"Speaking of Courage"

In “Speaking of Courage” as well as other chapters in the book, O’Brien illustrates not only solider’s fear during the war but solider’s courage as well. In the chapter “Speaking of Courage,” O’Brien tells the story of Norman Bowker. A solider who I consider to be courageous. O’Brien writes about the time when Norman failed to save Kiowa from the sh*t field. Many would say that his action is not courageous and is the reason he didn’t even receive the “Silver Star” award. However I think that Norman was courageous for trying to save Kiowa regardless of the situation and place he was in, and for other things he did during and after the war. This chapter is set up as a post-war story. We begin to see Norman’s life when the war is over and his ability to deal with it. The war changed him and unfortunately Norman couldn’t move on once the war was over. Norman also kept things after the war, one thing I believe he kept was courage.

Although we see a non-courageous Norman for not saving Kiowa’s life and for killing himself, we see a courageous Norman in other aspects of the war. Norman earned 7 medals during the war, tried to save his friend Kiowa, and did his best to live his life as normally as he could after the war was over.

Norman needed other people to talk to about his accomplishments in order to feel courageous. If he had gotten that, he might not even have killed himself. As readers, we see more guilt, fault, and shame in the war more than courage. I believe that O’Brien portrays courage as accomplishing something that may be hard and making the right decision. Doing what is best no matter what the outcome may be (killed himself) is truly an act of courage.

Some soldiers carry courage with them through the war and continue to build on it based on experience. O’Brien shows more courageous/cowardice moments throughout the book. He shows this when O’Brien goes to war regardless of the way he was feeling, when Curt Lemon gets his tooth pulled regardless of his fear of the dentist, and when O’Brien kills one of the enemy soldiers. Although these are all different situations, all show how one person chooses to do what is right, and makes them courageous no matter how much they didn’t want to do it/regretted it.

We don’t really know if this story is all true, but I think that it was courageous of O’Brien to include it in his novel in remembrance of Norman and Kiowa. 

Memoir Blog

   I read the memoir Game 5 by Anne D. She is a 13 year old girl from Pennsylvania who writes about the time her family went to a Pittsburg Penguins playoff game. The memoir is well written, especially by a 13 year old. The writer, Anne, accomplishes almost all of the goals of a memoir and covers almost all of the storytelling elements.

   The vocabulary and imagery used in the memoir helps the reader understand exactly what is going on and puts them in the arena that the writer is describing. Throughout the whole memoir, I felt as if I was actually at the game. The writer also uses a creative plot describing the overtime situation at the game. This not only leaves the reader suspenseful, but it also allows the writer to describe some of the feelings that her family and the people around her are experiencing. She also writes about her suspense and own feelings toward the game and continues to describe her own emotions after each important event in the game.

   The only thing that is missing from the memoir is dialogue between characters. Although there isn’t any dialogue, the descriptions used helps develop the characters. There are still facts as well as feelings from some of the main characters.

   Anne D. also covers all of the elements of a memoir. The memoir is written in 1st person about a specific event (playoff game) over a specific period of time (overtime). She also includes her feelings after the game. The memoir includes both the inside and outside story. The hockey game is described in great detail (many plays on the ice) as well as the feelings and thoughts of the writer and the people around her/at the game. The balance between inside and outside writing is excellent.

   The memoir includes a reflection after the game. Her feelings about the Penguins’ win stays with her after the game and into the city. She reflects on her experiences during the game and after the game is over. Lastly she leaves me, the reader, with an understanding of the significance. This relates to my personal experiences. I can relate to what she feels, having gone to many hockey/hockey playoff games before. I know the energy that she is describing and I know the feeling to win/experience a win. 

“I also know that because of this game the Penguins were not just prepared to play the Philadelphia Flyers,  but bloodthirsty, too. With the Flyers soon approaching, I knew I was.”

Vietnam War Blog

             Vietnam was divided after their war against France: a democratic South under Ngo Dinh Diem and a communist North under Ho Chi Minh. When the South refused to hold unification elections, the United States became an ally and financially backed Southern Vietnam. Initially, President Lyndon Johnson was the main figure in involving the United States with Vietnam. According to Kennedy Hickman with About.com, his perception was to just prevent the spread of communist aggression. Due to the fact that this war was the longest American war on history, other Presidents (Kennedy and Nixon) were not only involved, but had the same vision.

The Viet Cong (guerillas led by the Communists) began to battle the South Vietnamese government. To help combat them, the United States trained the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and supplied military advisors. When the Northern Vietnamese attacked U. S. destroyers, President Johnson felt as though he had no choice but to organize a full-fledged attack. Digitalhistory.edu’s account for the American involvement also included the notion that we were overconfident in thinking that our troops could deter the communist takeover of our ally and that withdrawing from Vietnam would only create political criticism at home. However, the U. S. kept getting in deeper and they could not just admit failure or back out that easily. It would make the Democrats appear weak on their views against Communism and would lower our Presidents’ chances for re-election.

What we failed to see was the Communists willingness to lose many people in order to overthrow the South Vietnamese government. With the Communist’s Tet offensive attack, the Americans were no longer convinced that continuing with the war was worth the effort. When Nixon won the election, he started to withdraw troops and after the large-scaled bombings, a cease-fire agreement was signed, and America finally withdrew from South Vietnam.

http://www.about.com/
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/

"Let America Be America Again"

Hughes’ poem “Let America Be America Again” depicts two perspectives: one of the oppressed and one of the free. For Hughes, America has never been this ideal land of opportunity. He speaks from the viewpoint of the oppressed. People have always been faced with discrimination and some still face it today. He describes that despite the injustices that go on, the will and strength of the oppressed remains strong. The oppressed are the poor, the Native Americans, the Africans, and the immigrants; but if it weren’t for their hard work, there would not be this “American Dream” of reaping the benefits of what you sow. Hughes is calling for a land of the free, where there are no people judging others. That everyone benefits from what they do. That everyone is allowed to achieve his or her own dreams. That America is for all the people, no matter what you are. I find the tone to be somewhat angry and irritated by the fact that why can’t people see others for whom they are and not by what they are. Hughes is criticizing the fact that if you are not given the ability or freedom to succeed, then how can you achieve opportunities to have a happy life?

The Great Gatsby depicts the life of rich, wealthy people in the roaring 20’s. The East Egg, those who inherited money “old money” and the West Egg, “new money”, divides them. Both sides looked down on people who were less wealthy, even the people of East Egg looked down on the people of West Egg. Jay Gatsby strives for the life of the “American Dream” because of how he came into money from nothing much. Although he did come into wealth, he did not have happiness, because he did not have friendship or love.

I feel that today, there are many things that divide our nation. Money plays a huge part because there are people who are beyond rich, and there are those who are in dire straits. However, the circumstances are not the same. Some people have lives that did not turn out the way they intended. Of course, there are those that still “step on others” to get to where they are. Of course, we all want the American Dream, but it is no longer just about money.

If Tom was our Narrator...

Pg. 130-131 (Conversation/Argument between Tom and Gatsby)

I was a little unsure of where this all was going until Gatsby told me everything. “Your wife doesn’t love you. She’s never loved you. She loves me.” That killed me. A man who I have barely even known accusing my wife of loving him. Then Gatsby cried, “She never loved you, do you hear? She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved anyone except me.”

I knew something was up ever since I saw their eye contact. But at the same time I didn’t believe it. Daisy has never spent time with him until recently and after all he is a “bootlegger”. Daisy has always loved me and if not, she would have left me after finding about my affairs. But I couldn’t help but to wonder what was going on between them. 

I turned to Daisy and asked her, “Whats been going on? I want to hear all about it.” “Both of us loved each other all the time, old sport, and you didn’t know. I used to laugh sometimes.” she said. “But there was no laughter in his eyes. To think that you didn’t know.” 

At this moment, my heart just dropped. I found myself leaning back on my chair ready to explode. I couldn’t believe what I have just heard. The thought of her loving someone like Gatsby killed me. His whole background is shady and I still don’t know when they could have seen each other.

“You’re crazy!” I shouted. I wanted to leave but at the same time wanted to hear more. I was so furious at them for even making up something as extreme as this. I finally said to Gatsby, “Ill be damned if I see how you got within a mile of her unless you brought the groceries to the back door. But all the rest of that’s a God damned lie. Daisy loved me when she married me and she loves me now.” 

My anger got the best of me because for a split second I didn’t know what to do. The feeling of having someone love someone else hurts. I can’t believe Daisy would do this to me. But I continued to wonder if she truly meant what she said.

The American Dream today

‘Downward mobility’ pushing American Dream out of reach

January 13, 2012

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/13/downward-mobility-pushing-american-dream-out-reach/

            The article that I read regarding the “American Dream” brought up the question whether or not the American Dream is still alive today. For many it is still achievable but for others it cannot be reached. The article goes on by using interviews and facts to prove which people do not think that the American Dream is still alive today and the factors that make them think that way. 

            A bad economy not only causes some people to loose their money, jobs, and belongings, but it also causes some to loose their outlook at the American Dream. Sam Blick (person interviewed who is unemployed) believes that the idea of the American Dream is still there, but he doesn’t see it happening for himself or some of his family. He doesn’t see himself enjoying any more vacations or luxuries which he believes is part of achieving the American Dream. This is also true for others who are currently unemployed. Although they believe in the American Dream, they do not believe that they can achieve it. 

            “1/3 of babies who are American born into the middle class have fallen out by the time that they become adults.” The article states that people with a college degree, people who have high test scores, and people who are married are more likely to stay in the middle class than those who don’t. They also have a better opportunity at achieving the American Dream. The article also shows that race and gender play a role in staying in the middle class as well.

            This connects to the Great Gatsby. Jay Gatsby’s events in his life show how someone could achieve the American Dream if they work towards it. The American Dream is a sense of opportunities and freedom that can be achieved if you work hard enough. Gatsby was raised in the middle class and because of his wealth, was deprived of some things that he loved (Daisy). Throughout his life, he worked towards new opportunities but still does not believe that he has achieved them. Although Gatsby did not fall out of the middle class and even rose up to the upper class, he is still missing something important in his life. Gatsby’s as well as other’s American Dreams are demonstrated throughout the book.