Blog Entry 15: Iran

I am very intrigued by the history in Iran and other parts of the world. Comparatively, we have so little history here in the Northwest. It has always been challenging for me to understand countries around the world that can't seem to all get on the same page. As I was reading Iran's history it is more apparent to me why that country, in particular, struggles. When you look at how many times they have been invaded, and how many different cultures are present, it is more understandable. Such strong beliefs and often contradictory to your neighbors beliefs. Here in the US we are a bunch of Mutts. But our forefathers set us up well and instilled in us that sense freedom and our system seems to work. However I don't know how it may be in a thousand years? That is yet to be seen.

Blog Entry 14: Persepolis Quote Response

"I am the light of the Aryans. I will make this country the most modern of all time. Our people will regain their splendor" (Satrapi, Pg. 27). This was the statement made by the Shah at his crowning ceremony. It always seems difficult to know a politician. promises are made and very few are kept. So many today seem corrupt and are only in office for reasons of greed and power.

The words that leap out at me are the use of the word I and the statement that "I am the light of the Aryans." This appears to be a man that has a growing "God complex." Meaning his power and greed have taken over and he feels that he can do no wrong. If you were a good leader your crowning speech would sound more like; We are the light of the Ayrans. Together we can make this country great. Our people will regain their splendor and we will strive to make our country modern.

The illustration shows the Shah standing on a raised platform behind a podium. He has his hands in the air and the illustration appears to be supporting the notion that he thinks he is omniscient.

I believe this portion of the book illustrates how disgusted the people were with their government. That Tierney would not prevail and that the majority could bond together and take back their country. I am often amazed at how screwed up an entire country can get. I sometimes can't believe that they can't agree on a direction and move to improve their status. I also am amazed at how one person can get a strangled hold on a country and dictate their future.

Blong Entry 13: Quote Response

The Road not Taken "Two roads roads diverged in a wood, and I-I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference" (Frost, pg. 610)

This thought has always intrigued me; What if you had or had not done something? What affect would it have on your life? How significant of an impact did one decision have on your life. Now it is obvious that some decisions carry with them strong and permanent consequences. But what about the little ones. I almost did not ask my wife to go on a second date because the first one did not go to well. The decision to not go on a second date would have obviously changed my life significantly. But what about all of the smaller ones leading up to that decision? Maybe a friend can't makeit and your plans change and you decide to go on the second date? Or maybe your car breaks down on the way and you meet someone else? Something similar to the "Butterfly Effect".

Frost poem, The Road Not Taken, appears to lament on the fact that he made a choice long ago and is somewhat regretful that he did not choose differently. The end of the quote that says "and that has made all of the difference", appears to imply regret for his decision? He also insinuates that he chose the easier road and it may have paid more dividend to make the more difficult decision for long term success or happiness.

I always tell my sons "You can work hard in school for the first 22 years of your life and reap the benefit in the last 60, or you can screw off now, have fun in the first 22 and suffer the consequences in the last 60.

Blog Entry 12: When I was one-and-twenty

When I was one-and-twenty (Poem paraphrase)written by A.E. Housman pg. 563 of the text.

When I was one-and twenty
I heard a wise man say,
"Give crowns and pounds and guineas
but not your heart away;
Give pearls away and rubies
but keep your fancy free."
But I was one-and-twenty,
no use to talk to me.

When I was one-and-twenty
I heard him say again
"the heart out of the bosom
was never given in vain;
'Tis paid with sighs a plenty
and sold for endless rue."
And I am two-and-twenty,
and oh, 'tis true, 'tis true.

This poem is a simple poem to understand its meaning. It is an older man telling a younger man to be careful falling in love at the age of 21 because it can be painful and frustrating. The older man, probably a Father talking to his son, is imparting the wisdom of what a wise man told him once. The wise man is probably his own experience. The interesting word in the poem is "rue". I did not know what this meant and when I googled it it really solidified my understanding of the poems meaning. Rue is defined as sorrow, and regret. The currency in the poem is English which places the author in Great Brittan. When you read the poem you almost sound like you are talking to yourself with an English accent, because it has that feel. This poem really hit home for me because it is very difficult for a father to impart his wisdom to his son because they tend to know everything already. I know I did?

Blog Entry 11: Quote Response

In John Donne's "Song" I found an interesting rhythm to the poem. He used different line lengths and changed its rhythm by alternating the lines that rime. The first few times I read it I had some difficulty getting into its groove. After a few run throughs I started to catch on. Reading it aloud helped. My favorite lines in the poem were as follows:

"If thou be'st borne to strange sights,
Things invisible to see,
Ride ten thousand days and nights,
Till age snow white hairs on thee,
Thou, when thou return'st, wilt tell me
All strange wonders that befell thee,
And swear
Nowhere
Lives a woman true, and fair" (Donne)

Read though this a few times and see if you can pickup the unique rhythm. The entire poem is on page 573 of the text book.

Blog Entry 10: Song Quote: Old Man

"Old man look at me know, 24 and there's so much more, live alone in a paradise that makes me think of two. Love lost such a cost, give me things that don't get lost, like a coin that won't get tossed, rollin home to you. Old man take a look at my life I'm a lot like you. I need someone to love me the whole day through. I well look in my eye's and you can tell it's true" (Young, 1972)

One of the great song writers of our time, Neil Young, wrote several classics. This song A about his relationship with his father. I have struggled for years to determine if it is a positive message or one that troubled the writer. The first line "Ole man look at me now, 24 and there's so much more" implies to me that he feels he has or is falling short of what he wants or should be doing. It also could mean that he is doing much more than what his father was at the age of 24. The next line in the song is, to me, the most perplexing, "Live alone in a paradise that makes me think of two". This statement contradicts itself in that it is a paradise but he is alone and thinking of his father or a relationship with another person? The next line "Love lost such a cost, give me things that don't get lost, like a coin that won't get tossed,rollin home to you". This is a reference to losing love. But who's love, his fathers? I believe he is speaking of his fathers love here? The reference "rolling home to you" leads me to believe that. The next three lines are the chorus and he is expressing that he is just like his father, and he is missing the love that he has always wanted. I love the last line of the chorus that tells his father to "look in my eyes and you can tell it's true".

This song is a great song and has always struck a chord with me. I think one of the most significant relationships a boy has is with his father. Neil Young is not a great singer but has a unique voice and is a very convincing performer. Watch his live performance of this song on youtube.

Blog Entry 9: Haiku

Anticipation
delivered with one strike, joy
live to play once more

If you read the blog please post what this haiku means to you.

Thanks for reading.

Kevin

Blog Entry 8: Dover Beach (pg. 727)

Dover Beach paraphrase:

I love the calm sea, the sound it makes. The night air gives me comfort. And at the same time the pounding waves make me sad and help me remember times of misery in our past. The world is a place that is doomed. We are doomed. There is very little if any hope for us and it does not seem worth it to dream. For tonight we fight and many will surely die. Maybe even I?

Blog entry 7: Freestyle

During this course I have read several short stories from the text book. I find it very challenging at times to understand the author's meaning. Are you having the same challenges? I often read portions over to try and find a key word, phrase or point. I have found that when I read the questions at the end of the story it helps me to track down information that helps find the authors meaning. I think literature in general, short stories, plays and poems require more abstract thinking to get the moral or the just of the story. I tend to be a more logical thinker. I have found that if I really concentrate and look for clues I have more success understanding a story the first time through. Sometimes I think the author is vague and allows you to interpret the story however you like?

Blog Entry 6: Quote response

"Dell, said he, lets put our Christmas presents away and keep'em a while, They're too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And now suppose you put the chops on".

This quote is from The gift of the Magi. This was a good short story about a young couple sacrificing their prize possessions to buy the other a Christmas present. I think this is the type of behavior not often seen in our society today. Everyone is wanting things for themselves, even those that are married. I was pleasantly surprised in the end to see they each made a sacrifice. I realized shortly after Jim came home and revealed the combs that he had probably sold the watch. I wonder if this was more common behavior during the early 1900's?