Essay 4 Proposal:

One major theme that stands out to me in Atwood’s writing is women’s bodies being used as political instruments. This is something that many countries in the world are still facing. In “The Handmaid’s Tale” women are good for only one thing, reproduction. They are unable to work jobs, read books, or hold any type of independence for themselves. Although this may sound crazy because in the country we are in women have all the rights men have, it did indeed take a fight to get where we are today. In many countries unfortunately women are still subjected to this type of indecency and cruelty. I would like to learn more about the ways women are treated sub humanly. This text brings about a reality that is sometimes hard to understand unless you are subjected to it. I plan to research other countries and they way the women live in them. My boyfriend’s mother is currently teaching school at an American compound in Saudi Arabia and she tells us stories daily about the cruelty the women are subjected to in that part of the U.S. She is unable to leave the compound before she is fully wrapped; she cannot drive, cannot handle money, and most importantly is unable to gain independence. In a sense the women in this part of the world are much like the Handmaids’ in Atwood’s text. I feel once I gain a better understanding of Saudi Arabia and their feelings towards women I will then be able to better understand where women being used as political instruments primarily comes from. Another primary reason for this subjection is the male’s superiority. I feel as though if a women is more successful then her man then the male may feel undermined and un-successful, and in many cases this is unacceptable, much like in Atwood’s text and as far as I am aware in Saudi Arabia. This link is a little background information on the current gender roles in Saudi Arabia, although it is from wikipedia it bring about many important issues that are prominent in this country currently: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_rights_in_Saudi_Arabia

Thesis Blog Post:

Identify the weak thesis statement:

1.)  B.

·      Sentence B relies on evidence and is arguable. It is short, yet straight to the point. It does not present a large summary.

2.)  B.

·      Sentence B is much more descriptive than sentence A. It gives the reader an idea of the main focus of the paper.

3.)  A.

·      Sentence A is much more original. It is definitely a statement directly from the author.

4.)  B.

·      Sentence B may raise argument and is very assertive. You are able to tell the statement relies on evidence.

5.)  B.

·      Sentence A is much more of a summary where as B is very descriptive but still remains right to the overall focus and point. It is both original and arguable.

My Thesis:

War is something that many people are unable to grasp and gain an understanding of; its effects are often overlooked. Sean Huze’s stance against the Iraqi war is broadcasted in his monologues thoroughly.

Why is this a good thesis?

I believe my thesis is arguable, some individuals may believe Huze is in support of the current war in Iraq. I am able to support my thesis using examples from the text and I feel as though it is original and stays right to the main point of my essay. 

            

Borch, Fred L. "The Forever War." The Journal of Military History 73.4 (2009): 1395-399. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 22 Oct. 2010.

                   This journal entrée talks about a book entitled “The Forever War” by Dexter Filkins. It is about the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This book is about the people, not only the soldiers, but the civilians as well. It is none the less about life in Iraq and Afghanistan through the eyes of an individual who experienced it first hand, both living and working in the fore front. Filkins did many interviews during his time in Iraq and he shares those in this book as well. This article and book are going to help me piece my paper together well. I am looking deeper into the civilian’s lives because I feel like that was a major focus in Huze’s play. He did not only emphasize on the soldiers experiences but also in the aftermath of war on the civilians in Iraq and the things they had to cope and deal with. I plan to dig deeper to understand Huze’s feelings of the troops being in Iraq according to his monologues as well.

           

Among The War: Seeing The Iraq War through Three Journalistic Vantage Points

Andrew M. Lindner

Social Problems
Vol. 56, No. 1 (Feb., 2009), pp. 21-48
(article consists of 28 pages)

Published by: University of California Press on behalf of the Society for the Study of Social Problems

Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40264270

This article talks about the journalists who have been “embedded” in Iraq in order to report straight from the military units. It is about their failure to adequately report upon the effects of the war on Iraqi civilians. Instead the reporters spent much of their time over emphasizing the lives of the troops. This article has relevance for my paper because I believe I enjoyed Sean Huze’s monologues so much due to the fact that he not only shared how the troops were dealing but also how the civilians were living. He talked a lot about the loss of family members for many of them, the willingness to help the troops by giving food and water, and the welcoming arms they offered during war times. I plan to use this article to look deeper into the reasons behind such little emphasis on the civilians in this war, and why exactly that is being promoted.   

October 12, 2010

Dear Mrs. Cline,

I can’t even believe we are already half way through this semester; it’s gone by so fast. I am really enjoying English 102, more then any previous English course I have taken, in fact. Your style of online teaching is really easy to understand and I love that we are able to receive extra credit, that doesn’t happen often. I also love all the blogging we have done thus far. Writing a blog is something I had never become familiar with before this course, and I think it is a really good way to show our creative and individual sides.

My Biggest challenge in the class thus far has probably been the essay writing. I am familiar with writing essays but there is always improvement and growth to be made. I have never analyzed a piece of writing before, and although it seems like an easy thing to do, I have been assured it is not. Literary analysis is so different from any other writing that I have done before; you are required to look at every piece of literature that you read with a new deeper perspective. There is always a deeper message then the obvious one, and through literary analysis I have learned how to find that message, or even create it, whether it is right or wrong. I am not exactly sure what to expect when we research, analyze, and contrast a piece of work, but I am ready to find out what it’s all about! My biggest success thus far has probably been all of the growth I’ve seen in my writing. I have found a good outlet to make writing not seem as rough through my blog, and have enjoyed that very much. I have also been very motivated to do well in this course, and am seeing ample success so far, hoping to finish strong!

The readings in this class so far are unlike those in my English 101 course or any other course for that matter. They are relevant and current. They are relatable and give such deep messages. I never expected that I would read a story like “The Sandstorm” in a college course. Much to my surprise I LOVED it! With all of the harsh pictures it provides, I couldn’t have picked a better and more interesting read, to both write and analyze on. I am really enjoying the reading. Before this class I knew slim to none about Vietnam and in reading “The Things They Carried,” I have been exposed to some history. It feels good to gain so much knowledge out of an English course, something I have never done previously.

My Goals for the second half of this semester are simple. I hope to finish strong. I plan on doing nothing more then improving. My writing has grown immensely and can only grow more. I plan on expanding my pallet and trying new ways to interpret and analyze. I hope to accomplish an A for my final grade. I want to become more familiar with literary analysis because it is still such a foreign thing for me. I can’t wait to see what the remainder of the semester brings but I am ready to conquer it all. J

Sincerely,

Irma Jarovic 

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Summary Vs. Analysis

“On the Rainy River”

            This is a story that was never told before, until now. It was June of 1968, the 17^th to be exact, when Tim O’Brien’s world would change. He was a normal 21-year-old boy, working for a meat packing plant in Worthington, Minnesota at the time. Although he was politically naïve, fighting an American war in Vietnam seemed all-wrong to him. So when he received his draft notice he could not help but become scared, worried, uncertain, and any other feeling that might come across a young man who had never seen the harsh reality of war before. The first thought that came across to him was to run, run far, and fast, and never look back. This is precisely why he was ashamed to tell this story till now.

            Canada was his first thought. The border lay a few hundred miles north, and it would only be hours before he would reach his destination. He set off north, and just drove. O’Brien reached an old fishing lodge called the “Tip Top Lodge,” where his life changed for good. He would spend the next six days here with only one friend by his side, Elroy Berdahl, who was the proud owner of the lodge. Although Elroy didn’t say much, he is responsible for changing Tim’s life. He offered a helping hand, a warm meal, and a shoulder to lean on, knowing deep down the situation that Tim was facing was a difficult one to understand, or perhaps it was one he knew himself. Elroy asked no questions and expected no answers. He sheltered the young and scared O’Brien and they built a strong bond that Tim would never forget. O’Brien spent those six days hiking, playing scrabble, fishing, boating, and helping Elroy prepare the lodge for winter. After his stay at the lodge was through Tim would return home, and then to Vietnam, where he became a soldier. Tim states at the end of this story, “I survived, but it’s not a happy ending. I was a coward. I went to the war” (61).   

            O’Brien believes he is a coward for going to war. Isn’t fighting for our country something one should be proud of? In this case going against your morals becomes a question of whether or not your willing to fight for what you believe, or shy away and do what everyone else thinks is morally correct. O’Brien ran for those six days because he felt better then this war. He felt that “Certain blood was being shed for uncertain reasons” (40). Elroy becomes a significant part of the story because at no time did he question O’Brien’s morals or reasons for being at the lodge. Possibly because he is a symbol of a soldier who did what everyone else wanted and regretted it at one point in his life, knowing deep down what Tim was running from, hoping that he would be a man that would fight for what he believed, stepping outside of what everyone else expected. It could have been possible that if O’Brien would have not chosen to conform and go to war he would gain more respect and gratitude than taking the approach everyone wanted for him. The question is not what makes you a man but more of what makes you an individual in this story. As Tim O’Brien looks back he does feel as though he is a good man, I am sure of that, but does he view himself as being an individual who believes in himself enough to be willing to fight for his freedoms and judgments. We are all capable of doing what is expected of us, but are we all capable of doing the unexpected? I believe Elroy was hoping that Tim would do the unexpected and that is why he gave him so many opportunities to better throughout the story. So much of our day to day is based on conformations and pleasing others. We are judged to no end when we step outside of the box and do what we feel is right or what we choose to stand by, this is something that is so hard to grasp. Individuality is so much more respected. Doing the unexpected is so widely respected. The main message of this story is that no matter who the person encouraging you is, if there is something you stand against or do not believe in, do not, under any circumstances, conform to please them, because in the long run, even though you pleased them, you did not please yourself. Although O’Brien pleased everyone for his time served in Vietnam, he returned home and is still disappointed in his decision because he knows it was not one that stood by his morals and beliefs.

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Here I have inserted a link to Vietnam was stories. It was a pretty harsh and unreal war, and the stories are a good outlet to better understand these times and these men: http://www.3rdmarines.net/Vietnam_War_stories.htm

   

O'Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1990. Print. 

Tim O'Brien:
The Things They Carried

“A true was story is never moral. It does not instruct, nor encourage virtue, nor suggest models of proper human behavior, nor restrain men from doing the things men have always done. If a story seems moral, do not believe it. If at the end of a war story you feel uplifted, or if you feel that some small bit of rectitude has been salvaged from the larger waste, then you have been made the victim of a very old and terrible lie” (O’Brien 68-68).

            When reading Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, I receive no feeling of uplift or rectitude, I feel no sense of sorrow or sadness, no happiness, and no anger, when reading The Things They Carried, I feel disbelief and bewilderment. The stories that Tim has presented us with take us into the utter reality of war; they offer an illustration we never thought we would get a glimpse of without being in attendance. The imagery and depiction in these stories is incredible. He has a way of making the reader feel involved and connected to the soldiers exposed in his writings.

            In the short story, On a Rainy River, I, as the reader, became closer in a sense to the utter reality of war and the feelings and emotions an individual faces when they determine they are approaching danger. In this story Lieutenant Jimmy Cross gives the reader a more extensive look into his own journey where previously he spend much of his time telling the stories of his fellow comrades and the things they were facing and taking part in. This story is about Lt. Cross before he set out to war. The things he did and the emotions he felt when he found out he was going to be drafted. He starts this story by mentioning that this was his first time presenting anyone with it, he felt embarrassment and shame at the time and didn’t have the courage to share these events until now. This shows the reader a sense of how important these episodes were to the writer, and how close to the heart he held them. It makes me realize how hard it must be to share many of the events that happened while at war or in the procedures of it.

            “Stories are for joining the past to the future. Stories are for those late hours in the night when you can’t remember how you got from where you were to where you are now.  Stories are for eternity, when memory is erased, when there is nothing to remember except the story” (O’Brien 38). These stories told by O’Brien are questionable. But that disbelief is what makes them so admirable, and so true. When I read How to Tell a True War Story I found myself examining if what I read was the same as what was written. These aspects are what make the stories war stories. I think Tim O’Brien has an indescribable way of sharing his experiences and the experiences of fellow soldiers. He puts into perspective the challenges that so many men and women face everyday and the absurd things they witness. I am grateful to gain such a deep mental vision through these readings. 

   

O'Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1990. Print.

Sean Huze

"The Sandstorm"

            “War stories. Everyone that’s actually been over there has ‘em. See, truth be told, war hasn’t changed much over the years.” Sean Huze relays the war stories of ten marines who spent their time in Iraq through his play “The Sandstorm”. This play is a true reflection of the men and women fighting daily for our freedom and safety and the things they witness in their days overseas. The harsh reality of things these individuals observe on the daily is completely out of our perspective and understanding. The stories they share are unbearable and disturbing. They give the reader a real glimpse into the life of being a soldier, something none of us are able to fathom.

            We are so quick to place judgment and blame on the people of Iraq for the harsh reality that so many of our American men and women are risking their lives due to the stupidity of another individual, and the actions that have been made against our country. I found one act in this play to be exceptionally touching.  “Everyone from the President down to some boot private wants to pass the burden of the horrors we were onto the Iraqis.” Doc Matthews share one horror he experienced while overseas. He recalls, “We had come across a burned out 4 door compact. Its wheels had melted and it was still smoking. We saw 3 burned corpses in the car and he was lying next to it. I don’t know how the hell he survived but he did. His wife and two children were a different story.” He continues reliving that moment, “I could smell their still smoldering flesh and I just broke down. I couldn’t stop crying and I hugged this man whose family had just been massacred by us, by Marines. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” The Man looked up at me, “ Not your fault. I blame Saddam. You, you Americans are a gift from Allah. You are here to deliver us from Saddam. I only wish I could have gotten my family out sooner.” This scene was stood out incredibly to me because it is something some of our American civilians do not understand. It is an important reality we may not otherwise grasp. The reality that not every person in Iraq means harm, it is not the civilians whom are to blame, but instead the piece of shit that started this war. The people of Iraq are grateful for our American troops, as are we, and show them the respect they deserve.

            The utter reality of emotional exhaustion that our soldiers endure can never really be understood through these stories but Sean Huze has a way of relaying their pain in a manner that the reader can truly feel for and perceive. From their harsh conditions, the heat and dehydration, to the devastating images they are subject to daily. This play is not only scrutinizing but an authentic truth of the lives these people live and the challenges they face while overseas. Many of us experience culture shock when moving to a new place or being in an unfamiliar situation. The amount of shock and disbelief these soldiers are facing I cannot imagine and I give them the upmost respect for their courage and strength. God Bless. 

Here I have inserted a link to more stories of those soldiers we have fighting in Iraq, and the things they have witnessed while overseas: 

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2007/07/stories-from-soldiers-in-iraq/ 

Responding to a Poem:

            We are born with dreams in our hearts, looking for better days ahead (Baca 1). This line came from the poem Immigrants in Our Own Land. This poem has a personal effect on me because I believe I am able to relate, in all honesty I think all of us can relate. We have all come from somewhere, and almost every one of us is an immigrant to the land we now occupy. Jimmy Santiago Baca, the author of this particular poem speaks deeply. You are able to gain a real sense of understanding. The message he is trying to convey is one he feels deeply about. It brings upon a feeling of resentment for me. In the beginning of the poem the author speaks about immigrants all wanting a new life. He talks about the way they are treated, and the things they are taught to believe about this new life they are hoping for. One line stands out to me, “The old men who have lived here stare at us, from deep disturbed eyes, sulking, retreated (Baca, 1).” This reminds me much of what is going on in Arizona currently. We are shipping many immigrants back to Mexico daily. At one point in time, we were new residents to a foreign place, and the looks we received were similar to those stated in this poem. Now the tables have turned and we are the men giving disturbed looks and feeling retreated. This poem brings a new light to a situation that we otherwise might not consider. The life that this particular author lived was one of many hardships, and due to that I believe we are able to feel the voice in his writing, and really gain an understanding of where he is coming from. Jimmy Baca was sent to an orphanage at a young age, he later spent 5 years in a high security prison, and this in fact was where he began producing his poetry. I believe Baca relives his life in a sense through this poem. He is telling the reader about the second chance he was given at creating a better life for himself. This poem is a great example of poetry of witness. I have inserted a link to a website where you are able to read the entire biography on this poet: http://www.jimmysantiagobaca.com/biography.html

            Many of us loose the beauty in our own lives, and oftentimes it is something that we are unable to retrieve. In the poem The Woman Hanging from the Thirteenth Floor Window we are able to relate to the way this stranger feels. This poem sends a strong message, and relays the basic idea the writer is trying to get across through a harsh point of view. Sometimes we loose sight of our lives and the things that once made us happy. I can relate to this poem because I am a victim of loosing sight of the things that once made me happy. Sometimes this happens due to a sudden change is schedule, other times it can be a relationship that changes our lives, I know in many cases you get very wrapped up in your partner and loose sight of yourself when you are in a deep emotionally draining relationship. We have the opportunity to pick up ourselves and regain self worth, or continue to be unhappy. That is the message I received at the end of this poem. The woman hangs from the 13^th floor window crying for the lost beauty in her own life. She sees the sun falling over the grey plane of Chicago. She thinks she remembers listening to her own life break loose, as she falls from the 13^th floor window on the east side of Chicago, or as she climbs back up to claim herself again (Harjo 2). These poems I could relate most to and found the most meaning in. I really enjoy reading poetry of witness. Here is a link where you are able to learn a little more about this poet: http://project1.caryacademy.org/echoes/poet_joy_harjo/Defaultharjo.htm

Sam Hammil Response:

Sam Hammil makes an important statement and it goes as follows, “We think poetry is about emotions. We are dead wrong. Poetry is not about. Take the rhyme out of it, and there is still poetry; take even the words themselves away, and poetry remains.” I believe the statement to be very true. Poetry does indeed have the tendency to reveal itself. I am not much of a poet but I feel as though in every poem I have ever wrote the message has been revealed through the circumstance I, the author, was communicating. The same concept remains with poems I have read from various authors.

 Hammil talks about how the battered woman learns that violence is one of the forms love takes, about how the battered child learns that one can remain the victim, or one can seize power and become the executioner. In the following examples it is pointed out that there is no real positive outlook when you are the victim. You are always taught that what you are facing is acceptable because the person doing the harm makes it seem as though it is. In a sense you are sheltered to the truth, or maybe even you haven’t had the opportunity to learn better because you have been taught a certain belief or way of life for so long. Through poetry this is often conveyed. It can be hard for a victim to find the strength to share their personal experiences. Poetry makes this much easier, or so it seems. Poetry in a sense shields the author from criticisms or judgment. I believe this is why Poetry of witness is able to make such a strong impact on the reader in so many words. It is an indirect way of sharing many heart wrenching experiences. These poems are a way that the author is able to speak with saying little to nothing at all and never completely revealing the exact circumstances with which they are dealt.

This is what I believe makes poetry so special. Hammil also states that we are unable to bear very much reality. In poetry we oftentimes don’t realize the reality of the story behind the lines of rhyme or reason. In poetry we accept responsibility for our own words and feelings. We suddenly become okay with the hardships life has dealt us because we know somewhere out there, in this vast world, there is an individual who is going through a worst time then we are, and they are able to read our poem and gain a sense of understanding, a form of strength, and maybe even hope that one day they will be the sender on the other end gaining satisfaction from helping another individual.

Like I said previously, I am not much of a poet, nor do I have many experiences where I feel like I am able to really convey a message to a reader that is beyond the words I write; but I do have a respect for poetry. Like Hammil stated so well, poetry is about. It will reveal itself, and the message will be conveyed if the reader chooses to dig and receive it. It is not based on emotions, but in most cases reality. I love poetry, and hope to one day be able to write much like many poets. It is a difficult thing to understand and even more difficult to distribute. Good poetry is unlike anything else written. It takes a special person to produce a good poem. 

I have inserted a link http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-victims/ of a poem by Sharon Olds. She is a poet Hammil mentioned in this article. This poem is entitled "The Victims" and it is a good example of a poem of witness. Enjoy!

irmamay37's webcam video August 29, 2010, 07:47 PM

Vladimir Nabokov 

GOOD READERS AND GOOD WRITERS

A good reader is “one who has imagination, memory, a dictionary, and some artistic sense” (Nabokov 615). Nabokov believes that no generalizations should be made. A good reader should look at every book with a new eye no matter what you have learned or may have read before. A good reader must create their own values. Nabokov states, “A good reader, a major reader, an active and creative reader is a re-reader” (Nabokov 615). He believes that in order to receive the “big picture” that the author is trying to convey you must read the book many times. When you read a book for the first time your mind is focusing on the chore of reading and oftentimes is unable to imagine and expand in order to create the story in your head and really make it come to life. Most readers read books to relate. They are reminded of a past experience or place and identify themselves with a character in the story. This is not good reading. A reader must display an artistic and scientific temperament. A good reader portrays impersonal imagination and creativity.

I agree with many statements that Nabokov makes. I agree completely that you must use imagination in order to be a good reader. There are so many books that require you to think outside of your life and the lives’s of those around you and really dig deep in your reading. The impossible oftentimes becomes possible in many books and without the use of your creative imagination you may not receive the same picture the author was trying to convey through his writing. I disagree a little when it comes to his view on good readers being double readers. I have read many books and received the full message or picture from only reading them once. I believe we see what we choose to, if you are compelled and focused on a reading of your choice, and become truly interested and engaged you are able to receive the full substance in my opinion. If you are uninterested in your reading is when it becomes cloudy and vague and oftentimes not worth understanding. I believe it takes imagination, creativity, an open mind, and the ability to clear your head to be a good reader. When you have a lot on your mind reading becomes difficult. I consider myself a selective reader. I enjoy reading when it is something of interest to me. Although I have an open mind I am not a good reader if the reading is dense. I am an excellent reader when I clear my head, use my imagination, and really read a book I am interested in. 

One of my favorite books is A Million Little Pieces by James Frey, if you have yet to read it I recommend it. It really takes you into the life of addiction and gives you a first hand glimpse of drugs, and the harm they cause. It has been stated that this story was said to be real and turned out to be fiction, in all honesty real or not, it is amazing. I inserted a link of an interview with the author and his take on people criticizing his work for being untrue. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyLZ76HzlQw