its own predecessor: Bits'n'Pieces, because it was spawned from a fragmented thought that I will now share with you.

My brother and mother had been away so the house had been unusually quiet and peaceful. However, the day this thought was spawned was also the day that my two missing family members would return, carrying with them, the loud baggage of my aunt and two young, and very hyper-active, cousins. As I was washing dishes in the kitchen a car horn honked, there was a shout and then three munchkins threw open the door and proceeded to yell and run around our living room. The thoughts that went through my head at that exact moment (?):

therefore effectively slaying peace and tranquility.

Then, as often happens, that thought floated around at the back of my mind until, as what usually doesn't happen, I sat down and typed it out. It sounded much better in my head, but I have a terrible time replicating my thoughts for the computer.

Anyways, I haven't really anything to do, I've been meaning to write this explanation down since I typed out the PSA, but...you know how I can be. On the upside, I'm passing all of my classes with flying colors, and next week I'll be starting AP Pre-Calc.

FUN (! ^^!); as you should be able to tell by both the exclamation points and the happy eyes, which are things I rarely ever do, I am looking forward to this class.