Final Blog

Thanks for an Awesome Year!!!

1) At least two analyses of photographs

Quietus
Stick'em Up

2) At least two creative pieces. This might include poems, short stories, or other innovative forms.

The War on Guilt
The End of Days

3) At least two letters.

To the Soldier
Ignorance is Bliss

4) At least one group effort post.

Vacancy

5) At least one post that relates, refers to or deals with a medium other than writing or photography (i.e. film, sculpture, etc.). Push the medium to its limit here. How does the form of a blog allow you to do something you couldn't have done on paper?

Push it to the Limit

6) At least one post completely of your own design and execution.

Pick 5 objects you would take with you to war not including equipment like guns or basic necessities.

"The Things They Carried"

"The Things They Carried"

Superman shirt

My childhood idol was superman and he still is today, despite him living in the realm of fantasy. I still believe I have superpowers. I believe I can change the world just like he did. I strive to model his selflessness and courage and goodness. Although I will never posses his physical strength, there’s no harm in trying.

Picture of my family

If I go to war, I want to always remember the people that will always be there for me. They raised me. They are the words of the definition of me. They will forever be a part of me, and I would wish to always be grateful.

Friendship bracelet

Along with my family, I would also want to remember my friends because they too were always there for me. The bracelet symbolizes the bond that we will always have, no matter what happens. We grew up together and suffered through many of the same things but they were always there for me and I refuse to forget that.

Book

Of course, I need something to do. I need some sort of distraction. A book would allow me to enter a world that isn’t filled with death and destruction and maybe help me remember what I’m fighting for.

pen

Seems like such a simple object to bring. But oh how I would need it. I would have to write almost every day. I would need a way to express my thoughts and feelings, and I can’ t think of a better way than with a pen and paper.

Push it to the Limit

I remember sitting in my 4th grade classroom. Mrs. Jones was my teacher. I remember a sign up on her wall. Of course, every elementary school teacher had posters up on their walls listing off study methods or the scientific method or maybe corny sayings like "reach for the stars." Her's was different though, for some reason it stuck out, popped out in my mind, engraved in my memory. It simply said "You can make a difference."

At first I had no idea how to address this category of pushing my blog to the limit. I mean there are so many possibilities. I could make videos or attach songs or pictures or websites but I wanted something different; something that would pop out. And by pop out I mean: come to life. I wanted to push the limit of blogging by specifically summoning each person who reads it to become a part of it. I wanted my blog to become a part of your life. So very simply I’m going to ask you (the reader reading these very words) to form a new habit. One that hopefully you will use your entire life.

I want you to go out into the world, anywhere, you can go to lunch or just go about on your normal schedule. But today I want you to see. I want you to look around and see everyone around you. Study them; try to understand who they are. Ask yourself why the girl in the corner gave up her seat for a friend or why the guy at the entrance is holding the door open for complete strangers. See the basic good in people. And once you can see, here’s the hard part. You’re going to make a difference.

I want you to do three things today.

1. 1. Give a compliment

2. 2. Help somebody

3. 3. Give something to someone

I know this sounds corny and stupid but just try it. Just do it and get it out of your way. Now from this day forward here’s your new habit. Every time somebody gives you a compliment, you’re going to help and give something to someone. Whenever someone helps you, you’re going to give a compliment and give something to someone. And whenever someone gives something to you, you’re going to give a compliment and help somebody. So basically if someone gives you number 1, you’re going to do the other two. Now remember to do these things you have to see everything around you, your environment, and then you will notice when people are in need.

Be a soldier. Fight for something: the good in people.

You can make a difference

To the Soldier

To the man with no self esteem. To the man who hasn’t got it all. To the man without wealth. To the man without happiness. To the man in grief. The man who feels powerless. The lost man. To the man with an addiction. To the man with a disorder. To the man with a disease. The man who faces death. The man who fears. To the man without friends. The man without family. The man who is alone. To the man who lost his job. To the starving man. The abused man. The injured man. Keep fighting. Keep fighting. For one day you will find peace.

Sincerely,

Hope

Date : The End of Days

Name

Teacher

Research Paper

Report on the effects of WAR

War is a problem in everybody’s… man I don’t want to write this. I got such writer’s block right now. It’s so boring, such a pointless thing to talk about. Why does it matter if I know or try to understand the consequences of war? It’s still gonna happen no matter what I do or say. War has been a part of human existence since the beginning of time, I can’t change anything. Plus, it doesn’t even really affect me. I can’t even tell the difference of when America is at war or at peace. My life isn’t affected so I guess I shouldn’t really care, even if I did and tried to stop war, I’d fail and become miserable over my failure. So, what’s the point. What’s the point on focusing and analyzing a negative feature of the world that will only depress me and show me something I can never fix. I might as well just sit back and let the world… Geez what was that? The room just lit up, I couldn’t even see. Whoa, the lights just went out. What’s going on? The power’s out… I wonder what happened. Is it just my room? Maybe I blew a fuse… What’s that noise? It’s so loud… I better look outside and qa#wxcuhbj m

Captain America

People around America riot against war while promoting peace, but I can guarantee there will never be peace in a world that sees no reason to defend another nation. Peace will never be attained with a selfish attitude. We must see the world from the world's perspective, not America's. If hundreds of thousands of people are dieing it is our responsibility to be there, if a nation is trying to conquer another that values freedom and democracy it is our responsibility to be there, if a nation is suffering under a ruthless dictator and may possess weapons that threaten the world, it is our responsibility to be there. You see it doesn't matter if we benefit as a nation. What matters is that we benefit as a race.

People ask American soldiers why they will go to war that isn't even America's war to fight. It's because they know it is their fight; it is our fight. We must learn to fight for the good of all people. Again people will say: why should we try to solve the problems of other countries when we can't even solve our own? That I believe is one of the most pointless questions to ask because it proves nothing. Look at yourself, as an individual; we all have our issues but does that mean we can't help other people around us? Just because we're not a perfect country doesn't mean we shouldn't sacrifice and make an example for the rest of the world how a group of people should truly behave.

It's funny. People would say peace is the opposite of war. This isn't true. The opposite of peace is selfishness. To attain peace is to attain selflessness. And there will be many wars in the name of selflessness and on the way to peace.

The War on Guilt

Oh God! oh god... This can't be happening. She's alive, she has to be. But she's not moving. Ah god i told her not to! I told her to stay put. Why did i leave her alone?? She should have listened to me! But i left her alone! It's my fault! God... it's my fault. I shouldn't have left her there. I should have been there. She didn't know any better. She's just a kid. God, she's just a kid... It's my fault. It's my fault. AH, it's my fault. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. God. It should have been me.