PRISONER´S DILEMMA VS. GENES

It´s really enjoyable to compare the Prisoner’s dilemma with the Selfish Gene. As we could see in chapter 4 genes are the masters of the brain, since they indirectly program everything so the survival machines can then perform. There are some choices the gene can decide to take;

1.act indirectly in the creation of machines; Genes are aware that they are just capable of program brains and make certain big predictions, so they have to leave the rest to the individuals to act directly in the development of their lives. Some survival machines may survive but some don’t, this means that there is not certainty about passing those genes to next generations.
2. act directly in the creation of machines; If genes act directly, they will not accomplish natural selection for machines, since each individual will not be allowed to develop itself and survive in each environment. But if genes act directly, they will make sure to pass those unique genes to next generations...it’s up to them!
3. don´t act in the creation of machines; If genes wouldn’t exist, survival machines wouldn’t live and survive.

“THE ULTIMATE MASTERS; THE GENES”

Wow! The gene is surely a unique and essential basis to create humanity! I´ve never thought about who or what was the thing that created each human. While reading Chapter 4, I totally learned that the real master of the human existence was, the gene. We as humans behave in singular ways and reflect exclusive personalities, but guess what? Genes are really responsible about the behavior of all survival machines, since they work as our “ computers programmers”.

All genes do, is to set the survival machines up, and then they survive on their own. Each individual’s brain is build by unique genes. “The genes have to instruct their survival machines not in specifics, but in general strategies and tricks of the living trade”(P.53). I really liked the analogy of the polar bears, where genes are aware of some general predictions; the future of this bear will be set in a very cold climate, for this reason genes have to build a thick coat of hair. Another analogy I can think of, is the prediction made by genes towards the black race; people who are black usually live in hot climate, so genes already know that their skin must resist sun all day and it must be tan. “All we have to believe is that those individuals whose genes build brains, they tend to gamble correctly are as direct result more likely to survive, and therefore to propagate those same genes”(P.56). Genes build brains in a way that the created survival machine survives, so its genes can also survive and pass to next generations. Of course, genes can´t make specific predictions, since they only act in an indirect way (Of course in a very powerful sense) , but it´s extremely important to realize that each survival machine experiences more things through life, till the point that they can even have “the power to rebel against the dictates of genes, for instance in refusing to have as many children as they are able to”(P.60)

It´s really interesting to see how we really work depending on certain aspects; such as the genes being the masters of our creation! Every machine is build by certain genes, who predict and ensure certain aspects for it to survive. But well, we are also geniuses in a way that we are the ones who control limits or reactions. Through every day life, we, as humans, learn lots of things, which at some point they become exceptional to make us be aware of how to keep high our survival.

EBSCO HOST CONTINUATION

4. Unlocking the secrets of self-sabotage. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nfh&AN=6FP3369822106&site=ehost-live
5. Mediocrity rewarded. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nfh&AN=7EH2849470761&site=ehost-live

DAWKINS´ PROTAGONIST: THE GENE

“A gene is defined as any portion of chromosomal material that potentially lasts for enough generation to serve as a unit of natural selection”(P.28).

Finally we get to the point where Dawkins is starting to explain his book’s protagonist; the gene. What we have understood about a gene, from Dawkins point of view, is that it is a unique genetic unit which has the enough capacities to last for a lot of generations, “distributing” itself in various copies. Natural selection has been Dawkins important issue to explain gene’s importance; “Natural selection in its most general form means the differential survival of entities”. Each specie or individual has a time limit, where it has to deal with stability and survival. The point is, a gene also has to be aware of stability, but not about short life time, since it just “leaps from body to body down to generations, manipulating body after body in its own way...”(P.34) You see! A gene lasts forever! A very important gene idiosyncrasy! Humans, animals, or “survival machines” are mortals, while genes are the immortals, because “ genes in the world have an expectation of life that must be measured in millions years!”(P.37) In this vast period of time, genes are the only ones who really pertain about natural selection, since “ it is defined as a piece of chromosome which is sufficient short for it to last, potential, for long enough for it to function as a significant unit of natural selection” (P.36)
I will see if a gene, living within other genes or environments, will still be sufficiently potential to survive and achieve stability! Once I find these answers I will then be able to comprehend why the gene is the basic unit of selfishness.

NEW ATTRACTIVE TERMS

While I was reading this chapter, I got a little bit confused with some key terms, since I didn´t know their connotation. At this point, I consider it´s really important to appreciate these scientific terms, to later comprehend the whole point of the author. Maybe these will not be so relevant at the middle of the book, but still I was really curious about knowing their sense. Some of them I understood their meaning in class, but any ways I blog them here if in future chapters they appear again.
At the same time, I realize all these key terms are extremely important to finally understand the author¨s purpose; The gene is the most important individual in natural selection. All the following terms are evolved within gene existence, so it is better to take a deep look at them!

Recessive: " a gene that is ignored"
Dominant: the opposite of the recessive one.
Mitosis: " a normal division of a cell into two new cells, each one receiving a complete copy of 46 chromosomes"
Meiosis: "This occurs only in the production of sex cells; the sperms or eggs". Meiosis is a cell division, taking place only in the testicles and ovaries, in which a cell with the full double set of 46 chromosomes divides to form sex cells with the single set of 23"
Cistron: It can be interprate as a gene or as the nucleotide chain.
Mimicry: copying of genes
Inversion: " it happens when a piece of chromosome detaches itself atboth ends, turns head over heels, and reattaches itsel in the inverted position"

EBSCO host

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3.

EVALUATION WHILE READING A SOURCE

It's really important to evaluate the content while you are reading it, so certain instructions need to be followed.
1. Take a look through the index and the contents, so you'll know if your topic is really complete or deep.
2. Search for more references related to your topic.
3. Make clear what your tone, information, and audience are going to be.
4. Be sure to know what type of content is yours: opinion or propaganda(be sure to have great persuasive statements).
5. Be clear while reflecting either emotional or objective language.
6. Be sure to build good sources of information: it is better if you mix and balance different type of sources in your content ( present dated resources or strong evidence)

PARAPHRASING, QUOTING, AND SUMMARIZING

Paraphrasing
Basically, Roger has concluded that most of institutions of education are under a terrible situation, since they have given more importance to social issues rather than giving importance to the real and original purpose, to firstly educate individuals.

Quoting
Roger realized that schools have not yet accomplish the real puspose, to educate, since ¨At present, they are only tangentially so. They have attempted to serve an all-encompassing social function, trying to be all things to all people. In the process they have failed miserably at what they were originally formed to accomplish.¨

Summary

American education seems to be in trouble, principally because of one important reason. The reason is because students have no desire in attending classes but they are force to since mandatory laws are given to them. For this to not happen, schools should abolish these laws and permit students who are completely interested to attend it, and the ones who are´nt shouldn´t be force to. Obviously, private schools have no problem with these laws, since they can dismiss uninterested students because they will easily go directly to the public ones.

"SURVIVAL MACHINES"

I really liked how Dawkins identified humans, animals, plants, bacteria, and viruses, as “survival machines” I had never realized that genes or “replicators” could be the first factors so revolution could exist. Basically the gene is the only thing possible to copy information, since it carries DNA. Once DNA forms a specie, each individual, not just humans, have now a function; live and survive.

For example in humanity, each person starts living life from a unique perspective and behavior. Each individual becomes a machine, where each one starts functioning in a different way; each one using her/his capacities or tools. As humans are mortals, machines also get to a point in which they stop working. The world can be interpreted as a fabric, where big, small or tiny machines work for it and have different purposes, such as humans, whose lives differ from each other so competition, satisfaction, and development can be achieved.

FIRST CHAPTER

In the first chapter I considerably perceive Dawkins ability to explain complex biology theories or terms in brief and easy explanations. Personally, I’m not a person who really appreciate reading about science, but maybe this book will be a chance to get more attracted to it. What I really liked was Dawkin´s use of various examples, such as the use of altruism in different species and how they all develop it. Why are people? Is the perfect question every human being must have asked once in a life, and this book might give us some reasons or perceptions about how life began.

As I read in one book called “El mundo de Sofia”, I agreed with one association the author made; We, as humans, live in the fur of a rabbit, where usually everyone would ask what would be in the top of the big white hair. Such as Darwin, Newton, or Dawkin, are the perfect example of the individuals who could touch the top of the hair and give a look around the rabbit´s body. We as readers are in the same position of the people under the top of the rabbit´s hair, so this book will be a first step to increase our curiosity about what´s on top of us; It´ll open our eyes to understand why we are here! Those who are curious and capable of looking around are the only ones able to explain us everything, so let this book build us more!

Lyrics 'Suicide is Painless'

Lyrics
'Suicide is Painless'

Through early morning fog I see
visions of the things to be
the pains that are withheld for me
I realize and I can see...
[REFRAIN]:
that suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
I try to find a way to make
all our little joys relate
without that ever-present hate
but now I know that it's too late, and...
[REFRAIN]
The game of life is hard to play
I'm gonna lose it anyway
The losing card I'll someday lay
so this is all I have to say.
[REFRAIN]
The only way to win is cheat
And lay it down before I'm beat
and to another give my seat
for that's the only painless feat.
[REFRAIN]
The sword of time will pierce our skins
It doesn't hurt when it begins
But as it works its way on in
The pain grows stronger...watch it grin, but...
[REFRAIN]
A brave man once requested me
to answer questions that are key
is it to be or not to be
and I replied 'oh why ask me?'
[REFRAIN]
'Cause suicide is painless
it brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
...and you can do the same thing if you please.

With this song I can completley relate these words with Hamlet´s feelings throughout Act III, since he is really mad about his father´s death. Hamlet´s insanity makes him hesitate about "be or not to be" in his life reality, making the readers to suspect about a possible suicide from this protagonist.
Even in this song, the words "be or not to be" are written as well as reflected in Hamlet´s soliloqouy.

EXTRAORDINARY NOVEL

What a great novel! Since I started reading it, I always got really inquisitive about what its future events were going to be. I had never read a book in which religion and political power were its most important themes. I really liked how the protagonist played various roles, reflecting different perspectives towards different type of people. At the same time I loved how this novel appears to have many climaxes, since many moments are really exciting making the reader to get more attraction towards it.
Definitely this novel can be a tragic one, where the main protagonist, the priest, plays the role of the tragic hero, where he is always living life to make this tragedy happen.

BARACK OBAMA (PUBLIC SPEAKER)

Is this a good public speaker based on the criteria we established? Why? Why not?

Barack Obama is a good public speaker based on the criteria we established. Since he starts his speech, the audience is in complete silence showing an extreme respect towards this character. Once he begins to when he finishes, there´s always eye contact or body expression from him towards the people. Obama is always moving his eyes and hands making some parts of his speech to be more relevant. At the same time he vocalizes very good in a way his speech becomes clearer. Apart from his excellent physical language, his speech’s content attracts everyone in a way people clap, participate, and respect. He uses rhetoric, pathos, and logos, since he talks about other important figures and uses examples to encourage audience to be convinced. The effect of his speech is all about claps from public, because Obama could emotionally induce each person.

THE PROTAGONIST, A HERO OF THE FAITH

“Whichever way you looked, there wasn’t much merit in either of them”(P.190) I completely disagree with this quote, since the two persons, the criminal and the priest, have lived and experienced completely different things. What I have realized till this moment is that the priest should be valued or recognized because of being a hero of the faith.

Throughout the novel we have been aware about the persistence the protagonist has had while the constant government resistance. At the end we get to know some attitudes of this protagonist, such as humbleness and generosity, which make me reconsider about he being an exemplary; “But I do know this-that if there’s ever been a single man in this state damned, then I’ll be damned too. I wouldn’t want it to be any different. I just want Justice, that’s all”(P.200). His attitude towards life and people reflect a unique figure, since he is thinking more about other individuals than about himself; He is suffering while escaping because he thinks he has to, since others also do.

For me Jesus can be completely identified as a hero of the faith because he died for us exactly the same way as the priest did.
Since this, the following quote absolutely clarifies my personal opinion; “There were no more priests and no more heroes”(P.220).
“He was one of the martyrs of the church”...”He was one of the heroes of the faith”(P.219)

BIZARRE PRIEST´S MOOD REVOLUTION

The Priest has reflected various attitudes towards life and his own reality. In this pages we can get a little bit perplexed with his continuous changes of the importance of money in his life. When he arrives to another village, the priest stays with MrLehr and his sister, Miss Lehr, two German-American Protestants living in Mexico.

Villagers from this town ask him to say mass and baptize many young individuals. At first he starts realizing about his present reality; “Well-two pesos is the usual charge” He thought I must hire two mules and a guide. It will cost me fifty pesos to reach Las Casas. Five pesos for the Mass. that I left forty-five”(P.167). From this passage we can definitely understand his real awareness about money and its importance to continue escaping from persecution. We as audience may understand this analysis from the character, since we don’t still want him to be displaced from the novel.

After the villagers make him consider about their poverty and lack of money to pay for the baptisms, the priest reconsiders his past analysis and decides to charge them less money. Once he leaves town he decides to donate all his money to a schoolmaster ; “He’s not a bad man, he does his best, and I shan´t need money again, shall I?”(P.182).

At first we understand his attentiveness about keeping money for his life, then we agree about he being aware about all villagers poverty, but why would he suddenly ignore his past consciousness towards money? If this protagonist changes his perceptions and meanings without really caring about them, would he suddenly ignore his own reality? Throughout all the book the priest is completely aware about his risks, but with the past analysis about his moods being changed we would now be aware that maybe he will just disregard his permanent escape from government.

PRIEST´S LIFE COMING TO AN END

“Hope is an instinct only the reasoning human mind can kill” (P.140) With this citation we can absolutely understand how the priest’s hope hasn’t been vanished, since he is still aware of being alive. From the beginning we have seen how this character lives his life without wondering what’s wrong or right, although at this time of the novel he is now realizing his true reality. While this character is involved with other individuals, he is still playing a role of a stranger to society, since he is still not identified as the priest. As we could read, he is caught and prejudiced because of having alcohol, but still he is an invisible character for the ones who want to see him as the priest. What this quote tries to make us consider in this chapter is to start realizing that the character’s hope will be killed really soon maybe by him or by another stranger.

After he leaves jail, he finds himself alone without food, a person, nor light; “There was just nothing, nothing at all”( 141) This scene is another clue about the protagonist’s destiny, since his life is also without anything, full of dark holes and fears. Although alcohol has somehow save his life till this moment, an end or a death will come in a short period of time. If this priest would at least keep and defend his religious beliefs, maybe he will have a hope thinking in God, but since he is completely ignoring his beliefs and hiding his own identity, what would then be the reason to continue having hope within his present life?

The (Ignored) Extermination of Iraqi Christians

Despite being ignored by the media, Iraqi Christians face the constant threat of torture, rape, kidnapping, and murder. This video tells their story.
This video can show us how the extermination of the catholic church in Mexico can be!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h503pUkqfoQ

Is the Priest going to assume Judas´ role?

“He was feeling happy” (P.59). For the first time we are conscious about the priest’s feelings towards life, although he is more dead than alive. He knows he is in terrible danger, but he still plans to go from village to village and continue teaching mass, knowing he has to be hidden from the lieutenant. The risk this character chooses to take, makes him continuously disregard his religious role, to the point he can be interpreted as a fraud or a “thief for all the good...”(P.79).

When someone really cares about preserving his/her thoughts, transparency should be the first aspect to be aware of. A priest in that period of time should be the person who cleans all human souls and brings self-assurance and love towards all individuals´ minds and hearts. The priest of this novel, once identified as an stranger by Mr.Tench, can definitely be now a stranger and a traitor to his own religion, since his fear to be caught is making him act in the way an atheist would act. “Nobody came forward to kiss his hand and ask his blessing. It was as if he had descended by means of his sin into the human struggle to learn other things besides despair and love, that a man can be unwelcome even in his own home”( P.62) Even the villagers who once admired all priests, it was now the time to see this priest, who was causing deaths and fear throughout society, as a stranger.

“Happiness was dead again before it had time to breathe”(P.63) At this point he is completely aware about all villagers perspectives about his image, so now he can’t say he is proud and satisfy with his own soul, since “He was a sickness now”(P.64). This priest, who once reflected determination about his religious belief and position, is now leaving it; “I am a poor man”(P.87) He doesn’t want to accept he is a priest neither to a Christian man, while he always accepted his role to all communities.

“He remembered Holy Week in the old days when a stuffed Judas was hanged...”(P.91) With this passage we can clearly perceive his present thoughts about religion... Would he be the next Judas, since he can be a traitor to God because of non-accepting or hiding his religious role?

CHARACTER´S DESIRES BEING STOPPED BY SOMETHING...

In the last chapters we got to know some particular characters who were playing completely different roles within the same environment. In the last chapter of the first part we can clearly perceive how these characters have special desires but because of something, they are questioned or somehow blocked.

At the beginning of chapter four, Mr.Tench is writing a letter to his wife, who he didn´t know about her since long time ago. This desire is really strange, since we as readers already once understood him as a lonely person. “An odd impulse had come to him...”(P.45) This is the first free proceed this character develops, but he is interrupted by a knock in his door; “He couldn’t remember now what had given him the odd idea. Somebody knocked at the outer door and he left the letter on the bench...”(P.46)

Secondly, we analyze the scene in which Padre José is for the first time really comfortable and peaceful, since he is surrounded by a holy place, but again he is interrupted by a family. Once he is in this building holy estate or “The Garden of God”, he forgets about all the pandemonium; “There was a sense of intimacy-you could go anywhere and see anything. Life here had withdrawn all together”(P.47) While living this moment, Padre José is interrupted by a family who asks him to pray for them, but his fear doesn´t let him approach to his real desire; “Leave me alone” He said. “I´m unworthy. Can´t you see?-I am a coward”(P.49)

At last, we see two character’s examples which encounter certain desires´ s interruptions. When Mrs.Fellows is finishing reading the Holy Book to her child, Coral is really interested in knowing if her mother believes in God. “ Mother” the child said, “do you believe there´s a God?” The question scared Mrs.Fellows.”(P.53) With this mother´s reaction we can clearly interpret she really wants to answer her, but she is also interrupted by a fear.

The second scene is about the lieutenant being really anxious about killing the priest, but in his way to find him, he is stopped by a kid. The lieutenant has now the permission and the freedom to do anything for the persecution of the priest. Once he is authorized by the Jefe and the governor, he walks out and a little boy attacks him thinking he is a Gringo. “An empty gasesosa bottle sailed through the air and smashed at the lieutenant’s feet”(P.57) The lieutenant is for the first time attacked by someone while going to pursue his desire.

What I got from all these specific examples is that each character is stopped by something while freely following their objectives or actions. All characters have been living under a world of manipulation to forget about everything the catholic religion encounters. The pressure this new world which has invade all character’s spirits, is now starting to be the guilty by being obstacles during certain character’s desires. Although each character is playing a completely different role, each once has in this chapter the freedom to pursue their goals, but their surrounding atmosphere somehow blocks their minds and hearts to do them.
The majority of the passages has one word which makes us clearly see character’s feelings towards various interruptions. So now we should questioned ourselves...why would each character throughout this chapter reflect fear while being interrupted? Will their atmosphere be their reason to feel vexed?

ALCOHOL VS. PRIEST´S POSITION

Through the previous pages, I could identify two extraordinary issues which made me consider the protagonist in a superior way. As the story keeps on, we can conclude that the Stranger from the beginning is the priest, who everyone of the elite is looking for.
Many priests have abandoned religion to be accepted by government, but this main character doesn’t want to leave his religious role. We can assure this individual can be a stranger to society, because of being outside the common perspectives, but at the same time we can definitely say he does care about defending and saving his thoughts or beliefs, not caring being persecuted by all political hunters. He has two options: continue his life as a priest or give up to be part of acceptance; “Renounce your faith”, she explained... He said,
“ It´s impossible. There´s no way. I´m a priest. It´s out of my power”(P.40). That´s it! He will continue avoiding Mexican’s stiffness.
As this passage makes us clearly realize the priest is sure about continuing his escape, we are now also able to see his necessities to achieve the permanence in his position. As we could see in the first chapter, this protagonist has always being aware about having alcohol by his side. At first we could think this was just an insignificant act, although it has been easily to perceive this character continues being aware of his brandy. “She could hear him sucking desperately at the bottle. She said, “I think I could find my father’s brandy”(P.41). Even the other characters, such as Mr.Tench and the girl are aware of the priest’s constant attention towards the existence of alcohol.
By the moment we can conclude the priest is an alcoholic, so... will the priest´s position change if no alcohol is by his side?

PERSECUTION OF THE STRANGER

From the second chapter, we can start realizing that this novel will focus in the persecution of priests or followers of the catholic religion.
One of the characters, the lieutenant, makes the readers understand the hate that should be developed towards individuals who think God is magnificent. The stranger from the first chapter is now recognized as a priest, who’s being watched by government, and all members of it are aware of his escape. “I could guarantee to fetch this man in, inside a month...”(P.23) Every priest has to be persecuted and executed, since the lieutenant thinks there’s no merciful God and that existence is meaningless. This point of view wasn’t just analyzed by this character, since in many periods of time the catholic church had to face several schisms.
The character, so I think, is referring to the Schism that occurred with Martin Luther and Calvin, when the Christian church was divided in two main branches, the protestants and the Catholics. Some of the differences mainly consisted on; the priests´ role, whether they could or couldn’t get married, the concept of the Immaculate conception, the ineffability of the pope, the Bible interpretation, the way some of the rituals as well as the sacraments were performed, and lastly the concept of the Holy Trinity which still varies within the two religious branches.
With this conception about catholic religion persecution, we shall now be aware about the Stranger or priest’s flee.

CHARACTERS AND THEIR RELFECTION OF CERTAIN ATMOSPHERES

In this first chapter we are introduced in a very strange but peculiar world. No setting nor dates are mentioned in this first part, but what we consistently see is the appearance of four characters and the atmospheres each one creates.
Mr Tench, an English man living in Mexico and working as a dentist, is the first character the reader encounters. Nothing important happens to him, until the moment he meets another character and full this part of his life with curiosity and friendliness. This event is really important in this character’s development, since it show us how lonely this person is and how he is amazed by meeting an individual who has a certain connection, both speak English. But this situation suddenly ends, and Mr. Tench is back to his daily reality; “Loneliness face him there, vacancy. But he was as accustomed to both as to his own face in the glass”(P.18). By this citation we can definitely realize Mr Tench is living a life of apathy and “spiritual deadness”.
The second unnamed character we get to know really fast is the Stranger. It´s really difficult to describe him as a person, since he only shows up in the meeting with Mr. Tench. What we can definitely perceive from this person, is that he always acts with mystery, anxiety, and hurry. “He sat there like a lack question mark, ready to go, ready to stay, poised on his chair” (P.15)
Throughout all the conversation he ignores certain themes and changes the topic of it. Another strange aspect, is this character has bottle of contraband alcohol, which can be an act of rebellion against law, or it can be his companion to fulfill certain feelings since when “He sipped at it. It was like and indulgence”(P.15)
By the other side, we see two characters, a boy and a girl who reflect two opposite moods. The boy shows sadness because his mother is dying, so he urges the last two mentioned characters for help. At this moment he is hoping his mother will survive because someone will help her.
All characters in this first part of the novel are either living under the conception of negativity and anonymity. At the end of this chapter, Mr Tench observes a young lady who is happy, but doesn’t pause to consider why she is happy. She is only caring about spreading a joyful atmosphere, without giving importance to her feeling meaning. For the first time we see a character who is demonstrating positive attitude towards life.

Would there be more happy characters in the rest of the novel?

TWO WORLD SOCIETIES (The Emperor)

While reading the short passage from The Emperor, I was really fascinated by the explanation and comparison between two common world societies, high and low class ones. Ryszard Kapuscinski starts describing the meeting of the presidents, who were invited by the Emperor to his palace. Each decoration, individual, or provisions are illustrated as the most magnificent and stylish things existed at that period of time. For the guests, this could be one of the most imperative events happening within society. All was focused in the representation of extravagance and high quality.
“Mountains of meat, fruit, fish, and cheese rose on the tables. Many-layered cakes dripped with sweet, colored icing. Distinguished wines spread reflected colors and invigorating aromas. The music played on, and costumed clowns did somersaults to the delight of the carefree revelers... It was a splendid affair.”

At the other hand, one character decides to depart the party for one instant. While having a walk through the palace, a peculiar situation gets his attention. All food which was left on the dishes by the guests was thrown over to some beggars. “I watched the crowd devour the scraps, bones, and fish heads with laborious concentration”. Here’s where we can see the other part of society, low class or poor people, getting satisfied with leftovers of the upper part of society. This is the perfect example to make society realize that food isn’t a toy, since it’s a privilege to have it. You can’t waste food, because all individuals need it for the same reason, to survive.

This short event isn’t a unique one, now days, societies are still socially divided, since money and power are still observed as the representation of superiority. This isn’t going to be changed, but what should be improved is the use of important things either from high or low class humanity. Food, water or money can be in all individual’s hands, as long as a good use is always done.

RESPONSE ABOUT THE NATION (ARTICLE)

As I read your article, I found all your opinion being parallel to mine. Throughout The Soccer War, I was really interested in how the author wanted to show his reality through a character which would represent himself. It’s really amazing how this individual’s personality, experiences, and work can easily be appreciated by audience.
This journalist describes all possible events evolving wars and political issues from a quick but effective perspective. This is just what you perceived; “Another thing that is absent from Kapuscinski's writing is deep political analysis. Let me qualify that. He is brilliant at describing two types of phenomena: the way an individual ruler amasses and then squanders power, and the way the masses mobilize for war and revolution. Yet there is a curious generality to the way he treats these subjects.”
What we get from his words are lots of information, but without dense and profound details which make his narration even more attractive. That´s why I completely agree when you say; “Kapuscinski describes, he evokes, but for all the unquestionable beauty of his words, he doesn't produce actionable intelligence. He is an oracle of the indeterminate.” He is definitely an oracle! His amazing eye observed and kept reality for many periods of time, without worrying about specific dealings which for nations at that time were important, but for us are not now so useful.

“But he was wrong about many things, and of these, I believe the most important was his evident belief that the confusion he felt everywhere was an inborn and incurable human condition.”

I concur this journalist could have made various blunders, but what´s the matter? Isn´t he a human? What we need to comprehend is his exceptional inspiration to signify and appreciate society. It’s a fact that to truly know how each type of society works, you need to last long time within it, so as Kapuscinski didn´t have lot of time for deep analysis, he just draw reality with a global and general perspective.
Isn´t enough his constant work to finally terminate him as a hero? Didn´t he survive more than 20 world revolutions were political, economical, and social issues could cause his death?

RHETORIC ABOUT ARTICLE

TYPE: LOGOS
DEFINITION: Argument of logic
EXAMPLE:
Bowie said Jena's judicial process was "unequal".One of the teens, Mychal Bell, was found guilty of second degree battery in June by an all-white jury before the case was overturned by an appeal court.

TYPE: ETHOS
DEFINITION: Argument of character
EXAMPLES:
-The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which is supporting the group's defence case, said it was pleased Bowie had got involved.
-"Mr Bowie shares our outrage. We hope others will join him," he added.
David Bowie has made a $10,000 (£4,981) donation to a legal defence fund for six black teenagers charged with assault on a white student in the US.

TYPE: PATHOS
DEFINITION: Emotion
EXAMPLES:
-GRATITUDE: "We are gratified that rock star David Bowie was moved to donate to the -NAACP's Jena campaign," said Julian Bond, chairman of the organisation's board of directors.
-SADNESS VS.HOPE: Thousands are expected to march in protest....
-HATE: The alleged assault followed a series of racial incidents between black and white.


ARTICLE:

Bowie supports US race row teens
Bowie said the donation was a "small gesture"
David Bowie has made a $10,000 (£4,981) donation to a legal defence fund for six black teenagers charged with assault on a white student in the US.
One of the teens, Mychal Bell, was found guilty of second degree battery in June by an all-white jury before the case was overturned by an appeal court.
The court said Bell, 16 at the time of the alleged incident in December 2006, should not have been tried as an adult.
Five others face charges. Bowie said Jena's judicial process was "unequal".
"A donation to the Jena 6 Legal Defence Fund is my small gesture indicating my belief that a wrongful charge and sentence should be prevented," said the 60-year-old in a statement published on his website.
The other students accused are Robert Bailey, 17, Theodore Shaw, 17, Carwin Jones, 18, and Bryant Purvis, 17.
A fifth teenager was booked as a juvenile and charges have not been made public
Racial tensions
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which is supporting the group's defence case, said it was pleased Bowie had got involved.
"We are gratified that rock star David Bowie was moved to donate to the NAACP's Jena campaign," said Julian Bond, chairman of the organisation's board of directors.
"Mr Bowie shares our outrage. We hope others will join him," he added.
Thousands are expected to march in protest through the small town of Jena on Thursday.
The Reverend Al Sharpton has helped organise the march and will later visit Mr Bell, who remains in jail because he cannot raise the $90,000 (£44,900) bail money.
The alleged assault followed a series of racial incidents between black and white students which began at Jena High School last summer.
A black student asked the school's principal whether he was permitted to sit under the shade of the school courtyard tree, a place traditionally reserved for white students only. He was told he could sit where he liked.
The following morning, when the students arrived at school, they found three nooses dangling from the tree.
The school's head recommended the noose-hangers be expelled but the governing board overruled him and the three white student perpetrators were briefly suspended.


Last Updated: Thursday, 20 September 2007, 09:17 GMT 10:17 UK

LAST COMMENT ABOUT KAUPUSCINSKI

Wow! Finally I got a conclusion about this remarkable and wonderful character’s spirit. Throughout all novel, he appears as an imperceptible gentleman, who has an ideal eye perceiving all events that are happening in the inside world. No one has any idea regarding his life, individuality, or nationality, since no one asks him anything at any time.
Well, at the end we can alter this outlook because for the first time some individuals get truly fascinated by him.
What we need to considerate now, is at this time he doesn’t play the journalist position, he’s now being questioned as a common character, such as how Kapuscinski is perceived now days.

CONSTANT REJECTION TOWARDS WOMEN

Throughout history there will always exist repetitive and cyclic events or interpretations. In today’s world, it’s really clear to perceive how women are still discriminated by society, since it has always built a fallacy that women are inferior than man in the majority of aspects.
“They cannot walk alone...They cannot look around, because that is in bad taste...”( P.212) This things should not happen, aren’t girls capable of walking alone and defend their selves? I don’t mean by physically defense, but men should be conscious that as they deserve respect, women also ought to have it. Men realize we are naive, quiet, or inferior, but we all as humans comprise potentials as well as flaws, so all should be valued and seen from an equivalent perception.
The Greeks were in war, and man were the major national support, but that doesn’t connote women couldn’t enforce higher quality jobs.
Someday, this gender misconception will revolutionize, because female souls are as well superb and proficient to reach advantage.

SILENCE

It’s really fascinating how Kapuscinski describes the word silence, mentioning its distinct appearances within societies.
“A universal silence fell”(P.190) It´s incredible the way this citation made me consider about several years ago, where Rojas Pinilla dictatorship took control over Colombia, building silence throughout society.
When this dictator took power over Colombia, people were hoping to have a high-quality government which would be able to erase all past dreadful aspects (political, economical, social). First year was good for Colombia, as some individuals consider, since new institutions and infrastructures were built ( I really think this was a way to buy people...POPULISM). The problem started when Rojas Pinilla now used armed forces and individual manipulation to control the nation. Next months, Colombians didn´t have a voice, since democracy was abolished and no newspapers were permitted to reflect opinion.
No voice, no opinion, no rebellion, no dispute, no action...all Colombian society was ignored since it was all quiet!
This is really discouraging to remember, but hopefully, as soon as two students were killed by this dictator (one was my aunt, Ernesto Aparicio) Colombian humanity determined to shout for words of noise and freedom! Within four days ( May 10,1957), all companies, schools and universities were closed, with the purpose to join the rebellion against this dictator and to find a door to escape from silence.
Wow! Colombians did it! No silence appeared after those days, because Rojas was totally forced to leave the country!
This is the perfect example which explains how silence is set but at the same time it can be concealed.
Throughout history, silence will be a permanent invader, but it can be sequential depending on how it is used by individuals!

THE WORST TRAGEDY IN MODERN OLYMPIC HISTORY VS. SOCCER WAR

As I started reading about the description of the Soccer War, I got really interested in knowing if this was the only historical event where sports and violence were both connected.
I found out 3 years after the Soccer War happened, a terrible massacre caused by political differentiations, was set in Germany in the year of 1972. Most Germans hoped the Munich Games in 1972 would at least in some way help to heal the racial wounds caused by Hitler.
On the morning of September 5, with six days left in the Games, the worst tragedy in Olympic history hit. “Eight Arab terrorists stormed into the Olympic village and raided the apartment building that housed the Israeli contingent. Two Israeli athletes were killed and nine more were seized as hostages. They demanded the release of over 200 Palestinians serving time in Israeli jails, along with two renowned German terrorists.” (Munich, n.pag)

As we can see both events were determined by political conflicts that existed beyond the sport. They integrated much more actors and historical tensions between different countries. In both examples, athletes paid the price of conflicts that existed even before they stepped on the field.

SN´T NORTH AMERICA A BAROQUE NATION?

“Latin America-that is, the universal prevalence of the baroque: baroque not only as a style of aesthetics and thought, but also as general commitment to excess and eclecticism”(P.151)
While reading this surveillance from the journalist, I actually analyzed why he had represented just Latin America as a prevalence of the baroque because of its overstatement of everything, but...Isn’t North America more drastically exaggerated in more aspects?
I completely concur Latin Americans are surrounded by drastic divisions between things, such as the clear division between poor and rich, the differentiation of physical aspects between races, and the presence of diverse cultures. But I would add to this character’s comment that North Americans would definitely be positioned as the very first place of being baroques.
Since long time ago, North America has been perceived as a completely consumerist country. Individuals as well as companies have always developed within a highly competitive environment. The main goal of the system is to foster and sustain high levels of consumers. Television media, credit cards, and other facilities have turned the average American citizen into a compulsive buyer of goods. It is not coincidental that in the average American household there is always a storage full of merchandise and useless stuff. The need of always having the new brand and model creates addictive consumers in the hands of big companies. Another perfect example are the highest levels of electricity consumption: according to credible sources, the average American citizen spends three times the electricity rates of an average European citizen.

With all these and other facts about North America, I wonder...Isn’t North America a baroque nation?

EYE´S WRITERS WHICH SEE THE UNSEEN

Unfortunately, we found out through the report that the amazing journalist, Kapuscinski, died several days ago, at the age of 74. What´s most important is this individual’s life, since he made many people realize about astonishing historical events that happened in the 1960´s. Throughout all his research in various African nations, he had to deal with all political dealings and violence, although he wasn´t a member of those societies.
As Lawrence Weschler (a fellow writer, who met Kapuscinski in Poland) , said, Kapuscinski had an “incredible eye”, since he represented each scene with the most spectacular details. At the same time, he highlights the importance of his personality while being surrounded by various hot historical spots, given that he had to seem like nobody, capturing every slight thing. That’s why we, as readers, see Kapuscinski as a narrator, but always appearing in every story commented.
While listening this interview, I got really interested in how Kapuscinski is compared with Gabriel Garcia Marquez ( they were both great friends and were teachers for Latin America writers), since both of them chose to live under important historical situations and then reflect these with their own eyes and perspectives. Both use magic realism; In Cien años de Soledad, Gabriel Garcia Marquez imagines and describes a city which is not real, but the commented historical events did happened at that period of time. In The Emperor, the most important Kapuscinski´s book, he starts describing a city of pedigree dogs going wild, comparing them with humans.
With this comparison, now I will be able to be more connected with Kapuscinski´s writings, since I´ll be persistent in considering his magic applied in genuine events. An additional thing which got my attention, was that for he first time, The Soccer War book, is mentioned by his friend, Weschler, intriguing me more to discover its meaning...the title sense.

CLAUDE LEVI-STRAUSS VS. KAPUSCINSKI

When Kapuscinski is in Lagos, he reads through Tristes Tropiques, where Claude Levi-Strauss, the protagonist, is running through an ethnographic research among the Indian tribes. While reading his thoughts about this journey, I found out that Soccer War´s journalist had being living under a similar environment. As Levi. Strauss has difficulties and resistance from Indians, Kapuscinski is living under certain political resistance, where maybe he can also end up being drained.
Kapuscinski´s boss is really concerned about his adventures, but it seems that for this journalist this job is pleasant and fascinating; “Our job is like baker’s work-his rolls are tasty as long as they’re fresh; after two days they’re stale; after a week they´re covered with mould and fit only to be thrown out”(P.141).
As Kapuscinski reads Claude Levi-Strauss words, it somehow reflects some questions which might have a connection with his ones.
“Why has he come here? With what hopes or what objectives?”(P.142)
Is Kapuscinski realizing about his present surroundings in each region? Are they leaving him a positive effect? From Claude Levi-Strauss passages, I would then now doubt about the continuing adventure of Kapuscinski.


VOCABULARY:
Coup
Epitomize

CAN INDIVIDUAL COMPLEXITIES OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME?

Throughout all first pages I have read, it´s astonishing how Ryszard Kapuscinski has the capacity to turn our minds to another period of time. For my first time I have the opportunity to understand various situations happening at the same moment at different countries. In the same month, 5 nations are living terrible events, which are completely different but all obtain same result; damage within society.
“Everywhere there was an atmosphere of tension, everywhere the smell of gunpowder”(P.127)
Wars happened at all time, leaving hundreds of dead people, destroyed houses and great sums of money wasted because of different reasons in the 1960´s.

From this systematic perspective of the character, it’s really easy to make us, the readers, realize how in today’s world, each country is facing different conflicts at the same time, but all affecting same issue, world’s population. Unfortunately this world has been build up the majority by humans, so all conflicts that cause destruction, touches neither positively or negatively all individuals.
Sometimes societies tend to concentrate in the present events happening just in their own countries, since they don’t realize others dilemmas are running outside. This perception is what diminishes the interest in having communication and support with other nations. Maybe, if the countries that we have known through this Kapuscinsky journal have the opportunity to share each others issues, the process of finding solutions can become more effective.

At the same time, this analysis makes me think about myself a lot, since in difficult times, I tend to think that I´m just the only one suffering, without realizing that all humans have hard times. I just start to complain I´m the only person facing something and I begin to reflect... why me? So as I said, here’s the instant where communication or sharing with other people can be a way to relate situations and come across solutions.

(SOCCER WAR) ISOLATION OF HUMAN GHOSTS FROM THEIR OWN COUNTRIES,

From long time ago, wars caused by political or social problems, societies have suffered isolation from their own cultures and territories. One of the major problems reflected in most populations is the disjointing of classes, where ignorance or impertinence take over natives. In the book Soccer War, Algeria, as a French colony, has a war against Vietnam and China, which was a one of the biggest wars of liberation at that period of time. As customary, some part of the population, the Algiers, lived without attention, because colonialism fosters still run through Algerian society.
“These people are generally strangers to Algeria. Nobody here knows the countryside” Ben Bella took a slight interest in the villages, but nobody else. And the villages are eighty percent of Algeria”(P.100)
Isn’t this unreasonable? In many countries of today’s world, they are still having this dilemma. Colombia has been affected by the constant war against the Guerrilla, where the worst effect from it, is the trace of desplazados. These groups also represent a big proportion of Colombian population which has been also disregarded by government, since there’s not enough resources to make up their livings.
As these kind of problems evolving societies don’t stop, there will always exist a reaction from individuals.
So will Algiers or Colombian desplazados react towards this isolation?

MEANING OF EXISTENCE

“Camus wrote The Stranger as an enticement to his readers, to think about their own mortality and the meaning of their existence.”(n pag)

After appreciating this extraordinary novel, we could finally have certain events which clarified us about its author’s purpose.
At first, we find in trial how the participants were persistently playing a role, which would have been also played in today’s society. Remember that Meursault´s life has no rational meaning, while we as humans live with the struggle of finding a meaning in our lives, (“This struggle to find meaning where none exists is what Camus calls, the absurd.”). Meursault basically ignores the meaning of life days, while each character, such as the trial members and the chaplain, are constantly aware of discovering the meaning of everything... but the point is; do they really get to the meaning behind Meursault´s life?

As follows, you´ll perceive in the passages, how some trial individuals´ reactions can definitively be similar to ours in this present humanity.

“He stated he had no place in society whose most fundamental rules I ignored and that I couldn’t appeal to same human heart whose elementary response I knew nothing of”(P.102)

“He said the truth was that I didn’t have a soul and that nothing human, not one of the moral principles that govern men’s hearts, was within my reach”(P.101)

For us, certain rules of life are needed to be followed, either moral principles or societies´ essentials. As existentialism becomes the unique stage in this novel, we can realize why Meursault is always explaining his life existence as a simple cycle, contradicting basic issues which are really pertinent for all humans.
Meursault, just in his last existence of life, was still caring about matters which were really important for him..but for a normal person would these be as well as imperative?

“I was assailed by memories of a life that wasn´t mine anymore, but one in which I´d found the simplest and most lasting joys: the smells of summer, a certain evening sky, Marie´s dresses...”(P.104}

For characters and audience, there was no soul, principles and meanings in Meursault´s life, but for him, simplicity was his first choice of living. Maybe, he realized human existence had no meaning, since he saw death as another door which was an inescapable fact of life, and was what his tomorrow was going to be.

At the end, Meursault quits his reality by again accepting his upcoming;
“I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world.”(P.123)

FIRST EMOTIONAL MANIFESTATION

“For the first time in years I had this stupid urge to cry, because I could feel how much all these people hated me”(P. 90)

The trial starts, Meursault surrounded by various spectators, prosecutors, and verdicts, tackling them with his eccentric reality. As it goes over, the pressure done towards this character dramatically starts increasing. His private life is set in this stage as the protagonist, where past events and individuality considerably influence him in an unhelpful way.
Throughout the story, it had been complex to understand Meursault´s personality, since he doesn’t appreciate the reflection of emotions nor thoughts. Two events had happened, where same strange expressions had appeared. By following this passage we can discover a new side of this protagonist.

For the first time, under pressure, he accepts the presence of feelings in his person, although he doesn’t act it in front of characters, but does share it with readers.

PHYSICAL ACTIONS, THE REASON OF HIS FEELINGS

While having the opportunity to recognize an innovative plot episode, such as the Arab’s murder, the book started to capture the audience in diverse motivating ways.
After Meursault killed the Arab, ignoring its purpose nor effect, he went directly to prison. As soon as he got in, a lawyer was asked to attend and defend this absurd case. The lawyer started interviewing him about his life, individuality, dealings and relations. Evidently, his mother’s death was going to be a relevant fact to discuss during this private life investigation. As it started, Meursault´s personality again reflected the bizarre expression he had before going to prison. Once more, “ he started out by saying that people were describing me as a taciturn and withdrawn person”, (P.66) said the lawyer to Meursault.
Meursault briefly reiterate, “I explained to him, however, that my nature was such that my physical needs often got the way of my feeling”(P.65). Here’s where we can comprehend that his tough and rude attitude during his mother’s funeral was caused since he was really tired and sleepy.
At this point, we should be aware that Meursault´s words considerably elucidate his own precedent events, such as the Arab’s murder.
This means that his physical daily actions directly influence his emotions, so... Would Meursault had physically killed the Arab because of certain emotions he was carrying within himself long time ago?
Maybe he does sense and heed about his own actions, but they are caused by his inner feelings. Sometimes people act in the way they act because something is bothering themselves since long time ago.
Yet, we don’t identify the cause of this murder, but with this individual’s terminology, we can get nearer to conclusions.

Mersault´s stance towards two significant deaths

“The sun was the same as it had been the day I´d buried Maman and like then, my forehead especially was hurting me, all the veins in it throbbing under the skin.”(P.58-59)
Wow! From this citation I can profoundly connect the two most remarkable and imperative events which have risen the significance of the book until this moment. Two deaths have happened throughout the story, where the first one, Mersault´s mother one, made the spectators initiate to analyze and recognize the eccentric personality of the protagonist. After having understood the lack of emotions and sensitivity expressed from this character towards his mother’s death, it makes it easier for readers to understand Mearsult´s murder to the Arab, since he neither felt regret nor concern.
He just “...fired four times at the motionless body where the bullets lodged without leaving a trace”(P.59) That was it! Once more his emotional ignorance invades his mind!
Why did his forehead hurt just at the time when two deaths happened?... Would this be a warning sign to make him stop being so alienated from his feelings?

“You don’t appreciate what you have until you loose it”

It´s astonishing how the following quote; “You don’t appreciate what you have until you loose it”, is applied in everyone’s life. Long time ago I could see a friend who was dating a guy, and it was conspicuous he was the one much more in love than her. Days passed, and my friend got really uninterested and determined to end with this love date. It is really funny because now days she is the one looking for this same man, and he’s now in a relationship with another girl. She knew she had the opportunity to be with him but she didn’t take advantage of his past feelings, and now that she doesn’t have him, she is passionate about been with him.
Now, with this short story I want to emphasize the situation that occurred with Meursault´s neighbor, Salamano, who lived with his dog, but he was always desperate because “he was bad-tempered, Salamano said”(P.45)
But...”His life had changed now and he wasn’t too sure what he was going to do”(P.46) since one day he woke up without the presence of his dog. From this moment, I realized how Salamano was suffering about his dog life , just when he wasn´t present.
Maybe if Salamano finds his dog, he will now be conscious about his gorgeous relationship.
From these two examples, remember... We need to be aware of taking advantage of the circumstances though we may not have them again, as well as with people!

"Take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway"

"Take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway"

"He was planning (Boss) to open an office in Paris...Then he asked me if I wasn´t interested in a change of life"(P.41)
...Oh my God! For the first time since I started reading the book I saw an open door where I would be able to discover new events and a change of plot...But...

Meursault said, “I said that people never change their lives, that in any case once life was as good as another and that it wasn´t dissatisfied with mine here at all”(P.41)
Here´s where I want to reaffirm how humans, such as Meursault, lock themselves in certain habits which appear to have no changes nor improvements.
This is the reason individuals require to learn how to risk themselves in captivating different paths and apply acceptance and analysis to every new change.
Today´s society live under certain routines where members are fulfilled and adapted...which is not bad! But it will be exceptional to follow Kelly Clarkson´s words in Breakaway song... "take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway"

GIVING IMPORTANCE TO INSIGNIFICANT DETAILS

GIVING IMPORTANCE TO INSIGNIFICANT DETAILS
VS.
RELEVANT ISSUES

"Maman died today or yesterday maybe, I don´t know"(P.3)
VS.
"Before leaving the office to go to lunch, I washed my hands...I really like doing this at lunchtime...I don´t enjoy it so much in the evening."(P.25)

The protagonist reflects to the audience the opposite of the human stereotype who usually gives importance to significant dealings that will have effects upon itself. With these two quotes we can clearly realize Meursault´s interests where the typical vital things for today’s society aren´t significant for him. He really cares about washing his hands before having lunch, while he drastically diminishes the importance of his mother´s death and his future marriage with Marie...
Wow! With these two passages we can definitively start to comprehend the book´s peculiar title, The Stranger!!

Welcome to my literature space

Hello!! My name is Paula Aparicio and I'm part of the twelve grade english class. In this page you'll be able to know what I read, think and analyze about all novels I have read. This will be the best space to reflect free and spontanous thoughts throughout all this semester.I'm sure everyone will have a lot of fun expressing and sharing whatever your critique will be.Paula Aparicio!!!!!!