On the Waterfront

In the beginning of the movie On the Waterfront, the character Terry believes that to inform police about the crimes of the mob is to snitch and be a traitor. This mindset continues while Terry has not himself been deeply scarred by the actions of the mobsters. For instance, when he got to know Edy, even though he loved her, at first he would not tell her his responsibility in her brother's death. Because he valued his relationship with the mobsters over telling Edy the truth, he kept "deaf and dumb". This attitude changes completely when the mob has turned its anger towards Terry personally. After Terry sees that his brother Charlie has been murdered by the mob, he forgets his past fear of being a rat and decides to take it out on the mob himself. When the priest sees his desire to hurt the mob and persuades him to tell the truth in court, Terry seriously considers telling the truth for the first time. This change of attitude shows that only when Terry felt that he had nothing more to lose did he make the decision to stand up for the truth.

Personally, I believe that in almost every instance someone should choose to stand up for the truth. However, I do think that someone is a snitch when they tell on people for trivial things that really have no importance in the long run. If someone's actions are wrong, but they are only hurting themselves, then I think a person shouldn't tell on them because the repercussions of the other person's actions are punishment enough. If however someone's actions were affecting the rest of society or even a small number of other people, I think that it is important to bring the truth into the light. This may be difficult to do and would certainly take courage to face the person one is telling about, but I believe that it is necessary to put yourself in a bit of danger to protect others.

Ethics in All My Sons

In the play All My Sons, Joe Keller has a very strong opinion about the importance of family. When it is uncovered that he was guilty in shipping out over one hundred faulty cylinder heads that resulted in the death of 21 men, Keller attempts so justify his actions by stating his motive. He responded to the astonishment from his son Chris with, "Chris... Chris, I did it for you, it was a chance and I took it for you. I'm sixty-one years old, when would I have another chance to make something for you?" (70). Because Joe Keller thought that it was a sufficient excuse for his crime to have done it for his son, we see that in his mind he was doing the right thing. His definition of the "right thing" consists of caring for his own, so he would rather provide for his son than save the pilots and lose his business. In the case of George Deever, he also values his family over society. Because George found out that Joe Keller had ruined his own father's life, he thinks that it is more important to keep his family intact than to allow his sister Ann to marry into the Keller family. He makes this evident when he confronts Ann in front of Chris, "You're not marrying him... Because his father destroyed your family" (53). Society in this case is Ann and Chris, and although he loves his sister, George values keeping his family clean of the Kellers over anyone's emotions.

In life there is an appropriate time to value the needs of society over family, and a time to value the needs of a family over society. I believe that in most cases, the needs of society as a whole should be valued above family needs. I disagree with Joe Keller's ethical stance in All My Sons. Although he justified hurting society by helping his family, I believe that if there was ever a risk to someone's life who isn't family, then the choice should be made to put the wishes of the family aside to help society. I also believe that if one had to make the decision between causing the death of a large number of people they don't know, and a family member, they should be willing to sacrifice their family to save many more people. This is because all of those strangers have families too, and if fewer people had to mourn loss of life, that is better than being selfish and causing many people grief. However, it is necessary to put the needs of family over society when society is wrong. For example, during the Holocaust it would be better for people to take care of their families and hide them versus complying with society and getting killed. Although there is no distinct way to tell when to help society or family, I believe that a person's conscience will generally instruct them in the way they should go.

Outside Reading: John Adams

This book is a biography about the life and works of John Adams, a vice president and later president of the United States, along with being an incredibly influential person surrounding the constitutional writings of the new country. In the beginning of the book, the author takes a very descriptive view of John Adams as if he were alive today, posing directly in front of us. When referencing his appearance, McCullough writes, "Dismounted, he stood five feet seven or eight inches tall - about 'middle-size' in that day - and though verging on portly, he had a straight-up, square-shouldered stance and was, in fact, surprisingly fit and solid. His hands were the hands of a man accustomed to pruning his own trees, cutting his own hay, and splitting his own firewood" (18). Not only does this quote give us a vivid description of John Adam's looks, but also a glimpse into his character. By stating that Adams was a man to do his own work we can see that he was a man of pride, as well as old-fashioned values. Throughout the characterization of John Adams, McCullough also includes glimpses into his way of thinking and opinions of mankind. McCullough does this by describing the various authors that fascinated Adams, "He read Cicero, Tacitus, and others of his Roman heroes in Latin, and Plato and Thucydides in the original Greek, which he considered the supreme language. But in his need to fathom the 'labyrinth' of human nature, as he said, he was drawn to Shakespeare and Swift, and likely to carry Cervantes or a volume of English poetry with him on his journeys" (19). By describing what literature most intrigued Adams and his response to it, we can connect with him personally through the allusions to other literary works that are available for our own reading and learning. We also get a clear picture of John Adams as a very studious, reflective, and intelligent man.

Although many people are somewhat aware of the circumstances that surrounded the writing of the Declaration of Independence, McCullough makes it a point to show us how difficult the time was for many people, including John and his relationship with his wife Abigail. Because Adams was required to travel to Philadelphia for the convening of the Continental Congress, he was separated from his wife for very long periods of time. McCullough uses their personal correspondence during this time to give us an intimate view into their relationship and respect for each other. In one quote from Abigail to her husband we can see how loyal of a wife she is, "Winter makes its approaches fast... I hope I shall not be obliged to spend it without my dearest friend... I have been like a nun in a cloister ever since you went away" (21). The reference to her husband as her "dearest friend" is an obvious example of the love they shared, as well as a tribute to John Adam's character that even though he must be absent for sometimes months on end, Abigail never faltered in her esteem for him. In another instance of quoting the couple's correspondence, McCullough uses their conversation to describe the current situation of the country. When Abigail had requested John buy her pins, the lack thereof described shows how bare the country was of many simple items. In her letter she wrote, "The cry for pins is so great that what we used to buy for 7 shillings and six pence are now 20 shillings and not to be had for that" (21). By using the Adam's personal writings to elaborate on the situation at the time, we as readers get a very personal view of the life they were required to live.
Citation:
McCullough, David. John Adams. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001.

Moon Rover

This week I read an article about a brand new moon rover that NASA is calling the "Chariot". Compared to lunar vehicles in the past, this piece of machinery is incredibly high-tech and thought out. It includes six wheel drive, an attached pressurized cabin and technology akin to that of SUVs for stability and maneuverability. Past crafts or "buggies" faced a few issues in navigation and traveling capabilities; for instance that the buggy could barely travel 7 miles an hour, did not have rechargable batteries, which in turn restricted its roaming range to less than a 5 mile radius. NASA hopes to put a new team of astronauts back on the moon by 2020, although they may be facing delays after the election this November. Both candidates propose to hold off on lunar exploration. Barack Obama suggests a delay of 5 years so that the money can be used for an educational reform, and John McCain plans to hold off for a year to reduce the federal defecit. No matter when this project gets to actually reach the moon, scientists are continueing to test and improve it. It is currently being test driven through moon-like terrain in Arizona by former lunar buggy drivers so that NASA can get the best imput in design. I found this article quite interesting because space exploration is very important for scientific developement in our society, and it would be really exciting to see more austronauts reach the moon. I was also surprised to find political connections in this article considering the important election we are about to have. Especially for that reason, I would recommend this article to someone who would like more information on the plans of either of the presidential candidates in regard to the scientific future of the US.
LINK to article

Our Favorite Thing to Do

Photography: The Rule of Thirds

I read an article from a photography help site that was about simple things someone can do with their pictures to make them look professional. This article was about the "Rule of Thirds" that can be applied to any camera or used by anyone no matter what skill level. The basic concept is to imagine a three-by-three "tic-tac-toe" grid in the viewfinder of the camera, and line up the subject with one of the lines, making sure to keep it away from the center of the shot. With less obvious subjects like landscapes, especially those with horizons, the same rules apply by simply placing the horizon on one of the grid lines. One method the author Phil Pivnick suggests for learning the grid method is to analyze pictures, either professional or just ones that you like, by drawing the grid on them to visualize how the method works. The "Rule of Thirds" works well for novice photographers, because it is a simple way to improve the appearance of casual pictures and make candid moments become actually pleasant to look at. I found this article very interesting and even helpful for myself, because I enjoy taking pictures very much but have never known any ways to improve them without upgrading equipment or taking classes and such. Now that I am aware of it I will be conscious of this method every time I use a camera, and I believe will enjoy taking pictures much more. I would definitely recommend this article to anyone who is interested in a quick fix for their photography skills.
Link: Photography Rule of Thirds

India's New Buddhists

This Time Magazine article is about a new sect of Buddhism that is flourishing in New Delhi, India. This Buddhist movement is called Soka Gakkai, and is becoming very popular among the more wealthy people of India and surrounding areas. Because early Buddhism focuses on an almost deprived life and rejection of many worldly things, it was not very attractive to the wealthier people groups. Soka Gakkai emphasises "personal affirmation, positive thinking, and the basic Buddhist principles of peace and non-violence" (1). Composed mainly of doctors, scientists and other well-learned people, they meet in members' homes to have community time to simply talk about the struggles of their lives.
Not only Soka Gakkai, but other forms of Buddhism have arisen in India. In these cases, people choose elements of Buddhism like meditation or chanting to take part in, but continue to observe the holidays and traditions they had in the past. This allows people to be part of the Buddhist philosophy while not leaving their family heritage or favorite holiday past times behind. For instance, someone who practices Hinduism could take up Buddhist meditation and not give up their first religion. Because the many new developments in Buddhism, the population of Buddhists have reached high numbers in India. Although the last census recorded a 1.7% Buddhist population, with India's vast number of people that 1.7% is actually 170 million people.
I think that this article was fascinating, especially because I am learning about Buddhism in many areas of school right now. It was valuable to see how the religion is adapting to the current needs of people in different countries, because that makes it applicable to many more people. I would definitely recommend this article to someone because of its understandable and worthwhile information.
Article Link

Thoughts on Homer (Question #1)

I believe that by observing the Homeric characters in The Odyssey, Homer displays an obvious tendency towards sexism. Among the mortal female characters in the poem, they all seem to follow a stereotypical female pattern. For instance, Helen is remembered in The Odyssey by her flighty and unwise behavior from The Iliad. When Telemachus dines with Menelaus and Helen, she reminds us yet again the bad decisions she made to run away with Paris. However, no mention is given to the fact that it was Paris who urged her to leave. This shows us how a focus is put on the role that Helen had in the war, and does not fairly balance out the blame that should be spread between the sexes. The main female mortal in The Odyssey is Penelope, the faithful and adoring wife of Odysseus. Sexism in Homer's writing is revealed when Penelope grieves for, and remains true to her husband while she is surrounded by a crowd of adoring men. Not to mention that there was a serious possibility that her husband, gone for twenty years, is dead. At the same time that Penelope is remaining faithful, Odysseus can't even resist his hostage keeper. While he is stranded on Calypo's island, it is made quite clear that Odysseus did not honor his wife, but slept frequently with the nymph Calypso. This double standard that arises many times throughout Odysseus' journey home is evidence of the favor that Homer gives to his male characters.
Although the goddess Athena is very highly honored and portrayed with numerous strong and respectable qualities, her divinity removes her from the possibility of comparison to any mortal woman. By doing this, Homer creates a character that is an unrealistic fantasy of what women should be. When Athena reveals to the crowd around Telemachus and King Nestor that she is a god by turning into an eagle, she is awed after and revered all the more by those people. Although she portrays a strong woman, we are reminded that she does not necessarily represent women as a whole, but the gods instead. Another immortal, the nymph Calypso, is portrayed as an obsessive and irrational person. When she becomes infuriated with Hermes for forcing her to give up Odysseus, she seems just another love-obsessed woman. Not only does Homer portray her as a stereotypical woman in love, but Homer also reveals the sexism between the gods regarding human relationships. Calypso rants about how all the gods are allowed to steal any mortal maiden that they wish, while she is forced to give up her one love Odysseus. The double standard in this context is an obvious display of sexism in Homer's writing.
Work Cited:
Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fagles. London: Penguin Books,1997.

October 2, 2008

This week I read an editorial from the Time Magazine website about Sarah Palin. The main focus of this article was explaining the many reasons that, according to the author Belinda Luscombe, American women hate her. The author focuses on very petty reasons for such an outpouring of hatred, like the fact that Sarah Palin is pretty, and thus an object of jealousy and anger from less attractive women. Her extreme confidence is also used against her, however Luscombe does acknowledge that "It's almost impossible to get confidence right. Too timid and you're a pushover. Too self-aggrandizing and you're a bad word unless it's about a dog" (1). I found this article very interesting because it addresses issues that although are rather unimportant in the grand scheme of things, are actually on the minds of many voters, whether consciously or not. An interesting snippet into the scandals that are already arising surrounding Sarah Palin was given when the author mentioned that the Pakistani-head-of state "more or less hit on her", followed by this youtube link.
I would definately recomend this article because it gives us a fresh look on the shallow but common thought processes and ideas that are very present in American society today.
Work Cited:
Luscombe, Belinda. "Why Women Hate Sarah Palin." TIME Magazine 02 Oct 2008 2 Oct 2008 http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1846832,00.html.

New Information Regarding Stonehenge

In an article by National Geographic, it was cited that cattle teeth found three miles from the site were not from local animals. I find this interesting because it is known that the stone that Stonehenge is made of is not local either. Both the stone and the cattle teeth had links to Wales, which suggests the people who created and used Stonehenge had to travel very far to get to Stonehenge, near Salisbury England. Evidence archeologists found near Stonehenge give us a look at what people actually did there, and why they would travel such a distance. "Prehistoric garbage dumps, or middens, were filled with evidence of Stone Age partying, such as pig and cattle bones and broken pottery" (Owen, James). For whatever reason these people traveled to Stonehenge, it seems clear that it was celebratory. Looking into the ancient behaviors of these people is very interesting because we can compare our own customs to the way that they lived their lives. The massive amount of meat they acquired to fill this dump area with animal bones shows how important this ceremony was for them to prepare so great an amount of food. It was obviously of some importance to these people to bring their cattle and animals to this particular site, because there was no sign of the birthing and domesticating of the animals nearby. "If you have a site where animals were actually reared, you will almost certainly find a number of newborn casualties, but we are not finding that at all" (Owen, James) stated a researcher about the topic. This new information is interesting because of the mysteriousness that surrounds Stonehenge, however it does not provide much insight into the monument itself. Because of this I would not recomend the article, but would suggest reading about Stonehenge itself, because it is an anomoly that would be very interesting to know more about.

Work Cited:
Owen, James. "Stonehenge Partiers Came From Afar, Cattle Teeth Show." National Geographic News. 12 Sep 2008. 18 Sep 2008. .