Seeing

Reading this essay reminded me of being a child. They way that Dillard wrote was somewhat scatter brained. Dillard writes on somewhat of a philosophical way, which is very different then what I am used to reading. I enjoy her writing style though, using the description of nature to get her point across. Though the whole thing was a little long and dragged out, it got its meaning across. It was hard to read at first, the way she writes is hard to get used to, but overall i like it, it was well written and i believe she reached out to hear audience. She appeals to the child within us all. Dillard points out that we take advantage of our ability to see for the most part, that we look past the little things in order to see the big picture. I cannot be completely sure of the writers thesis, but I think that it might be, "the lover can see, and the knowledgeable". Dillard is saying that the people who pay attention, like lovers, really see the whole picture for what it's worth including the little things.

Summary: Real Men Don't: Anti-Male Bias in English By: Eugene R. August

The essay "Real Men Don't: Anti-Male Bias in English" written by Eugene R. August first appeared in the University of Dayton Review winter/spring 1986-1987. This essay focuses on the exploitation and demeaning of males. August tells readers that anti-male bias are uncommon, because people commonly believe history tells of "male oppressors and female victims or rebels"(1). Also he shares the central belief among people that the world we are living in was made by man, for man and women were more or less a forethought. August unveils the thoughts of other educated people on the matter, including Walter J. Ong who tells us the way in which people learn and think is largely based on what is passed on through women. That being said the essay mentions that the use anti-male bias have been said to be "misandry, hatred of men" and "degenerates men and masculinity"(4)

August uses examples in the english language where men are being discriminated, such as in the word rape, rape is thought to be a male crime committed against females. Another example August uses taken straight form our english language are phrases like "be a man" or "real men don't". There are certain standards in which a boy or man must fit into to be considered one, is okay for a girl to be considered a "tomboy" but there is no term as accepting for a boy to be categorized as. August shares many derogatory terms males can be call for not fitting in the male standards, to which females do not typically have.

Males are also expected in a dating relationship to pick up the tab, drive and be an overall gentleman and show chivalry. In a sexual state, men are expected to make the first move and to perform or again he will be ridiculed. Also if a man marries he is expected to have a job and have the ability to support his family or more ridicule. Crime and evil are typically perceived as male. When the term suspect is used the wrongdoer is thought to be male over female. The last point August makes is that evil tends to have a masculine tendency. Most people believe that the devil is a male character, and is almost always portrayed as one.

August points out that there is a tendency to blame bad things on men, pulling all wrongs on the shoulders of men. He states there are dangers in the assumption of the common person who believes that men hold the power and women have none. The traditional male stereo-type and role limit a man, both men and women need to confront this problem and abolish it once and for all. Males and females should be thought to be one the same page and equal.

The Perils of Indifference

I though that Wiesel wrote a beautiful and moving speech. I have always been very interested in the Holocaust for the same reasons he talks about in the speech. I also think that the way the people can be so indifferent in situations is very interesting to look at. Why do some people see tragedy and turn the other cheek, it shocks me. But these kinds of things happen every day and sometimes it all works out in the end and sometimes it does not.

Though I would never wish upon some what happened to the Jews in the situation, i enjoyed reading his views on the people he came across, and the experiences. It would seem that in all the tragedies he speaks of, and ones that are not mentioned, people know that suffering that is being caused upon others. There is just no action taken, and i believe that sometimes people do not take action, like in the Holocaust, because they too are afraid of what would happen if they stood up for them.

Over all I enjoyed this speech, I personally love Wiesel as a writer and would read more of his works. Also i like the clam and gentle way that he writes. His words seem effortless and are inspiring.

Braindead Megaphone

I agree with Saunders that our media tends to be all for publicity and not based solely on content. I also think that that is just a majority of our media, and our must trusted media, there are other media sources that are not out there just as entertainment pieces and out there as close to raw information as you can get.

I think that Saunders used a good metaphor with the megaphone man, it showed that the media plays an overwhelming part of the way we form our own opinions, and sometimes without us actually knowing it. We go around everyday forming opinions in which we think are our own but are really based off others opinions they think are their own.

I think this essay showed me more of what I had already known about the media. That the media twists something that may be true and that people should know, to something that they believe readers or viewers would rather hear. Also the media is competing with other media, meaning each wants to have the more interesting story at the end of the day rather than the most informative or truthful story.

Course Theme

I think that the future is all in the way you look at it, I believe that if you want to make it bright or dark is up to you. If you go with a positive lookout everyday, and make the beast out of every day then you can make the future bright. But if you want to think the worst then that is all you will see. Everyday bad things happen and sometimes we hear more about those bad aspects then the good that is also going on. I think that it is better to look at the good that is happening in the world and see the progress that people are making towards a better world. I think as long as people keep striving to make improvements on the world then we are headed to a bright future, but if people close-up-shop and prepare for the worst then that is what is in store for us. We can change our future, all we need to do is believe that there are greater things to come.