Monday, October 27, 2008

Cowboys vs. Mounties

In our last class reading assignment, we were asked to analyze an article by Sarah Vowell. In her article, she compares the Americans and Canadians patriotism. Two points made in the article are that Canadian (Mounties) treat everyone with respect. They are non- violent.The other point made in this article is that the people in Canada seem to be less aggressive, less selfish, and more apt to help others.Canadians believe in helping others not just one’s self. A Mountie was asked about his, “squeaky-clean” image by the author. He was also asked where his dark side was. He laughed and answered that there was no dark side. He explained that Canadians are no better than anyone else; compared to the Americans who are more violent and take more pride in their county because they believe they better than everyone else.
I like the Canadian structure better because I like helping others. I feel I can be part of a team. I don’t feel the need to be selfish. I believe in other people’s rights as well as my own.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Invisible Children!

Invisible Children is a documentary on children situation in Africa. This documentary is one of the kind and i think everyone need to watch it. Trust me it will change your life in one way or
another.
The documentary is about children (between age 5-12)that are being abducted from their families.They are taken into someplace called '' Bushes". There they brainwashed and trained them how to kill people using almost anything like guns,knifes,machetes and much more. Now can you imagine a five year old holding a gun killing people? Those that are not abducted leave their house because they fear that if they sleep there they will come and get them too. So they are force to live on the streets. They doesn't have any clothes, food or a place to stay. Every night some of them escape to go sleep under a hospital on the floor because they feel safer there. Teenage girls are raped by the kidnappers and others get sexually active at a young age using dirty plastics bags as condom.

Most of us here in America take life for granted. We have a place to live, a bed we sleep in every night, and more than enough food that we need. While there are children in Africa that are dying of starvation. They lucky if they get a meal per day. We have a government that pays for school and some of us still doesn't take advantage and get educated. Those children want to learn but they don't have any school or teacher to teach them.

Personally this documentary really changed me. I'm from Haiti. I lived there for 14 years. I'm used to seeing poverty, so i can relate to this documentary but i have never see anything like what those children go through. I couldn't stop crying while i was watching the documentary. It hurts to see how children are being treated and there nobody to do anything about it. While they showing those children that are naked and only have the clothes that they wearing, I felt ashamed of myself. I have a closet full of clothes, I cant even count how many pairs of heels that i have yet i feel like i don't have enough. I decided to donate half of my clothes to charity and think twice before i waste food or anything else.I look at life differently now.
I know i don't have money to go to Africa and help like i want to but i figure if i pass on the message someone hopefully will do something about it. I'm begging anyone of you that will read this blog to take the time and watch this documentary.Its only 45 minutes. And also if you can donate it will make a big difference in those children life's. Check out the website: http://www.invisiblechildren.com/.

Monday, October 6, 2008

What is the real definition of the American Dream?

The term was first used by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America which was written in 1931. He states: "The American Dream is "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.(http://lcweb2.loc.gov/learn/lessons/97/dream/thedream.html) Still, it might means something different to somebody else. Immigrants for example, most of them come to America in search of freedom; whether its political or religious. I can relate because my family and I moved to the U.S because of political issues that our country was facing.Everyone see the American dream in a different way. I think it all depends on how you look at life. To me the American Dream means to be successful in everything i do and enjoy a happy life with my loved ones.
Some people say that the American Dream has become the pursuit of material success. People are force to work more hours to live a fancy life(like having different customize cars, owe houses as big as a mansion and even having their own business).But then they have less time to enjoy their success since they have to keep working in order to maintain the fancy life that they chasing. Yet others look toward the American Dream with less focus on financial success and focus more on living a simple, fulling life; which is the case of Chris McCandles, the main character of Into the Wild-the book that we are currently reading-.
In this novel Chris is a college graduate who decided that its time he break free from his parent. He didn't like to be told what to do and had a different prospective on life from his parents. He was a non conformist and he wanted to be free in his own way. Chris was influenced a lot by Jack London,Mark Twin, Henry David Thoreau, and Leo Tolstoy writing.-They had a different view of society and were more in touch with nature.- Jack London was his favorite ever since childhood. He read and reread his books: The Call of the Wild, White Fang, To Built a fire", An Odyssey of the North".(page 44)I think that's what influenced him to start his own journey that he called the "Alaskan Odyssey, where he planned to go to Alaska and lived off the wild.
When i first started reading this book, i thought Chris was crazy and stupid for making such decision and was responsible for his death. I'm pretty sure most college student will feel the same way. Its hard enough to get financial support to pay for college and to throw it all away like that at the end of your studies will not only be a waste of money but time also. But as i got further into the book, i realized what drove Chris to live the life that he chose. Life meant more to him then just being successful financially and having a degree. It was more about enjoying new experiences and taking chances. Chris went a little to far though. I can understand that he didn't like the way society was and wanted to be free from his parents but he didn't had to go in the wilderness unprepared as he did. He should of known that he wouldn't be able to survive in the cold without proper clothing and essential gear to feed himself. What was he thinking?
I don't think I will be able to give up everything and just go into the wilderness and take chances like Chris did but i do admire his courage and the way that he look at life.