Michael Rossi
November 25, 2010
Advanced Placement British Literature/ Mrs. Turick
Final “Perfect Society” Write Up
While it was tempting to swap my trading cards, I was able to refrain from doing so, as it better catered to the goal of the assignment, to create our own ideal society. It was suggested that perhaps we could have made a poor choice and should look to rectify it through swapping with another. The only problem with this is that I actually took great care in the selection of my society’s members and felt extremely reserved about relinquishing any of my elite five. Mrs. Turick made the point that trading, “was all in good fun”, so I honestly did not wish to be stick in the mud, so to speak, so I rifled through my cards to determine the most disposable of the bunch. This was painfully difficult as I was not trying to determine who to trade, but whose departure from my society I would be the least disturbed about. Determining this proved to be a challenge as my mind was overwhelmed by each of my member’s positive attributes instead of their potentially negative qualities. Nevertheless, I turned around and offered Tim Rezendes my Muhammad Ali for his Chuck Norris card. With a perplexed look strewn across his face, he calmly responded, “no thanks, bro Chuck was my first choice” in a most polite manner. Through this interaction I realized that the warrior whom I had considered most disposable was Tim’s first choice. Tim had chosen Chuck Norris just as carefully as I had chosen Muhammad Ali and we were both looking to keep our society’s intact. Why fix something if it isn’t broken, especially if you just built it?
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Choice rationale For the Perfect Society: What do you value in society and how does your construction reinforce those values?
Michael Rossi
November 20, 2010
Advanced Placement British Literature/ Mrs. Turick
Choice rationale For the Perfect Society: What do you value in society and how does your construction reinforce those values?
My perfect society would consist of Scott Brown, Muhammad Ali, Sandy Cheeks, Mother Mary, Lewis Black as they would each be key societal contributors, in their own right.
Scott Brown serves the role of leader and representative of the society. Scott brown is a very versatile political leader whose dedication to the good of his people supersedes his dedication to his political party. Brown voted for his party’s line only eighty percent of what he did in the senate, but broke with the GOP on voting for an early version of the democrats banking reform bill, but forced them to drop a tax clause which would harm our local economy. Also, it is unlikely that Brown’s leadership would be contested as he holds a fifty five approval rating, compared to Barrack Obama whose approval rating is at fifty four percent.
Muhammad Ali is a the first three time Heavy Weight champion. He is known for his boxing proficiency and strength. He is the protecting and military of the society as he is a virtually undefeated warrior. His strength could also be used for labor.
Sandy Cheeks is a main character in the television program, SpongeBob Square Pants. She is known as an inventor and scientists in the series as she has created: A teleporter, spaceship, cloning machine, and so much more. Also, she has undergone many adventures with SpongeBob exploring the depths of their underwater town, known as bikini bottom. She can put these adventuring skills to use as the society’s explorer.
Mother Mary is a divine addition to an ideal society. Mother Mary is a nurturing mother figure who would have no trouble nurturing the other members of society, as she had the challenge of nurturing Jesus, the son of God. In stories such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Mother Mary’s image was put on a shield, emphasizing her worth as a protector. Naturally she would be society’s healer as she would protect everyone’s health.
Lastly, author and comedian Lewis Black is a comedic necessity for an ideal society. Black has hosted the laugh Detroit comedy festival, and is famous for many comedy acts of his own such as: “Red, White, and Screwed”. Black has a unique and an uncanny talent for satirical comedy covering many current topics from Gay marriage to his opinion on social networking sites. Also, Black is an intellectual who has written many books such as Me of Little Faith and Nothing’s Sacred. These books offer entertaining insight to some of life’s most peculiar dilemmas and trivialities and demonstrate Black’s talent as an enlightener.
November 20, 2010
Advanced Placement British Literature/ Mrs. Turick
Choice rationale For the Perfect Society: What do you value in society and how does your construction reinforce those values?
My perfect society would consist of Scott Brown, Muhammad Ali, Sandy Cheeks, Mother Mary, Lewis Black as they would each be key societal contributors, in their own right.
Scott Brown serves the role of leader and representative of the society. Scott brown is a very versatile political leader whose dedication to the good of his people supersedes his dedication to his political party. Brown voted for his party’s line only eighty percent of what he did in the senate, but broke with the GOP on voting for an early version of the democrats banking reform bill, but forced them to drop a tax clause which would harm our local economy. Also, it is unlikely that Brown’s leadership would be contested as he holds a fifty five approval rating, compared to Barrack Obama whose approval rating is at fifty four percent.
Muhammad Ali is a the first three time Heavy Weight champion. He is known for his boxing proficiency and strength. He is the protecting and military of the society as he is a virtually undefeated warrior. His strength could also be used for labor.
Sandy Cheeks is a main character in the television program, SpongeBob Square Pants. She is known as an inventor and scientists in the series as she has created: A teleporter, spaceship, cloning machine, and so much more. Also, she has undergone many adventures with SpongeBob exploring the depths of their underwater town, known as bikini bottom. She can put these adventuring skills to use as the society’s explorer.
Mother Mary is a divine addition to an ideal society. Mother Mary is a nurturing mother figure who would have no trouble nurturing the other members of society, as she had the challenge of nurturing Jesus, the son of God. In stories such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Mother Mary’s image was put on a shield, emphasizing her worth as a protector. Naturally she would be society’s healer as she would protect everyone’s health.
Lastly, author and comedian Lewis Black is a comedic necessity for an ideal society. Black has hosted the laugh Detroit comedy festival, and is famous for many comedy acts of his own such as: “Red, White, and Screwed”. Black has a unique and an uncanny talent for satirical comedy covering many current topics from Gay marriage to his opinion on social networking sites. Also, Black is an intellectual who has written many books such as Me of Little Faith and Nothing’s Sacred. These books offer entertaining insight to some of life’s most peculiar dilemmas and trivialities and demonstrate Black’s talent as an enlightener.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Create your own chivalric code with ten steps
1) A man in the military should always defend their country and be willing to sacrifice his own life.
2)A man in the military should always treat prisoners of war with respect.
3) A man in the military should never allow a fellow woman solider to enter a dangerous environment before himself.
4) A man in the military should share his income with his family.
5) A man in the military should never leave a fellow comrade behind to preserve his own safety
6) A man in the military ought to kill an enemy in order to protect his own men.
7) A man in the military should never loot enemy houses for spoils of war.
8) A man in the military should never kill unarmed civilians even if they support the opposition.
9) A man in the military should never except a bribe in any form.
10) A man in the military should retreat with honor when a battle is lost.
2)A man in the military should always treat prisoners of war with respect.
3) A man in the military should never allow a fellow woman solider to enter a dangerous environment before himself.
4) A man in the military should share his income with his family.
5) A man in the military should never leave a fellow comrade behind to preserve his own safety
6) A man in the military ought to kill an enemy in order to protect his own men.
7) A man in the military should never loot enemy houses for spoils of war.
8) A man in the military should never kill unarmed civilians even if they support the opposition.
9) A man in the military should never except a bribe in any form.
10) A man in the military should retreat with honor when a battle is lost.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Essential Question #4
Hrothgar's parting words to Beowulf attempt to remind him to stay away from one particular vice: arrogance. Hrothgar claimed, "He suffers no setbacks until the seed of arrogance is sown and grows within him, while still the watchman slumbers; how deeply the soul's guardian sleeps when a man is enmeshed in the matters of this world; the evil archer stands close with his drawn bow, his bristling quiver" (Lines 1702-1708). Here Hrothgar claims that arrogance is the root of setbacks and avoiding life's inconveniences is as simple as remaining humble. Hrothgar similarly commands Beowulf to be weary of his pride: "Arm yourself, dear Beowulf, best of men, against such diseased thinking; always swallow pride (Lines 1742-1743). This once again reinforces the necessity that Beowulf's self esteem is kept at a healthy murmur. Due to the nature of Beowulf, I believe this speech by Hrothgar is foreshadowing the very downfall of Beowulf. So far, Beowulf has slain numerous sea dwelling creatures and all of Cain's demonic lineage. Any physical adversary has proven insufficient to bring about Beowulf's downfall. The author would need to make Beowulf physically weaker in order to have him defeated. If Beowulf were to become arrogant and lose the will to train, another opponent who has been diligently training could potentially defeat him. A death of such a seemingly unbreakable hero would serve as the ultimate warning from the author to help his reader understand just how important Christian virtues are.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Essential #3: How is Wealtheow portrayed? What does she do? can we expect of Anglo Saxon Women
Wealtheow is like high ranking slave. The fact that she serves the king his mead demonstrates her secondary nature.The author refers to her as, "excellent in mind" (615). In other words, a woman who serves a man is the ideal anglo saxon woman. We can expect very little from her due to to her subservient nature. We discussed in class, that a large part of being a hero involves gaining respect from others. The food and drink that she provides for Beowulf and his men are a token of her respect demonstrating that all women ought to offer tokens of their gratitude to men who look to protect them.
Monday, September 20, 2010
What are the social obligations of a hero?
The social obligations of a hero are to weed out injustice where ever it may lie. The difference between a true hero and a good person is the manner in which they go about dealing with this injustice.In the story of the good Samaritan, a man was robbed and badly beaten, left to die by his aggressor. Men of high credibility who were particularly good in speaking what they believe were simply unwilling to aid a dying man. A priest and a Levite pass the man while a socially shunned Samaritan finally resolves to help the dying man. Here in the gospel of Luke, we are given a demonstration of the hypocrisy that can occur when believes do not coincide with corresponding actions.This would be an example of a good person who gives charity to the poor. While Jesus would be the Christian hero as he died to eliminate structural sin within the hearts and minds of the romans. Jesus's death gave way to the catholic as he died in the hopes to bring justice. In other words, Heroes are required to pluck the roots injustice rather than simply trim its branches.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
How do we create division in our society?
Michael Rossi
September 9th, 2010
Advanced Placement English Literature
How do we create division in our society (Respond in 15 sentences)
Division occurs on a small level, within the educational system. Students often organize themselves into cliques that share a similar interests or physical features such as the nerds, jocks, Blacks, Caucasians, Hispanics, Skaters, or any other kinds of cliques. Each of these groups are different organs in the student body that are magnificent on their own, but ultimately exist to give life to the student body. Just as an animal cannot survive with only seventy eight of any one organ, a student body would perish without variety. The more these groups try to focus on the differences between each clique, the more difficult brotherly unity becomes and the cancer of disunity begins to eat away at the student body clique by clique.
On a larger scale, countries are often guilty of spreading this cancer through foreign policy. A supreme example of this would be the tension that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union during the cold war. The United States government felt the need to contain communism as they considered it a grave threat democracy worldwide. The government portrayed communists are grotesque looking men whose heads were as blank as their hearts. America was thrown in to such hysteria that (for a short time) they began the red scare, hunting communists as puritanical Massachusetts had hunted witches.
Both large scale and small scale division often call for those who alien others to first dehumanize them. Rather than think of the soviets as our brothers from Russia or Kazakhstan, we were first ready to call them communists. Rather than recognize our peers as a community as brothers and sisters, one is often quick to categorize outsiders at school into a stereotype or clique, rather than try to welcome him or her as a brother. This connection emphasizes the fact that even modern world leaders are not exempt from a childlike form of alienation against their foreign brothers and sisters. If not put in check, a rugged sense of individualism can result in individual insanity or give rise to tyrannical rulers of an entire nation.
September 9th, 2010
Advanced Placement English Literature
How do we create division in our society (Respond in 15 sentences)
Division occurs on a small level, within the educational system. Students often organize themselves into cliques that share a similar interests or physical features such as the nerds, jocks, Blacks, Caucasians, Hispanics, Skaters, or any other kinds of cliques. Each of these groups are different organs in the student body that are magnificent on their own, but ultimately exist to give life to the student body. Just as an animal cannot survive with only seventy eight of any one organ, a student body would perish without variety. The more these groups try to focus on the differences between each clique, the more difficult brotherly unity becomes and the cancer of disunity begins to eat away at the student body clique by clique.
On a larger scale, countries are often guilty of spreading this cancer through foreign policy. A supreme example of this would be the tension that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union during the cold war. The United States government felt the need to contain communism as they considered it a grave threat democracy worldwide. The government portrayed communists are grotesque looking men whose heads were as blank as their hearts. America was thrown in to such hysteria that (for a short time) they began the red scare, hunting communists as puritanical Massachusetts had hunted witches.
Both large scale and small scale division often call for those who alien others to first dehumanize them. Rather than think of the soviets as our brothers from Russia or Kazakhstan, we were first ready to call them communists. Rather than recognize our peers as a community as brothers and sisters, one is often quick to categorize outsiders at school into a stereotype or clique, rather than try to welcome him or her as a brother. This connection emphasizes the fact that even modern world leaders are not exempt from a childlike form of alienation against their foreign brothers and sisters. If not put in check, a rugged sense of individualism can result in individual insanity or give rise to tyrannical rulers of an entire nation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
