Freshman Composition
Critical and Argumentative Writing
Blogging in the Blogosphere
English 100 and 103
FORMAT:
When you blog, in the Title, write your first and last name as you would as if you are turning in a paper to me. Then you do not have to write my name because I know you are in my class. Write what English class you are in whether it is English 52, 60, 100 and what College.
For example, one would write:
Yue Hayes
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #1
Homelessness
Font size
In addition, for the title, pick the topic of discussion, grammar/organization, content, current events, pop culture or literature as a TITLE that we have discussed in class. Write the posts like this: write #1 Post or #2 Post or Post #50, so I can easily keep track of them and how many you write.
Of course, you are welcome to write more than several posts, and in doing so is another form of participation and does count in the participation grade. Perhaps, in class, you may not participate all that much but in the realm of the blogosphere, you can from the comfort of your own home,
* reflect on the day's class discussion or offer up an insight that you found particularly interesting, etc., etc.
*
* How does it change the way you think or thought before on the subject?
*
* What actions might you take in the future? Anything is open to interpretation.
Of course, I need not go on and on about being respectful towards your peers' opinions and beliefs. If you disagree with another student's views be discreet about it: Do not say so and so is completely wrong because of this and that. Instead, say, I disagree with so and so and here are the reasons why I do. Go after their evidence and support and do not, I repeat do not attack someone else personally. This is supposed to be a forum for everyone to share their ideas and views.
*I will enforce the blogosphere by either deleting your hard work, making an example out of you here in the realm of the blogosphere or in class* . . .
3,403 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 601 – 800 of 3403 Newer› Newest»English 100
Cerritos College
Post # 601
601 yay!!!
Maria Ascencio
English 100
C.C.
Post #6
Going to the M.O.T. was a great experience. I came to realize many things while in there. Some of the things were heart braking. What got to me the most was when I heard about the new boen babies being thrown out the windows. I just aske myself the whole time, " How can people be so ruthless and cold. To show no mercy even to newborns." When I heard about "The Angel of Death" it reminded me of the song from the band Slayer. Which came to realize it was actually about all that. The creation of a perfect German, and about the holocaust and what not. it all made much more sence to me. And there's also a song called kristallnacht. I am not sure of the band that sings it but i know there is a song called that.
What also saddened me was when we were given a card and it had a person we were given information about. Mine, was a little boy whos name I forgot. He was only three years of age when he was separatd from him family. Unfortunately, he was not a survivor. The talk with Matthew and Tim was touching.. hah sounds cheesy. Tim is a great example that people can change for the better. It is amazing to see how two people can get along so well and put their differences aside.
Museum of Tolerance
I think Sunday was my 4th visit there but i still love it. We actually got a more detailed tour this time which was fun. In the holocaust section i think the saddest part is the video in the gas chambers. The part about the newborn babies being thrown to their deaths made my stomach hurt and then to see the photos made me want to cry. At the end of the tour we find out what happened to the child on our card. The tour guide had us split up, on one side the ones with a child that survived. On the other the ones whose child died or disappeared. I think of the side of death there was probably 20 of us compared to about 8 on the other side. It really put into perspective the survival rate during that time. Also the mini model of the concentration camp i thought was beautiful so precise and exact. It was amazing to me.
When we got to the current events section i was suprised. I knew there was still discrimination in the world but to see photos and stories of it across the world happening at a daily basis opened my eyes. I like the screen that is describing words. Words can hurt, words can kill. It is probably the truest statement out there.
When we got into the millenium machine, i liked how it focused on the crimes towards women today. Genital mutilation, rape, slavery, domestic abuse ...these are all too real issues that need to be dealt with.
Sunday was the first time i got to see Mathew and Tim speak together. I had always heard their stories seperate. Their story really is an example of how people can change. My favorite part was when tim said he wasn't born racist, he learned it. That is the problem with the world, people keep teaching hate.
"in the fight against hate, ones enemie is the best teacher"
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # EHH!!
Celina,
Thanks for understanding, I am also in customer service and I know how to act when an irate customer comes in the store. Just let them talk and vent without interrupting them. If one interrupts them their anger is going to be towards you instead what is really the problem.
You think a Target manger knows that, alas they do not.
BTW I did not get the problem fix I am going to do something to get it fixed. I rather not write what it is (it is not illegal) but you know. : 0
Brandon,
Yup let them roll. I hate that things are different but I am excited to see what is next.
BOO Target I am going to Wal-Mart now HAHA!!!
Betsy McPherson
English 110
Golden West
Post #2
The Allegory of the Cave
I posted on this essay on Monday night, however I cannot find my posting so I am posting on it again to cover my bases :-)
Allegory of the Cave is a great essay, in my opinion, because it reflects so much truth. I can see myself as one of the people chained up in the cave never really questioning anything that I see and just accepting it all at face value because that is how I was raised to be. But as I continue on my educational journey my mind is being opened up to new thoughts and new experiences that I have to adjust to just like the man who escaped the cave had to adjust to the outside world.
Janelle Rodriguez
Cerritos college
English 100
Post # 5
after reading cathedral the second time i feel that i find myself enjoying it more a second time. now that i read each line and i know what is going on with the story i am able to picture the story in my head. i can relate t this kind of because of my gfiance. sometimes its hard having someone in your relationship work for the goverment because it can never be you and him it wioll always be you him and the marines. even though you might get along with this person and your relationship is perfect some how even though you might seem a big priority of his life the marines will always come first until the day he is finally done with his four years.
Andy Tran
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #7
Field trip to Museum of Tolerance
I very much enjoyed the field trip to the Museum of Tolerance as it was my first time visiting. First off I loved the tacos at the restaurant we ate at. Anyways, the Museum of Tolerance was quite interesting. I learned a lot about the suffering of Jews during the second war. It was very sad what they had to go through. I did not know that there population was .8% which was quite shocking. A group of people targeted for no other reason but being different from the general population. It was quite sad how they were recognized no longer as of German decent. How the general population listened and acknowledged the hateful words of Hitler and his followers. Normal people decided to join in and help exterminate the Jews was quite heartbreaking. Besides that, I really enjoyed listening to Tim Zaal and Matthew Boger's story. It is very astonishing to see them become friends after the incident involving Boger being hated on and almost beatin to death by Tim and his hate friends. I show great respect towards the both of them for setting aside their differences. It was great to converse with them and how they both did not use scripts to tell their stories. I very much enjoyed the field trip! Thanks Mr. Hsiao!
Andy Tran
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #8
Only Daughter by Sandra Cisneros
I have read the story Only Daughter by Sandra Cisneros and enjoyed it very much. I can somewhat relate my life to the story on how I have come to terms with my father but not as the only daughter haha. I am the youngest son of two in my family. As almost every father wants their child to become somebody, my brother and I are trying hard to become that good son. My father also tells my brother and I to use our brains not our hands as said in the story. Other than that, I feel the loneliness Sandra Cisneros has gone through. Being the only daughter among 6 brothers is quite tough. The father has focused and invested much of his time towards his sons rather than his only daughter. Not realizing that she also wants to be somebody and not just a person to go off to college and find someone to marry. It has taken many years to finally become noticed by her father of what she has accomplished. For me, it will also take many years for my father to finally acknowledge me for becoming someone. I hope that someday I do turn out to become somebody as well as making my father proud.
Antonio Acosta
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #5
Only Daughter
I read the story Only Daughter. I like the story because it talks about a relationship between a daughter and father approval. The daughter struggled a lot because she was the only daughter in the family with six brothers. He was happy when her daughter went to college because she would find a good husband, but she did not. Her father believe at a daughter was meant for a husband. She thought that her father was not proud that she was a writer. She did not realize that her father wanted the best for her. In paragraph 17 her father said to her said about her writing, “Where can we get more copies of this for the relatives?” that showed her that her father was proud of her. In life son or a daughter do not realize that their parents are proud of them, but till want the best for them.
Edilu Medina
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # 5
Only daughter by Sandra Cisneros
What a powerful story especially how it is true in so many hispanic races. Fortunately my dad has never told me get married and thats that if anything I think he freaks when I would mention a wedding or catched a bouquet to be the next wed one. But overall I do wish his approval and even though I havent had it in 3 years I feel like now I do as I have started school. What Sandra stated in beign the only daughter and working to succeed to what she loved to do even how her storys got translated into spanish. Just took one glance in the end when he said " where can we get more copies of this for your relatives?" thats all she wanted to share a piece of her to someone she loved and have acknowledgement.
Antonio Acosta
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #6
My Experience at the Museum of Tolerance
It was my first time at the Museum of Tolerance, so I did not know what it was all about. I was excited to go that I got up really early. I was going to be an n hour an thirty minutes early because there was no traffic. When we got to the Museum of Tolerance and the tour guide showed us the first part of the tour he told us to grab a passport of a child. I was wandering what it for was. He told us to put in the card in the machine to learn a bit about our child. He also started talking about how everything started. I felt ashamed that I did not know that much about how the Jew or anybody that did not look like their perfect person the Nazis killed. It was sad after he told use about it. During the entire tour I learned about what happened and it got me mad also sad for what the Nazis party did. Half of the tour he told use to find out a little more about are child and what the child was doing or pass through during this time. What made me realize that I was lucky that I was not born in that time was the concentration camps? They were force to work and if you could not work like a child, handicap person, or a women you were killed in the gas chamber. At the end of the tour the guide told use find what happened to our child. Did she survive? I found out the she was one of the child that did not survived. The action the Nazis did I considered races and it made me realize how our life’s. People still struggle with races violence. One would be like a person involved in a hate crime. In one of the part of the tour they showed what was going on in our life that was related to what mostly the Jew passes through. They ask us if were one of the people that were going to change our world and stop race, hate and other crimes. In my head I said “Yes!”
Danielle St. Onge
English 110
GWC
Post #3
After reading Giorgio Agamben's Homonym four times through, I think I finally found what the underlying message was. I found that the theme of the Homonym is that we all belong to a group, usually not by choice. This group is a stereotype and it can either be a good one or a bad one based on your own opinion. Agamben says that even though your are apart of this group you are not apart of it. This means that we are much more than what the group tells us to be. My stereotype is being a jock. I see myself a jock sometimes, but certainly not in all aspects. I am much more than that; I am a daughter, a student, a swim instructor, a coach, a giver, a lover, and the list goes on. Agamben, I think, is trying to tell us to not just narrow someone down to one specific stereotype but to look at all the things they do and give to the world.
Audrey Valdivia
english 100
CC
Post eek!
ok so cathedral made me think alot from the first time i reade it. for me it is different because i just figured liek ok her friends wife died yeah it is tragic..but i mean she has been his friend and she feels the need to console him. her husband feels awkward because hes blind but i mean just because he could not expierence the gift of seeing does not mean he is not human. her husband says maybe i'll take him bowling that is liek a slap in the face. yet he had no clue as to what the husband was saying about him. but yet he has no idea how it feels to be blind until finally he is put into a blind persons shoes..
Only Daughter.
i have so many thoughts on this story i cried while reading it. it hurts to know that she was never the apple of her fathers eye until the very end this is a good interpretation of why womens rights have change. today the modern womans father whats them to achive every goal in life and has faith in everything they do. but her fathers thinks she should just be a house wife. until she becames and author andhe finally tells her he is proud.
Sandra Valadez
English 100
Cerritos College
post # 11
Reflections on the Museum of Tolerance
I was so excited about this field trip first because I had not been there since they remodeled it second because Pancho my husband was coming along. We woke up got ready and headed out. We walked up to Professor Hsiao gave our good morning exchange. Professor Hsiao began speaking to Pancho about me but like he was my dad! Professor Hsiao said some nice things about me and in return I felt my husband was going to take to for ice cream for my good work, that was funny. Los Sanchez is okay but like I told Professor Hsiao “If you want real Mexican food, come to my place.” Entering the museum took me back to long time ago when I stood there as a child, and now an adult with two children of my own. Can I actually say there was a best part to the museum, no I cannot. Everything we were shown was awful. People are very sick in the head, People will do horrendous things to one another, People will come and take whatever they can from me. I was absolutely disgusted about the child pornography. I having two daughters can not even imagine putting them in such a potion or letting anyone harm them. Hearing the testimony from both men was tough. The person who suffered having his mom kick him out, his siblings not acknowledge him, to be violently attacked had a good look on life despite everything he went through. The other man the former racist seems hurt and lost. There is were I think I am wrong for thinking so. I am not sure this will make sense but it seems that finding out that his racist ways were wrong are in turn his suffering. He feels bad almost everyday of his life for his actions as well as the racist start he gave his son. How hard must it be to see your child go through such tough times knowing you started the vicious circle. His Nazi punk rock way or racists skinhead way really did something to him. I was a punk rocker and totally against Nazi’s punks or Skins. Let us not stereotype those either big different from a Punk rocker to a Nazi Punk and even a Racists Skin to a S.H.A.R.P. (Skinhead Against Racial Prejudice) I have witness racists Skins come and just start fights with random people, I have witnessed boot parties, I have even been at concerts where Nazi’s started fights and the riot squad has come to place order. I feel that in commenting my opinion I am passing judgment on these men and that is the last thing I want to do.
Steven Cordova
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #2
Meuseum of Tolerance
The trip to the museum of tolerance was truly an experience. To see such devotion to history is great. To see the devotion to a certain time in history is wonderful. Although I beleive that some information is not worth keeping, I feel that we should record as much history as we can with as much detail as we can put into it. Not only for owr sake, but for the sake of civilization in the future. Although we have been recording the history of our culture, previous cultures did not do so well with there recordings. If we cannot learn from humanities previous mistakes, we cannot move on as a species.
Sandra Valadez
cc english 100
post 12
I read both stories 'only daughter and Cathedral' i have read one Sandra Cisneros books in the past 'house on mango street' the book is somewhere in my house.In my family I am the only daughter and the middle child on tip of that. Like Sandra I felt treated very different from my brothers. I was the one who could not go out late vs my brother who could and the older even brought girls home. The other story I interpreted different from just the husband having a problem with a blind man. I felt there was a deeper relationship with his wife and Robert. Because it was not something that was out in the open he simply made it seem he didn't like becuase he was blind. In the end when they were high a little pickled and drawing it did not get the end. He never open his eyes to see the drawing, he i think just imagined what it would be, get it???? oh am i rushing today, it's 4:30 and i am nowhere near ready..
Steven Cordova
English 100
Cerritos Colleg
Post #3
Only Daughter
Although it is a good story, the concept seems redundant. A person driven to somthing greater because of some complex issue brought on be the parent. Nothing agenct the author, but I am pritty tired of stories that seem to follow a formula. 1) the child does stuff 2) the parent is inconciderate 3)the child does other stuff then grows up 4) the parent gets a slightly more open mind 5) they resolve there conflict and theyre both happy. Reruns are for television
Stephanie Farano
English 110
GWC
Post# 3
Homonyms
This was a tough read and I must admit I found myself reading lines over and over again, to attempt to find meaning. By the end of the story I was wrapped in a couple theories or ideas, but neither made much sense. My overall opinion and comprehension of the story seemed to be lacking, but here it goes.
One man named Frege is taking on the old Cantor Theory and challenging it's basis for it's basic and overall knowledge. Frege is taking information that Cantor has put in a cookie cutter perception and trying to open societies eyes to new possibilities. Frege finds it impossible and ridiculous that one could stereotype or label a large category into one.
The first interesting point made is not only the category that people are placed in, but the many different views, that people have on the same issue. For example the color red played a large part in finding out the various meanings. When you ask one person they may say rose, and another may say apple. Something as simple as a color can have many different definitions and be perceived more than one way. In the math world this is a disaster! When a system is run on formulas and exact answers, the last thing they can handle is interpretation. Frege is challenging the very ideas that Math is against. I think the Math is very much like our society, we tend to judge and want to place people in specific categories. Stereotyping is something that we do in order the make things easier for us, but it doesn't mean that it is right. Math is the same way it works with numbers with no personalities or differences in opinion. That is what mathematicians like about there formulas, they are always the same. Frege in this writing is challenging that idea, by stating that not everything can be categorized so easily.
Tien Tran
English 110
GWC
Post #3
Giorgio Agamben explores the different facets of humankind and its endless possibilities of meaningless generality. One specific idea he denotes is the ongoing problem in which human beings naturally identify but does not want to associate with. Upon meeting another individual, one’s physical appearance triggers our brain to classify one another into a collective generality. Because of this, we immediately ignore the depth of the layers hidden beneath the skin and prejudge our fellow neighbors into an already made up box set up by society. This “class” further places us into different extensions of the same generality. Thus, a domino effect occurs through one simple generalization. He delves further into this idea by discussing the different perceptions people have as they see others through their own lens. A mother of three may classify tattoos on a male’s body as gang related or a dangerous individual to her family, especially her children. A young adult may see him as a power figure and a daredevil whose crazy antics becomes a comedic relief to the few. But in actuality, the tattoos inked on the young male’s body are symbolic to the spirit of his father who passed away. Homonyms parallel’s to our life in such that we may look the “same” in the eyes of others, but deep down, we possess far greater attributes than the physical eye can see.
Dalene Kolb
English 110
Golden West College
Post #11
I have already wrote about The Allegory of the Cave, but I have not fully understood the story until the other day.
The Allegory of the Cave goes into talking about prisoners. At first that part was very confusing for me, but finally I understood what Plato was saying. When Socrates talks about prisoners he is talking about everyone being a prisoner in their own body. Well that is what I thought from reading the story. The fact that people can not open up, and are basically locked up in the life they have come to believe as their own, even though it is not the true person that is deep inside. "And if he is compelled to look straight at the light, will he not have a pain in his eyes which will make him turn away to take and take in the objects of vision which he can see, and which he will conceive to be in reality clearer than the things which are now being show to him?" This part of the story made me understand the cave more. When Socrates states, "...compelled to look straight at the light, will not have a pain in his eyes," means that people will have pain, and have to open up their closed wounds in order to see the light, and openess at the end. This was a great story, thank you Mr. Hsiao for having us read this story.
~Dalene
Kayla Marley
Enlgish 110
Golden West
Post 4
Ouch. What an upset, although expected. I was watching the quarter-finals for the woman's tennis for the us open and I am so bummed. I was really pulling for the underdog, Melanie Oudian. :(
I hope someone beats Federer. :)
Erica Lloyd
English 110
GWC
Post #4
Homonyms
Honestly, I'm still a little fuzzy on this one, but I think I've figured it out. My interpretation of Homonyms is that "you are in the group, but not of the group". It is human nature to classify things. Even if we say that we don't label, we still do to an extent. That is just how the human mind works. The point that I think Agamben is trying to make is that while we are members of different groups, we are not the group itself. We don't fulfill every description of the group and we also fit in other groups. Also, groups and classifications mean different things to different people. The example that many people have used is the color red. We all think of different things when asked to describe red. Me personally, I think of a glob of red paint. I really like his last sentence, "the idea of a thing is the thing itself, the name, insofar as it names a thing, is nothing but the thing insofar as it is named by the name". It confused me at first, and if I read it too much it still confuses me, but to me he is saying that the name of an object takes on the meaning of the object that it names. So when we think of a car, we think of what our brain has mentally assigned as a car.
Dalene Kolb
English 110
Golden West College
Post #12
Homonyms by Giorgio Agamben
Agamben explores sterotypes in a way to make you think if you belong or do not belong to a sterotype. Instead of saying sterotypes or groups, Agamben uses "classes", which was the proper term in that time period.
Everyone belongs to a class, weather we want to or not. "Both are and are not members themselves," means that you are in a group, even if you are not in a group.
This story confused me, and still confuse's me. It seems like Agamben is trying to talk about "proper names" in english, but putting the subject involved in classes, or sterotypes.
What do you think? Can anyone help me on that part? Is there a reason why Agamben mention's the proper names throught-out the story, but some how it still involves classes?
Thanks.
~Dalene
Dalene Kolb
English 110
Golden West College
Post #13
Erica
After reading your insight on Homonyms I understand more what the story means, somewhat.
We all belong to groups, if we want to or not. We all precieve the color RED different than other people. When I think of RED I think of a Firetruck. But the next person might see RED as a apple. Even though it's the same color, we all precieve RED differently. That helps me understand the story more now.
:]
Now to work on my Essay, which is almost done.
:]
~Dalene
Kevin Santamaria
English 110
Golden West College
Post #3
Homonyms
In the excerpt Agamben describes how not all things can be defined into objects but into classes as well. When we come into contact with anything it becomes a class through the notion of it even being a thought. Thought and classification automatically makes "classes" that we cannot define in language. They are the classes developed from our minds receptors, where we corrolate them automatically and involuntarily. That is why we cannot posses them, but can recognize them in a class in and of itself.
ESME!!!!
hey girl i just got an application for don jose i hope they hire me so we can work together lol...
Joshua Greenroyd
English 110
GWC
Post #7
Allegory of the Cave
This allegory has a huge deep message weaved into its language. I spent a good few weeks last fall in Hsiao's English 100 class discussing this piece. The most rememberable fact is the picture our groups drew. I remember having Jon Croft in my group. We had to draw what we thought was symbolized in the allegory. I remember drawing a huge invisible dinosaur on top of a mountain. On one side of a mountain it was dark, and there were many people. The other side considered of one man, pirate in nature. This side was sunny, and had a fruit bearing tree. This "pirate" man had an eye patch on. The "pirate" escaped past the fear of the dinosaur to reach the true outside. The dinosaur was just like the restraints in the cave. Once a person breaks free of the reastraints, they can escape from their cave. Only by escaping the cave can a person truly see the world for what it is.
Ronald Cabiltes
English 110
GWC
Post #2
Homonyms
I may have gotten the jist of what Giorgio Agamben was saying.
My interpretation of Homonyms is that Giorgio Agamben was talking about stereotyping and putting objects into classes. We all have been stereotyped and we all have associated ourselves with a group at one point in time. We all also may have classified and stereotyped certain things. I think it is human nature to automatically form certain stereotypes in our brain upon meeting someone.
Also, the paradox, "both are and are not members themselves" intrigued me. It took me awhile to figure out the meaning, but I think it means that even though you are associated with a certain group, you are also not part of that group.
I really do not think I fully understood it. It was a very tough read and hopefully I will have a lightbulb moment tomorrow in class.
brandon Hebert
GoldenWest
Eng 110
Post: 9
Allegory of the Cave
I thought I had already delved into this until i read more of the blogs. Im not sure who said it but somewhere between 550 and 600 was a post about degrees of light in the story relating to levels of reality. This put it in a brand new perspective for me.
The relfections:
this level of reality is for those who believe what they see, and take in what they're told. This reality is the apathetic reality.
The fire:
this to me is the reality every High school student discovers when they finally get politics, start watching the news, begin to really care about thinking critically.
daylight:
in this reality we are always searching to see a little clearer that which we thought we knew.
But a complete reality is not possible. THoreau says it this way: "the light that blinds us, is darkness to us." Indeed, sometimes the harder we search the more lost we become. We only know what light will show us.
"All of my dreams always find me far beyond these fake flourescent skies" -D.Kensrue
Thomas Rios
English 110
GWC
Post #2
Allegory of the Cave
This piece was interesting and insightful. Many people have many different types of caves that have many different meanings for each. I feel like my cave is my lack of religious and political knowledge. At times, I want to find a religion that I can accept, agree, and devote myself to. I'm not sayijng that if I found a religion that I would be the punctual and avid church goer. I have gone to church many times, St. Columbans in Garden Grove, but I have never really felt connected at all. I always felt like I was attending to please my parents and never found pleasure in it myself. As I grow older, I feel like there is something that I am missing and am curious as to what it could be. Politically speaking, I know jack squat about politics. I understand the system and the different parties and SOME of the objectives and trends of these parties. However, that is as far as my knowledge extends. Ignorance for the sake of being ignorant; that is, sometimes I just don't want to get caught up in it. I think that this lack of desire to understand what is going on is a hinderance in my professional and personal life. I hope one day I can change my perspective on this and have a much better understanding of each.
Betsy McPherson
English 110
Golden West College
Post #3
Homonyms
Honestly this essay is confusing to me. I think I understand the main topic and main points, but I am also feel like I am missing a lot in it. I understand the idea that we put things into classes just by the names we give them, and I also understand that one name can have two totally different meanings. Actually, reading this essay reminded me of my ex girlfriend because its cryptic language sounded like the way she talks about things. I am looking forward to tomorrows class because I feel like I need more help understand this essay :-)
Joshua Greenroyd
English 110
GWC
Post#8
Greg
I know exactly how you feel. Sometimes I feel like I can talk out my deep feelings, but writing them is different. Once it begins to flow it flows. I just hear some of the stuff that other people in our classes say, and I feel like I cannot hold up. When they pour out their hearts in their essays its touching. I feel like I do not have those kind of experiences much in my life. It seems like my deep emotions just do not hold up sometimes. They do not seem as deep. Let me hear what you think
Greg Burns
English 110
Golden West College
Post #5 Allegory of the cave
A cave can be a dark scary pace were you go to hide, or it can be a time in your life that has shaped you into the person that you are today. In English 100 we as a class had to stand up in class and share our caves. I was not shocked when I heard that drugs sex and violence was many students caves. My cave is my weight I have always battled this problem. From my younger years till now, yet I have escaped and returned back into the cave. In 2006 fresh out of high school I was on a mission to break free of my cave. I lost around 70 pounds by motivation and hard work. I made a lifestyle change, and I am back to my cave. I have gained my weight back not all but most. I do not have the same direction that I possessed just a few years ago. The trick for me breaking away from the cave was to just get running. In the process of losing my weight I have learned a life lesion NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO IF YOU GIVE IT 100% IT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED. I have not been able to go at the task 100% that is why I still have not started losing my pounds like I have done in the past. Anyone can break out of their cave all it take is ACCEPTING NO LESS THAN A 110% OF YOURSELF. YOU CAN NOT MAKE EXCUSES IF DO YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO BREAKOUT OF THE CAVE THAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK.
Stephanie Wold
English 110
GWC
Post #2
AOTC
I know I'm late posting this, but I figure I'm better late than never. AOTC reminded me of myself when I was in the transition from middle school to high school. I have an older sister that I've always looked up to and tried to be like, but she wasn't around a lot when I was in this turbulent transition in my life. I was the oldest at home and I have 3 younger siblings that I constantly helped to raise. I was always needed around the house to help cook, clean, and take care of the children. I felt like I was living in a box while all of my friends were outside enjoying their youth. Instead of finding myself along with my peers, I relied on the media and other influences to help guide me to self-discovery. I saw skinny women every where I went, so I assumed that was how I should be. The trend at the time was the "punk-rock" style, so I tried to conform to that genre. I felt so out of place for so long. When I was 17 and a senior in high school, my family moved to Michigan and I stayed behind with my older sister so that I could graduate from the place I knew so well, Fountain Valley. I believe it was at this time that I stopped looking to the "shadows" on my own wall and started to slowly come out of my cave. Each day is a new experience to discover who I really am and who I want to be. I believe that being on my own and supporting myself has guided my path to fulfillment and has given me the clear view that I could not envision while I was in my cave.
Leydi Espinoza
English 110
Golden West College
Post #2
Allegory of the Cave
This story is about how ignorance is like living in a cave, where one can't see anything except what is being shown to them. However, it also explains that no many find the truth and those who do may be hurt by the way the things really are, and when they try to help others find the truth they would be ridiculized. However, it explains that it is the best to know what one really is, rather then being controlled by other's distortionated truth.
Eric Torres
English 110
Golden West College
Post #3
Homonyms
This piece of writing has to do with the way certain concepts are labeled or classified in certain classes even though it may not distinguish itself as belonging to only that class. The example Agamben uses in Homonyms is the concept "red". When people think of the concept of "red" they usually name something that is that color. People think of objects like an apple, firetruck, or even blood because it relates to the color red. Further the concept of "red" does not have to relate to a color. When someone thinks of the concept of "red" they can think of bravery, or an idea to signify bad things as opposed to good things. Agamben brings up the concept of "illegitimate totalities" which are the classes that come out of the terms "all", "every", and "any". For example: If someone were to be athletic, does that mean that they are a jock? All jocks may be athletic but they can also have other characteristics to them as well. They can be both athletic and intelligent, however all or even most jocks for that matter are not intelligent. Therefore "words can be presented as classes that,... both are and are not members themselves".
Stephanie Wold
English 110
GWC
Post #3
I'm having an off night tonight and obviously waited till the last minute to post on Homonyms, so I hope that I'm correct in how I interpreted the literature.
I had to read the passage a couple of times because I felt I was reading, but not grasping the concept. I still do not feel that I completely understand what is being expressed, but it seems that what Agamben is trying to get across is that a person identifies themselves through multiple groups that are sort of built into a person over time, but they don't necessarily belong to just one group. Many people may put me in groups such as a student or just a young adult. I belong to much more that just those things. I am an employee, sister, daughter, friend, and confidant. I also noticed that Agamben brings up the topic of people interpreting objects, words, or expressions much differently than one another. I actually had this discussion in my anatomy class last week and I believe it relates. We were discussing the importance of the anatomical position and our professor asked a few volunteers to get him from sitting position to the anatomical position. One by one the students gave him two word directions and pretty soon our professor was in a quite awkward position. What he was trying to show to the class that what one person says can have an entirely different meaning to another and odd (or dangerous) things can come of it (he was referring to the medical world).
I hope I don't seem all over the place and got some of you confused. Hope everyone has a great night!
Yue Hayes
English 110
Golden West College
Post #3
My Reflection on Allegory of the Cave
I always love being required to read a piece I have already read, because it becomes more familiar and relate-able (I don't think this is an actual word) every time.
I have really thought about the concept "ignorance is bliss." Trying new things, going to new places, meeting new people, are all very mysterious things in terms of the outcome. I think that's why we (or more specifically, I) tend to keep ourselves within familiarity. It's more comfortable, less risky.
I think I'm exactly in the same place as Tom. Last year, I tried to really find my stance in politics. I remember all the discussions everyone got into, and my mind still has not been made up. I remember specifically that what Brandon had brought into the discussion made me really confused as to which side I stood. I still don't know enough about politics to decide just exactly which side I'm on.
I'm the same way with religion. My lack of knowledge makes it even harder for me to decide even what I believe in. I got into a discussion with my boyfriend's dad, who is a Christian. He kept asking me what I believed in. I don't know how many times I choked for words. I don't know how many times I said "I don't know," either. I really want to believe firmly in a belief or a religion, but my lack of knowledge definitely stops me from doing so.
Samantha Sullivan
English 110
GWC
Post#3
Homonyms
I hope i disected this reading correctly, but if not then hopefully tomorrow's (or today's) class period will help. we as humans naturally categorize things into other categories that we are already familiar with. We may all share a common thought of what something is, yet our conceptions and depictions may differ. People and objects can be given "ONE" true label, but can fit and be a peice of many different pieces and categories making them one in the same or not the same at all.
Monique Gutierrez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #20
Random Thoughts
To the girl who asked about advice on dating co workers. I think you should follow your heart. If you really think this guy is the one for you than go for it. But, if he's already dissing you than just back off. I don't think it's good to date co workers, cause everyone at work will know your business. I know its gonna be hard considering how much you like this dude. Just take it one day at a time. But, if things work out than that's cool. Just be safe.
Jessica Atthowe
English 110
GWC
Post ##
Homonyms
As difficult as this piece is hard to understand completely i believe i captured the main idea. Giorgio Agamben does not want us to judge and immediately categorize a person when we meet him or her. Also, not throwing labels on people or things we do not know all about. Although one may think it is harmless to label someone, in most cases the label is based off one part of that person's personality. There is always more to people then we think and realize.
Tony Szymanek
English 110
GWC
Post #4
Homonyms
In this story we are being taught not to categorize people based on our first impression of them. They say a first impression takes anywhere from 3-8 seconds. This is by no means long enough to get to know someone. In that time we have labeled them in one category, which may or may not be true, but there could be many other aspects of the person we are omitting which make them diverse, and not part of a category we put them into.
Esmeralda Orozco
English100
CC
Post#19
SO LAST NITE WEN I WAS GETTIN HOME I WENT TO WAL-MART(LOL)
MY BROTHER HAD TO GET SUM STUFF 4 MY NIECE. I DIDN'T WAT TO B HOME SO I TAGED ALONG. WEN WE GOT THERE MY MOM FOUND SUM KUTE SHOES FOR MY NIECE THE PROBLEM WAS THAT MY NIECE LIKED THEM SO MUCH SHE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THEM OF
NOW
WE WERE GONNA BUY THEM (WELL NOT ME BUT MY MOM) BUT MY NIECE KEPT THROUGHING A FIT I WAS SCARED CUZ I DIDN'T WANT PPL TO THINK WE WERE HITTING HER
BUT
SHE KEPT SCREAMING AND YELLING LIKE WE WERE BEATING THE SHEETS OUT OF HER. IM TAKING A CD CLASS AND HOPING IT WILL GIVE ME A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHY SHE IS ACTING UP OR EVEN GUIDE ME ON HOW I AM SUPPOSE TO BE WITH HER. I KNO IT IS BAD TO BABBY HER BUT I JUST CANT HELP IT. I WANT HER TO KNO SHE CAN COME TO ME FOR ANYTHING
ON DID I MENTION SHE IS GONNA BE 2 IN OCT 5TH!!! ;')
WELL THE WORST PART OF THE DAY WAS WEN WE WERE ABOUT TO PAY
I SHE BEGAN TO THRO ANOTHER FIT AND SMAKED ME ACROSS THE FACE
NOW SHE ONLY 2 PUT I DROPPED A TEAR IT HURT SO BAD.
OMG
I REMEMBER THIS ONE DAY I WAS AT THE BANK AND MY NIECE DOES NOT LIKE THE CAR SEAT...... WELL I WAS GETTING INTO THE CAR AND MY SIS N LAW WAS IN THE BAK SEAT TRYING TO CALM HER DOWN AND THE LADY PARKED NEXT HER US WAS LOOKING AT US LIKE WE HITTING HER NOW IDK WHY BUT IT PISSED ME OFF!!!!!!
I FELT MY BLOOD BOILING INSIDE ME AND I SCREMED AT HER ( WHAT THE F&%K U LOOKING AT???) I KNO IT WAS WRONG BUT AI WATS DONE IS DONE
KIDS WILL BE KIDS AND JUST CUZ THE SCREAMING AND YELLING DOES NOT MEAN THEY GETTING BEAT UP
I WILL GIVE ANYTHING FOR MY BBY
I LOVE HER SOOOOO VERY MUCH
XoXo
Esmeralda Orozco
English 100
CC
post 20
*******PARAMOUNT******
HOME OF THE PIRATES
THEY GONNA HAVE THERE FIST HOME GAME FRIDAY NIGHT WHOO WHOO....
IM THIKING ABOUT GOING... MABYE I WILL SEE OLD FRIENDS
LAST YEAR I DIDN'T MISS ONE GAME WILL OK MABYE 2 BUT THAT WAS CUZ THEY PLAYED D HIGH (MY X DIDN'T WANT ME TO GET HURT)
THAT NIGHT I CRASHED (BUT THATS ANOTHER STORY)
BUT YEA SO N-E-WAYZ
I HOPE I GET TO MAKE IT I JUST NEED TO SEE WAT TO WEAR???
P
A
M
O
U
N
T
H
I
G
H
OOOO LOL
P
A
R
A
M
O
U
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T
H
I
G
H
Esmeralda Orozco
English 100
CC
post 21
ok ok
im bored and i still have an hour to go in to work!!
well im still at skoo after since 8
but i forgot to ask u guys
who knows how to get to VENICE BEACH????
I SUCK WIT DIRECTIONS AND IF ANYONE KNOWS A SHORT CUT IT WOULD BE KOO
THANX
XOXO
Danielle Kennedy
English 110
Golden West College
Post#2
Ok, so, I have fallen a little behind on my posts and i dont have a good reason for it so i am catching up for my own, even if i dont get the credit, andyway, we were supposed to blog about the stories we read and those were Homonyms and Allegory ot the Cave.
in allegory of the cave, i picture is drawn for the reader on a group of men sitting in a dark cave looking at the shadows on the wall. well, this cave is not literally a cave yet a riddle that socrates sets up for his apprentice. the cave and the sun and the shadows are all symbols for something much greater and more important. the cave represents the ignorance that people have and the shadows that appear on the wall are of a false pretence and that is how the men in the cave see things. the sunlight when the man steps out is the knowledge or the education he gets from outside the cave. the sun shows him the truth and since he now has found the truth, he can never go back to the cave for he now knows what the shadows really are. the men in the cave are ignorant and the man outside the cave found truth.
to be completely honest, i have a faint if not any idea what the story homonyms is about. a man named russel has found a new dimension of an already existent theory and is looked ddown upon by the creator of the theory. russel explains how people as humans like to catigorize everything and anything to distinguish it from everything else. well, russel explains the fact that many words have the exact same spelling or similarity in spelling or that sound the same but indeed have different meanings. so a word such as "horse" might be classified under some catagory but also be in a different catagory all the same. a word can have different meanings and yet still be in multiple of classes and the same class all together. it is a really hard story for me to understand, so, i will end that there.
Jasmyne Young
English 110
Golden West College
Post#4
Sitting in class today, listening to everyone else's cave made me realize that I have a LOT of caves that I need to escape from. My caves consist of self actualization, my grandmother, low self esteem, being overprotected, having the perfection fallacy, being the one who feels they need to take care of others,my shyness around new people, and I tend to repress my emotions and bad memories, therefore I am stuck with a HUGE bottle of anger, sadness, every "bad" emotion and undealt with conflicts. I am one messed up little girl :)I cannot believe I am actually telling you all this cause that's another one of my many caves, not getting into detail about myself or my life, no matter how much you and I get to know one another.I live in a shell, and as I am growing that shell is slowly breaking open, but for the most part, I keep myself sheltered and protected because I have always been taught not to leave the family's dirty laundry out to dry. So, there you go, now you know how screwed up Jasmyne is.:) Thanks for listening;)
Tien Tran
English 110
GWC
Post #4
Allegory of the Cave
Religion is a subject that brings hope for those who are succumbed into darkness. But in my family, it has always been a subject that transcends into a battlefield. My parents, like many first generation Vietnamese immigrants, are very religious and conservative. Religion to them is a must, not a choice. They were raised up to believe in Catholicism and believe that their job is to raise their kids the same way. As a child, I never thought too much of religion. I merely went to mass because that was what my parents did. As I grew older and developed my own sense of self, I questioned my surroundings and things that I did. Religion was one of them. I never understood and believed what I did as a Catholic. My faith lingered along the borderline. My older sister, who was also never of the faith, finally could not lie to herself and told my parents. From that moment on, hell broke loose. Ironically, what was supposed to purify my parents brought out the worst in them. Their relationship severed for years and communication was limited through me, the middleman. As I saw the ongoing conflict first hand, I realized I could never reveal and open up to them about my beliefs and myself. It would be World War III all over again. Because my love for the family outweighed my own realized self, I chose the less scarred road. I would rather suppress my own beliefs to avoid years of an unstable relationship. My cave is just that: my parents, their conservative thinking, and their ignorance to accepting change and ultimately, their daughter’s belief.
I am certain that everyone’s stories are different, their caves are deep, their scars cease to heal, but what ties everyone together are the defining struggle to overcome the darkness and seek solace. For everyone to open up their wounds and shed blood in front of a group of strangers are powerful. Thank you. My doors are open anytime.
If I am allowed to ask …. Prof. Hsiao, what is your cave?
Samantha Navarro
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #15 (recounted)
Quotes I've come across in the last couple days(from 2 different books):
"Zen (in Buddhism) teaches that the potential to achieve enlightenment is in everyone but lies dormant because of ignorance. This potential can be awakened by a sudden breaking through of the boundaries of logical thought. A person must try to understand that words are only the surface of things and they have to learn to get beyond words alone in order to understand the meaning of existence" (The Everything World's Religions Book pg.120).
This teaching in Buddhism goes hand in hand with Homonyms' message in that words alone cannot begin to describe life, language tends to limit our capacity to learn what is behind what is being described, don't you think?
Here's another one:
"Our word 'personality' comes from the Latin 'persona,' which originally referred to the mask an actor donned as he stepped onto the stage to play his role, the mask through (per) which he sounded (sonare) his part... This, say the Hindus, is perfect; for roles are precisely what our personalities are, the ones into which we have been cast for the moment in this greatest of all tragi-comedies, the drama of life itself...Where we go wrong is in mistaking our presently assigned part for what we truly are" (World's Religions pg.30)
This quote, taken from the Hinduism section of the book, also explains Homonyms' message in that we play these roles, these labels, but they are not who we are in our core being. We can play these roles but we cannot lose sight of who we are inside from what happens to us and around us in life. Comments??
Jasmyne Young
English 110
Golden West College
Post# 5
The Props Assist the House
If taken from the perspective of life, the house can be the child, while the props are the parents. As the child grows, the parents are there to keep the child uplifted and prepare the child to stand on their own. When the child is grown and can take care of themselves, the parents let the child go and allow the child to live their own life. The child then continues to grow and mature and make their own changes within themselves and within their lives. The child lives a good life. Then in the child's old age, the child remembers their simple life. And in the end, the child eventually dies. And as the child's body decays, the soul is left.
Then again, it can be taken from the house's perspective as well. The house is being built, but cannot stand on its own, therefore, the props are there to keep it afloat. Finally, the house is built and can stand on it's own feet, so the props are taken away. Then the house becomes a home for many families, allowing it to live the life it was purposed for, making it a well lived in house. Then, the house gets old and is behind the times style wise. It starts to slowly deteriorate until it is broken down and gone. Once it is "dead", the house's soul still lives on through the familes that lived in that house.
It can also be professed as relationships in a person's life. When a person is weak or struggling, they should always have that someone who can lift them up again. A person also should have a certain someone to experience life with, help make a past worth looking back on. So that in the end, a person has a life, even after death.
Angel Togafau
English 110
Golden West
Post #4
My Cave
When Mr. Hisoa started going around of class asking us students to tell about our "cave," my mind was racing with, "OMG what is my cave, hurry hurry it's almost your turn!" In perfect time, just my turn to share my cave, I determined my cave was peer-acceptance and self-confident. I believe that the first two years of high school my self-confidence was at its lowest. I was so worried about what people thought about me, and would they like me? What if they did not? All these types of questions raced through my head. I revolved my life around these people and what I believed they thought. I would always try to be “cool” so everyone would like me. I had a lot of friends and had no problem getting along with peers, but I was still worried about what their perception of me was. One day, early junior year, I stopped to think “Do my friends and peers really like me for who I am or what I have to offer? Why do I care so much? Does it really matter what these people think about me?” I began feeling stupid for even letting this kind of stuff get to me. Right then and there is where I started the foundation of my current mentality of; I am who I am taking it or leave it. Understand, this did not happen overnight. I had days where I feel I was the strongest person ever and I did not care what anyone thought of me, but deep down inside a tad bit of me still did. When I was completely free from my cave I “saw the light.” Life is defiantly better when you can just be who you are without worrying about what others think. I feel 100% more comfortable in classes and around peers in general. I must admit it feels good knowing your peers like you for who you are. No more worrying.
Stephanie Wold
English 110
GWC
Post #4 (I think)
In class this morning I felt so rushed to think of my cave and I hadn't really gone into depth thinking about it. After listening to everyone else's caves, I realized I have a few. One of my biggest caves that I did not share in class today is about my parents. My mother and father have never been the figures they were meant to be. I am one of seven children and my grandparents have raised us all, except for my youngest brother whom is with my mother. My mother had a drug addiction problem for the past 25 years and my father is an alcoholic. My mother comes and goes in my life and I've never known my father except through one picture and far and few between phone calls. I think not having them in my life has lead me to strive to be absolutely nothing like either of them and it has kept me with my head down and trying too hard to please everyone. I am a people pleaser and a lot of times I forget to think of myself. I put on a front a lot of the time that my parents decisions have not affected me, when in reality they truely have. I've really tried to step up and make a wonderful impression on my younger siblings so that they don't fall into the lives that many people expect them to because of our situation. I want to show them that they can beat the odds. So far it is working. My older sister is enlisting in the Air Force and my younger brother is in the Armyy. Although I've done well for myself despite the difficulty I've grown up with, it has completely driven me crazy at times to the point of just crying my heart out. I guess my parents created a cave that isn't necessarily terrible because I think I am a better person because of them, but it's a tough cave to live in.
Brittany Williams
English 110
Golden West College
Post #7
My cave, as previously mentioned in class, was one built solely on my own. Unlike the prisoners in Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave,” I was not chained to it, nor was I completely ignorant of what was on the outside. I wanted to be in my cave, for what was on the exterior appeared much too undesirable. I had built an illusion of artificial bliss and nothing was permitted to pollute my ideal circumstance for life that I had worked so hard to build. The shadows, like those mentioned in the aforesaid story, played out like warning signs from the outside world. Disillusioned, I ignored the admonitions, for I was to allow nothing displeasing in my self-indulgent cave. As the shadows grew bigger, the warnings grew louder and on May 28, 2007, my cave was breached.
The shrill sound of my cell phone on that spring morning, set the tone for what was to come. On the other end of the line, I was met with my mother’s quivering voice. “Joey is in the hospital. We found him unconscious with wounds to his arms.” My younger brother had a problem with cutting - of this we were all aware. For years, plump, red scars would appear on his freshly marred skin, and for years, they were deliberately ignored, for something so undesirable was detrimental to the perfect caves we had all created for ourselves. It was that phone call, however, and the heart-wrenching days that followed, that I realized what my self-absorbed cave had done to those around me. It was because of this false illusion I had created that I did not reach out to help my brother when the warning signs were clearly evident. To this day, it is still a struggle for me to deal with. It is through these struggles, however, that I am reminded of my self-induced ignorance and, much like Socrates in the story, am now able to look upon my former cave with pity, for the truth of the sun has revealed the reality behind the shadows on my wall.
Priscilla Daza
cc
eng 100
post #8
EVERYONE HELP OUT!
i mentioned this in class but for those of you from eng 103 and GWC i announced in class that one of our field trips should be to the LA county fair...what a brilliant idea right?? on their webpage if we take like 20 or more adults its $10 at the entrance...what a dicker! okay so if ya down i think we should convince mister hsiao more...im just saying
ANYWAY
this coming up monday sept 14th at 2pm i will be performing a like a 2minute scene with my partner mark at the theatre building BC31 (actors studio) it starts at 2pm no charge and we're the first ones up so you can leave when my performance is done or stay to watch the rest. the whole show is no more than an hour long at most. it'll be great to see a couple of you there! if not than thats okay too i guess. every group has the same lines just different scenarios. its actually pretty cool to watch. you can see how many ways an actor can say a line differently with different meaning behind it. does homonyms ring a bell?? so yeap thats all i got to say for the moment :D
Brandon hebert
GoldenWest
Eng110
Post:10
Religion and Politics.
Tom and Yue,
Im with you guys. I had been attending churh for around 8 months until something HUGE happened between me and two other people in the church. I dont want to go anymore because itd be too painful. basically my xgirlfriend(my gf at the time) had sex with one of my friends that went there. I've found that 'Religion is tradition, and relationship is love'. I need to get to know God for myself. I need to build my own relationship, not try to fit in to the religion of the day. Maybe you guys are on a similar path?
My major is political Science, so obviously i care a lot and spend about 2 hours every day on current political events. What i know about people, is we are mostly fiscally conservative, and socially liberal. Most of us believe in earning our own way, giving aid where we think itd help, and letting others do what they want. The bottom line is, statistically speaking americans are the most generous people on earth in terms of charity. Please do not take my word for it. Some things must change but change can be a change from bad to worse. Do we agree? I love this country. If mr. hsiao permitted id start class with the national anthem(performed by yours truely). Anyway, on politics: dont believe anyone. As President Reagan said: "trust, but verify." obtain 3 sources and triangulate.
Brittany Williams
English 110
Golden West College
Post #8
Brandon,
I enjoyed reading your post. I also really enjoy politics. I was originally going to major in it but decided to study American History instead. I too love our country and if it were permitted, I would be right along side of you singing the national anthem :-)
Thomas Rios
GWC
English 110
Post #3
Brandon,
People can be so cruel. I myself had a girlfriend cheat on me while she was in the Air Force. It sucked for a long time. Religiously, it does seem that we are in similar situations (seeking answers and finding what is right for oneself). I wish you the best of luck with this journey. As far as politics goes, "Anyway, on politics: dont believe anyone."
That pretty much sums up the reasons why I don't try to get caught up in it. I hate liars and politics is largely rumored to have deceiving people involved. Please educate me otherwise! Have a good weekend everyone!
Jon Croft
English 110
Golden West College
Post #6
Since the blog is currently on the topic of religion, here is a little quote for y'all I found somewhere:
"Talking to God is piety. God talking to you is insanity."
So remember, if God starts talking to you through a hole in the television, run away. Far, far away.
Brandon Hebert
Goldenwest
Eng110
Post: 12(deleted 11)
Brittany,
yah your post on Allegory of the Cave suprised me. Blog more, you're hiding really good thoughts. Its good to meet a like mind that finds separate threads.
John croft,
i dont believe this quote is correct but i believe you will enjoy it nonetheless:
"dieu me pardonne, c'est son metier"
Translation: "God will forgive me, its his job." -anon
"There's no greater love, than that one shed his blood for his friend" - J.Christ
Tom,
The feeling of betrayal has to be one of the worst. Be careful on your spiritual path. Remember, as i try to, its not about finding your own truth, but about finding your own way to the truth. Or maybe thats just my motto, i just thought divinity had no compromises. (shrug).
Stephanie Farano
English 110
GWC
Post #5
BETSY.....I know exactly what you mean!! I have posted a couple of times, just to make sure that it's getting up on the board. As a new blogger I've been exploring and I found that the posts take a little bit to pop up. The newer and newest options at the bottom of the page also help. You can also check by the dates on other peoples posts.
Good luck and know that you aren't alone!
Dalene Kolb
English 110
Golden West College
Post #13 ?
Priscilla Daza
I would so love to go to the LA County Fair. Went only once in my life, because of it being out of the way. I would go! $10 :)
Spending tomorrow in the Writing Center to have them correct my paper, again. Then ANGELS game! Can't wait! Hope everyone has a great weekend!
~Dalene
Dalene Kolb
Golden West College
English 110
Post #14
Brandon,
I read your post on religion and politics and really enjoyed it. Thought I would post a response for it.
Personally, as a kid I was forced to go to church, and never enjoyed it myself. I still have a hard time walking into church, I truely believe the roof will cave in on me. I feel that what I do, say, and believe will make that happen. No it has not happened, and I doubt it ever will. It just seems like, for me at least, people I meet say their religious, then go out and do something completely not religious. I know that is no way to judge the church, but when everyone you know acts like that, it is hard to believe there is such a thing as good as God out there. Till this day I have not walked into a church willing.
I agree with you, when you say change can go from bad to worst. We see it happening everyday. And most people have no desire to do anything about it either, or so it seems.
Theme song, um...we should start something like that in class.
~Dalene
Stephanie Farano
English 110
GWC
Post# 5
My Cave
I have always been a person who has clung to friends and family for support. Never liking to be alone I constantly surround myself with people, even if that means speaking to complete strangers for sense of belonging. I'm not an insecure person and have never been shy, but I enjoy interacting with others for companionship. When you are constantly surround by other people, you tend to loss your sense of self. I believe that my social tendencies are my cave and it wasn't until today that I realized that (weird/shocking)!!!
The story begins two years ago, when my boyfriend of a year asked me to move with him to Chile. Not Chili's the restaurant, the country!!! Being the adventurous and drastic person I am, I decided to go. Excited for the new journey, I had no idea the challenges I would face. My boyfriend attended up to seven hours of practice a day, I spent a lot of time alone. I would go to the store and beach and try to explore the town, but no matter where I went I was still isolated. The language barrier was impossible and hindered my ability to socialize in my normal fashion. I never felt so alone and found myself laying at the beach just thinking about...myself! I made plans in my head of the person I wanted to be, and the things I needed do in order to achieve those goals. In the short nine months that I was there I learned more about myself than the majority of my twenty one years before. Sometimes you have to be removed from the things that you use as a crutch, in order to find the real you. My cave was my social dependence and although I still enjoy social interaction and engaging in conversation, I do not depend on others to fulfill my needs. I have many caves, but I'm trying to shorten the list one by one :)
Diana Amezcua
English 103
Cerritos College
Post # 9
Jenny,
After reading your blog about CHANGE a book I had read before, came to mind. Who Moved My Cheese? For those that haven’t read it, in this book two mice and two little people are confronted with change (in a not so good way): their cheese is gone. The cheese represents happiness and success. In the story, while the mice understand the situation right away about cheese and start looking for some new cheese, the little people (humans) react differently. One of them is afraid but then starts a journey to find more and different cheese; the other one prefers to victimize himself and take no action.
And what this is basically telling us, is that change is not always bad. In order to succeed and grow there has to be some change in our life. It can be mentally or physically. In fact, changing is a part of life, therefore it can occur very frequently But I also get can you are also saying that with all this changes its hard to keep up.
Here are some quotes from the book:
“The old cheese actually wasn’t that good when compared to the new cheese.”
“The old cheese didn’t mysteriously disappear, but had dwindled from continuous eating.”
“If you don’t change, You can become extinct.”
“Change Happens.” (they keep moving the cheese)
“Change” (move with the cheese)
Joshua Greenroyd
English 110
GWC
Post #8
Brandon, Brittany, Jon, Tom
On the subject of politics and religion. I was going to major in political science becuase it interests me. I see it as a way to persuade a majority of people to see things the way you want them to, without a huge number of people hating you. (This is if you do it right). Enough of that. Religion. I have been a Christian since I could remember. There was one moment in my life though when the "truth" really opened up my eyes. As Brandon was saying, everybody has to find their own way to this truth. For me, it was actually out of fear. I grew up in the church, and knew a lot about God, and heaven and hell and so forth. This is why I was so amazed when my eyes truly were opened. I went to see a play called "Heavens Gates and Hells Flames," and it scared me really badly. I alreay knew all the facts and everything that were in it. Just the way it was acted out and seeing it with my eyes frightened me. This is how I came to the truth. Each day that passes, I learn a little more and more with this subject. I have to say though, the hardest part of being a Christian is the persecutions. You live everyday with people who hate you just becuase you are a Christian. I see Christianity as a way of life, not a religion. It is a way you live your life to be able to reach heaven. Not a set of rules and lists and jobs for you to be religious about. Just thought I'd share that.
Archie Kaaua
Professor Hsiao
English 110
Golden West College
15 September 2009
Post 6
The Props Against the House By Emily Dickenson
In this poem it seems that she is looking at a house that is under construction. She makes a note of the supports that hold up the house before it can stand by itself. She notes that the house fails to remember the auger and the carpenter that built it. Just as in the past the house was of plank and nail it is now a finished home that stands and lives on its own.
Reading deeper into this poem and doing a little research on Emily Dickenson I find that she was alone most of her life. She lived after the civil war when the country was rebuilding itself. She was shy and would not come to the door to greet people so most of her correspondence was through the mail. In this poem I believe that she was looking at the house being built and the men who were building it. In those days there was no electricity. Augers were four men in undershirts pushing long handles with a bit attached to make the deep holes in the ground necessary to erect the supports of the house. She mentions the carpenter. I see a man in overalls and no shirt working in the sun. I see other men working sawing wood and carrying things during the building of this house. She used adjectives like erect, perfected and slowness. She uses verbs like assist, withdraw, support, (cease to recollect) and drop. She refers to the house having a soul. Only people have souls and only men with souls worked on houses in those days. I think she was watching them when she wrote this poem. I believe that she felt left out of love and was very lonely.
Jon Croft
English 110
Golden West College
Post #7
The Props assist the House
by Emily Dickinson
The poem may speak of a house being built, but I interpreted it as a metaphor for the growth of a human being.
The love, affection, and values of the child's parents in youth are the "Props".
As the child grows, those supports
are no longer necessary, and are removed. Over time, the direct influence of the parents on their child lessens, especially during adulthood.
The child, now moving out of that sphere of influence, slowly replaces the truths of the parents with those of his/her own.
When the person is completely autonomous, the last vestiges of construction are removed. The person is now able to move freely in the world.
Macey Lindsay-Clinton
English 110
Golden West College
Post # 3
I really enjoyed todays class period because it was amazing to hear people say the things that have happened in their lives. Some of it was simply astonishing to think that not only have they lived through the situation but they have overcame and learned from it. I did not mention much about mine because of the topic matter and I think that it was pretty obvious what type of story goes along with it. Anyways, that is enough rambling for now and here is my cave story....
Every person at some point in their lives will make decisions that are wrong, but what is fundamental is their ability to realize what is right and become enlightened. My personal enlightenment was recognizing the uselessness of drugs and the effect on people and the decisions they make. When I was a freshman in high school my friends and I became involved with marijuana and we soon let it take over our lives and thus we created our cave. Eventually we had forgotten what life was like with out it, like a person who is kidnapped becomes accustomed to their life and shuts out the thought of escaping, we did not remember the life that was left behind. A seemingly harmless, and what we thought to be non-addictive drug had taken over our lives and consumed every aspect of it, we were unaware that we were prisoners of our own decisions. After getting straight A’s throughout the entirety of middle school, the B’s and C’s came as a surprise, but the drug had put a spell on me and what was once so important, was now a minor problem. After increasing use and disregard of caring, my parents soon found out what they had been speculating was in fact the unequivocal truth. Under strict watch, I was unable to delve back into the drug-world and was forced to live the life that I had forgotten. Though my journey out of my cave was forced, my enlightenment was a complete personal choice.
hey guys =]
First before I write about my cave... (well I guess this is kinda about my cave)... I want to say that reading all of the posts cheered me up tonight. I was not in a very good mood and this cheered me up. I was chuckling at the visual of Brandon singing the national anthem in class =). haha, I will be right there with you. I have some family stuff going on and it is really intense. My uncle just had a stroke. He is ok, it just shook up our house as you can imagine. He is going to be having surgery in the next couple of days. Not sure really what it is all about so I am kinda scared. He is a diabetic so that puts different complications on the "simple opperation". Yet there is a chance that he may not make it. So with that said. thank you Brandon,for your singing... and both you and Tom for the discusion on religion.
Brittany- I can relate alot to your cave as well. My sister cut for a while and I was in your same situation. all I know is that for me... I was doing the best that I could at the time. I am human and so are you. Guilt sucks. I only speak for myself but if I hold on to the "oh I should have done this" or "I should have said this" I am only torturing myself. I know what it feels like to see someone hurting themselves like that. I want you to know that I really appreciated that you trusted our class enough to talk about something like that. You rock girl =]
My Cave
Like I said in class my cave is my own mind. I have so much self doubt that it is cripling. I am constantly beating my self up with
"tapes" that say that I am not good enough, I am ugly, I am worthless. Somewhere in my mind I know that these are not true. I would never in a million years say these things to someone else. So... I don't understand, why then do I say it to myself? I have been playing these tapes ever since I can remember. Its just something that comes with the disease the family disease of Alcoholism. I attend al-anon, and for those of you who don't know what that is it is a 12 step program for family and friends of alcoholics. I am learning how to work on myself and how to let go of those tapes now. I am definatly not perfect and I never will be. With a little help though I can see the light and its not so bad.
Brittany Williams
English 110
Golden West College
Post 9
"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians." - Brennan Manning
The above quote was made known to me just a few days ago. In leu of the conversation, I thought I would share it with all of you.
Joshua - I too have been raised Christian and can relate to your feelings of persecution. It's as if the term "Christian" automatically places you in a box where your decision outcomes are always assumed.
Hmmm... this classification subject matter is starting to become reminiscent of Homonyms.
Anyway, I hope you all have a great weekend!
brandon hebert
GoldenWest
Eng110
Post: 13
Joshua, on christianity,
We have to ask ourselves, what is christianity? It has so many definitions in modern society. People ask themselves: well i believe in god, but im not a muslim, and not a catholic, I must be christian! WRONG! the problem with christianity is it has become the melting pot for vagabonds of faith and those who dont quite know where they fit. Worse yet its modern approach has lent itself to those who do not accurately represent the faith. This is why i do not consider myself a christian. I believe in the teachings, but don't contsider myself a good ambassador to the faith, and do not live the word. Therefore i cannot conciously call myself a christian. This is an addenum to Dalene.
Dalene,
I agree, most christians do(pardon my french) a shitty job of showing us all what a christian should be. thats because the christian faith has become a melting pot. People who believe in god call themselves christian. I ask you, fellow classmates. Do muslims not believe in god? Did the greeks not believe in gods? why then do they call themselves christian? because being a christian is perceived as 'good' in our society, and that speaks volumes for the faith at large. I will let you all fill in the blanks.
Cianna,
hope the surgery goes well, my own uncle has inoperable circumstances. By the way, i expect you to stand when i sing.
Brittany,
does the GOOD word not say, in the end times christians will be persecuted? look at me, im being a doomsayer.=<
John croft. weigh in...now.
Dalene Kolb
English 110
Golden West College
Post #15
Bradon
I agree with there all the way. Christians, I believe prech something they do not even follow themselves. That is true, that every religion believes in some God, why is it though that the Christians are always spoken of as the great one? I ask myself that question everyday. For some it might be the respectable religion, but isn't every religion respectable to the people who believe it? Religion is way to complicated to deal with, being the fact that there are hundreds of them. I will never understand why Christian is precieved as the correct religion.
Any thought on that classmates?
~Dalene
Sorry I misspelled your name Brandon. The joys of writing at midnight.
*preach
Amber Decker
English 110
GWC
Post #2
(I tried posting this before, but I dont think it went through,so I hope its not showing up again!)
This morning when Mr Hsiao asked us to name our caves, I thought I knew exactly what I was going to say. But at the last second, I chickened out. Instead, I used some lame (but not altogether untruthful) story about religion. It is true that I dont identify with the religion I was brought up in. But I've never had a problem with forming or voicing my opinions. Im lucky in that sense.
But my real cave has to do with my uncle. Its something that Im not usually comfortable talking about, for several reason, especially to a class full of strangers, so I switched my story at the last second. But after listening to everyone else's stories, I felt a little pathetic. However, its a lot easier to type it...
Up until the age of fourteen my uncle and I were really close. I definitely considered him to be my other dad. He took my brother and me everywhere with him, and for fourteen years I saw him virtually every weekend. Then he (quite unexpectedly) got married.
Its not that I didnt like his new wife, its just that she was so different than everything I thought the Decker's stood for. At first I did my best to ignore any differences in my uncle, but eventually he stopped coming over. He never called, never made any effort at all to come hang out with his niece and nephew. This was my first (and only, so far) taste of abandonment. I have never lacked self confidence before this, so for the first time I was left alone wondering 'what was wrong with me?' or ' It must be my fault.' It was so hard to work past that stage, and Im not sure I have totally finished. At the moment, Im still angry with him, because now that I can realize it wasnt my fault, it has to be his fault. A lot of other things have happened with him since he left my family, of which I dont want to go into details. But I had never understood the term 'emotional roller coaster' before this.
Thats why I still consider him to be my 'cave'. As angry and hurt as he has made me over the past five years, his still my family and he was a huge part of my past. I still miss him terribly and every time he calls ( which is only about twice a year) I find my self desperate to hear him apologize and ask if he could take me out to lunch. But he never does. Im still chained to him, because I will always want things the way they used to be, but Im positive there is way to much hurt for my to forgive forget.
Luckily, this whole ordeal has only made me a better person. Now knowing how it feels to be left in the dust, I am one hundred times more loyal to those I love. Miraculously, I managed to escape from this with zero trust issues. I have no problem getting close to someone, maybe because I figure no one could hurt me the way he did. Ive grown up a lot since then. I understand things better now, and Im able to go days without thinking about my uncle, but whenever I do, my emotions go haywire. I would like to be able to leave everything about him behind, but I know that isnt possible because he's still family and there are reminders of him everywhere.
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # oohhh
Diana,
I haven't read that book. I will have to look it up.
Thanks
Priscilla Daza
cc
english 100
post #9
MAN! remember when i wrote about that guy from work and what not?? WELL he freaken came into work last night to have dinner with a girl! i saw them from the far so idk if shes cute but they we're sitting way close. after that i totally ignored to look at that section of the restaurant. i immediately texted my mom about it. /: i was working on this for nothing:
You do not need to see him to know that he is somewhere close.
When he passes he leaves his -deep breath in- aroma behind.
The delicacy in his movements are a mystery along with his hand as he touches you
You see his hand reach for yours.
See it as you see a star but you cant feel it.
His thought behind it all is incredibly intense...its felt.
And as gravity pulls he leads your hand in with his.
My dark green eyes locked with his dense brown.
There is this brightness in him that charges in his entire body and twinkles through his petite shaped dark brown eyes.
On the corner of his lips when it he smiles to one side of his face it quickly sparkles sporadically and like a shooting star it is easily missed.
Then lightly throughout the rest of his muscle on bone chizzled body it shines.
His speech dazes. Obviously foreign but intriguing.
His voice can sound any emotion that needs vocal expression.
His thin perfectly shaped lips are kissable in...any...way.
Waiting for his attentions is suspenseful but explosively exciting. the instant he notices me. He Smiles. And through his oblivious lips says "Hello".
it was a work in progress...bummer
Jon Croft
English 110
Golden West College
Post #8
Brandon: There is no H in my name. There will never be an H in my name, no matter how many times you say it. Resistance is futile, you will accept the H-lessness.
The entire concept of religion is irrelevant to me. My old philosophy teacher once said, "If religion gets you through the day, go for it." Considering religion has nothing to do with my day, there you go.
Brandon, when you mentioned the "vagabonds of faith", maybe they came to Christianity because Christians are more accepting than the others? Regardless, why does their choice mean so much to the "proper Christians", or to any of you for that matter?
Those people who chose religion, regardless of motive, at least accept the idea of God. If they believe in God, they should go out there and believe their collective asses off. If it really makes them feel better, awesome. I would say it is a preferable alternative to constantly tripping on LSD to keep the spirits up.
I just realized that last line was a pun. Hah.
Brandon Hebert
Goldenwest
Eng110
Post:14
Dalene,
its cool, ill be bradon for today.
I believe what jon was saying is partly true. Christian churches tend to exhibit forgiveness, that is, when their followers mess up, they always have open arms. Perhaps that is why most people find it appealing? In Jehovas witness and Mormon, you can become 'disfellowshipped'. that is not to say disfellowshipped from god, but that if you want to seek him you must do it on your own. There are a lot of christians who dont follow the word at all, but believe in god. So heres my point: what makes them a christian? Believing in god does not make you a christian. Just means you believe in god.
Jon,
This is merely my opinion, but here is why their choices matter to me. I will paraphrase. If im going sailing, and need a crew of 7, i want that crew to also want to be sailing. Otherwise i will have 1 or more persons not pulling their weight and it will hinder my own progress. If they dont want to be on the boat with me then why did they get on board? Like mr.hsiao's class. If one doesnt take it seriously, why does one show up?
Adrian Moreira
English 100
Cerritos College
Post# 9
I would like to join in on the religion talk.
But first, I would like to tell Priscilla, if you like this guy, who cares if he showed up with some girl to have dinner? If they are not married, all is fair. Why don't you ask him out? You know, something like, "hey want to get a drink/coffee/ice cream after work?" If he says yes, you are golden. If not, well at least you tried.
Back to religion. Actually you guys are not talking about religion in general, you are talking particularly about Christianity. It seems like some of you have had a bad experience with Christians and that bad experience has skewed your view on Christians as a whole. I do not think that saying you believe in God makes you Christian. Believing that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and he died for your sins and he rose from the dead and accepting him as your personal saviour does. Hence the word CHRIST in Christian. Christian meaning "being like Christ". Some of us who have grown up in a Christian or Catholic home know that Jesus was perfect. And also know that no one else will be perfect like Jesus was. That is why there are so many Christians and Catholics (I am including Catholics because they believe in same God and Jesus) who fall short. We are all human and we all mess up. Every one gets screwed over in their life. No one has a perfect life without problems. That is just the type of world we live in.
I grew up in a family that went to a Christian church. That did not automatically make me Christian. I had to accept Christ as my personal saviour for that. And when I was younger I did. My life did not change right away. Being Christian for me, is not about a religion, but a relationship with God. There is a certain stigma associated with being Christian and doing something "non-Christian-like". Some see a Christian fail or do something wrong and say, "he/she did that and they call themselves Christian? All Christians are fake." It is hard to live up to the JC's example. But we try. And though we do not always make it, we have to have the courage to get up when we fall and try again and keep moving forward.
I want to make it clear that I am in no way perfect. Nor am I in anyway trying to preach or convert anyone. I am just a normal guy. I am not your typical Christian. I do not go to church as often as I would like to. I have tattoos. I am divorced. Have I led a perfect life? HELL no. Do I think I can be better? HEAVENS yes. We can all strive to be better people every day regardless of what god we believe in.
I was in a Spanish "Christian" rock band. I have been to every single type of Christian church, met every single type Christian. We played at a lot of churches, youth rallies, concerts put on by Christian promoters, Catholic promoters, non-Christian promoters. We played a lot of places. Why am I saying this? Because I have been around people who you would not think to be Christian or non-Christians who treat you better than those who called themselves Christian. People who say they are doing it for the ''cause'' but are doing it for the money. The main thing for me was not letting myself getting caught up in the religious politics that arose. People are scandelous everywhere.
I think the main thing about any religion is not following a religious leader or church goer. That is not who you are believing in is it? Whether you believe in Mohammad, Jesus, Zeus, or whatever you should follow their example. If you follow a human hoping for perfection, you will be disappointed.
All this can go back to what Agamden is talking about in Homonyms. Stereotypes. Classification. Concepts determining classes determining extensions. We all just need to be more open minded and not place all Christians, Muslims, Mormons, Catholics, Jehova's Witnesses, Greeks (I love how Greeks were used. "they believed in many gods." I do not think there are many Greeks who still worship Zeus or were called Christian) in one category.
Cheers
Brittany Williams
English 110
Golden West College
Post #10
Adrian – My sentiments exactly! Thank you for putting words to my thoughts.
Brandon – “People ask themselves: well I believe in God, but I’m not a Muslim, and not a Catholic, I must be Christian!” I found this line to be very fascinating. In thinking about it, I began relating it to Homonyms (actually, I think this whole thread could be related back to that story). It is as if we are actually classifying ourselves in putting a name to our beliefs. Specifically, in regards to this classification, I am reminded of the following quote from Homonyms: “The name, insofar as it names a thing, is nothing but the thing insofar as it is named by the name.” In this regard, it is almost as if we have gotten it backwards, for it seems as though we have named ourselves as Christians without the term “Christian” being attributed to us (us being the “thing” in the above quote, and “Christian” being the name). Maybe that is why we, as Christians, have been severely flawed in our lifestyle choices, for it is our actions that should classify us as “Christian.” In classifying ourselves, we have only been set up for inadequacy.
Whew, does this make sense? In my head it makes perfect sense. Putting it to words, however, was a bit of an undertaking.
On another note… I am so happy it is Friday!!!
Brandon hebert
Goldenwest
Eng110
Post:14
Adrian:
I agree with you, but i was going a step beyond believers who fail or slip up. Im talking about people who believe in god and thats it. People who dont even try to follow a teaching but consider themselves followers of a teaching(i.e. Muslim, christian, judism etc.) But the group with the largest number of pretenders seems to be Christians. And that makes me sad because i doo try to follow NKJB(New King James Bible-christian). And i have to explain to skeptics that everyone who comes along and says: "im christian" isnt always christian. I agree with your post.
Brittany:
I like the homonyms tie-in. extremely relevant. I agree, it is our actions that make us what we are. Which is sort of the point of being 'christ-like'. Let one's life be the example of god's work. Too True.
Adrian Moreira
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #10
Only Prof. Hsiao's class could cause this type of open-minded, intelligent, non-judgmental conversation.
I am proud to be one of your students Prof. Hsiao.
Golden West College, keep up the good work. I am impressed.
Priscilla Daza
cc
eng 100
post #10
YES! i have DALENE from GWC on my side for the fair! thanks girl :D
okay can i just say how LAME i feel...i freaken posted a gay story about this coworker right in between an awesome religion discussion...what a nut i am...man! i should have read and timed my post or something...but i do appreciate ADRIEN for replying and writing advice for me :D thanks a lot bro!
people from GWC and Adrien awesome AWESOME discussion you guys had going. im envious that i dont know much about my religion to get in the mix but i was utterly intrigued by your guys (dalene, jon, brandon and adrien)...i feel that cc needs to start up a discussion on something so we can represent as well ahaha! no more boys stuff for me...i'll be more intellectual.
and can i just say ONE more thing...i'll no longer discuss my events at the bars i go to because mister hsiao called me out the other day and said something along the lines of "it changed my whole perspective of you" man! i feel way bad!! i wonder what he thought of me before...now he probably thinks im a bar bum! jk no but on the real i do enjoy a nice glass of sailor jerry's and coke zero or an electric lemonade is pretty awesome as well :D im just saying ha!
dang! adrian sorry bro i'll been spelling your name wrong. i got it now though ;D
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # 09/11/01
How I remember 9-11
I was working at LAX 8 years ago when the Towers fell. Like people the airport was mess when all this stuff happened. On this day 8 years I was sleep in my bed because I did a 4pm-12:30am shift. Being lazy in my bed is where you would me. Whiling dreaming of puppies dogs and candy (haha I do not really remember what I was dreaming of) I was awakened by my cell phone. Thinking to myself “why are people calling me when I am asleep, they are so RUDE!!” I answered the phone with an attitude and thought to myself how to hurt them later.
All I heard on the line, “You’re not going to work today!!”
I replied “I know Stupid I have the day off!!”
He said “No dumbass look at the TV.”
A simple “why” came out of my mouth.
He yelled “someone hit the towers!!””
Still half asleep “what you talking about, I am asleep I don’t need your crazy rambling right now!”
In the firmest voice I ever heard he said “there was a terrorist attack, someone hijack planes.”
That is when I finally woke and asked what channel, but all I had to do is pick any channel. When I saw the second plane hit I thought it was not real. I thought this is a stunt, movie show, whatever but not real. When the second tower fell first I knew it was real, this did really happened. I stood there speechless, not able to move. The only things that were moving were the tears that fell down my face. That was the quietest I have ever been my whole life.
The whole day I got phone calls from my employers tell me to go to work, then calling to not. I had to stop watching TV I was not able to see the horror of that day.
2 days later when they opened LAX I was able to work. At work we had to deal with the mess of people missing their flights. People understood that a tragic event that just happened, and they understood we will do the best we can to help them.
In every crowd there always is someone stupid, I remember a guy yelling at me that he demanded to know why he will not fly tonight. I was very annoyed with the question that I told him, “I am sorry that you do not know what is going on, please move to stupid line.” Obviously I was rude, but I was not going to argue when I can help people.
After the whole 9-11 seems to calm down my job selected a few people to go to New York, I was one of the lucky ones. I went that December and the first thing my group and I did was go to was Ground Zero. The memory from that day came flashing back. My group and I cried for about ten minutes and gave a little prayer for everyone who lost someone.
This is a sad day.
Esmeralda orozco
CC
Post# 22
9-11
RIP
ALL THOSE WHO DIED ON SEP 11. THERE ARE NO WORDS THAT I CAN THINK OF TO MAKE THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THOSE WHO DIED FELL BETTER. LIKE CRAZYMOMMY I CAN STILL REMEMBER WHAT I WAS DOING AT THE TIME, ALTHOUGH I WAS 12 OR 13. I WAS IN SKOO WHEN THE SECOND TOWER WAS HIT. I REMEMBER MY TEACHER TURNING ON THE TV, WATCHING THE NEWS WITH CLOSE ATTENTION AS IF THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE IN THE CLASS, SHE DID NOT BLINK. I WAS VERY YOUNG TO UNDERSTAND THE GREAT IMPACT THESE TWO TOWERS HAD ON THE WORLD. LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE SCREAM FOR THERE FAMILIES TEARED MY HEART INTO TWO. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOMEONE WOULD BE SO GRUEL AND HURT PEOPLE WHO THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW. AS WE WATCHED THE NEWS IN CLASS WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO PLAY OUTSIDE. IT'S SO TRAGIC TO HEAR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DIED THAT DAY. THE ONLY COMFORT IS THAT THEY ARE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE, ALTHOUGH THEY WILL BE FOREVER MISSED. IM VERY BAD WITH MEMORY BUT IM SURPRISED THAT I CAN STILL REMEMBER THAT DAY. AS I WRITE THIS I FEEL LIKE CRYING JUST TO REMEMBER THE FACE OF THE PEOPLE COMING OUT OF THE DARK BLACK CLOUD OF FOG. THERE FACE HAD NO EXPRESSION THEY SEEMED TO BE CONFUSED AND NUMB. I PRAY TO GOD NOTHING LIKE THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I HOPE EVERYONE TAKES A MOMENT OF THERE TIME AND JUST PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US AT THE TIME.
R.I.P
To English 103 students:
I wasn't there on Thursday and was just wondering what I missed in terms of assignments??? Thanks!
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # UUUUMM...
Loud noise,
I just heard this crazy loud boom sound. Why when I ask my mom what it is she says it my dad with the door. Well what it really was a shuttle coming back from space, well that what my cousin said. I will check when I get back.
Brandon Hebert
GoldenWest
Eng110
Post:16
Alright maybe im just sick in the head. But i looked up videos of people jumping from the world trade center. I kept looking around until i found unedited ones. Man, it made me so angry I almost just punched the computer screen. I have to admit I almost broke out in tears. I will always remember. Jumping from that high up. I'll never forget that. RIP 9/11.
andy, no one went to class on Thursday!! lol
anyway for monday:
read 'At his Disposal' by Mother Theresa and 'How to Tame a Wild Tongue' by Gloria Anzaldua and blog on one
write your third body paragraph about the future
if you're going to the Grammy museum next Friday bring the $15
i think that's it!
Monique Gutierrez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #21
We Can't Always Get What We Want
It's true we can't always get what we want. But why is it when we do get it, we don't want it anymore? Do we as humans love the chase? That's been bothering me lately. Why is it that when you like someone who doesn't like you back, becomes interested once you're over them? Is this a test? Or do they just want you to keep pining over them forever? Most people take your feelings for them for granted. Those are the people you have to stay away from, because they are not worthy of your love.
Monique Gutierrez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #22
Boom!
I heard it too Jenny! At first, I thought it was the usual gunshots in my neighborhood, but it was much stronger. Aye!
Greg Burns
English 110
Golden West College
post#5
September 11th 2001 was the day our generation will never forget. But I think that we already have. The day after the attacks I could feel that the country was united. This country now is divided into two factions one is you support the war and other we should pull out of war. Before you start to say we should get out of the Middle East remember to give thanks to all of the United States service men and women past, present and future because there are the reason will are free.
God bless America
Edilu Medina
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #5
9-11
I been sick since wednesday night so I lost track of what days was what till today my manager has been in a pissy mood something happened with another co worker. But today he was serious then he bought us breakfast burritos from Carls (which are awesome) then he kept trying to get all the co workers together for a meeting. After many tries he got everyone together and told us to have a minute of silence due to 9-11. He said he was supposed to be there, he used to work in brokerage and had to do some training that month but due to personal reasons he didn't end up going.Every year he remembers this day as so everyone. Then one of my co workers got really really serious and I asked him what was wrong? and he looked down and told me he had lost someone in 9-11. My eyes got watery my condolences were given. RIP all 9-11 heroes. You will always be remembered.
Kayla Marley
Enlgish 110
GWC
Post 5
I can't believe its already been 8 years. I remember it like yesterday. Crazy. Thank you to all service men. Keep up the great word.
Commemorating the memories of those we lost, I am posting one of my favorites, a commentary about 9-11, published a year after the tragedy:
YES AMERICA HAS CHANGED by Andrew Sullivan
(One year later)
9/11 issue Time Magazine
September 1 2002
We will forget. Researchers have long known that the memory of epochal events fades with time. Experts have a name for this phenomenon: flashbulb memory. As time passes, the chronology gets jumbled; we fumble on the details; we reimagine the past to make it more coherent, meaningful, bearable. A new study at the University of Illinois at Chicago of a large, countrywide sample of people is discovering that we have already forgotten some things about Sept. 11. Which tower fell first? Was the Pentagon hit after both World Trade Center towers? We forget. We conflate. We confuse.
But we know, of course, that this kind of memory is not the most important one. Some events solder themselves within our consciousness so intensely that they change forever the way we see the world. The details barely matter. The change itself matters. Your child is killed in a car accident; your mother is diagnosed with breast cancer; your wife is raped. These kinds of events stop your life for a moment; your soul freezes while the rest of the world swivels around you to a new position. Part of you insists, This hasn't happened. Part of you demands, Move on. Most of you knows that neither is an option.
And most of us know that there is no moving on from Sept. 11. It wasn't a random tragedy for which grief is a slow-acting salve. . . It was a statement—that radical Islam intends to attack and destroy the very principles of the Enlightenment that underpin the American experiment—freedom of religion, of conscience, toleration and secularism. The appropriate response to this attack is therefore not grief or remembrance or sadness or reflection, although each of these has its place. The appropriate response is rage. . .
But through all this, we know what that day showed us. It showed us that we stand deeply vulnerable to a destructive force in some ways more dangerous than even the last two totalitarian powers Americans were called on to defeat. This enemy refuses to fight with honor; it hides and disappears and re-emerges whenever its purposes are served; it may soon have access to weapons that Hitler and Stalin only dreamed of. But it cannot be defeated the way Nazi Germany and Communist Russia were defeated because it is more like a virus than a host, infecting and capturing nation-states. . . For Sept. 11 showed that, for the first time in history, the American homeland is actually vulnerable to a deadly foreign enemy. Only those in deep denial can forget that. . .
A whole generation will grow up with this as its most formative experience—a whole younger generation that knows that there actually is a right and a wrong, and that neutrality is no longer an option. That generational power has only just begun to transform the culture. In decades' time, we will look back and see what a difference it made.
***
It is in the memory that we cherish those that died tragically on 9/11 live on.
We must be appreciative of those who gave so much of their personal freedom (their lives) ... Those who have proudly served and protected our nation are with us today (in memory). ... Please give thanks for the liberty, justice, freedoms, and independence we so gladly enjoy every day.
***
Keep up the honest discussion and conversation. . . going
I have enjoyed reading the back-and-forth/(dis)agreement with regards to spirituality and religion/practice etc.
Also, there are many of us who have lost servicemen and women in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now have them serving presently. Let us think of them today and cherish our families.
Yue Hayes
English 110
Golden West College
Post #4
9/11
I remember 9/11.
I was in 6th grade. I had just finished my first year of school in this country (5th grade) and elementary school. Still not really grasping the language to the fullest, I didn't fully understand what was going on. All I remember is my dad telling me "Some plane just crashed into the building."
Did these things happen on a regular basis here? I remember watching TV shows in Japan that showed crazy, scary things happening in the United States, so I had already been scared of living here.
8 years after, after spending 8 of these 9/11's, I finally grasp the tragedy that took place that day. I am finally able to understand the horror and the cruelty. It makes me angry... It makes me frustrated... And it makes me want to cry.
I think that event opened our eyes. It's like your first accident. You finally realize that bad things can happen to you, too. You realize that you're not invincible. I hate it that we always realize these things too late.
But I'm very glad that we learned to appreciate the men who sacrifice their lives for us. I'm glad that we are all able to come together and sympathize with each other. I'm glad that it brought out the good in us, brought the patriotism back to us.
My thoughts go out to those who lost a friend, a family member, a neighbor... Those who were affected by this tragic event.
Whitney Young
Golden West College
English 110
Post #4
Poet’s Work by Lorine Niedecker
This poem is about her wanting to become a poet, but her grandfather will not let her. She decides to ignore her grandfather and continue on with poetry anyway. It was probably the best decision she could make. Poetry is something that she really enjoys. It may not be the best life because she might not be making the best money, but it is her life and she can never get laid off. I think it is so important to follow your heart when it comes to a career path. If you are stuck doing a job you hate, you will not be happy which may lead to a bad performance that can get you fired. If you choose to do something you are passionate about, you could never be let go. Your career should be something you are passionate about and excited to do everyday. Life would be such a drag if you dreaded going to work. Lorine Niedecker’s passion was poetry. The amount of money a person makes will not matter as long as they are enjoying their job. I would rather be paid less doing something I love rather than being paid more that I would dread going to everyday.
Samantha Navarro
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #16?
How To Tame A Wild Tongue
From the time I was 2 until 9 years old, I was raised in Jalisco, Mexico. I had the equivalent of straight As in school. My parents, my brother and I came to the US in '92. Had I stayed in Mexico I would be entering the 4th grade, but because I did not know any English I had to repeat the 3rd grade here. I was put in the remedial classes with a Spanish speaking tutor, but when the school took notice that I was capable, they placed me in the advanced English only classroom a month after I started school in the US. I learned English in one year, and became class President by the 4th grade. By my 6th grade graduation I received the best bilingual award, along with a certificate signed by Bill Clinton, and gave a speech for being Salutatorian in my elementary.
I had a great experience, thanks to my great teachers, the first four years that I was here. Being recognized as the best bilingual speaker in school meant that our language is slowly being widely accepted. I did not experience the harassment that Anzaldua experienced for speaking her language (except holding me back one year in school) perhaps because by the 90s things had began to change, and possibly also because all my life I have lived in a predominately Mexican community (South Gate and Lynwood). All my neighbors and friends (except teachers) have been Mexican, so there was no one to make fun of me and my Spanish, because we were all in the same shoes.
Something that I have experienced that Anzaldua describes in her essay is the ridicule from my relatives living in Jalisco because of the way I speak. I have gone to visit by myself about every three years since I was 12 yrs old, but everytime I have gone, even up to recently, my “American accent” is present when I speak Spanish, they always made me feel not Mexican enough, not completely accepted in the Mexican culture. Yet when I speak English, people say they hear my Mexican accent, I guess not fully accepted in the American culture either. “Ni de aqui ni de alla” (If you’re Mexican you might recognize this from La India Maria). My family would say, “Not from here nor there.” There are many of us that feel like we’re the product of two different cultures, yet not belong to either. Anzaldua is bringing to light what has been in darkness for too long, the chicano (or should I say chicana) voice.
Brittany Williams
English 110
Golden West College
Post #11 (?)
The maddening sound of my alarm clock awoke me from my pleasant slumber at precisely 8:00am this morning. It was another day of traffic, work, and stress. As I rolled out of bed to turn off the deafening sound projecting from my phone (most annoying noise ever!), I glanced at the date. The iridescent symbols illuminating the screen told me that it was September 11, 2009. Soon after, memories flooded my head of that fateful morning in 2001. From that point on, reminders of that ill-fated day permeated my mind. Simply writing the date on paperwork inspired thoughts of saddening recollections. It was not until I got home, however, that the full scope of September 11 was prompted back into memory.
After combating traffic on my usual drive home from Torrance, I finally arrived at my destination. Plans were set to go out to dinner, but before heading out, I wanted to unwind from the long day. In doing so, I turned on the TV, which was previously set to Fox News. As soon as my finger hit the power button, stories from that dreadful day in September filled the room. The plane passengers, the jumpers, the Pentagon, the firefighters, the president, the husbands, the wives, the families – each one had a story to tell, or a story that was told of them. In all of this, however, perhaps the most powerful theme to be noted was that of compassion. Stories of people who had risked their lives for the innocent victims of such cruelty resonated in my living room as the TV screen continued to play out the terror of that day. It is in stories like these that I find great hope, for “despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.” – Anne Frank
Samantha Sullivan
English 110
GWC
Post#3
To our fallen GGHS ARGO
I am sad to say that GGHS has lost one of it's Argonauts tonight. At the young age of 18, Kevin Telles, faought his last battle on the grid iron in the effort of leading his brothers to victory. It was the first football game of his senior year and he faught till the end with ARGO PRIDE!! He will be missed by many and remembered forever. Although I did not know this young man since he was a sophmore to my senior year I feel for those who did have a bond with him. I witnessed many soggy eyes and flickering candles on the home gronds that I, and all who came to pay their respects, share in common. Death is a sad and hard event to deal with and for those who will morn his death for days on I only with you closure and for you to see the light in his life that will always live on.
R.I.P
fellow ARGO
.:Kevin Telles:.
Jon Croft
English 110
Golden West College
Post #9
As per the instandings of our illoquial leader, I prevent to you
My Cave:
Like all caves, my own personal hole is from a lack of knowledge. My own inability to understand the mechanisms and politics that went at the high school and college levels proved to be my downfall.
During my senior year at high school, I did everything possible to fail. I always assumed I had some sort of "safety net" hanging behind me, so I was not overly concerned with the situation. Making a long story short, I did in fact use the safety net, and squeaked through into college.
My lack of desire carried into my first semester at college, resulting in an almost identical situation. Skipping classes, failing to study, not completing assignments, the works. The only difference was, nobody would stop the idiocy unless I did. I did not, and so left a rather large sign post on my transcript saying "HE REALLY DID NOT CARE" in large red letters.
Looking back to my early high school years, one English teacher of mine looked at me and said, "Jon, if you mess around in your senior year, it will carry over into college. You will regret it."
Hindsight has perfect vision, does it not?
Stephanie Farano
English 110
GWC
Post# 7 (I skipped 6 realizing I had two 5's)
Poem Reflection
The Props assist the House by Emily Dickinson, reflect a persons ability to grow and learn. I imagine the house as an individual, who starts off in the building process of learning. The finished product of the house represents adulthood and the building's ability to stand on it's on. The architect or builder of the house resembles the parents, who shape and design the home as they would like it. The morals and personality of the person are a direct reflection of it's creator. As a parent you are consistently supporting the growth and well being of your children, while adjusting to their various stages of growth. When a baby is born you nurture their every need and attempt to teach them wrong from right, this is the basic structure of the house being built. When a teen enters high school a parent still need to support the child, but they no longer have to help the walls stand. When a houses structure is complete and the root walls are all up, the stage can be compared to early adulthood. At this point, the parent now needs to hope that the structure they have built is strong enough to stand alone. I very much liked this poem and the more I thought about the words, them more I was able to create more comparisons!! :)
Veronica Vasquez
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #11
At His Disposal -Mother Theresa
So many of us have struggled with religion/faith at one point in our lives; whether it be lack of or questioning certain ideas we hold. This excerpt is filled with so much passion that I can only imagine how strong the entire "Come Be My Light" read is.
Mother Theresa sacrificed her entire life serving God, her God. What took most out of her will was sacrificing her Sisters and Brothers just to enlighten the Poor and needy to be one step closer to Him. You would think that someone with so much dedication would be filled with content by their work, but that was not the case with Mother Theresa.
Seeing her people at their lowest forms; poor, near death, crumbled down by the sins of mankind, it is unquestionable that she would begin to lose the feeling of "His presence". What I believe hurt her the most is when some of the Sisters of the congregation left to live their own lives. It is a natural feeling to be discouraged when the world seems upside-down, but it is not the best course of action.
With all this, Mother Theresa felt disconnected from God, but continued to spread His word to the people in hopes that they would find the love for Him that she yearned so much for. As Mother Theresa stated, at His disposal, "to love Him not for what He gives but for what He takes" is true faith.
Angel Togafau
Golden West
Post #5
Yesturday, September.11th, was my older sister's birthday. We had such a great day with family!
However, today was the complete opposite. I found my cat dead on the street today. My house is right by the street and this is the second cat I have lost from being hit by a car. Today was so hard, R.I.P. Tiger. We deeply miss you :(
Angel Togafau
Golden West
Post #6
On a lighter note,
MY 19th BIRTHDAY is our next class.. TUES SEPT.15!
Monique Gutierrez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #23
Andrew
Yesterday was my ex-boss' funeral. I didn't get to go because I was taking care of my grandmother. But I would have liked to pay my respects. The last time I saw him I gave him a hug and told him everything was going to be alright. If I would have known that was the last time I was going to see him I would have said much more. I was very heartbroken when I heard that he died of cancer. He was a very nice man and he will be missed.
Yi-Hui Chiang
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #8
Only Daughter by Sandra Cisneros
I like the story because it is simple but with depth of feelings.
Being the only daughter of a Mexican family, of a Mexican father and a Mexican American mother, and of a working-class family of nine; all of these have shaped who Sandra Cisneros is today. In the beginning of the third paragraph, she says, "I was/am the only daughter and only a daughter." This line stood out when I was reading it. I cannot understand how it feels to be "the only daughter" in a family of six sons, but I can somewhat relate being "only a daughter" to my childhood.
I have a younger brother. My dad and my brother always have something to do together; they can watch sports, go shopping, and go exercise together. I felt ignored every time when they were talking about something that I do not know. It was not as easy for me to start a topic with my dad. Inside of me I was probably mad at my dad because I did not feel as much love as he gave to my brother. When i did something good in school, he never give any compliment because he thought that is what I am supposed to do. When I wanted to go somewhere, He would think it is too dangerous just because I am a girl. It discouraged and irritated me that there is always a difference between my brother and me. I never tried to compare or compete with my brother; I just believed that I can be someone and do something that only I can do. I wish my dad can understand and be proud of me as who I am.
"Everything I have ever written has been for him." From the words, I can see how much Sandra Cisneros loves her father even though she has not received his approval yet. She chose the way, writing, to win her father's approval. She wants to be the only daughter instead of only a daughter. She wants to be one and only and recognized by her father. At the end, after all the hard works she has done, her father finally looks at her as who she really is. When he punched the mute button, when he read her story by each line, and when he said, "Where can we get more copies of this for the relatives?", every action of her father meant a lot to her. She knew that she already won his approval, and she knew that she has accomplished something greater than just her writing.
Back to the story of mine, I have always felt that there is a distance between my dad and me. however, I never let him know how I felt and what i thought about our relationship. I thought I haven't got his approval until this year. One day my brother and I had a fight over something, and both of us talked as if we hated each other. Later on my dad stepped in, he talked to my brother and told him that he should listen to me. I heard him telling my brother that I am older than him, and I have gone through many things that he has not experienced. By him saying that, I knew he has recognized the real me. I am no long the little girl he thought anymore. I guess being treated unfair by my dad has made me more independent and stronger. Eventually he noticed my existence and recognized me. It meant a lot to me. Nothing is greater than finally getting his approval! :)
Erica Lloyd
GWC
Post #5
My Cave
As I said in class, my biggest cave is my mom. We have always had a rocky relationship. I think many of our problems stem from the fact that I am her only child, her golden daughter, and I have not lived up to her expectations. She is 44 and she is still trying for another child, and part of me suspects it is because she wants to have a second try to get it right this time. My mother and I are very similar in looks and mannerisms, but we disagree on just about everything possible. I have always felt stiffled by my mom. She has always made her opinions completely clear, and her opinions are the right ones. Any other opinions are not tollerated with her.
The biggest issue is religion. My mother is LDS, and I was raised in the faith. I have never enjoyed the church or the people in it, although I was careful to keep that from my mom. I had to attend until I was 18 when I was finally able to quit going. My mom thinks that this is just a phase, that I am rebeling against her. She doesn't want to talk about it with me or hear my side. I will come back to the fold in time. God is testing her. It is SO frustrating. She told me that I think I'm rebeling against her, but really I'm rebeling against God. I would love to tell her that, after spending my high school years searching, I don't believe in God. Not her God, at least. But I know that will not accomplish anything except to hurt her and make the rift between us even bigger.
That is a common theme with my mom, everything I do or say that goes against what she believes is me going through a phase. Apparently I've been going through a phase for ten years now. She thinks I'm purposely trying to hurt her. What she doesn't realize is I hold back so much just to try and save our relationship. She tells me that I can tell her anything and she feels like she's left out of my life because I don't share with her, but then tells me that she doesn't support or want to know about some of my lifestyle choices. I tried to explain that she can't have it both ways. She can't pick and choose how much to be invovled in my life and then in the same breath tell me what's best for me. How can she even know what is right for me when she doesn't know the other half of the story?
I think the hardest thing for me to deal with is that she is so very judgemental. Even when I was little, she would point out people on the street that didn't fit with her idea of normal. Her favorite expression is "Ew!! Ew!!" while discretely pointing and looking to me for afirmation. This honestly disgusts me. I don't understand how someone could treat another person like that. She doesn't know anything about them. She doesn't know what kind of a day they've had or what their life is like. Yeah, maybe she's right, but it's more likely that she is wrong.
I have developed my own opinions and I try very hard not to be judgemental, all thanks to my mother's bad example. I never want to look in the mirror and realize that I've become like her. Appearances are decieving. I am now friends with people who my mom would normally point out and talk about how "weird" they are. She tells me she's not comfortable around them because they give her a bad "vibe". My friends are all good people. They don't drink, do drugs or break the law (not that people who drink or do drugs are necessarily bad) and yet my mom still doesn't like them or trust them because they make different life choices than she does. I honestly hope that one day my mom will truly love me for who I am and accept the choices I've made, but I really don't see that happening.
Sorry that this is so long, if you can't tell, we really have some issues. It felt good to vent.
Betsy McPherson
English 110
Golden West College
Post #4
My Cave
I think my cave is the family environment that I was raised in. I was raised by an alcoholic father and was forced to grow up too soon and take care of him when I was little because he would not take care of himself. I tend to be a people pleaser and as an adult taking care of people just seems to be what I always end up doing. I take care of them and then I complain about having to do it. Recently I started going to Al-Anon meetings to deal with my family life since it seems like everyone is addicted to something (my parents are alcohalics and my brothers are drug addicts) and at my first meeting I felt like the woman talking was describing me and my story and it was amazing and for the first time things about me started to make sense. So my cave is my life prior to Al-Anon and my sun and my light is the wisdom and the knowledge I am learning about myself now that I have a program to go to. And now I realize that I don't have to go around trying to help everyone and fix everything and it is a really good feeling :-)
Betsy McPherson
English 110
Golden West College
Post #5
Poem - Pigheaded Poet
I feel like this poem relates to my life because it seems like no matter what I do my family is never happy with it. If I do good my step mom wonders why I am doing so good while her sons are total losers. If I do bad it almost seems like they are happy because I think under it all no one in my family really wants or expects me to succeed. I am constantly on uneven grounds and because of my families addiction it can feel like quicksand when the drama starts to take me under with me. I often feel like everything I do separates me from my family and the better I do the more they put on me and the more they expect me to do because I feel like I am often the savior of my family.
I don't know if this is exactly what the writer meant but that is how I interpreted the poem to be. I can relate and understand the idea of every action pushing and separating one from the people they love. Actually when I read this poem to my father, he thought I had written it myself haha. I really like this piece as I interpret it.
Kayla Marley
English 110
Golden West
Post 6
My cave.
Caves are known as being a dark de-escalating tunnel with only one way out and hard to find ones way around. My cave is my weight. My cave has been a struggle ever since I can remember. I have had people who I do not even know make rude comments to me and put me down without even taking the time to get to know me before they judge me. My weight has really pushed me away from my family. I know that they just want to see me happy, but the way my mom talks to me about my weight has really pushed me away from her. I know my mom is trying to help me with my weight but I feel like every conversation we have my weight comes up, so I just stopped trying to have a ‘normal’ conversation with her. I have become very sensitive about my weight and this has caused me to be shy and stand back in the crowd. I never approach anyone because I am afraid of what they are going to say about me, or I am afraid they will judge me and laugh at me. Due to me being overweight this has also caused another cave for me, and that is my self-confidence. This is something that takes a lot of time to fix and the process is slow, but will be worth the result in the end.
Stephanie Wold
English 110
GWC
Post #5
The poem The Red Wheelbarrow stuck out to me the most today. I'm not sure if it is because I just finished my history homework or not, but when I read this poem it made me think of a farmer that depends so much on his land for survival. The wheelbarrow enables him to do so much more with little effort. The poem gives me this image of a red wheelbarrow standing next to chickens that are pecking around while it is a soggy day out. I think it also reflects the life of many working citizens. A writer depends so much on his pen and paper (or computer) while a doctor relies on his medical equpiment and stethoscope. Every profession relies heavily on something specific. I hope everyone understands where I am going with this. It makes sense in my head and I thought this poem kind of reflected on the American way of life.
Hope everyone has a great Sunday!
Kayla Marley
English 110
Golden West
Post 7
Poem
The Red Wheelbarrow
By William Carlos Williams
So much depends
Upon
A red wheel
Barrow
Glazed with rain
Water
Besides the white
Chickens.
I chose this poem because I think it has a much deeper meaning than what comes across from what is presented. What seems to be is that somewhere in the world there is a day that is raining, and that rain is causing somebody’s job to be put on hold. I think that the way this poem was written exaggerates how important the red wheelbarrow is because this makes the person earn his income. The red wheelbarrow is an object that is so important to this person. This object is not something that is materialistic but something more important; something that this person is very dependent on. This is this man’s job, but since there is rain he may not earn an income for the day, and that could be devastating for his family. I think that this poem goes deeper than this just being about a job. I think that this is a reflection on how people take their job for granted. I think that this poem is a reflection on when someone says they hate their job, but yet this man here is dependent on his job. In other countries families live on two American dollars a day. I think with the greed and all the must haves in the country people are getting over their head, and thus causing them to be in debt. I love this poem. The poem is simple yet says so much at the same time.
Adrian Moreira
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #10
Angel,
I am sorry to hear about your cat. My cat had kittens in August. If you are interested in adopting one, let me know.
gAdrian Moreira
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #11
How To Tame a Wild Tongue - Gloria Anzaldua
When I was beginning to read this I thought it was going to be a feminist piece. Not that there is anything wrong with feminism. I think women are super! It is just that Gloria speaks of Chicanas through the first 21 paragraphs.
As I continued to read I started to realize that this is not a piece solely for Hispanic/Latina women, it is for Hispanics and Latinos in general. It speaks so many truths about the language of Spanish and how it is perceived those who are and are not of Latin/Hispanic decent.
I have been asked on more than one occasion if I speak Mexican even though I am not Mexican and I speak Spanish. I have had that conversation with many of my Latino friends about which Spanish is the correct Spanish; depending on what country they are from. We all have our own slang Spanish and different sayings and what not. It is like a battle for who speaks most proper. A losing battle.
Gloria says at in Paragraph 18, "If a person, Chicana or Latina, has a low estimation of my native tongue, she also has a low estimation of me." Does our version of Spanish make us lesser or better than someone who speaks the same language slightly different? I do not think so. I find it interesting that there are so many different versions of the same language. I know people from different Latin countries and have learned from them many different slangs and I find it to be an advantage. When I need to speak Spanish, depending on the situation and the person, I feel I can connect with them on a more personal level.
Gloria goes on to say in the same paragraph (18), "A Chicana from Michigan or Chicago or Detroit is just as much a Chicana as one from the Southwest. Chicano is as diverse linguistically as it is regionally." It is hard to say this any better. What we need to remember is that although we (Latino) are from different countries and cultures, we are united by one thing and that is the Spanish language. It is our spice that makes every thing nice. It is fun to be able to speak to someone in Spanish and learn of their culture.
Gloria ends her essay with this, "The struggle has always been inner and is played out in the outer terrains. Awareness of our situation must come before inner changes, which in turn come before changes in society. Nothing happens in the 'real' world unless it first happens in the images in our heads." How deep and powerful is that. She is telling us (the Latino community) to open our eyes to see our continued oppression as "the working class" in order for us to make a real change. We must see to change ourselves so we can change the world.
Beautiful.
Cathrina Afusia
Cerritos College
English 100
I just finished the reading by Mother Teresa. All I can say is that I cannot wait to have the discussion in class. The whole religion thing is a very touchy subject. Hey, this is what we signed up for.
I believe everyone has gone through the same experience as Mother Teresa. Though many are afraid to admit they do not buy the whole faith and religion subject, can we really blame them? This is a subject that is both personal and so far fetched at the same time. I will admit that sometimes when I am in a downfall in my life I hope to have something positive to believe in. There are also times when I give up on what I belive in because I have lost so much strength from trying to fight this thing called life. At times my outcome is darkness. How can we believe in something that has failed us numerous times? Why would we want to travel the same path that has left us with no way out. I believe this was the state of mind Mother Teresa was in. I think she is just one of few who have became one with her darkness. She was a test,just as many of us are today. She catered to the poor and put herself last before all others. She did this to show that the faith she had was intense as well as honest. This reading will truly raise questions regarding religion.
Kevin Santamaria
English 110
Golden West College
Post #4
My Cave.
My cave is a difficult one to conquer, I even struggle with it today. My cave is and was my social life. In order to be happy or ignore the reality of what lies beyond or within my life I always surrounded myself with people. Not just any people though, people who wanted to have fun and go out; at least that is what I chose to see in people. I never wanted to show emotion to people or see other people's emtions. When a friend is having a bad day I would not talk to them, after all why would i let someone bring down my good vibes with there "frivolous" ones. I went out to have fun or I slept, that was it. I ignored the problems within my house and within my friends. I was taught never to show anyone your weak, and somehow I developed the notion that being emotional made people look weak, therefore they are. I always thought people just liked to complain and wanted attention. I thought people who cry and felt sad are so because they could not control themselves, I mean we live in a coutry that gives us everything right, so how could you be sad. I deepend this barrage of thoughts because I was happy, because I chose to be. I chose not to see the world for what it is. I was able to recognize what I was doing to myself and others in my life when a situations at school occured. I was forced to transfer schools three weeks into my senior year. I had to leave the swim team, being editor and chief of the yearbook, all advanced placement classes, and my friends. I left my home in a way. I was pushed into another school where I did not even know where it was located, where I knew no one. Where everyday was akward and lonely. Here is where I sat, without talking but watching everyone else's life play out as what could have been of mine. I felt like I had no one and nothing, my future was over I will not be going to SDSU next year. I have never been in this situation, I have never moved school's, never moved houses, never had a close death, or even had a friend move away; I had know idea what to do. I then was able to look somewhere else, at the different side of the world. I noticed how people interacted, why they interacted, and how people need help. I gained conciouseness that forcing myself to be with people made me miss so much more, I became happy. I was happy in a different way though. I was happy with being alone. I did not mind it. Only when I truely felt this was I then able to meet people and grow strong ties with some of my best friends till today. I still have a nagging voice in the back of my head saying this person just wants attention, they dont have any real problems. Truth is we all do, and I am pleased I have been able to recognize that, but I still have work to do. I hope to be in solitude this summer for a week, no human interaction just to eat in the andes mountains. I have been reading up on buddism and love its base. Hopefully I will be able to allocate my senses and fully use them to see and not block out the light. I think this class will take part in that experience.
Brittany Williams
English 110
Golden West College
Post #12
Life, when looked at objectively, is a series of choices. These such choices have a very broad range with effects that are often deep. It is in this simple act of choice that we are all held captive, for not one of us can escape it’s mighty grip on our lives. We are all bound to it, no matter what the circumstances are. It is for this very reason that I have selected to write about Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken,” for in it, the theme of choice is clearly evident.
The author begins by portraying a fork in the road at which he must choose a path. This metaphor can clearly be seen as the pinnacle moment of choice that we have all surely been faced with. Here, two options are made available, with only one being feasible. Frost then goes on by describing the discerning process. “And looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the undergrowth; then took the other, as just as fair, and perhaps having a better claim because it was grassy and wanted wear” (Line 4-8). It is in similar moments that we all find ourselves. Becoming our own fortunetellers, we try and foresee the future with the various options available to us. It is in this process that a conclusion is made. In reasoning with ourselves, we often pledge to come back to the previous options as we continue down our chosen path. It is in this revelation in the poem that I find it truly relevant, for it states: “yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back” (Line 15). Truthfully stated, this line conveys the reality of the situation, for with every choice, there is a missed opportunity. In promising to return, our lives continue and our unselected paths remain dormant. In our heads, they continue to linger as a memory of what could have been. As time passes, the missed opportunities continue as such and our chosen paths begin to reveal their effects on our lives. It is in the conclusion of the poem, that we see such effects the selected path had on the author: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference” (Line 18-20). May our chosen paths be the ones that make the difference in our lives!
Gabriela Tovar
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #9???
How To Tame a Wild Tongue by Gloria Anzaldua
Where do I begin???
Time has change so dramaticaly that sometimes i wonder if it was for the best or worse???
It wasn't until the third grade that i was fourth grade that i was put into an all English teacher... I was having trouble speaking, writing, and understanding it. But i managed to move on considering the fact i was not good in English. Even to this i wonder why was it so difficult for me to learn english, even now a days, i still have that accent. I just thank god that i did not have it as harsh as Gloria Anzaldua because she was punish for speaking any spanish, i never had that... My little brother who now is 17 years old, has always taken enlgish courses, even fron pre-school. He can now understand, write, and speak english with out any trouble unlike me. It is not that i feel like a failure, but time has taken a big poll towards education now-a-days... Maybe it has change for the best, who knows? But to me, and my fellow Latinos, we seem to have forgotten what our true roots are...
My boyfriend, the genius, is the number one ideal guy to know the true meaning to live in the USA... Just talk to him...
Edilu Medina
English 100
Cerritos College
Post# 7 (last post was 6)
How to tame a wild tongue by Gloria Anzaldua
I started reading and was touched by the first parragraphs. It reminded me when I was in 4th grade, I had moved to Downey coming from South Gate we were only taught school in Spanish. When I came to Downey it was only English. I had to learn English, in school we weren't hit for speaking Spanish but I was frowned upon. Had to be in the special groups to understand and to speak it well. The assistant was a Hispanic lady who would try to control our Spanish like on paragraph 8 "even our own people, other Spanish speakers nos quieren poner candados en law boca. They would hold us back with their bag of reglas de academia.." even though it was a matter fact of learning English, seemed that they wanted my Spanish languaged locked and sometimes erased. Very powerful story discussion in class will come about on those untamable tongues.
Maria Ascencio
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #7
How To Tame a Wild Tongue - Gloria Anzaldua
When I began reading this I thought she was going to talk about how women were inferior to men and all. It turns out that Gloria speaks of Chicanas.
I realize that this piece was directed to Hispanics and Latinos in general not just Hispanic/ Latina women. It speaks about the language of Spanish and how it is seen by those who are and are not Hispanic.
People have asked if i speak spanish. I have had conversations with Hispanic/Latino friends. I have friends from Soth America and everytime we speak spanish, we end up "correcting" each other. Everyone has their own slang and ways of saying things, but to those who are not used to hearing other type of slang than what we are used to, we see it as funny or just think that they do not know how to speak correctly. In other words, we end up arguing about how the correct way to say a word is.
In paragraph 7, Gloria says, "The first time I heard two women, a Puerto Rican and a Cuban, say the word "nosotras," I was shocked. I had not known the word existed. Chicanas use nosotros wether we're male of female. We are robbed of our female being by the masculine plural. Language is a male discourse."
This is the same thing in the English language. We refer to things as males. Even a group of girls, will refer to each other as "you guys". Rare the time I hear someone say, well mainly males is who I hear it from, say "you ladies".
To me, this says that Chicanos were not taught about things being in feminine plural. It is as if in the Hispanic culture men were superior. Good thing now women have more power than before. The fact that now MEN, who are supposed to be 'machos' work for WOMEN, who were supposed to be house wifes, it says it all. =P
In paragraph 21, she says, "I will no longer be made to feel ashamed of my exixting. I will have my voice: Indian, Spanish, white. I will have my serpent's tongue-my woman's voice, my sexual voice, my poet's voice. I will overcome the tradition of silence."
I love how she says that. No matter what she speaks, she will meke herself be heard. She is no longer afraid to say speak her mind and being tired of being criticized of what or how she speaks. She takes pride in herself and is setting her foot down saying she will do something rather than keep quiet.
"Awareness of our situation must come before inner changes, which in turn come before changes in society. Nothing happens in the 'real' world unless it first happens in the images in our heads."
In order for us to make a real change,We must change ourselves so we can change the world. Everything starts with us.
Eric Torres
English 110
Golden West College
Post #4
My Cave
When I was 5 years old my parents agreed to a divorce. I do not remember the exact day they divorced or the exact month for that matter for i was young and ignorant. However I do remember moving into an apartment across from my elementary school and from then on all I remember was living with my mom. Yes I did visit my dad every once in a while, however it was just my mom raising the three of us. I did not realize it at the time but my mom was struggling so much. I began to think that this is how a normal family lives.
When I was 8 and aware of the normal routine of how often I was able to see my dad, I began to be interested in sports. The routine was, I lived at my mom's house every week and visited my dad every two weeks. And of course I was able to see my dad at my soccer games every week I had a game but it was never the same. Both my parents sat at the opposite ends of the field cheering for me. At half time I did not know who to go to (my mom? or my dad?) so I just sat on the bench and waited for the second half to start. From that point on it became even more complicated.
In High School I played three sports while juggling school and dealing with the financial part of sports; Being the money collector between my mom and dad was just my side job. There were always deadlines for when the money was due, however my deadline was always late due to the complicatedness of my situation. I can remember countless nights calling up my dad asking for money and him telling me that he already pays enough money for child support. I also remember being the one who kept track of who paid for what. I remember there was a time where my coach had came up with an unexpected amount of money that was due for each player. I remember not telling my parents about the twenty dollars I had to pay for the different style baseball hat just so I would not have to deal with being the one caught in the middle. I also kept track of who I was to stay with for spring break, thanksgiving dinner and every other holiday that came up. Playing sports was just my way of escaping from the tug of my parents.
To this day I still do not know exactly why my parents got a divorce. However my situation has improved and I do not have to escape from my parents by runing to sports. I am a man now and I can handle it.
Kevin Santamaria
English 110
Golden West College
Post #5
The Props Assit the House
In the Poem By Emily Dickinson she speaks of a developing house. She explains the props, to the structure, to the end result, the house. They all corrolate to give a meaning or a purpose to this built stucture, therefore creating a "soul". Everyone or Everything begins from somewhere, such as with the houses inanment objects. The randomn objects then go towards a purpose of developing a stucture. The objects come togther creating a structure that is ready when it has become sound. After the props in which assited in its creation have been removed, it begins to be of use, therefore giving it a soul. This could relate to anything from learning a new skill, or anyone developing themselves as a person. To develop ones self means to start from somewhere with the props or experiences we have gone through, take everything we can from them, and use them to assit us in creating a certain stable "structure".
Macey Lindsay-Clinton
English 110
Golden West College
Post #4 (i think)
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
After reading all of the poems, The Road Not Taken was my favorite. Life is about the roads we choose and do not choose to take, the paths of life that we learn to be both good and bad. Since we have been working on our cave essays and I have been thinking a lot about the paths I have chose and the paths I plan to take in the future, the poem fit my mindset.
Specifically what I like about this poem is Frost's emphasis on choosing between a path that many have gone down, or to risk it and go down the other and to make your own path. At times in life, most people find that taking the path well traveled, ultimately the safer and less risky of the two, to be an easier decision. These easy decisions could be someone choosing not to speak out against the government or society for the purpose of knowing they will not be looked at differently or perhaps they do it to protect their family. For example, during World War II the genocide of jews by the Nazi party was made possible by those who chose to take the safer path. On the contrary, people like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, took the path not taken in order to stand up for what they believed was right. As the narrator explains, "I took the one less traveled by,/ And that has made all the difference."(Lines 19-20) Sometimes taking the risk and traveling the a path untraveled does "make all the difference." There is always the other side to a risk as we all know, and sometimes the road not taken is so for a reason. There could be rocky uneven roads, bushes of thorns, water that you have to swim across to get to the other side, and numerous other problems. What is important is that no matter the treacherous road we take, if we do not take it we will never learn from it and possibly miss out on the paradise that awaits us at the end of the road.
Michael Swisher
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #13
“At His Disposal” by Mother Teresa
Faith is a powerful energy. Faith is a wonder unto itself. I consider myself a “man of faith” as I have been introduced to religion since a very young age. I have fallen away from my faith at times, but currently I find myself in a very devoted position to the Lord. Mother Teresa endured solitude and want like I will never know. To commit one’s self to the work the Father calls for us to be committed to is no easy task. It is often a lonely and painful life, yet Mother Teresa confidently and compassionately volunteered her heart to better mankind in an effort to spread the gospel. Most people cannot understand the difficulty in the simple statement that follows; “Mother Teresa recognized that her darkness was the price of lighting “the fire of love” (3) To pursue a passion that someone blindly fortifies while being subjected to tortures and ridicule is one of the more noble aspirations of our undertakings. Mother Teresa spent much of her time (in my opinion) in the worst of al places on the planet. Calcutta is no beach resort, and neither is Africa (where she happened to spend a good deal of time feeding the poor). I often wish I had the passion and conviction of the “saints of modern dilemma”.
Monique Gutierrez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #24
“At His Disposal” by Mother Teresa excerpt from Come Be My Light
I believe that Mother Teresa was a martyr for Christ. She had so much faith in God and wanted people to share her beliefs in him through prayer. There was so much poverty in her world and there still is to this day. So much hurt, so much hatred. Mother Teresa wanted desperately to replace the hatred in this world with love. If only it were that simple. She loved spreading the word of Christ and thoroughly enjoyed her meetings with her sisters. It brought her such joy and excitement. This excerpt reminded me a lot of my grandmother Esther. She is a true follower of Jesus Christ. My grandmother loves going to Church. It was her honor and her duty to spread the word, especially to people who did not want to hear it. She would tell everyone that Jesus loves them and encouraged people to go to church. Mother Teresa shed so much light in the world, she did not realize how dark her darkness was. She began to lose faith in God when things weren’t going the way she had planned. “Pray for me-for the life within me is harder to live. To be in love and yet not in love, to live in faith and yet not to believe, to spend myself and yet be in total darkness-Pray for me…” she pleaded to Father Neuner. Losing faith in God was hell in her eyes. I too know what it is like to live in darkness. In times like these I pray to Jesus to help me get through it. I don’t go to church too often but when I do it’s wonderful. Everyone is happy and praying to God. The choir is always beautiful and the scenery is spectacular. I admire Mother Teresa for motivating others to believe in God. She sacrificed herself(her light) for the sake of others in darkness. I also admire how she kept on praying no matter what. I think we all could learn a thing or to from this lady.
Michael Swisher
English 100
Cerritos College
Post#14
Mr. Hsaio that was a wonderful posting about 9-11. Americans, changes understood, miss more each day, yet brothers we remain. I wrote the following the morning after 9-11:
On fields of green
How vast a sky
So young a scene
American pie
Yankee passion
Carries us through
All pains of action
Not broken, but new
Yearning for peace
Often we fight
Under a fiery crease
Sojourning to light
Endlessly there, a boy bearing colors
Everlasting banner, stitched here for others
Whitney Young
Golden West College
English 110
Post #5
My cave was my ex-boyfriend Linh. He was very verbally abusive and very controlling. He always threatened to commit suicide when ever I made him upset or anything. He just had so much control over me because I was scared. I was young and I did not know what he was or was not capable of doing. We would argue over the littlest things. He would get mad at me for spending time with my family. WHO DOES THAT? He would not let me talk to anyone. I could not talk to my friends or any of my classmates. He said he had people ‘spying’ on me in all of my classes. If I was to speak to any guys in class, he would supposedly know. I felt so trapped. When I would speak about breaking up or even upsetting him, he would start saying things like “I locked myself in my room with a rope around my neck and a knife in my hand.” I never knew how far he was willing to go, but I knew that I did not want to be the cause of him getting hurt. It took me a long time realize that I was in a very unhealthy relationship which was taking its toll on me. With the help of my best friend that stuck with me through it all, I worked up the courage to end it. I knew it was not going to be easy, but it had to be done. He still taunted me for a while before he finally stopped. I am so glad that it was finally over. I learned to never let anyone speak to me or treat me the way he did.
Jaime Valadez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post#9
"At his disposal" by Mother Teresa
Mother was just what the title of this story "at his disposal. Everything she did was at the disposal of others. She always thought about other people before herself. All that mattered to her was to help people find god. In one of her writings she said "how terrible is to be without god". According to the story it states that in "in Gods design, she was allowed to experience some of the dreadful life without god, which she linked to hell. Mother Teresa did so much for so many people all over the world. I wonder if we will ever see another person as loving and as caring as mother Teresa?
Sandra Valadez
Cerritos College
English 100
post # ???
How to tame a wild tongue by Gloria Anzaldua
When I read this it made me think of myself. I am first generation Mexican-American. My father is from Aguascalientes, Mexico and my mother from Tijuana, Mexico. My first language is Spanish and when I was young and learning English my dad would tell me "En esta casa hablas Espanol?" In this house you speak Spanish. I today am thankful for that and never thought it was bad for my dad to enforce his rule. Today I am fluent Spanish and I am also able read and write in Spanish. despite my dad being so sturn on me only speaking spanish at home my parents never thought me how to read and write in spanish. I learned on my own. I would listen to the sounds in words and know that those sounds are these letters, does that make sense?? I am not saying that spanish is easy but there aren't a lot of rules to it like English. for the most part spanish is phonetically correct. all the letters in the spanish alphabet are the sounds for which they represent. not like in English where the letter p is /p/ and h /h/ but if you combine them they are now /f/. I take pride in knowing not just another language but knowing Spanish. The difference between Spangish, Tex-Mex, Pachuco and so on I am not familiar with how they are spoken or the rules to them, I speak Spanish that's it. I am one that doesn't like to blend switch between the two however, if I am speaking in Spanish and can't think of the word I want to spit out I say it in Engish. I will say that even though Spanish is my first language that I am more comfortable expressing myself in English, weird huh?? My husband is Mexican from Mexico City and I speak in English to him and he speaks in Spanish to me. He knows Engish and has an accent but I perfer him speaking in Spanish. I love how he speaks Spanish, plus he expresses himself better in Spanish. With my first daughter I thought her Spanish and she picked up English at school. I never thought it would comfuse her at any moment. My daughter who is 2nd generation speaks Spanish. I dont want me/my children/us to lose our language. Even with my baby she will learn spanish first, i know it. There had been several situations i have been placed in when depending on where I was have made my speaking Spanish bad. For example if I were hanging out with people in san Dimas and pronouced a word in Spanish those non spanish speakers would jump on my case. First I would get "You don't look Mexican" and "I didn't know you spoke Mexican" If I am Mexican what am I to look like??? Short, dark, a pugy nose??? Most if not all of my family is fair skinned, light eyes, and average height. My response to whoever would make their comment to me would usaually be "Of couse I am Mexican!" and about 95% of the time they would say well you are in America why don't you go to Mexico. I have been in many verbal confrontations with people because of these ignorant comments. But if had been in LA somewhere it usually in never an issue. My thoughts are scrambled right now.
Dalene Kolb
English 110
Golden West College
Post #16
Priscilla,
Oh yeah I can not wait! Love going to fair's!
I was reading the post on 9/11 and I will also never forget. I still remember the event like it happened yesterday. I was 13 years old at the time when it took place. I remember getting up at 5:30 AM and turning on the TV and seeing a building on fire, I did not know it was a terrorist attack until later on in the day. I just thought it was another building on fire. I told my mom there was a fire, and she was telling me to get ready for school. I turned off the TV thinking nothing of it. At school that day I was not the only one who did not know it was a terrorist attack. It was not until my class at 1:00PM that my teacher explained, and showed us some video about what had happened. I could not believe someone, anyone would do something that horrible to people. I was crying all the way walking home that day. It is unbelieveable to think that anyone could do that. When I got home I turned on the news, and watched nothing else for the weeks following.
Never Forget 9/11.
:(
~Dalene
Last thought. I was at the Angels game on Friday and they had a memorial on 9/11. I will post the video I took of it later on my blog/youtube.
Jaime Valadez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #10
Finally i found a house to call my home. After almost one stressful year of looking for a place to buy i found my home. Hopefully everything goes good for me.
Sarai Vazquez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #7 or 8 (not sure)
At His Disposal by Mother Teresa
I loved the way Mother Teresa is such a nice person. She loves everyone that she comes across. She is such a spiritual person and trys to spread the love of God to everyone.
I have been born and raised in a Christian home and I hope to someday be able to show people the love that God has showed me throughout the years. Mother Teresa was such a good example of showing God's love.
Sarai Vazquez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # 8?
I am so glad that football season has started!! My sundays are that much better! Spent ALL of today watching football and i loved every second of it! My husband better be a football fan.. actually he better be a sports fan because I can sit for hours and watch any kind of sport! Oh my husband is gonna be one lucky guy.. hahaha
Dalene Kolb
English 110
Golden West College
Post #17
My Cave
My cave still affects me very much today. My cave is something that hardly any people know about.
When I was sixteen I feel in love, like everyone else. The boy I was in love with had a troubled past, but that did not effect. We had a relationship with arguments on whatever subject that we did not agree on all the time. I made a mistake, that I still regret to this day. The guy and me shared intimate moments. One moment of bliss changed my life forever. After we broke up I found out I was pregnant at the age of sixteen. I was scared to death of what would happen. After telling my mother and brother, I had a decision to make. Keep, give, or terminate. There were many of people I had once called my friends that were pulling me in different directions. There were trying to have me side with one or the other. My decision was no one's choice but my own. Friends stoped talking to me. Family lost respect for me. I made the decision to end the pregnancy. In the short time I was pregnant I was having complications, enough to affect my daily life. The most dreadful desion to have to make, is about a baby. Planned Parenthood has to be the worst place in the world to walk into. People all there doing what your about to do, and sometimes people outside protesting what your about to do. I remember after the experience I was told I had died, this had little effect to me. I felt I lost everything anyways, what is the big deal if something happened to me. While I was signed up for summer school that year, I was unwilling to attend. My mom thought it would be best for me if I did. Big mistake. Walking through the walls and being called a murderer was the worst experience I have ever felt in my life. I ended up transfering school, unable to handle what I knew was going to continue till graduation day. My life changed for the better when I transfered, except for keeping a part of my life a secret. I have learned from my mistakes, and I am doing better. It still hurts talking about the event, afraid of what people will think of me. This is the first time I have told anyone, that was not part of the event. For those who are wondering, I am doing better. I know I made the right decision, and stick by that. I had no way, and would have had no help. People that said they were going to be there, were not, and still are not there. I lost many people I cared for. My brother lost respect for me. My mom still does not look at me the same, even though she says she agreed with my decision. Now that this is out there I feel better. I feel like a weight has been taken off of me, especially writing the paper on my cave. I cried a lot wondering what would happen when people were reading it. But I am tired of hiding such a big event in my life. It helps to let people know. Thank you.
~Dalene
Kayla marley
English 110
Golden West
Post 7
Dalene,
Thank you for sharing your story. I can't imagine the pain that you've carried. Wether or not people agree with you, you did what you think was best and honestly that is all that matters. You are not a bad person at all. Thank you again..
on the lighter note...
DID ANYONE SEE KANYE WEST TAKE THE MICROPHONE OUT OF TAYLOR SWIFTS HANDS WHEN SHE WAS THANKING FOR HER MOON MAN?! WTF?!!? SORRY MR. HSIAO.. WHAT A DICK ...SORRY AGAIN... BUT WOW. I REALLY AM NOT LIKING THIS GUY ANYMORE. POOR TAYLOR SWIFT. SHE HANDLED THE SITUATION WITH SUCH GRACE. GOOD FOR HER BUT OMG.. ANYONE ELSE HAVE THOUGHTS?
Kim Luong
GWC
Eng 110 post 4
1. The Hole.
My cave is school, especially english. I am not a good writer and i often have grammar errors, fragments,unclear ideas and awkward comments on my paper. That's why i am always afraid of professor that loveeees to challenge his or her students with difficult reading,writing assgiment and blogging too(j/k). However, i take take this class because i know mr.H will help to pull me out of my cave, so that i can see the real knowledge of WRITING SKILL.
2. Poem
The Red wheelbarrow by William C Williams
The reason i strongly chose this poem because it is short and i knew it.The poem seems simple at first glance but there are various symbols and meanings inside.Red could be blood, crime, anger or devil. The Wheel is circle, or life cycle.Rain water represents something clean, purification. White is innocent, pure or rebirth. Chicken is human. The poem is basically about a repetition generation after generation. We were born, grew up and dealt with anger, violence, sadness as we interacted with society. And when things had settled down, our minds became calm as water. Then we die and rebirth as innocent baby.
Dalene Kolb
Golden West College
Post #18
Pigheaded Poet by William Carlos Williams
Everything I do
Everytime I write
Drives me
From those I love
If it is good
They are bewildered
It is is bad
Ashamed
At great risk
To the love they bear me
I walk barefoot
In quicksand
My choice to write about Pigheaded Poet is because it caught my eye. The title in itself is very unique. I have already read The Road Not Taken in two other classes, so I thought I would try something different this time.
My interpretation of Pigheaded Poet is a poet who no matter what he does or what he writes someone will be disappointed.
In the begining of the poem he talks about the fact everything he does, and write drives him away from those he loves. It seems like he can not do or write something without affecting those he loves. He does not want to hurt them, but he does not want to change for them either.
In the second part of the poem that if the poem, or what he does is good the people he loves will be bewildered. Like they will always question it. If it is bad, they will be ashamed. Ashamed for the fact that he is part of he being in the family and writing something people will either question, or disappointed
In the third and finaly part of the poem Williams writes about the fact that he would rather take a risk, than to believe how they do. At great risk, to the love they bear me, I walk barefoot, In quicksand. He would rather do what he wants and what he believes that to do as others. He can not please everyone so why try. It is obvisious that he cares for those he loves, but why should he do as others? It is better to do what you believe and be hated, than to what others believe. Or at least I think so.
I really enjoyed this poem, because it can pretty much relate to everyone. Me personally, everyone is trying to mold me to something they want. I want to be me, and do not care what others think. I want to do what I care for, than to do what others care for. Sometimes it is very difficult to go against those you love, but it is better to be your own person. Indivdualality is the key to be true to yourself.
~Dalene
Dalene Kolb
English 110
Golden West College
Post #19
Kayla,
Thank you for saying that. It helps to see/hear people say that I am not a bad person. Thank you again. :)
I did not see the adward show, working on homework. I will watch clips later on though. But I can not believe Kanye did that. Especially to such a great person like Taylor. I agree with you, he is an ass. Sorry. But true. It was her award, someone was jealous a little. Sounds like a very eventful show already, and it just started.
I can not wait to see the New Moon trailer later. Team Edward. LOL. Yes I am one of those Twilight people, but there are numerous Vampire books that are better. Sorry Twilight fans. I recommend reading the House of Night series, and especially The Vampire Diaries. I love the new show, even though the killed the characters. Books are better though.
~Dalene
Brenda Flores
Enlish 100
Cerritos College
Post #?
How to tame a Wild Tongue
I would like to start off by saying I enjoyed this piece of writting because it talked about something I hold very close to my heart. My culture. Now I can not say I agree with everything Gloria Anzaldua had to say, infact I probably do not agree with the majority, but I respect her views and opinions and who ever else feels that way. I speak both spanish and english. I am fluent in both languages and can read and write in both languages. I am very proud that I can do so, I am not ashamed by this at all nor have I ever felt ashamed. I personally do not call myself "Chicana" and do not like when other people call me "Chicana". I do not get offended, but I simply let the person know that I prefer to be called Latina, Hispanic, Mexican, or Mexican-American. The term "Chicano" for me represnts a person who grew up in the 1960- 1970's and felt that they needed that label for civil rights. The "Chicanos" I know are like the ones Gloria talks about, the people who can not speak english or spanish properly. This might be because of the way they were brought up or because that was what they learned in school. That is not who I am. I was brought up speaking english at school and a mixture of spanish and english at home. My school did not have ESL classes so I had to speak eglish at all times. I began to speak spanish more and feel more comfortable with it when I started watching novelas. My family took frequent trips to Mexico so I was able to practice with my cousins. I was taught by my parents that you either spoke spanish or english when speaking, but not to speak both at the same time because it sounded uneducated. I personaly do not like the way it sounds when someone speaks spanglish. I feel that maybe "Chicanos" or "Pochos" speak spanglish to prove thier nationality or like Gloria says," Chicanos' need to identify ourselves as distinct people." I can see why they would feel like that at that time but not now. I might sound naive but we live in a different time and I feel that in California people are more open to our native languages and they embrace that. I have only passed through Texas on the way to Mexico and have never expierenced the problems that those "Chicanos" have. All I can say is that in the state that I live in I am free to speak what ever language I choose to speak.
Ana Cervantes
English 100
Cerritos College
Post# 6
How to Tame a Wild Tongue By Gloria Anzaldua
I really enjoyed reading this story. This was my first time reading something by this author. I liked the diction she used in the story and the clearity of how she writes. Also the details are good mixed with the emotion. What I liked the most of this story is one can realte to it , I know I did. When she talks about language identifies a lady, thats me with my mom sometimes. My usuage of some words " are not lady like" and the most common is that you should never talk back. I also relate cuz when I first came here I had to learned english and was not able to use spanish my first language a lot. I remember that I was really good at spanish. Now I struggle with it beacuse english came and took over. Like Gloria Anzaldua says, " English, not Spanish, will be the mother tongue of most Chicanos and Latinos".
Sandra Valadez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # ??
A lot of things have been on my mind lately. I find myself not being able to keep focus on things so I bounce around them. The other day while watching TV one of the infomercials was on. The one that claims that for only a few nickles a day you can feed a starving child in some 3rd world country. Not only can you feed a starving child but with the money you give you can educate and provide medical care/attention. It is great that there are organizations that help people/children that are in need, but I sat there and got upset and asked myself "Can I for only nickles a day feed, educate, and provide medical attention for someone HERE in the US??" and the answer is no I cannot. Watching the infomercial made me upset. let me explain. Sometime last year it was that time for my husband to enroll in the company's benefit plan. Family size of 2 adults roughly $250 a month. I at that time and for several years had my daughter on the great Healthy Families program. I too at the time had medical coverage through my work but since my husband and I knew I would be leaving work next year after the baby was born decided to enroll myself in his plan. So there we were paying over $250 dollars for the suckiest medical plan ever!!! I am sorry it seems that $25 co-pay and a pharmacy discount was too good to be true (sarcasm) By the end of the year it was my time to renew my daughter insurance coverage, usually i would do it right away but by this time i had already stopped working. The coverage is based on income and I had none. I finally called and explained the situation but I was thinking since my husband is supporting my daughter and I that his income would count. What he makes for a family of four should fall into the eligability bracket right?? Before even discussing #'s they flat out said no,why??because He is not her biological father, he is her step father and they do not accept his income for her eligability. They informed me that they would not terminate her insurance for another 3 months, what a relief right??? How generous of them. I began looking into what i could do to make sure when those 3 months were up that iI had a back up. I looked into addeding my daughter into my husbands plan and soon it would be two more. So price quote for 2 adults and 2 children was over $400!!! That's $400 for the crapiest insurance plan. So then i looked for ways to cut the cost and secure health benefits for our family. When the baby was born she is automatically given 30 days of benefits so that was time for me. One way:I filled out the papers for my husband family size of 4 for healthy families for the baby. I fugured that the baby abviously would need more medical care in her first year vs my daughter that would only need when she is sick. We could pay for her out of pocket and it would not be so costly as it would for the baby. I figured they would not even know match my name with his application. You must enter everyones name even though they are not appling for benefits. Well my husbans income feel right under the max income bracket for 4 people, and again the stepchild was an issue and family size was considered 3 now too much on the income bracket. Does that make sense to you?????
Dalene Kolb
English 110
Golden West College
Post #20
Thought I would post the link to see the video of Kanya taking the mic from Taylor Swift. How dare he. What a jerk!
http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/hiphopmediatraining/171413/kanye-west-has-truly-lost-it-this-time/
~Dalene
Sandra Valadez
continued:
Maybe a $400 dollars is not a lot for insurance but when only one income is coming in it is. So i looked else where. I called several different insurance companies and was given several quotes. all way too much and the same crapy benefits as my husbands. but with these companies any pre exsisting conditions were excluded, while his insurance did not ask for pre-exsisting conditions. I also looked into medical just for the girl, shoot my husband is a tax payer and for the last 10 years of my life I was too. Well that did not go well either. They asked questions like "do you have any checking or savings accounts, do you own property, vehicles, jewerly?" the questions were out of control!!! I answered yes to almost all the questions, I did not think that would disqualify my application. but one question did, They asked how much was currently in our savings and I answered truthfully. They said that because we own property and have x amount of dollars insavings that yes our girls can have medical BUT there would be a deducatble. I didnt understand what that meant, since when do they charge for medical??? not only that if we agreed we would have to sign tons of papers stating that if the government at any point wanted to claim their money they could do so but taking our property. WTF??!!! With all those wonderful words i had to walk out empty handed. Well we ended up putting both girls on my husbands insurance plan and paying the hefty price. We had even thought of adding just the girls but they would not let us/him. So for about 8 months we've been paying for an overpriced crapy insurance policy and to top it off just 3 weeks ago now my husband was liad off. So now as of the first my girls have no insurance. I pray that my girls do not get sick because I do not know what I would do or where I can go to. So the question is "Can I or YOu for only nickles a day feed, educated, and medically take care of my children??" NO!!! what a shame they make it so easy to take care of everyone else but the people/children here. My husband and I are educated people, tax payers, upright citizens, who have never taken advantage of the system (welfare stuff like that that) and not be able to recieve help because at one point my huband made too much, of we have too much money in our savings accounts, beacuse we own property. I DO NOT GET IT
Sandra Valadez
English 100
CC post # ?
Dalene,
I totally respect your honesty and courage on opening up the way you have. you have done nothing wrong. you decided what was best. those who are Pro-life seem only to consider the birth at whatever cost forgeting everything else that comes with that responsibilty. i was a very young mom and speak to you from my own experience. i do not regret my choice but i regret the time for my choice, does that make sense?? it seems that while my daughter grew up that I grew up as well. Children should be places in good situations, with responsible parents. I dont care what any young mom says but however mature you think you are you are not at the age to raise children. people must go through things, must live before choosing to bear children. whatever your "friends" have said about you brush them off they are no one to judge not even your family. You and you alone has the say over what you decide about your body. and think about this no matter which way you would have gone no one would be happy, I am pretty sure about that. My comment to you is only directed in a postive way and at no point do i mean to offend or over step my boundries.
Sandra Valadez
English 100
CC post # 25
Jaime,
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW HOME!!! :)wHoOt WhOOt!!
Arcelia Swarr
English 100
CC
Post #not sure...
Ok, couple things to reply to,
first...
I cannot believe it's already been 8 years since 9-11. At the time, my dad was working for an elevator company and with the company he traveled from here to New York and everywhere in between. I remember being asleep when the 1st plane crashed, and my step mom woke me up to tell me what was going on, then the 2nd plane hit. At first I was not sure about what was going on, and then my step mom really started to panic. My dad was at LAX getting ready to fly to New York. She was so worried about him being in danger. I was so mixed with emotions that entire day. I remember at the time I was pregnant, and I just wanted to help in New York, but I could not. I wanted to be out there helping families search for their lost loved ones. I wanted to do something to help, anything, but I was lost. My heart goes out to all the families who lost someone on that most tragic day. I am extremely grateful for all the extremely brave men and women in our military, as well as all of our firemen and policemen who put hteir lives on the line day after day for our safety.
second...
on to my homework!! I read both stories, and "At His Disposal" really got my attention. I am so in awe of anyone who can devote their entire life to trying to spread goodness throughout the world. I do not completely believe that in order to spread goodness that one has to be "one with God". I admire Mother Theresa for her dedication to her religion, and her God. It takes a strong person to do everything in her power to spread the word of love, especially in the harsh locations where she was.
third...
Priscilla: I LOVE Sailor Jerry and Coke!! Yummy!!! lol, sorry, had to say that!!
Hope everyone had a good weekend, I know I did!! I got to see my good friend who is in town this week for her baby shower!!! I was sooooo excited!! She's going to be such a wonderful mommy!!!
Arcelia Swarr
English 100
CC
Post # the one after the last one
I forgot to mention, my best friend and I are doing a team for the City of Santa Fe Springs' Relay For Life. For those of you who do know what that is, you know how awesome the event is! For those that do not know, it's an event sponsored by the American Cancer Society. It is a 24 hour event, and it is a lot of fun! People from the community, as well as local businesses create teams and camp out in the middle of the track at the local junior high. Every team creates a spirit stick to represent their team, and one person from the team walks laps around the track while holding the spirit stick. The teams also decorate their campsites to represent their team's theme. The team my best friend and I are working on is called Celebration of Stars. We are going to decorate our campsite with a bunch of stars with the names of those we have lost to cancer, and the ones who are still with us fighting cancer, or as survivors, are our celebrity "stars". We are really excited to be a part of the event, since we have all been affected by cancer in some way. I lost my grandmother to lung cancer, and my best friend was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Those are my 2 main reasons for being so involved in the event. The event runs from 12:00pm on Friday the 25th of September, and ends on Saturday, the 26th of September. If anyone would like more info about the event, please let me know.
Zachary Duke
Eng 103
CC
Post#???
How to tame a Wild tong
This story is about how the author uses different languages with different people in her life. Take me for an example, I talk pure English to my mom and dad. I talk Franglish (French - Spanish - English) with my friends, and in our own language with my exes.
Raufiel Matias
English 110
GWC
Post #4
Cave
Listening to everyone's cave in class was touching and I can't believe that those kind of events happened to some of the students in class. One of my caves that I had trouble with when I started high school was my social life. I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one in my high school that had the same problem but I had trouble with it. It was hard for me to find friends and fit-in when I was in freshman because I was a new kid in town and all the friends that I've made in junior high were gone because we had to move places because of my parent's work. Also, I'm not the type of person that will start a conversation with anyone and make friends easily because I've always been the quiet type and will only talk to you if you talk to me. So, I ended up a loner throughout my freshman year and spent most of my weekends in our house playing video games. Lucky for me, nobody made fun of me during that time because I spent my lunch time hiding at the handball courts. By the start of my sophomore year, when I started making friends because of the people that were in my freshman classes that I knew and I talked to. That's one of my cave that I had before and I think that I'm kind of out of that cave now. So, that's it for now.
Esmeralda Orozco
English100
cc
Post 24
How to tame a wild tongue by Gloria Anzaldua
When i finished reading the story I could really connect to what she wrote about. i speak both spanish and english. i am very fluent in spanish, meaning i do not have in acent like most mexican american children might have. My parents made sure I learned how to speak spanish. i have cousins who do not speak fluint spanish. Even though they have hispanic parents, they were raced with little spanish in there house. If you talk to them you can tell they have a spanish acent. They have never been to m
How to tame a wild tongue by Gloria Anzaldua
When i finished reading the story I could really connect to what she wrote about. i speak both spanish and english. i am very fluent in spanish, meaning i do not have in acent like most mexican american children might have. My parents made sure I learned how to speak spanish. i have cousins who do not speak fluint spanish. Even though they have hispanic parents, they were raced with little spanish in there house. If you talk to them you can tell they have a spanish acent. They have never been to mexico. I get mad when i hear them say they wouldn't like to go to mexico. i can connect to Gloria in that i love that i am biolingual, I love the fact that i can speak both spanish and english when it is nececery. I still have problems with some words in spanish since many hispanics communicate in different ways. it's hard for me to read and write in spanish although i have been speking spanish since i was born. I know many people who try not to speak spanish becauese they are ashamed of it. Thats one of the things that hurts me to hear. how can you feel ashamed of a language who is so rich and allegant. there was a guy who i knew who although he was white he loved latinas. he told me latinas talked with great passion when they speked spanish. just like english i believe there are many words that translate romaticly and more passionate when you say it in spanish. i love speaking to languages. it gives me in advantage in the working area, since there is a great nember of hispanics in my area. Employers always looks for people who can speak two or more languages. luckly for me, i can adapt to both american and mexican cultures. just like Gloria i will never forget my spanish.
Celina Rivera
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #18
How Tame a Wild Tongue by Gloria Anazaldua
Dentist
When I had first read the first paragraph it me back into time. I thought of my first time at the dentist being a adult and it was horrible. I went to the dentist in hopes of getting braces.When the dentist did the routine check up he told me your going to have to get your wisdom teeth pulled before you get braces. My mouth did not have enough room in my mouth to leave all my teeth. I went to the dentist for the second appointment which was to pull my wisdom teeth. I had never felt that much pain in my mouth ever. The gave me the first shot which hurt so bad then another and the another. They waited for my mouth to be numb. Then then the pulling started. The tools they use do not look like normal doctor tools. they looked like a bunch of different ice picks in all sizes. They cracked then lifted, then continued until the tooth was lifted. I remember feeling every bit of pain so once again they had to give me more shots. even with the shots I still felt every ounce of pain. At the end of the day I had about twenty shots which did not work. I at least has all four wisdom teeth out.
As time passed a piece of a wisdom tooth grew back. The dentist whom had done the first procedure was did not grab the tooth from the root. The pain again, I felt when the tooth was growing. I also felt random pain when eating and talking. I eventually had to do something with the pain. Once again i went to another dentist where they tried to pull it out, but was unsuccessful again. The dentist then told me I would have to see an oral surgeon the next day. I went home in pain came then came back in pain and left in pain. The oral surgeon was a JERK. He did not wait for my mouth to be numb just started to pull. I was crying in the chair and twisting my shirt to get focus what I was feeling. I lifted my hand for the doctor to stop he told me put your had down in a mad tone. He said that I could not do that, then I thought how dare you I am in pain you sit here and indure this. My tongue was also fighting with the surgeon. The doctors say all you will feel is pressure, but that is a lie. I left there then went to work with the worst pain ever.
I went back to check the status of the healing. Then the next doctor told me I would have to get four more teeth pulled. I went in a little leary. I was so scared that the pain I felt the past times would be just as bad. I knew I could still not get braces until this was all done. The doctor numbed my mouth then begun to pull. When I told him to stop he would and when I told him to start he would. I still had felt pain though, pressure, and pulling. It was an over better experience minus the pain I felt after. I still dislike the dentist and I hope no more teeth.
P.S Has anyone had a bad experience like me at the dentist.
Celina Rivera
English 100
Cerritos College
Post# 19
How to Tame a Wild Tongue by Gloria Anazaldua
I get what Gloria is saying to her readers. I am Mexican and Spanish, but I only speak a little bit of Spanish. I do understand Spanish when people are talking to me. When I work people who are Latinos or Hispanic come up to me and expect me to speak Spanish because of the way I look. When I do try to speak Spanish people who are fluent look at me like I am crazy. I figure well at least I am trying. They think she is saying this all wrong. Wait!!! How am I to learn to speak better Spanish if people are always judging, then I get worried and say why try.
My parents speak fluent Spanish.y mother prefers Spanish as do I. The reason she speaks Spanish is because she is accustom to it with her students. My dad on the hand will speaks, reads and writes Spanish fluently. My parent never taught my siblings and I Spanish because all of my family members speak English. Even though they speak English they do speak Spanish as well.
Where I use to work in Arizona there was a lot of patients that spoke Spanish. Me and another employee would speak Spanish to them. When I would try to learn more Spanish and go around speaking it to the other employee the other co-workers would get upset. The reason they would get upset was because they did not understand us and thought we were talking about them. Then were not allowed to speak Spanish. When a Spanish speaking patient came in I would speak Spanish, but other people in the office thought your in America speak English. I never understood that thought, but hey they have the right to there thoughts. Even though you speak Spanish like Gloria said there are some different types of dialect. When I say something in Spanish it might mean something a little different to them. The word papposa is a food, but my mom thought it meant poop and she told the waitress no I do not want poop. Even though my mom spoke Spanish that was not a word that she had heard.
I remember watching the Selena, her father was so worried that she was not fluent in Spanish. She was raised in Texas and the Spanish there was a little different. The father did not want her to do the interview because he thought she was not tejano enough. He fahter told her we need to keep up the Americans, but even if we do we are still not a American enough. Even if you speak Spanish it was not Spanish enough. Even though she is Mexican American she would never be Mexican enough. Her father was telling her that she can never please every one.
P.S Gloria is right and all this dialect will still never be enough for everyone.
Celina Rivera
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # 20
At His Disposal by Mother Teresa
When I read it all I could think was that I believe in something higher than yourself. I know that there is something higher than me and that are always be. No matter what believe in God or not we were all created. I am Catholic that does not mean that everyone in my family is nor do I force my opinion on then. Even though I am Catholic people still have that right to believe in what they want. If they believe the sky is purple then hey affording to them it is and I will not judge. When reading I thought well I know I do not attend church as much I need to, but I still believe in God. I might not believe in all that Catholics believe in, but this is the religion for me that I relate to most. I really do not care if people agree with me or not. I have friends and family of all religions and it still not not change what I believe in. It do not make a person better or worse by what they believe in. I think that under any distress we should all come together and be willing to help any and everybody. When may think that we only help one another, but in the long run it will not benefit us as a whole.
Celina Rivera
English 100
Cerritos College
Post# 21
Sandra,
Insurance is a very crazy subject. I deal with insurance everyday. I have so many patients getting upset on what there insurance covers for what they pay. Sometimes our in house discounts are better. Crazy right. Patients come in am say I pay so much every month from my check and this is all it covers. I have to be the bear of bad news and say yes. The still end up leaving and paying 200 to 300 dollars more out of pocket and that is after what the insurance has covered. Some patients say well that is not what the insurance company told us when they explained it. I agree, but the again what company like to show the negatives. I really do not like that we pay a lot and get nothing for benefits. I do see where you are coming from.
Sorry to here about your obstacle! Hope all works out!!!
Celina
Michelle Pachas
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #5
How to Tame a Wild Tongue
In How to Tame a Wild Tongue Gloria Anzaldua writes a moving piece on minorities (mainly Chicanos) slowly loosing their culture due to the Anglo undermining its credibility. The sad truth is that society has come to frown upon any way of life not resembling the European’s. The standards for a “well-educated” person in America does not match the lifestyle or type of education a majority of the population are able to receive. I even find myself choosing when it is appropriate to speak Spanish and when I communicate in English. But where did these now subconscious thoughts originate?
I’m not Chicano nor have I experienced the intensity of the criticism that Gloria did growing up but I have friends who have jokingly talked about how when speaking either language he or she feels disapproval from the opposite speaking group. Its interesting how you never really question why you act a certain way. Although it may feel like an innate opinion we share, these are fed to us (whether it be intentionally or unintentionally) by the society that we live in. Despite all these influences everyone should strive to maintain ones true self whatever their background maybe. “Wild tongues can’t be tamed; they can only be cut out.” We need to acknowledge our culture so that our history is not entirely erased.
How to Tame a Wild Tongue
Belinda Reed
Eng.10
Prof. Hsiao
Hi Professor Hsiao, Was able to read both of the short stories. I've reaed about Mother Teresa befor. She is one those good do'ers not big on religion though. The story How to tame a wild tounge did't make alot of sence to me. That is why I choze to post on this one. It's seems to me like the chicanas and chiconos of the world seem to feel like they are be ing discriminated against. Well here is my opinion, which I'm entitled too. Looking back to when I was a young girl and in school, mostly Jr high. these people bullied me aroung like there was no tomorrow. I don't catergorize people, because I belive that god created us all as equals. This group of people I feel are parcially to blame for the aveanue that my life took at a very early age in life.I was married to a chicano the first time, and he was rude and obnoxious. I know that It only takes a few to give certain groups of people a bad name.
Belinda Reed
English 100
Professor Hsiao
How to Tame a Wild Tounge
Posted prior to this one
Erica Lloyd
English 110
GWC
Post #6
The Red Wheelbarrow
This poem really jumped out at me because of it's form. I don't know if this makes sense to anyone, but I think the form of the poem is attractive. It just looks so simple and clean. I also really enjoyed the imagery that this poem invokes. I can see the picture that this poem paints, and it is lovely.
I think that the way the poem is set up is supposed to lead the reader along a path. Each stanza introduces a new detail to the image of the wheelbarrow. First, we are told that it is red. I picture a bright, fire engine red. In the next stanza, a glaze of rain is added to the wheelbarrow. I can see the dew of the rain shinning on the wheelbarrow and on the grass around it. Finally, white chickens enter the picture giving contrast to the red of the wheelbarrow. I imagine three bright white chickens lazily pecking around the wheelbarrow. Williams bulids us up piece by piece to this final picture that "so much depends upon".
I think that what Williams is trying to do is take the simple concept of an ordinary wheelbarrow and transform it to show it to us in a new light. I think the point of the poem is to see each detail in parts in order to better appreciate the whole picture. I think Williams is trying to show us that even a simple wheelbarrow can be poetry.
Brian Jimenez
Cerrtios College
Post# 14
How to Tame a Wild Tongue
"I've never see anything as strong or as stubborn" Thats how the mexican culture has still remained alive because we as a spanish speaking person are stubborn and proud of ourselfs but not for long. Why should one change there ways because they are different. America has many different cultures everyone should respect each others diffences. Instead we have the oppresser trying to brain wash us and change us to be a real American. White people according to the story said that if you want to be American, speak American. If you dont like it, go back to Mexico where you belong. The dominant white culture is killing slowly with its ignorance. By that spanish speaking have to deal with being someone they are not. We act one way with our own kind and another towards the oppressor. We are never really allowed to fully be ourselves.
The story is simliar to Hitler being at power. Hitler came in slowly in order to kill off the Jews one by one. This is the same just that Hitler is the white oppressors and the mexicans are the Jews. In this case the oppressors are trying to kill off our native tongue by keeping us the minority even though we are clearly the majority. Ethnic identity is who we are and what makes us different. The ignorance of the dominant white culture is only creating prejudices even within our own cultures. We are seen as people that are not cultured and being oppressed to lose ones self!
Ibeth Rodriguez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #11
How to tame a wild tounge
Growing up with a Spanish mother and a Mexican father meant that I had to be speaking Spanish all the time. When I was a young girl I grew up speaking Spanish, and I thank my parents for that. For me Spanish is such a beautiful language and it will be very helpful for my future. When Gloria talks about all the different types of Spanish languages I was a little confuse. I have never heard anyone speak a different Spanish than the one I speak. Maybe everyone speaks differently depending on where they live, but so far I have only heard one type of Spanish everywhere I go. For example Tex-Mex Spanish I think that is the type of Spanish that people who live in Texas speak, but I have been to Texas and when they speak it sounds a lot like the Spanish we speak here in California, so I do not really know the difference. The accents I do agree with, for example my mother being Spanish and my father being Mexican their accents are very different. It might sound funny but when I speak Spanish my accent sometimes change from an accent from Spain to a Mexican accent. It all depends with who I am talking to. If I am with my mother’s side of the family I usually tend to have a Spaniard accent, and when being with my father’s side of the family I lose the Spanish accent and start speaking like a Mexican person would. Sometimes I do get made fun of, for example when being with my father’s side of the family sometimes when I am talking I tend to change my accent to a Spanish accent. They often say "oh the Spanish girl is back". Sometimes I will say words that my Mexican family has never heard of nor have no idea what it means.
Romero, George
English 103
CC
Post#....
How to tame the wild tounge
Gloria Anzaldua writes a piece on how American society is slowly destroying the old and new mexican/chicano culture. The story goes on about how her experiances with the American school system showed her just how signifigant it was to speak english over anything else. She would later go on to say that the american media is out to destroy mexican/chicano history. All of these allegations in my opinion are just dumb (and this is coming from someone who is mexican). I mean I respect her opinion and passion for her culture, but no one is out to get the culture. Plain and simple, if you are in any country you have to abide by the customs. It sounds abit straight forward but that is the truth of the matter. For those who trully feel that they are losing there culture due to individuals rules than that shows how weak you are. If anyone can come into your life and tell you what or what not to believe in or practice than maybe you do not love it enough. Now in all honesty I am more American than anything, but i am still aware of my culture. The reason that I chose the American culture over my original Hispanic culture was not because I was brainwashed or because I was told what to follow, but the simple fact that I chose my own path. In the end one may feel and preach whatever one may trully feel, but keep in mind that there will always be individuals who will give a certain group a bad image. With that in mind do not judge American culture and motives based on ignorant, self centered, righteous pieces of trash, because every culture and country as them.
Jonathan Aguilar
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #11
At His Disposal -Mother Theresa
This story was sort of short but got said a lot. It is about Mother Theresa and how she felt while serving God. She loves him and just wants to get closer to him. But as she goes around the world she starts feeling like she is drifting away from him. As she goes around helping the poor and those close to death she feels that God has left her. She feels like she is taking on sin the way Jesus Christ did. She feels that her job is to spread the word of God and wants to get people closer to him; to love him.
She says her life is full of sorrowness and feels as if she lives in hell. She sacrafices her life for her God. And even though she feels rejected by God she serves him because she wants others to feel his love. Mother Theresa is a great woman who will kill herself to help the way she see's fit. Which is by her faith.
Talia Chase
English 103
How to tame a wild tongue...
This story is about how to world tries to standardize everyone and make elinimate other languages. I love this story, it is interesting to me. Perhaps because i have an obsession with languages, i love languages. I love to hear them, and the accents, i plan to learn every language i can fluently. I find them fascinating, they are so unique and other languages and accents remind me of how big the world is, how much i still need to see, how complex Gods creation is. I agree there should be a basis language common everywhere for means of effective communication, but i hope foriegn languages never die out or disappear. Diversity is what makes the world so beautiful.
Brittany Williams
English 110
Golden West College
Post #13
I wanted to re-post my previous posting because I realized that I had forgotten to title it. Since this is an actual assignment, I just want to make sure that it does not get overlooked.
The Road Not Taken
Life, when looked at objectively, is a series of choices. These such choices have a very broad range with effects that are often deep. It is in this simple act of choice that we are all held captive, for not one of us can escape it’s mighty grip on our lives. We are all bound to it, no matter what the circumstances are. It is for this very reason that I have selected to write about Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken,” for in it, the theme of choice is clearly evident.
The author begins by portraying a fork in the road at which he must choose a path. This metaphor can clearly be seen as the pinnacle moment of choice that we have all surely been faced with. Here, two options are made available, with only one being feasible. Frost then goes on by describing the discerning process. “And looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the undergrowth; then took the other, as just as fair, and perhaps having a better claim because it was grassy and wanted wear” (Line 4-8). It is in similar moments that we all find ourselves. Becoming our own fortunetellers, we try and foresee the future with the various options available to us. It is in this process that a conclusion is made. In reasoning with ourselves, we often pledge to come back to the previous options as we continue down our chosen path. It is in this revelation in the poem that I find it truly relevant, for it states: “yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back” (Line 15). Truthfully stated, this line conveys the reality of the situation, for with every choice, there is a missed opportunity. In promising to return, our lives continue and our unselected paths remain dormant. In our heads, they continue to linger as a memory of what could have been. As time passes, the missed opportunities continue as such and our chosen paths begin to reveal their effects on our lives. It is in the conclusion of the poem, that we see such effects the selected path had on the author: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference” (Line 18-20). May our chosen paths be the ones that make the difference in our lives!
RayRay J.
English 100
CC
Post- dnt knw anymore.
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa is truly an enigmatic figure. After reading this article I had a multitude of feelings about this woman and the notion of faith, devotion, and religion. I cannot even begin to grasp what conditions she had to endure while on her journey thru life synonymous to jesus of nazareth. Faith will do incredible things to anyone who believes it so. I suppose i just find it striking that on her "holy" quest, she should leave the good graces of her god. The way that I saw it, though she was doing her god's work, she was also calling for him to abandon her simultaneously. The question that comes into my mind when presented this situation is that why such action should constitute a "fall from grace", or in other words why would God forsaken her just as he had forsaken his son on the cross. I suppose this is the mystery that the faithful hold sacred and being one not in faith, I cannot grasp this concept and hence my enthusiasm and excitement for class discussion about this article.
Yue Hayes
English 110
Golden West College
Post #5
Since I haven't done of these this semester yet, I'm going to do one now. I've spent about an hour reading some of these posts (I got caught up... It's not because I don't have a life... Well, sort of), so here are some responses!
I realized that I started reading the posts from yesterday, and some of you have posted after the ones I'm responding to. I'm sorry if it makes it confusing.
Charleen
I liked the ending of your reflection. It's so satisfying when you are recognized, especially after feeling ignored or left out. It really does show that your father has been watching you grow!
Erica
Don't you just love being able to vent? I love that we have a place to do that.
I think it's the most frustrating thing to see (or even go through, but I can't relate on a first-person level) when a parent can't realize that they can't control their child's opinions and views. It's sad to see the relationship shifting shapes around that problem, because it's so easily fix-able. However, I'm glad that you were able to develop your own views instead of being stuck in hers. I think it's very difficult to do that and retain a healthy relationship with your mom, but you're managing to do both. I think that it's awesome that you still value the relationship enough to bite your tongue, even though you shouldn't have to.
Betsy
It's so refreshing to see a story that is almost at the climax. Not only do you know what your cave is, you already are getting to the solution, too. I know it's tough when you have to grow up so quickly. You feel so responsible for everyone else that you hardly have the time to yourself. I'm so happy for you that you are recognizing your family's problems and are consciously preventing yourself from getting stuck in that hole.
Kayla
You are such a great person with a great heart. I mean, being in class with you and hearing your thoughts in class and on the blog, I realize that you are very sweet. Honestly, my first impression of you is that you are very friendly. I don't even remember thinking about your weight. I'm so glad though, that you haven't given up. I love it that you've realized that you can rebuild your self-confidence; I'm glad that you know it's going to be a slow process. But I think I already see you making your way out of your cave.
Yue Hayes
English 110
Golden West College
Post #6
...continued
Adrian
I can already see that you are a great writer, I enjoy reading your posts very much. I work at a sushi joint... But the cooks are mostly Mexican, or of Latin descent. I tend to like asking questions about their culture (and just learning Spanish in general). One day, I got into a conversation with my manager (who speaks the best English) and he was telling me about all the different versions of Spanish. I knew that there were different versions in Spain and Mexico, but that's about it. I didn't know there were a LOT more variations. He told me that sometimes, the cooks even have hard time understanding each other because of the differences. I think it's awesome though, that they are all able to laugh together and mess around together, despite the differences.
Kevin
Seems you've found your light. It's weird to move, isn't it? To be taken away from everything you know, and for your life to change its course because of it? But you learn a lot and find out about yourself. I think you and I both know that it made you a better person.
Gabriela
English is a tough language to learn. Believe me, I was there too. I think it gives you a better understanding of how languages work though, doesn't it?
Eric
It's tough when your parents divorce at a young age, isn't it? Because you have to grow up doing so much more work than other kids. It seems, though, that you've learned how to manage everything pretty well. You had to grow up fast, too, I can tell. I think having divorced parents at a young age teaches you how to be independent, because the parents' focus are put more into their personal lives. The last line made me smile
"I am a man now and I can handle it."
That's how I feel about my life, and parents, too.
Whitney
I can't imagine being in your position. I mean, you must have carried a huge sense of responsibility when he dangled his life over your head. I'm glad you worked up the courage to end it with him, though. Only being in that situation and getting out of it can teach you the full extent and the seriousness of those problems.
Jaime
YAY! Good luck with your new place!
Dalene
That's a huge thing to open up about. Like Kayla said, I can't imagine the pain you've suffered. I know that you did what was best for you, even with the consequences. What is important is that you stay strong. Opening up about this is already a huge, ginormous step!!
Kim
Hey! You seem like such a fun, awesome girl. I like how you're always smiling and are enthusiastic. Much luck to you in the class, I know you will definitely benefit from it!
Raufiel
I was the saaame way as you in high school. Instead of going to my home school, I moved because of a music program (that was not as great as it had promised to be, but anyways). It was only because I was in band that I made friends (with the band people). I did keep to myself a lot in my classes, because everyone had their own group of friends from middle school. It's just an awkward time, getting adjusted.
Prof. Hsiao
English 100/103/110
CC/GWC
Post idk
Yue,
I was waiting
until now
. . .
English 110
GWC
Post #4
My cave
Highschool. A time period of our lives in which we learned, grew, danced, partied, shopped, explored, and loved. This was the best time to live. Being in highschool, everything important that happened was all in front of us. We were all too young to realize that there was so much more going on then we realized. Life was truly blissful, in ignorance.
Having friends, and having fun were the only things that mattered to me. I spent my whole middle school life indoors playing games on the internet and wasting my life. My parents suprisingly urged me to go out and live life, instead of sitting in front of the computer all day, and I finally took their word for it. Going outside was a new and exciting experience for me. I soon developed an active social lifestyle. Having company was almost a must, therefore I had to have friends. Having fun and going out was just a necessary. I had no sense of responsibility whatsoever. I did not care about anything that was going on outside of my life. As long as I was happy, the world was happy.
I felt like I had a place in a group of friends, and it was as if I were accepted. That meant that I did and liked everything that they liked. I was conforming, and pretty soon I was indistinguishable from the pack. I found myself doing idiotic things, most of the time involving physically harming myself, or another. We took after the show "Jackass" and followed some of their stunts. For some reason, it seemed like a great idea to jump into shopping carts and run at each other full speed, ready to crack our heads open. Physical violence just seemed so pleasing and enjoyable. People laughed, and it was a good feeling to be liked.
I could not help it. I thought of nothing but of own my fun and enjoyment. I did not have consequences for my actions back then. I simply felt invincible.
Eventually, I began to contemplate my actions and asked myself "why?" I did not know why I began questioning everything back then, but now I believe it was because I was in school, and I was learning not only about mathematics, english, or history (although those things did contribute), I was learning about myself as a person. I kept thinking "why?" and asked the question over and over again, until I made the greatest decision I have ever made in my life. I simply stopped. Whatever I was doing, it was foolish. There was a reason why the streets were not filled with idiots running into each other just for the amusement. It was just stupid. I stopped doing all those stupid things I did before, making fun of mall cops, getting chased, fighting, jumping off roofs, acting stupid. It just did not work for me anymore.
I grew apart from my old friends. Sure enough, I lost contact with them, but it was for the better. The cave was my highschool friends, and the way I acted. Eventually I went outside, hit the sunlight, and that's when I grew up.
Priscilla Daza
cc
eng 100
post #9?
i am going to post on at his disposal by mother teresa.
i was raised roman cathlic. i was baptised and had my first communion at st mariana's church. since then i have not really gone to mass or to confession though every time i pass st marianas church i always "father, son and holy spirit" and lightly kiss my hand. reading at his disposal reminded me that in every religion we're a whole. we are all brothers and sisters. mother teresa asked to "pray for our people" referring to the muslims and hindus that were having trouble. all in all, despite what religion anyone was, she considered them "our people" she makes us cusious as we read "what a terrible world this is--without the love of Christ" mother teresa traveled to many places to help the poor and always pled to "pray for our people" how can someone be so filled with passion, ambition, hope, head strong when there is so much sin going on in this world? she had so much of God's faith that she asked "pray much that we be able to extinguish this flame of hatred" faith in the sense of just a single pray, and she writes this intelligent line "extinguish this flame of hatred" man its just such great love for her God that she sacrificed a piece of herself or as she better explains it " a part of me as if is out from me and so causes great suffering". the whole idea of it makes me wonder if i would have continued to go to church or even complete my confirmation attend church events, would i be as faithful, loyal, and strong to love god with my whole heart, soul and mind? but would i want to have all those factors and light the fire of love for others to be left in the darkness alone? will i be that strong to realize and live with the truth? this whole page made me wondering mostly but realized that mother teresa was a strong woman and i applaud if i may at her strength and courage to have done all of what she accomplished in life to be "served and draw closer to God" i did feel her sorrow when she wrote "i have nothing--since i have not got Him--who my heart and soul longs to possess[...] nothing enters my soul" all in all i found this story to be interesting and a reminder of how the love of God is powerful.
ARCIE! i have a bottle of sailor jerry's in the trunk of my veichle! im just saying :D ahaha!
DIANA AMEZCUA
ENGLISH 103
CERRITOS COLLEGE
POST # 10
HOW TO TAME A WILD TONGUE by Gloria Anzaldua
“I remember being caught speaking Spanish at recess-that was good for the three licks on the knuckles with a sharp ruler.”
Reading this sentence brought back many memories to mind. Some of those memories were when I was in elementary school. My teachers would force me to speak English during class time, even after she knew that at the time I was not fluent. Indeed, if she heard a word in Spanish, she would humiliate us in front of the whole class. She would furiously raise her voice and say, “We only speak English here, I don’t want to hear any Spanish.” I was so afraid that I never told my mom about her behavior. Looking back, now I regret never saying anything to my parents. With her depriving me from MY language, she made me feel somewhat ashamed of my native land.
“If you want to be American, speak ‘American.’ If you don’t like it, go back to Mexico where you belong.”
This quote gets to me a lot because I was brought here, to America, when I was five years old and didn’t have any say in to what was happening. Therefore, it was not my choice to abandon my native land to come to an adopted home, but have learned to love it. This is the only home I know. After many times of visiting my family in Mexico, I have experienced a feeling of confusion, because I don’t think I fully belong there (my native land). I have gotten used to a lot of the American customs but still carry a lot of my own. And I am not saying I feel ashamed of being Mexican, but rather that I have learned to love and respect my new home. I still consider myself to being a Mexican but only to certain extend. I just don’t agree with some of the “traditional Mexican” customs that come with (machismo) the man having power over the woman.
Carlos Plaza
English 103
Cerritos College
post #4
How to Tame a Wild Tongue
I really enjoyed this story. I agree with what the author says about Chicanas speaking spanish with Latinas. I have several Chicana friends and whenever they meet my mom they try to keep the conversation as short as possible. They are uncomfortable with the fluency of their Spanish. They don't speak much spanish with me either. They are afraid i will make fun of them [which i probably ha!] I still encourage them to speak as much Spanish as possible. Like Anzaldua says, "...for a language o remain alive, it must be used." If Chicanas continue this then the Spanish language will start to do die in America.
Janice Silva
English 103
Cerritos College
Post#7
"At his Disposal" by Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa was living in a hell, to her. She saw the effect that sin does to a person, "Terrible is hatred when it starts touching human beings" When i thought this, I remembered what my mother had said to me "Satan can not hurt god, but hurting us humans which he loves does hurt him, seeing his loved ones suffer" Mother Teresa had a calling to help the poor, not the poor we see today, but the people who have sores, who have their urine and poop on them; others rejected them, but she wanted to help them. She saw everyone as the human body of christ, everyone is Christ, if your helping another in need then you are helping Christ. She loved god so much, but lost the presence of him. She did not feel him around, feeling alone, being it called "the dark knight of the soul". . . "As for me-- what will I tell you? I have nothing--since I have not got him-- who my heart and should longs to posses. Aloneness is great.- From within and from without I find no one to turn to". She felt empty because she did not have him around but still persevered helping others to need, especially when others did not even want to touch them. She mostly helped the people that were about to die, to not let them die on the streets or crawled up in a corner, no, she gave them back their dignity.
"Darkness was the price of lighting" the darkness of her loneliness helped others in need, because she saw every person as Christ.
Freddy Villalobos
Cerritos College
English 103
post #5
How to Tame a Wild Tongue by Gloria Anzaldua
Well this story first takes place in an ordinary dentist, in an ordinary time. the dentkst tries to clean her roots but cant because of the way the toungu is acting. normally the toungue will fall to the floor and stay there(well atleast mine and i tend to not to intterupt him). Well the dentist is getting mad because he cannot perform on the task at hand. he has troblu cleanning just one. this spark an interest to her. how do u tame a wild tounge if u cannot see whats inseide of you. Now she talks about how she grew up and how hard was it like. the diffrent types of spanish is consideres pure, however most people believ the french language is the purest. i bet to differ because the frech act more "cultured". it is true that most people the grew up with spanish have a a stronger toungu, however they do not wish to talk in front of an audicence let alone infront of there own race. they dp not wish to talk because they are afraid what people may think of them. they are afraid of what other people see in them and not show there true colors. any person that speaks a diffrent language,, has an accent, or can hardly talk must not, and will not be ashamed of whp they are. they can only grow an an individual and talk freely with out others thinking bad about them.
Martha Vazquez
English 100
CC
Post 10
At His Disposal by Mother Teresa
What stood out to me during this reading was how much Mother Teresa suffered. She put herself in these situations where she felt so isolated from everyone that she loved and also from God. The fact that she still gave so much of herself even though she was going through such darkness is astounding to me. She spread love and joy, when she barely had enough for herself.
Arturo Lopez
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #6
"At His Disposal" By Mother Teresa
This essay was a fantastic representation of the power of love. Mother Teresa took her call from God far and beyond anyone could ever do. She did whatever it took to bring the poor around her closer to the saving grace of God, but in order to do so she had to live in filth and sin. She took on the burden of being the savior of the poor. This task was not an easy. She was as faithful as anyone could ever be, but the constant exposure to sin and evil lead her astray from her faith. She began questioning Him. She asked for others prayers because she felt like she was weakening as the days went by. She was the sacrificial lamb which had to be slaughtered in order for the poor to be fed with faith. She literally went through hell for the poor. The feeling of detachment from God was umimaginably painful for her, yet she continued on her mission to save as many souls as possible.
Eric Contreras
Engl 103
Cerritos college
Post#5?
At his disposal by mother teresa
hey /b/. This story is about how mother teresa viewed the world and how she tried to change it. She saw horror, misery, and pain throughout the world. She was a stong believer in god, and she had faith in him to bring love to the world and to rid the world of all this pain. This brief story describes how Mother Teresa tried to help people by showing them the light by taking in the darkness.
She protested love aned prayer. After 15 years of darkness she explained that she no longer able to continue in this hell she has been living in. She wants to spend herself for god for what he has taken away from her, and for him to use her to teach other people about god. She kind of compares herself to how jesus took on the sins of others so that they can be closer to god. Mother Teresa also takes on the agony of others so that they can learn to have fath in god and to love one another.
Thomas Rios
GWC
English 110
Post #4
Poet's Work
I like the straightforwardness of this poem. It is simple, yet deep. There seems to be an oppressive undertone that stands out when I read it. It is almost like her grandfather wanted her to be grounded in something that he believed was stable, but she had other plans. She did what she wanted to do, which was write. I looked up this poem and the history behind it. She was from Wisconsin (born in 1903) and they had many condeseries there (where condensed or evaporated milk is made). A popular job was working in these condeseries and the threat of layoffs was always looming. She took her own path and since she necame her own boss, she would never be bothered with any layoff threats. It seems like there is much satisfaction in the last three lines. The simplicity is intially what drew me to this poem. After reading it and reseacrhing a small portion of her life, I understand it much more thoroughly.
Steven Cordova
English 100
Cerritos
Post #4
At his disposal
although I don't like to associate myself with religion, but reading this peice was mentally stimulating. I always thought that christians did charity work in order to serve their own agenda. To think that someone would do christian work because they may not beleive in god. I always thought in someone didn't beleive in god they would have no morrals. But this story has told me otherwise.
Steven Cordova
English 100
Cerritos
Post # 5
To Tame a Wild Tongue
The story is about the classic struggle of being opresed because you are different. What makes this story so powerful is the fact that the main character is not only an opressed mexican but also an opressed female. So it is able to appeal to many people easily.
Esmeralda Orozco
english 100
cc
post25
******MEANING*****
OK LAST TIME U GUYS HELPED ME UNDERSTAND MY MOMS DREAM
I HOPE U CAN HELP ME WITH MINE
SO LAST NIGHT I HAD A DREAM
SO I DREAMED THAT MY MOTHER DAD DIED( KNOCK ON WOOD) AND I WAS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO CREMATE HER.
I WENT TO THIS PLACE AND IT WAS DIRTY THERE WERE BODY OF PPL EVERYWERE. THEN I WAS IN A BIG ROOM WITH NOTHING BUT A HUGE BED I REMEMBER FEELING SO LONLEY AND I KEPT CRYING FOR MY MOM I WAS SAD AND I FELY SAD. I WAS ASKING GOD TO HELP ME I MISSED HER SOOO MUCH I COULD NOT DO NOTHING WITH OUT HER THEN MY BROTHER WALKS N AND TELLS ME EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE OK THATS WEN I WOKE UP
IDK WAT IT COULD HAVE MENT???
IF U HAVE A HINT I WOULD LIKE TO KNO WAT U THINK!!!
Macey Lindsay-Clinton
English 110
Golden West College
Post #5
RIP
If you guys have heard or read about it, Leon Roach died last week in a pole vaulting accident. Saturday was his memorial and twice the amount of people expected to show up did, which just shows how awesome he was. I heard about his accident the morning after it had happened, at that point he had not passed away yet because he was still on life support. I knew him since I was a freshman in High School because we were on pole vault at Marina High School together. He was one of the nicest people I have ever known... and one of the smartest. His senior year he had a 5.0 GPA!! It's just crazy and so sad but on the bright side he died doing something he loved...
Did anyone else know him?
Jean Carlo Morales
Cerritos College
Post 7
"At His Disposal"
It was saddening to read how much Mother Teresa suffered in order to bring light to those less fortunate. It is an extremely sad excerpt but it inspiring to see how someone can aspire for something so bad and be able to seek it under the circumstances they are in. I don't know too many people, if any, that can honestly say they will continue to pursue their goal even if all hope is gone. Mother Teresa was alone in her battle as it says in paragraph 3, "How even more terrible it was for her who had been so close to Him, to have, as it were, lost all sense of his presence." Even though she lost all sense of his presence she still sacrificed herself as an example to teach and help her sisters, brothers, and the poor to love God. She truly wanted peace and love in the world even at the expense of her own life. I see it sort of in a way like she had plunged into what she had already known was going to be darkness and despair just to bring light to those who needed it the most.
Tess Elizondo
Cerritos College
Post #6
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa is known for many things ,and it is said that she should have been named a saint. Reading this story reminded me of all the terrible things that have happened here in the U.S. She talks about war and how people should pray for the people in India. There are many families in the U.S. whose siblings are at war in Iraq and how terrible they must feel knowing the great risks. Mother Teresa was also known for helping those who could not help them self. Mother Teresa says, " Pray for our people-India is passing through most difficult time..." (2). Although India was going through war this story reminded me of Hurricane Katirna. Unlike war Hurricane Katrina was a natural disaster. Many people lost their homes and there were many casualties because of the natural disaster. The people from the south needed the world to help them out through the desperate time of need. People came together and helped each other out.
(Andy) Nam Pham
English 110
GWC
Post #5
PIGHEADED POET by William Carlos Williams
This piece by Williams explains his pressures as a poet. During the first paragraph, he explains his obsession with writing, and as a result, he is driven away as a person. In the second stanza, he explains that if he writes good, he is loved, if he writes bad, he himself is ashamed. This is interesting because Williams does not state that "if it is bad," the audience does not get angry. Instead, he states that he will feel ashamed, making him his greatest enemy. Not only does the world look and judge his work, but he himself as a human being criticizes his own work too. The pressure is not only external, but internal too. During the last stanza, he writes a metaphor for being on quick sand, risking himself for the love they have of him as a writer. The quicksand could quickly bury him, if he were to simply make a small mistake and lose focus. Everytime Williams writes, he is stepping on quicksand. Either his work could be great, or very faulty, resulting in either love or shame.
I feel the same way about whatever we do in this world. We could either be loved or hated for what we produce. Like this blog I am writing right now, it could either be loved by everybody, or most likely considered foolish and way out of topic. This poem really makes you think about the pressures a person has to endure as a writer, or as anything.
Angel Togafau
English 110
Golden West
Post #6
Pigheaded Poet by William Carlos Williams
Ever since poems were introduced to us in earlier school years, I have always had the mindset that all poems rhyme. Obviously, this is not entirely the truth. I like reading poems that have no rhythm whatsoever; however I tend to end up reading the same poem over and over again thinking, "What is the message?"
Furthermore, when I read Pigheaded Poet, I felt like I connected with the first four lines instantly.
"Everything I Do
Everything I write
Drives me
From those I love"
One could say this is my motto in life itself. Everything I do if for those I love, especially my parents. My motivation to be successful with a carrier and college degrees comes from my parents. Even though neither one of my parents even attempted college, I have chosen to make my parents proud and accomplish my biggest goal yet. If I was not for my amazing Mom, who taught me that the only time something can get in your way is when you allow it to get in your way; I believe I would not be this motivated young adult today. I strive everyday to be something not only for myself but my loved ones as well.
However, like the second stanza portrays, the pressure of wanting to please your loved ones so much can take its toll.
"If it is good
They are bewildered
If it is bad
Ashamed"
Although, my family would not be ashamed as long as I try, I feel the pressure that I personally never want to feel as if I let them down. The feeling of letting down my parents would be the worst feeling in the world. Especially, because I know how hard my Mom has worked to get me to where I am right now- college.
FOSESesmeralda orozco
english 100
cc
post 26
the truth i lost track of # of post lol
READY FOR CLASS!!!!
BRING IT ON
JP U DON'T HAVE 2 BRING IT ON
BUT I AM READY
XOXOXOXOX
Raul Moreno
English 103
Cerritos College
Post: ???
At His Disposal
This has been my most difficult read. Perhaps it is not as dense as Homonyms, our first love this semester, but for me this piece flipped me upside down numerous times. Also, it stil leaves me in utter frustration because it's not an academic piece you can just crack by class discussion or academic research. This piece goes far far deeper. This is a case of the heart, the spirit and God Himself. Because of this, my post will likely be long winded, strewn about and, I fear, insufficient.
The theme throughout has to do with the multiple occurrences in which Mother Teresa speaks of sharing light while being in total darkness herself. Also noted are ideas of love being generously dished out to those who are less fortunate while she feels more alone than ever, both physically and spiritually. These words contradict themselves in more ways than the literal interpretation. How can one share Christ's love without first being filled with it themselves? How can one feel alone when the work they do for God involves constant interaction with people? Furthermore, to be at constant work in Christ is to get closer to Him. To love those around us really is to love God, and the living Word of God pronounces this to be the greatest commandment of them all. All of this summed up in just a few words: "...to live in faith and yet not to believe..." What a grandeur statement! Ironic as well is the fact that the word "faith" being used might be the most popular word to describe Christianity. It turns it all upside down. Can you be in faith and not believe? This leaves me befuddled.
What then fascinates me next is the clarity with which she desribes the scene at Calvary in the second half of paragraph two in "How Terrible it is to Be Without God". The explanation of Jesus's questioning of The Father just before death is remarkable in the description of Jesus's dual humanity and deity. I'm still a bit upended on my thoughts, but I'm finding a little more clarity.
Still, to really interpret a piece like this is not to read it over and over, but to have a personal experience with it all.
Antonio Acosta
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # 7
"At His Disposal"
This story talks about Christ. How can we live without Christ? Life would not matter if we do not have Christ. The world Is terrible without the love of Christ. she is trying to tell the audience that Christ is our only solution to the problems the world bring to us. I say don not worry about me i Have Christ In my life.
Yue Hayes
English 110
Golden West College
Post #6
Have you guys heard about the murders that happened on university campuses?
At Yale, a grad student disappeared (the surveillance camera caught her on tape going inside a classroom, but she never came out)... They found her dead body in a wall. And there was a shooting at UCI very recently, where a student was shot. She also died.
Isn't this crazy? I mean, on campus!! You're supposed to feel safe and secure. What are your thoughts?
Macey
My friend/co-worker knew him, and she told me about him. It's really sad that people who have everything going for them in life are the first ones to go. Obviously he was a very memorable person. R.I.P.
Andy
I think it's pretty funny that grown men on Jackass never realized the things you learned in high school.
Mr. Hsiao
I know, I know. Haha. So much pressure!! :P
Yue you are my hero. haha :)
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