Blogging Around

I read multiple interesting blogs, but unfortunately only two can be mentioned. One of the interesting blogs that I read was Ben W.'s "Inconvenient Truth: Poverty is Inevitable." This really caught my eye because I realized that much of our life is dedicated to helping the less fortunate, but Ben did a good job of explaining a point of view that we usually shy away from. Ben's entry discussed how it is impossible to rid the world of its poverty because every time we solve one problem another one sprouts in a different spot, like dandelions.

In response to Ben's entry....

"When you say it like this it's upsetting to realize that everything we've worked for, in terms of relieving people in poverty, is maybe in the long term inconsequential. I think this is sometimes what we also fear as human beings, putting every ounce of effort into what we do and the result is nonexistent or lacking. As difficult as it is to admit this truth, I agree, it's a never ending cycle. I actually felt this as we were learning about the serfs and the richer merchants. Once they're plunged into that cycle, they can't get out. The merchants get rich from the profits, while having time to work on newer ideas and improving their education. The poor serfs are just rotting intellectually and they can't progress, they are without other choices (besides dying) to remain stagnate. It's one of those ideas that are paradoxical that we sometimes wish didn't come with life..."

I felt this unspoken truth as we were discussing the situation of the serfs and the rich merchants who were exploiting them. The fact that these farmers are so willing to to be exploited simply encourages the merchants. So as the serfs just work and stay stagnate, the merchants are able to progress in different areas. Just like Ben said, as much as we can say, "We could have just gotten rid of those serfs and those merchants that way there wouldn't be impoverished," the result of today and the present would be significantly different, which would arouse unthinkable problems.

The second entry that caught my attention was  Ryan B.'s entry "Connection: The Kite Runner and A Christmas Carol." I've always enjoyed (and frightened) this story and always wondered what would've happened if Ebeneezer hadn't chose to go with the ghosts. Ryan brought up a point that I also saw in the Kite Runner, the idea that Amir couldn't have reached redemption without other influences, and he made the excellent connection to Ebeneezer Scrooge. While I was reading the text, I felt Rahim Khan and Assef were both instrumental towards Amir's path to redemption. For example, Rahim Khan provided the final opportunity for Amir to redeem himself (become "good" again) and without Assef, he wouldn't need to finally muster the courage to stand up to someone else, which falls under his way to redemption. Interestingly, although both Amir and Scrooge are the protagonists of both stories, they are also similar in that they have to rely on other characters to really fulfill their positions as protagonists. So, not only are they reliant on other characters to help them redeem themselves for the main issue, but literally as the protagonists.

In response to Ryan's entry..

"Cool comparison! I really enjoyed reading your connections to Ebeneezer and Amir they hit home. I especially agreed with "Neither Amir nor Ebenezer attempted to redeem themselves, rather an outside force had introduced the opportunity." I completely felt this as well (at least for Amir's character) while I was reading the book, Amir, if it weren't for other characters in the story, probably would've never been able to redeem himself. For example, for me Rahim Khan as well as Assef really were the motivators to push Amir in the right direction. In the end it's all about facing up to what you did wrong and then you'll be liberated. This is also relevant to religion."
 

Connection: The Use of Kites and Cycle of Power

Objects have power. The kite in The Kite Runner, is extremely powerful in the motion of the story as well as the reader's experience. The use of the kite in the story is very similar to the cycle of power. At the beginning of the story, the kite is part of what we see as the bond between Hassan and Amir. They are both extremely adept at the art of kite running and fighting, but we notice that for many different reasons, social position, personality, Amir is able to take advantage of Hassan (words, reading, writing). However when they take the glass spool they become equal. It's the one thing that Amir can't take advantage or make fun, so there becomes this bond between them. So after their win, the bond strengthens and the kite becomes a symbol of power for the both of them. The way Amir uses the kite is similar to how a corrupt leader might use his power. The stories (Beauty and the Beast) and reality (leaders with too much power) mesh to explain the cycle of power. The cycle of power is an unspoken phenomena, that really talks about a cycle where one starts with much power and they enjoy it, but then greed consumes them, and a problem forms (the use of the power is not used for its purpose), and then some sort of trial is put upon the character, and then (if the story has a happy ending) the power is restored. Although literally, Amir and Hassan carry no physical power such as being a ruler or a king, their ability with the kite becomes their power. The greed comes when Amir decides to use his abilities with the kite to win the affection of his father, which turns him blind to all else, including wrong doing right in front his eyes (Hassan's rape). The trial is put on Amir, in that he needs to reconcile with his past, his memories, and his actions now. We notice that during this trial the kite is mentioned in observations, far away, in details, and in the story the Taliban take away kites. He sees kites in memories and in his mind, but he can't have it. However, when he passes his trial and he realizes what he has done, the power is restored, and we see that when Amir is able to fly a kite once more and even though it's not with Hassan, it's with Sohrab who balances the power like Hassan did.
        This is very similar to, in a literature context, The Beauty and the Beast. The prince had great power and wealth at the beginning of the story, but he is blinded by his greed and misuses his power by thinking that he can mistreat others because of this power. He becomes stripped of his power, he becomes the beast. He is reminded everyday of who he has become, but as much as he wants to have the power and becoming human once more, that is no longer in his grasp. His task is to win someone's heart and along the way learn about how he must pay back for abusing his power. When he achieves his task, his power is restored back to him. 
       I think this is an important connection because it helps us understand Amir's situation, the clever tactics of Hosseini, and it makes the story extremely real. When we read about the kite contest and then suddenly Hassan's rape, it seems surreal to us, as in "how does that even happen?" However, when we reference back to fairy tales and our leaders we see the same pattern (with slightly different endings), which makes this fictional memoir much more real. There's also an interesting format that Hosseini applies to the writing as well as the form. At the beginning he presents a lot of kite scenes, however after Hassan's rape, it almost disappears aside from subtle descriptions, but then it comes back when Amir comes to terms with what happened. That parallels, having power at the beginning and being stripped of it, and finally having the power restored. In my opinion, I think it's incredible how objects like a kite can act as such powerful things and influence actions. Objects have power.    

Best of Week: Form is Content

'Form is content' is an idea/phrase that is spread around quite a lot, but until this week I was frankly unexposed to the ideas and creativity it could sprout. So when this idea was explained and analyzed in Kite Runner, I thought about all the different examples in my life where form is content. The way you dress, the way you talk, the way you sit, the way you give, etc. There are just so many to count! Most of the time, we don't realize how much we rely on the intertwined nature of form and content. The idea that even the medium in which you present something could essentially portray your entire character is incredible and almost magical. In addition, it can also describe your surroundings. For example, text messaging someone you just met rather than writing a letter already impresses different grooves. In a third-person view, the time and technology is easily depicted in the fact that text messaging exists. However, more specifically towards the person's personality, it comes off as someone who is in touch with their tech-surroundings, likes to keep things informal, or doesn't require intimacy like a letter. "Form is content" is very close to a belief that I like to prompt myself on, presentation is not everything, but a big part in making a good impression and showing who you are. Form is essentially the way the content presents itself. I also believe that within the presentation a great deal of your identity (if not all) should be incorporated. However, just like the way content is presented can be faulty or ostensibly true, presentation can also be a mask.
         In a literary environment, I think that the idea, "form is content" also ties in with mood. Depending on how the content is presented it can change the mood of things. For example, in Romeo and Juliet, when Romeo and Juliet meet at the party and begin to rhyme and talk in sonnets, not only does it present the content, that they are in love, it sets a mood for the readers. Reading the sonnets and the rhyming of each character sets a tone of serenity and having that shy smile lingering on your face. If this scene had no rhymes and if Romeo and Juliet both professed their love by saying, "I love you," it would change the mood greatly. The feelings and emotions would have disappeared.
         In my opinion, I feel that "form is content" is an extremely strong tool, for a writer and as a person. For a writer, it gives you two "boosts," it's another way, aside from words, to express your identity and your thoughts, and it helps create a richer piece of work that is shaped by the winds of nature rather than the forced cuts of scissors. It is a way to express feeling through the written words. Feeling/emotions are tied into memory, so by hitting the emotions and feelings through words and now form would create a more powerful, influential, and lasting piece of writing. As a person, this idea can help to discover who you are and to present to others who you are. It's learning a method to accomplish just that. I think by experimenting with different forms will allow you to learn what fits you the best and along the way, learn new things about yourself.

Connection: The Healing of America and the Gulf States

“I know you think that you took it away, but it’s still there…I still feel empty.” “Founder’s Day.” Vampire Diaries. Kevin Williamson, Steven R. McQueen. CW. 13 May. 2010.

Hidden from cameras above and under the water is a pain within that vibrates through the Gulf States. Due to the oil spill wrecking their businesses, many families are left with no jobs and no money, left to fight for themselves. They are solely left with the burden of not knowing the immediate present. This situation is not new to us, for it is felt by approximately more than 44 million other people. The people without health insurance and those who are under covered. One of the major consequences of the BP Gulf spill is the permanent mark on people's minds. The impact of seeing from televisions, radios, and newspapers of their lives falling apart again and again shouldn't be taken lightly. However, this is not a noticeable or obvious result that we get from the spill, and the truth is the status of the lives of the +44 million people without proper coverage isn't obvious either. T.R.Reid mentions in the book that part of the reason why nothing drastic has occurred to change our health care is due to ignorance on the other part of the covered population. As Bush puts it nicely, 'After all, you just go to the emergency room', (Reid 218). Therefore this invisibility feature contributes to the fact that help is slower and rare. The Health bills that we manage passing are so watered down that essentially nothing changes for the people. For those in the Gulf States, the necessary psychiatrists are few and proper mental-health resources are scarce and slow to come. This poses a danger to our society in general because what is kept out of the public eye will be overlooked.

Another aspect that the health system as well as the spill challenges is the idea of community. In the Gulf, our method of solving the loss of jobs reflects a similar attitude in our health care system. In countries like Japan and the UK, they provide universal health care because they find selection of certain people defies the meaning of a community. However, the same selective character seems to be evident within the Louisianan society. For the people who have lost their jobs, their only option is to work within BP as part of the clean up process, but most cannot even get that job because there are some captains who get all the work while others get nothing, of course which is at the selection of BP. For our health care, it questions what we define as a community and challenges our set up of our system, as well as questioning our moral rights. For the spill, it raises shocked responses, " We’re a community," says Acy Cooper, Vice president of Louisiana Shrimp Association. That would be echoed by +44 million others. 

It's interesting to see how consistent we are with the way we approach things, whether to solve a problem or to set it up. In a way, as much despair these choices may cause, there is room for hope. If we are using the same mind-set then all we need to do is change that mind-set and things will work out. Therefore, there is reason to be optimistic, as long as we get the ball rolling.