Difference

After much controversy, many ask about why spaces in the world are gender classified, however, thought about this topic recently shifted into my point of view. After (President) Donald Trump issued for gendered students to use their normal bathroom despite their gender preference. This means that a male uses the male's restroom and a female uses the female restroom, just as it had been set in standard for many years. As this instance does not affect me personally in any matter, it does soever affect millions of people scared to be who they truly are. Just recently it has been proclaimed that a young male, known as Mack Beggs, has finished his wrestling season 52-0 since Texas Law would not allow him to wrestle boys. As he was born a female buy changed his preference to a male, the boy would not be qualified to participate in a sport that does not correspond with his birth certificate. Though he proved himself worthy against Texas law to beat females in wrestling, what if the roles were reversed?

Many times boys are stereotyped to be athletes and always better than females at physical activity based on our genetics. We have separate stores that we enjoy (sporting goods stores)  and places that correspond to our masculinity like the gym. When one thinks of a gym they think of macho men who suit up in sleeveless shirts, injecting drugs into their veins, and the act of pumping iron. No one considers women to play a role in the type of work done at a gym. How come?

It is from the basis of what we have been crafted to follow certain stereotypes and not break from them. Ironically it is not the fact that women are not physically capable, it is the fact that they outshine men in aspects based on stereotypes. Women fight harder, and many times are more determined than men. And though this is said, many times being true, we still think of the stereotypes after all the change in the world. A male is placed to do this. A female is placed to do that. Times have changed, technology has become efficient, we have evolved, but our minds have have barriers that keep us from reaching our full potential as humans.

What Happens In Vegas Stays In Vegas

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas is a saying well known to many people all throughout the United States of America, however it is very ironic. With all the things that happen in Vegas one may not understand the fact that the events that take place are supposed to be left there and never placed into further discussion. The drive thru marriage companies think otherwise as shown in the passage, Marrying Absurd by Joan Didion.



Marriage in Vegas seems to be considered as a joke as many marriages take little time and effort to complete. The business of the drive thru marriage has been created just as a way to influence Americanization and the importance of money. In many cultures a marriage is an important time in one's life, but in Vegas it tends to be considered as a joke. People ages 18 and over can recite their vows in a matter of minutes and be considered “married”.



The problem is what does this cheap marriage describe about the situation? Does a person not love another if they get married through a drive thru? Will the marriage last? Was it even love or rather so lust? Was this the only affordable outcome a person may have had? No one can speak for another person's life and their actions but it does bring suspicion into the minds of couples all around the U.S. The lifeless ‘Drive Thru Company’ makes marriage seem to be a joke. Instead of the marriage being something real it may be seen as something quite fake slowly eating away at hearts of Americans day in and day out. Marriage is made more so as a label to add to your resume of life. Many people seem to just want more than they ever have before, allowing them to be vulnerable and mislead to the cultures of society. Fitting in with labels and Americanism people give into silly customs that play a part of American life. It just goes to show that the marriage in Vegas may just stay in Vegas.

The Truth of the Nacirema

The ways of humans have forever been shifting as we pick up on different aspects from the “Nacirema” tribe according to Horace Miner. Our view points, our ways of life, and our judgment has all been altered as we adapt to new ways of living. It is certain that we Americans have culture, but where do we originate from?

Just as the humans have had tribes of all types, we discover our true self from the Nacirema. The Nacirema is a tribe that has originated from all different types of tribes, emulating the ways of others into its own society. With the transition to mold its own way of life The Nacirema tribe created a country based on freedom of all. Although there was freedom and equality the tribe had made, a specific way of living with expectations on appearance, thinking, and respect became part of the cycle.

As people started to adapt to the ways of the Nacirema, they stopped questioning the decisions of the tribe. The religion to follow became Christianity and anything else was out of the ordinary. The jobs began to be classified for certain people, as whites took prominent role in all the industries. Education became a part of society and placed through the eyes of the tribe, as they had control of what knowledge people received. Certain tendencies were a way of adaptation for all life and became known as assimilation. Respect came for only a certain class of people. Listening to people with more authority became the main way of society. The way one appearance should be had shifted based on the culture of the higher class. Sectioning off people based on color and ethnicity, known as race, had become a way of thinking that was never questioned.

The ways of the Nacirema tribe were dysfunctional. The leaders had constructed everything while the people of the tribe became blinded. Corruption was placed in the heart of the Nacirema tribe and push through until it had become a way of living in America now. The real ways of the Nacirema tribe were never followed but only promised. Only the ones with the real eyes will be able to unveil the difference between the Nacirema tribe and what is America culture today. 

S U C C E S S

The truth about success is that it is not handed to you but instead you need to fight for it. History has been defined over countless changes they have all been achieved throughout hard work and dedication. Success has been shown through the stories of J.K. Rowling, Michael Jordan, Barak Obama, Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, and now Tom Brady. Yes, the 5-time Super Bowl champion has done it again proving himself to be the best to ever play the game of football; however, he became the best only after countless failures.

Tom Brady was a backup quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines in his first two years, and worked his way up to earn his starting role as QB during his Junior year at the university. His senior year he led the team to win the Orange Bowl, and although he had dedication that was not enough. Brady was quite unlucky having been drafted in sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft. Working his way up to be an outstanding quarterback for the New England Patriots and winning the Super Bowl as a rookie in the league. With the hard work and dedication Brady proved himself to be the best to ever play the game. After countless failures and setbacks Brady picked himself back up and never gave up. The practice paid off and it showed throughout the third and fourth quarter of this Super Bowl game. The comeback was possible because of the hope and trust in his ability, because of the time and effort he placed into perfecting his throw, because of the determination he had to win. Brady is just another example of success by practice.

Brady and his success from his practice relates to the same practice a person needs to include in his or her life to strive. As the entire class read an excerpt dealing with different ways to perfect a score for testing, the most important focus was to practice. It was the closing argument and considered the most effective way to succeed. This goes to show that success is something one must work for. It will never be granted in life. It will forever be up to you to succeed.

 

The People VS Trump

Throughout my life, never once have I felt so lost and united at once. Our country’s leader has damaged the definition of America and what it means to be an American citizen; however, we as individuals around the nation have come together in support for the qualities America had been built upon.

After “President” Trump had passed his ban on immigrants from seven Muslim majority countries, people everywhere became outraged knowing the man with all the talk had decided to back it up with some action. Citizens, not knowing whether Trumps run for Presidency was a hoax, are now fighting back towards the destruction of his decisions. Banning of immigrants is unconstitutional, and citizens spoke out with protest all around national airports in Boston, New York, and Detroit.

The protests were to support equality and freedom for all despite gender, origin, race, and religion. People of every color stood together in fight for what is right. Would the “President” vouch for this? The sad but undeniable truth for the question still poses to be no. A man who makes racial comments, slanders women, and explicitly mocks the disabled is not one who should have the power of the nation in his hands.

The United States has always preached morals of justice but the citizens are misrepresented every day.  It has become a habit to categorize humans into groups which makes equality more difficult to obtain. As shown through the eyes of, the once disabled, Nancy Mairs she states, “Socialized human beings love to conform, to study others and then mold themselves to the contours of those whose images, for good reasons or bad, they come to love”. Being placed in a class based on qualities is easily approved, but has shown repeatedly that it creates a restriction from freedom, equality, and justice. So long as these walls are built around our nation we will be divided, but we the people are closer than ever. We can push past the dreadful past if we work together. I am not speaking as a person who is disturbed by the government and the hatred it has formed. I am not speaking as a revolutionist who has a strong opinion towards change. I am speaking as an American citizen that is fighting for OUR rights to be pursued. No matter what happens in the future, we as individuals have proven that our fight if everlasting. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING TOWARDS CHANGE.  

The Dried Out Opinions of People

"Cruse falsely charged that Hansberry and her family owned some 13 slum properties in the South Side, and deemed "obsequious" and "embarrassing" her "mimicry of the critical standards of white Communists" and her play's "assumptions that she knew all about the N**ro working class, of which she was not even remotely a member"

Reading through a 14 page packet for AP English about the famous Lorraine Hansberry, I encountered a paragraph of criticism on a play that she had created. It interested me since I read background information on her lifestyle and how she lived in a prominent white neighborhood. The ironic part about this is how Hansberry had been a member of the working class of African Americans. It made me think about how an opinion of one person can change how others think towards something. The influence of ones thoughts may be beneficial or harmful. It just depends on the person who is speaking. Since it was a white man criticizing a black woman it made many follow his views.



I though about the recent election. I have been at the point in life where my fathers interests have influenced me substantially since I always wanted to be like him. Along with this, his hostility towards Trump was almost bestowed upon me. That is until recently, I needed a type of verification for myself on why Trump was a bad president. I knew all of what he had said since I have witnessed clips from social media but it seemed to pass by because I had my fathers opinion to guide me. For my benefit I needed my own opinion because I am my own person.



It relates to the decisions I make in my life. I do what I want for myself and no one else. In the end it is my life and I am not living it to satisfy anyone but me I make decisions everyday and I leaned that everyone has their own opinions. They have their own views on something and their own reasons behind their views. What I came to recognize is how many people fall to voice THEIR opinion and instead agree on what others have to say without a legit conformation.

Just one way to prove my point is how children follow whatever is popular in culture today. Jermaine Cole (J. Cole) recently released an exquisite piece of art though the work of music connecting to his soul. Many children saw the trend on Twitter and recently began to agree with the views of others. Not giving themselves an experience to analyze the project, the children are still following the trends of society blindly. Without any outlooks they stay voiceless to their own opinions. Never reaching a maturity to create themselves. Having a brain that can soak up information, these children are drying up in the sun as they follow others. Never being able to be young men or women but children following others footsteps.



I am not saying that children are the only inhabitants of this problem but adults are as well. They follow the news aimlessly, hearing the nonsense that is false accusations. Because the opinion is from a woman in a dress reading complex words off of a poster, people seem to think that she may know what she is supposedly clarifying. They do not see the fake propositions behind the words but instead what is being stated. I know that society has been blinded and I see it day to day. I am glad to be able to think for myself and be mature enough to guide myself. I wish that others would too. Then again, this is all just an opinion from a 11th grader writing for a blog. So I want to ask, does my opinion give you enough clarification to follow my footsteps, or are you going to give yourself an explanation?

The "GREAT" Gatsby

As many different themes arise from the outstanding novel, The Great Gatsby, they all work collectively to pick apart James Gatz. Themes of class, love, wealth, and memories all play a prominent role in doing so. They show how Gatsby is not as great as we may think.

In an excerpt of the text it says, “Did you see any trouble on the road?” he asked after a minute. “Yes.” He hesitated. “Was he killed?” “Yes.” “I thought so; I told Daisy I thought so. It’s better that the shocks should all come at once. She stood it pretty well.” He spoke as if Daisy’s reaction was the only thing that mattered. “Who was the woman?” he inquired. “Her name was Wilson. Her husband owns the garage. How the devil did it happen?” “Well, I tried to swing the wheel --” He broke off, and suddenly I guess at the truth. “Was Daisy driving?” “Yes,” he said after a moment, “but of course I’ll say I was” (Fitzgerald 143).

This passage was striking to me as it opened my eyes to the character of Gatsby. Gatsby takes the blame for the love of his life. Because he cannot see anything past Daisy he does not care about the consequences that may affect him. When Gatsby takes the blame for the death, he is not penalized because of his class. He still lives luxuriously due to his wealth; he is still doing everything out of love for Daisy, while trying to repeat the past. This page made me think differently about Gatsby since it is narrated through Nick. I respect how he would do anything for the girl he loves. He stayed loving Daisy and only her for a boundless period of time. He stayed loyal to the girl he did not have, which was the only problem. He needed to understand that in this situation he could not be with her since the time had shifted. He came to his senses when Gatsby saw Daisy’s child. He then knew that he could not be with her and he was Jay momentarily. Him going out of his way to pursue a woman who is married through many different ways just shows that he is deranged. But love is a power that can overcome the toughest of men, the strongest of hate, and the coldest of hearts. Throwing extravagant parties to show off the wealth he acquired did not seem to change Daisy and her willingness to go back. She was at the point of no return.



Daisy herself was in a relationship that was not perfect. Much adultery was involved for a temporary sensation. Everything was a temporary sensation during that time. The use of speed for pleasure. The use of money for pleasure. The use of sex for pleasure. In the end the pleasure is gone. It is a moment in time that can not be reversed. It is a memory that may be held in your mind but never grasped in your hand. The only difference is Gatsby is so delusional about replaying time, he does not understand he can never go back. Daisy drove off and never came back. If the love was real Daisy would come back or at least care. Pick the petals off of the flower and you will realize what the real beauty of a Daisy is. It is worthless. After taking away the beauty what is left? Daisy is the character that seems like the villain in my point of view. She took the most important part of a person and never gave it back: the heart. Gatsby is lost and without his heart he is worthless. I do not know if I should respect, hate, or feel sorrow for Gatsby. He is not great and he is not James. He is gone to the point of no return. In the end Gatsby is just a memory stuck in time.