Although I've seen the old black-and-white version of "12 Angry Men," I really enjoyed the new rendition of "12." It contained a numerous amount of ideas and symbols that represented different cultural or social views that are comparable to ethics, ideas, or everyday life.
One symbol that was apparent in the film was a little bird that flew in from a momentarily opened window. If the viewer wasn't looking for any symbolism in the film, they probably wouldn't have noticed anything other than a poor bird stuck in a room, but the poor creature offered a symbolism that reiterated the point of the movie.
The bird, like the boy, was stuck in a situation beyond its control. It hadn't done anything bad or wrong to get itself trapped, yet there it was in a terrible predicament. Similarly, the boy had done nothing wrong, yet he was facing life in prison. He knew his way out, but no one would listen to his cry for help. The little bird would tweet desperately to get out of the room, but obviously no one spoke bird!
At the end of the film, the twelve men decide to set the boy free of his charges because they find that he's not guilty. After everyone leaves the dark auditorium, the man who first gave the boy a chance returns to the room and realizes that the poor bird is still stuck. He opens a window and gives the bird a choice: it can remain a prisoner in the dark auditorium, or it can simply fly to the window and be free. This gives a powerful message to the audience. It shows that having the chance to choose gives ultimate freedom.
There were many interesting themes in "12," and the bird analogy gave a perfect example of symbolism.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Intensity of Ping Pong
The Japanese directed movie Ping Pong portrays ping pong not as a sport, but rather as a way of life. Following the lifestyle of two best friends attached to the game, the audience quickly realizes the intensity and competition associated with this seemingly friendly game. The director is able to capture two great aspects of the sport through the personalities of two different main characters.
The competitive side of the game is best described by Peco's character. Peco's one goal in life is to become the greatest Ping Pong player alive, however Peco is not able to put in the work to get there. Peco's development throughout the movie plays a key role in characterizing not only the game Ping Pong, but competition in general. Often times athletes aspire to be something great, yet are not willing to put in the work. Only near the end, when Peco decides he really wants to be the best, does he put in the training and effort necessary.
Smile, on the other hand, has no desire to play the game: playing only to pass the time. Unhappy with the competitiveness of the game, Smile is unwilling to play to his potential. Like all other sports, Smile's character can best be characterized as an athlete pushed too hard, in order to achieve full potential. Often times, these athletes lose their love for the game, making it hard for them to continue to have fun training. Only near the end, when Smile decides just to play for fun, does Smile achieve his true potential.
Ping Pong plays a key role in characterizing many genuine attitudes of athletes. The movie helps prove that anything, with the right competition, can be made into a sport. Although a seemingly odd choice sporting choice, the directors do a good job to help the audience relate to both determined Peco, and unhappy Smile: better portraying two commonly misunderstood attitudes of athletes.
Twelfth Light
Last weekend I viewed the Russian movie “12”. Though not the genre of movie I usually watch, I found “12” hopeful and haunting, complex and concise. The element that struck me the most was the use of lighting to affect the audience, reflect the tone, and propel the storyline.
As the opening scenes unfold, we find the jury in a well-lit courtroom, elementary school, and ultimately gymnasium. It is daylight outside. There are skylights as well as artificial lighting. The jurors are light hearted and crack jokes together, even at one point singing songs and playing the piano. As the movie progresses, the tone becomes more and more serious, and the light becomes darker and darker. Eventually, the lights go out completely, leaving the jurors in total darkness with only a few candles to light their proceedings. From personal experience, the audience can feel this darkness, the sense of foreboding, the seriousness of the situation. It is in the dark that the 12 men’s darkest secrets make themselves known.
The change between light and darkness also plays a role in the flashbacks of the accused boy. His childhood memories of his homeland and his parents are bright and sunny. He is happy and carefree out in the sunshine. It is after his parents are killed that the light begins to change. Gone is the light and sunshine; darkness and smoke replace them. Each flashback is darker and darker until you see the boy in his prison cell, the darkest of all.
When the jurors at last reach the conclusion of the boy’s innocence and agree to free him from prison, light slowly returns to the screen. The early morning light shines across the newly fallen snow through the gymnasium windows. This one scene fills the audience with a newfound hope. The sunrise is the dawning of a new day. No more will the boy’s life be filled with darkness but with light. Through its beautiful use of lighting, the film shows the audience that redemption can be found. It encourages them to reach up from the darkness towards the light.
Learning Teamwork from Table Tennis
Standing alone facing your opponent with only a single paddle in your hand awaiting the serve that’ll begin the tournament. While table tennis is an individual sport, Smile and Peco didn’t arrive at their high skill level on their own. Just as in every aspect of life, ping pong or otherwise, great heights cannot be reached without help.
Smile began playing table tennis with the help from his friend Peco when they were both young. Peco taught him the basics like how to properly serve. As the two grew older, their skill set increased at both became excellent players learning from each other as they went. After a crushing loss and blow to his ego, Peco was so upset he didn’t pick up a paddle for several months. It was only through the encouragement from fellow ping pong players and friends that he began to play again. Before his absence, his pompous attitude kept him from pushing himself too hard remaining mediocre. Once he put aside his pride, he buckled down and worked hard again because of other’s encouragement.
One person who helped Peco come back to the sport was fellow table tennis player from the rival school. Playing competitors from other schools motivated the boys to work harder. They also got support from their team. Their team always had their backs whether it was someone to hit the ball back and forth with or order them good balls to practice with. In the final match when the two were up against each other, the boys cheered for both of them.
Neither Smile nor Peco could have made it to that final match of the tournament had it not been for the support of their coaches. Smile quit on his coach several times, but Coach Joe never gave up on him. He pushed Smile to play and train hard. The woman who owned the table tennis house worked Peco out of his slump and pushed him to work harder than he had ever worked in his life. If not for her training, Peco would not have worked his way up to the top. Both coaches worked their players to the limits, but both truly cared for their boys. After Smile runs off from his coach, he returns to the gym hours late and sees Coach Joe waiting for him. It is a tender moment when Joe calls Smile “his boy.” Peco also has a special bond with his coach; this is evident when Peco throws his arms around her and in a more comical display of affection, but meaningful none the less. If that friendship factor didn’t exist, the boys would have played very differently and probably not as well in the tournament.
Life is not a path meant to be walked alone. Just as evidenced by the stories of Peco and Smile, the people who we cross paths will influence and shape our lives.
Smile began playing table tennis with the help from his friend Peco when they were both young. Peco taught him the basics like how to properly serve. As the two grew older, their skill set increased at both became excellent players learning from each other as they went. After a crushing loss and blow to his ego, Peco was so upset he didn’t pick up a paddle for several months. It was only through the encouragement from fellow ping pong players and friends that he began to play again. Before his absence, his pompous attitude kept him from pushing himself too hard remaining mediocre. Once he put aside his pride, he buckled down and worked hard again because of other’s encouragement.
One person who helped Peco come back to the sport was fellow table tennis player from the rival school. Playing competitors from other schools motivated the boys to work harder. They also got support from their team. Their team always had their backs whether it was someone to hit the ball back and forth with or order them good balls to practice with. In the final match when the two were up against each other, the boys cheered for both of them.
Neither Smile nor Peco could have made it to that final match of the tournament had it not been for the support of their coaches. Smile quit on his coach several times, but Coach Joe never gave up on him. He pushed Smile to play and train hard. The woman who owned the table tennis house worked Peco out of his slump and pushed him to work harder than he had ever worked in his life. If not for her training, Peco would not have worked his way up to the top. Both coaches worked their players to the limits, but both truly cared for their boys. After Smile runs off from his coach, he returns to the gym hours late and sees Coach Joe waiting for him. It is a tender moment when Joe calls Smile “his boy.” Peco also has a special bond with his coach; this is evident when Peco throws his arms around her and in a more comical display of affection, but meaningful none the less. If that friendship factor didn’t exist, the boys would have played very differently and probably not as well in the tournament.
Life is not a path meant to be walked alone. Just as evidenced by the stories of Peco and Smile, the people who we cross paths will influence and shape our lives.
P-I-N-G-P-O-N-G
International cinema is always a gamble whenever one dares to view it, because one can never really predict what one will actually view. Most films come from such a different cultural frame of reference that conventional guessing as to ways of plot or pacing become useless. Ping Pong as a film from Japan exemplifies this.
The film was fun to watch in some places, but in others is terribly boring as it drags on with scenes of running, stair climbing, video game playing, or smoking. The main characters, two boys who are best friends, are polar opposites, which becomes difficult to bear during the movie. The reason for this difficulty is simple: one is interesting, fun, and vibrant, and acts so through his character, while the other invented the phrase "dull boy". Since the movie is close to two hours long, it becomes difficult, then, to watch the long scenes where the boring boy runs, hits ping pong balls, or ponders on why he is always so bored. In contrast, the other character, who grows through his crisis, is exciting because of his antics, particularly when he puts his cigarette out on someones face (ouch!).
The film is also an interesting view into Japanese entertainment. The main themes of mastery, hard work pays off, and one must have strong natural talent/not everyone can make it, are "stereotypes" of the Japanese comic/cartoon genre. The fact that this is a film adaptation of a semi-popular (semi because it has not made it to the U. S. yet) comic is painfully obvious, and at times the dialogue is sophomoric and melodramatic.
All that being said, it is fun to watch the ping pong, and the hours required to achieve a high level of play are demonstrated along with the product of such work. The actors all have a look of experienced technique, which is fun to watch from a technical standpoint.
So, all in all, if you like the sport Ping Pong, this movie is for you. If not, you'll be in for a long and rather boring 2 hours.
Fantastico!
When I sat down in the International Cinema late Thursday night to watch "Il Postino", about to view a movie in which not a word of English is spoken, I was not excited to say the least. However, as I began watching, listening, and reading the subtitles of this film I realized how much fun it was to watch. The film, all of which is in Italian with some Spanish, is poetic, colorful, and humorous. It leaves you feeling something for the people of this small Italian isle - some of the most humble people on earth. With this combination of elements present, "Il Postino" has quickly become one of my very favorites.
Italy - with its lush landscape, delicious food, and vast history - is a land of beauty. However, one thing that is most beautiful about this land is the language. Just listening to Mario, the postman (not the gaming character), talk about his country or woman or poetry is such a euphonious experience. I was so enthralled I almost order Rosetta Stone for Italian that very night. Not only is the poetry beautiful, but it also typifies excellent poetry. The poetry is moving and shows truly how much of a difference words can make in the lives of a people. Italy has been known for its poetry for ages, and "Il Postino" does a marvelous job at capturing that heritage.
Another beautiful aspect with this movie is the use of color. In the beginning of the film, when things are looking very dark on the island, the colors schemes are bland, almost gray. However, the more the postman learns and uses poetry, the more color is used and the more beauty is found on the island. Also, in the climatic scene towards the end, the entire shot is filmed in black and white, giving the scene an almost dreamlike feel. This contrast adds power and vitality to the movie.
The last aspect I pulled out of the film that made me happy afterwords was the humor. It wasn't SNL funny, or even "lol" funny, as the youngsters say, but it was more of a dry humor. It is like having a fun, humorous conversation with an old friend. The characters, with their simple, but pure minds, add a humor that is fantastic. I love to see a movie which I can laugh and not feel guilty about it. That is the definition of this movie.
Clearly, "Il Postino" exceeded my expectations. It was full of sultry poetry and language, color and contrast, as well as very tactful humor. I would suggest this to anyone who loves a great work and wants to hear and see something of true beauty.
Italy - with its lush landscape, delicious food, and vast history - is a land of beauty. However, one thing that is most beautiful about this land is the language. Just listening to Mario, the postman (not the gaming character), talk about his country or woman or poetry is such a euphonious experience. I was so enthralled I almost order Rosetta Stone for Italian that very night. Not only is the poetry beautiful, but it also typifies excellent poetry. The poetry is moving and shows truly how much of a difference words can make in the lives of a people. Italy has been known for its poetry for ages, and "Il Postino" does a marvelous job at capturing that heritage.
Another beautiful aspect with this movie is the use of color. In the beginning of the film, when things are looking very dark on the island, the colors schemes are bland, almost gray. However, the more the postman learns and uses poetry, the more color is used and the more beauty is found on the island. Also, in the climatic scene towards the end, the entire shot is filmed in black and white, giving the scene an almost dreamlike feel. This contrast adds power and vitality to the movie.
The last aspect I pulled out of the film that made me happy afterwords was the humor. It wasn't SNL funny, or even "lol" funny, as the youngsters say, but it was more of a dry humor. It is like having a fun, humorous conversation with an old friend. The characters, with their simple, but pure minds, add a humor that is fantastic. I love to see a movie which I can laugh and not feel guilty about it. That is the definition of this movie.
Clearly, "Il Postino" exceeded my expectations. It was full of sultry poetry and language, color and contrast, as well as very tactful humor. I would suggest this to anyone who loves a great work and wants to hear and see something of true beauty.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Not What it Seems
‘12’ is a movie I was not excited to see. I was already ten minutes late, and I was informed it was a foreign film. However, it was not what it seemed. Ten minutes into the movie, I was caught heavily in its message. What I learned is what I want to share with others.
This film has changed how I view many people and much of my outlook on life. While many parts of the movie touched me, I want to focus on one aspect. Namely, the characters. The jurors were the part of the movie that made this one of my favorites. Twelve men, having seen the worse the human race has to offer, are put into a room to decide the fate of another. Some even appear brutal and violent at first. So rich in character, but it is not as obvious at the beginning. Again, not what it seems. It seemed to me that the jurors were men who just wanted to get out of the trial as fast as possible. At first, they were all that way. Each had a separate life they were eager to get back too- except one man. Through a series of events, they touch one another in ways they could not even imagine. They each have a life story that often portrays a problem we see every day in society, such as dishonesty and abuse. Through these stories, they change each other’s view on everything, from something as simple as voting ‘not guilty’ to changing racist views they had held their entire lives. They relate with each other. They cry with each other. They confess to each other. This is what hit me the hardest. How many people have I judged? How many people have could I have conversed with for hours on subjects I never knew we had in common? How many things are not what it first seemed to me?
After this film, I am resolved to never let questions like this plague me again. Every human has a purpose. Every human has had a life full of experiences and trials. We can help ourselves and others to get through this life but understanding what the film taught me: people are not always as different as you first might guess. Even more importantly, I plan to apply this into my life starting today.
A Portion of the Themes in "12"
In the movie 12, many themes were evoked, oftentimes simultaneously, in such a way that kept you unable to predict exactly what was going to happen next, or what you would encounter in the end. The way that different sometimes contrasting ideas were portrayed such as prejudice, resistance, context in morality, and freedom, forced the audience to evaluate the issues to a much greater degree.
I pulled a couple of very interesting themes from the movie, but perhaps the most profound way that my perspective was changed had to do with the concepts of responsibility and freedom. The jury first encountered this dilemma when they were challenged by the inventor who told the story of his stint as physics professor. At the beginning of the movie he effectively conveyed the fact that they were dealing with the life of a human being, and that in instances where the quality of one’s life can be destroyed, careful evaluation must take place and the responsibilities that accompany decisions like the one they have to make are great. It also portrayed the way that freedom is influenced by the way that we are brought up, we never are truly free. Instead, the center, or our experiences in this case, limit free play. We don’t make decisions based on things that we don’t experience at least some amount of empathy our understanding for. Following this line of thought though, we see that experience, and consequently our perception of understanding responsibility is also shaped.
The way that the actors used portrayed the roles made it all the more convincing. Through small amounts of research in facial micro-expressions, which give insight into emotion, I often watch out in movies to see if the actors are really into the particular parts they are playing. For instance, in the Toy Story movies, they did research to make sure that the toys face reflected what emotions would actually be felt. Through small amounts of analysis in 12, I came to the conclusion that the actors in this movie were quite engaged, and were easily able to portray emotions unique to their story or part. Also, the use of background music was very interesting. It paralleled the way that the story moved for the most part. However, there were a couple of times where what happened next couldn’t be predicted based on the music, they seemed to contrast. This mix of feeling kept the audience unable to predict what would happen next, and kept a check on the audience losing interest or awareness.
In conclusion, this was an excellent movie that reflected many important themes that society faces on a daily basis. The example was fairly radical and had a very low chance of occurring, but it was an extremely interesting portrayal of embracing alternative paradigms that challenge unjustified social norms.
12 Angry Russian Men
I viewed the Russian film “12” last night, which is based on the movie “12 Angry Men”. Overall I enjoyed the movie, despite its length of two and one-half hours. Artistically, my favorite part of the film was the beginning. The implementation of black and white film with the selected music was in good taste and I found myself on the edge of my seat in the opening credits.
At first, the foreign language was frustrating, as I am not a fan of subtitles; yet over time, I forgot that I was even reading them. Compared to American films, the actors seemed to be a bit more expressive in an unrealistic way.Although, the actors had to be expressive in order to keep me entertained during the long film which takes place in one room for the majority of the film. The cinematography was also a bit different than what I am used to. There were not as many face shots as I am accustomed to seeing. Instead the camera was focused much of the time on all twelve men. Another difference I noticed was how long it took some of the characters to get their statements across. Their lines were certainly not trite, and I found myself thinking, “get to the point.” On the other hand, there were many analogies and stories told that I found interesting and appreciated what they added to the film.
The film was much better than I expected it would be. The plot was extremely interesting. Even though I’ve seen many movies similar to it, it had its own twist. I also enjoyed learning about Russian culture (which was brought up very often) and the pride that Russians show for it. It was also interesting seeing the difference between Russian and American humor and common expressions. There were many elements of the film which I thoroughly enjoyed. To tell the truth, I wasn't expecting the film to be up to par, but I was surprised by what the Russian film industry has accomplished.
At first, the foreign language was frustrating, as I am not a fan of subtitles; yet over time, I forgot that I was even reading them. Compared to American films, the actors seemed to be a bit more expressive in an unrealistic way.Although, the actors had to be expressive in order to keep me entertained during the long film which takes place in one room for the majority of the film. The cinematography was also a bit different than what I am used to. There were not as many face shots as I am accustomed to seeing. Instead the camera was focused much of the time on all twelve men. Another difference I noticed was how long it took some of the characters to get their statements across. Their lines were certainly not trite, and I found myself thinking, “get to the point.” On the other hand, there were many analogies and stories told that I found interesting and appreciated what they added to the film.
The film was much better than I expected it would be. The plot was extremely interesting. Even though I’ve seen many movies similar to it, it had its own twist. I also enjoyed learning about Russian culture (which was brought up very often) and the pride that Russians show for it. It was also interesting seeing the difference between Russian and American humor and common expressions. There were many elements of the film which I thoroughly enjoyed. To tell the truth, I wasn't expecting the film to be up to par, but I was surprised by what the Russian film industry has accomplished.
Safety Should be a Concern
(to Maryann Edwards, mayor of Temecula, California)
In today’s world, five minutes can allow for a stop at Starbucks, a mini-cram session before a big calculus test, or a conversation between girls about the cute football quarterback. In order to squeeze in those extra few minutes, dozens of students dash across Deer Hollow Way between Great Oak High School and Birdsall Sports Park on a daily basis. For years, requests have been made for a crosswalk to be constructed with hopes of increasing the safety in these daily endeavors, but for years these requests have been turned down. It is time for these requests to be heard and responded to in a sensible manner.
At the Temecula Public Safety/Traffic Commission meeting held on Thursday July 24, 2008, a request was formally made for a marked crosswalk to be constructed on Deer Hollow Way across from Great Oak High School; however, the request was denied. According to a San Diego study, twice as many pedestrian accidents occur at locations with a marked crosswalk as opposed to those without a designated crosswalk. If a crosswalk were to be made to connect Great Oak to Birdsall Park across the five-lane street, there would theoretically be more accidents than if things were to be leaved the way they are. This argument was a major factor in making the decision not to implement a new crosswalk, but why should these two alternatives be the only alternatives?
On October 16, 2009, three girls were hit by a car traveling down Deer Hollow Way. Luckily, none of the girls suffer from long lasting injuries, but what if they did? What if one of them had been killed when they were hit? Because drugs and alcohol weren’t a factor in the collision, it was simply a manner of carelessness. My belief is that this accident could have been prevented. There are arguments against why a crosswalk wouldn’t be effective, why a stop sign wouldn’t be obeyed, and why an expensive controlled crosswalk isn’t worth the money. However, despite the time and money required to implement these safety measures, every effort should be made to devise a way to increase safety for the 3,200 students at Great Oak High School. The fact that there has already been an accident on Deer Hollow Way suggests that there may be more in the future. It is absurd to sit around and do nothing.
Not enough effort has been dedicated towards ensuring the safety of Great Oak High School students. Instead of sitting around and thinking of reasons why there shouldn’t be a crosswalk to connect Great Oak and Birdsall Park, plans should be devised to get a student safely from one place to another.
Sincerely,
Capella Kehoe
In today’s world, five minutes can allow for a stop at Starbucks, a mini-cram session before a big calculus test, or a conversation between girls about the cute football quarterback. In order to squeeze in those extra few minutes, dozens of students dash across Deer Hollow Way between Great Oak High School and Birdsall Sports Park on a daily basis. For years, requests have been made for a crosswalk to be constructed with hopes of increasing the safety in these daily endeavors, but for years these requests have been turned down. It is time for these requests to be heard and responded to in a sensible manner.
At the Temecula Public Safety/Traffic Commission meeting held on Thursday July 24, 2008, a request was formally made for a marked crosswalk to be constructed on Deer Hollow Way across from Great Oak High School; however, the request was denied. According to a San Diego study, twice as many pedestrian accidents occur at locations with a marked crosswalk as opposed to those without a designated crosswalk. If a crosswalk were to be made to connect Great Oak to Birdsall Park across the five-lane street, there would theoretically be more accidents than if things were to be leaved the way they are. This argument was a major factor in making the decision not to implement a new crosswalk, but why should these two alternatives be the only alternatives?
On October 16, 2009, three girls were hit by a car traveling down Deer Hollow Way. Luckily, none of the girls suffer from long lasting injuries, but what if they did? What if one of them had been killed when they were hit? Because drugs and alcohol weren’t a factor in the collision, it was simply a manner of carelessness. My belief is that this accident could have been prevented. There are arguments against why a crosswalk wouldn’t be effective, why a stop sign wouldn’t be obeyed, and why an expensive controlled crosswalk isn’t worth the money. However, despite the time and money required to implement these safety measures, every effort should be made to devise a way to increase safety for the 3,200 students at Great Oak High School. The fact that there has already been an accident on Deer Hollow Way suggests that there may be more in the future. It is absurd to sit around and do nothing.
Not enough effort has been dedicated towards ensuring the safety of Great Oak High School students. Instead of sitting around and thinking of reasons why there shouldn’t be a crosswalk to connect Great Oak and Birdsall Park, plans should be devised to get a student safely from one place to another.
Sincerely,
Capella Kehoe
Monday, September 13, 2010
Don't burn it. Learn about it! Qur'an Reading Day 9/11 (Yes, it’s 9/13, do it anyway!)
Bored, and procrastinating my homework, I often find myself on Facebook. Usually, I find myself “liking” funny groups or statuses; however, this September 11th, I found myself attending a Facebook event much more profound than “National Be a Creeper Day”. In response to the growing anti-Muslim sentiment in our nation, Deryle Hatch created Don't burn it. Learn about it! Qur'an Reading Day 9/11 encouraging everyone to read the Qur'an (or at least part of it).
I had learned about the basics of the Islam in basic history classes in middle and high school; but never read any of the Qur'an. To be perfectly honest, I felt very awkward doing so! After all, the Qur'an is not my religious text. However, after doing so, I felt that I had done a small something to build world wide understanding and increase my own knowledge of Islam. The best part, was that after I had read a few chapters I posted a simple response remarking on the poetic style of the Qur’an. Immediately, I got three separate responses, each of them around two paragraphs, about why the Qur’an was so poetic and what it was like to read it in Arabic!
I encourage everyone to read (or at least learn about) a small part of the Quran. That way, you, and everyone else who chooses to participate can strengthen their own understanding of Islam, and consequently your empathy towards all faiths. It’s very easy to say that we’re religiously tolerant and that “Hey, Islam’s a nice peaceful religion”. It takes more effort to seek this information out for ourselves.
Not too much though! Here's a link if you're interested: Don't burn it. Learn about it! Qur'an Reading Day 9/11
Watch out. My mind may explode from overstimulation.
Posted as a Facebook note
I've been brainstorming and searching for something to write about for three days now. I get an idea, then I realize, "I don't know enough about it" or "I don't care enough and I will sound like an idiot." I've been to numerous newspaper web pages, searching for something that really catches my attention. Immigration, tax reform, health care--these are options, but I don't want to pull out my opinions when I'm not as informed as I could be. In my final attempts to come up with a topic, I've realized something. It all comes down to this: I'm ignorant. In this case, I'm using the definition of ignorant which means "lacking knowledge"(Merriam-Webster.com). That's right, I'll admit it. But there is one thing I know: just because I'm not updated on every political issue, or I don't have an immediate view about every single action the government makes, or I don't sign protests or go to rallies doesn't mean I'm not worth something to my community.
I've been brainstorming and searching for something to write about for three days now. I get an idea, then I realize, "I don't know enough about it" or "I don't care enough and I will sound like an idiot." I've been to numerous newspaper web pages, searching for something that really catches my attention. Immigration, tax reform, health care--these are options, but I don't want to pull out my opinions when I'm not as informed as I could be. In my final attempts to come up with a topic, I've realized something. It all comes down to this: I'm ignorant. In this case, I'm using the definition of ignorant which means "lacking knowledge"(Merriam-Webster.com). That's right, I'll admit it. But there is one thing I know: just because I'm not updated on every political issue, or I don't have an immediate view about every single action the government makes, or I don't sign protests or go to rallies doesn't mean I'm not worth something to my community.
I voted this past election and I have political views and I know what most of the current political issues are, but it's hard to stay updated on everything. The world is full of a multitude of places on which we can focus our attention. I look at myself and say, "I'm not doing enough". Does anyone else feel this way? I do want to care and make a difference, but some days life catches up to me and I realize I can't save the world.
Declaration of Independence
(To the Editor of the Daily Herald)
Recently there was a post on the Daily Herald website giving insight as to why BYU football went independent. I thought it presented the reasons why they decided to go independent and why the rest of BYU athletics went to the WCC.
First off, why did BYU go independent? The article does not really specify. This article focuses on why it went to WCC. I enjoyed how well it explained how a deal with the WAC fell through. The Mountain West Conference basically raided the WAC for teams, causing the deal to fall through. The WAC lost a lot of credibility when the MWC accepted the teams it did. As the deadline was coming up, BYU had to choose fast. The article does a great job of explaining this.
The article also provides information on why the rest of the BYU teams went to the West Coast Conference. After the WAC deal fell through, the WCC was able to put a deal into effect in a short amount of time. The article explains that the WCC has many powerful programs in all areas, especially basketball. I believe this was a good move, as the WAC and the MWC had little credibility in these areas. The move will allow BYU to ‘increase exposure’ to the NCAA world of fans.
Probably the biggest plus of the independent move is the ability of BYU to now schedule any opponents it wants. This means bigger programs coming to play, and that means more exposure, more advertising, and more money for BYU athletics.
I thought this article as very informative and provided insight into the minds of the decisions makers. I hope that more articles are to follow these ones.
Sincerely,
Spencer Tolson
Dear Senator O' Mine
Dear Senator,
Currently, the amount of problems I face as a College Student is inexcusable. Everywhere I look I find more competition and less opportunity. I find the task set to myself and to my fellow students is becoming quickly insurmountable. I lay the blame for this squarely where it belongs: on you!
Our Government at the moment only knows how to spend, and only how to spend on things that do not directly benefit the American people at large. College is more expensive than ever, jobs are down, and the economy is in major recession, and all the Congress in general has managed to do is to pass a health care bill?! A HEALTH CARE BILL!?! What are you all thinking?! Cut the spending, postpone the progression, and save our citizens!
I, myself, would greatly appreciate it.
Yours, Sincerely, with regards to your mother,
Jacob Bagley
Engagement in Provo?
Dear Daily Universe,
When an LDS girl tells her friends and family that she's chosen to go to Brigham Young University to earn a quality education, what is typically the very first response she gets? "Oh you're going to get married your first semester!" This can become very tiresome. However, is this just a typical stereotype or is it real fact? Either way, it can become an irritating phrase. I know from experience!
A lot of the time, it seems like the Church and University focus a lot on getting married right away and starting a family. These, of course, are very good things, but we, as Freshman, are not quite ready for that phase in life.
With that said, today I picked up the Daily Universe and turned to an article titled "Getting engaged in Provo," and almost didn't want to read it! With Elder Scott's recent talk on marriage, I didn't think I could take any more. Don't get me wrong, it was still a wonderful talk; just not relevant to me right now. However, I decided to read the article anyways, and found it very engaging! Instead of talking about becoming "engaged" with a ring and a date, it spoke of becoming "engaged" in the community and getting involved. It was so refreshing! Thank you so much for focusing on something besides marriage! It makes me want to go out and join ten clubs just in support of “community engagement!” Keep up the good work.
Sincerely a Grateful Reader,
Haley Wright
Say Yes to the Dress
A Letter to the Daily Universe,
I am 18 years old, and I have never seriously dated anyone. I am still learning how to do my own laundry, cook my own food, and live in cooperation with five other people. I have been at BYU for three weeks, and have already attended various stake conference sessions, firesides, and devotionals. I’ve learned a lot so far. I’ve learned about the joys of motherhood, the blessing of eternal families, the necessity of dating, and the keys to a successful marriage.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand that marriage is a sacred ordinance that represents one of the purest forms of love we have for each other as human beings. However, as an 18 year old that can barely take care of myself, marriage is the last thing on my mind right now. I know there are those that have the spiritual and emotional maturity to enter into the covenant of marriage at this age, but I think I speak for the majority of freshman students when I say that even a slight deviation on fireside/ devotional topics would be much appreciated. While it is impossible to cater only to the perspectives of 18 year olds, I think it is fair to say that there are a great many spiritually uplifting topics that would be enjoyed by the entire student body that could be explored from time to time.
"He brings up a good point..."
The following is a facebook note made by Mark Woodbury on 13 September, 2010:
More often than not, I check Facebook only to see who may have added me as a friend or something else fun. However, today I wanted to make a real difference: something worthwhile for everyone in the community. So, in order to do that, I went straight to the one place that, for most teens, makes a bigger difference in their lives than any parental figure or canonized scripture: The News Feed. What a source of knowledge?! Nothing can really compare to its broad-based audience and wealth of instant information. It is fair; it is balanced; it is powerful. When one reads the news feed, he or she can feel secure that all the facts are solid and accurate. He or she can also have the latest relationship scuttlebutt at his or her fingertips, not to mention the numberless posts praising the incredibly mediocre achievements of youth across the globe. Oh rapture! So, when a person really wants to do something meaningful with their life, the obvious plan of action starts and ends with Facebook.
What does it take to make these kinds of impacts? Simple things, really. Start out with a post a day; the more pointless and random, the better. Then, work up to more complicated posts; add some strange formatting schemes and cast off grammar and punctuation - it helps. Next, it is imperative that you connect to Facebook Mobile - after all, you never know when you might beat your high score on bubble spinner! Finally, and perhaps the most crucial of my points, if someone happens to lose a duck in Farmville, don't sit idly at your computer seat muttering, "I hope someone helps this poor soul." Do something! Charge the mound of life and say, "Hey broseph! I have a duck that might fit in your flying V!" This is only one example of cyber love, or as I like to call it, e-charity. If nothing else, that is my message today: post unto others as you would have them post unto you. Before you post, ask yourself, "Would anyone really care about how I added too much milk to the omlette I just made for lunch?" I think the answer to this question is obvious; post it, son.
So, whenever you feel like your life has lost its substance and vitality, just simply log onto the most real thing I know of besides World of Warcraft: The Facebook. Make your posts brave; your comments, meaningless; and your tags, innaccurate. And, until we meet again in the News Feed, keep up the good work!
Mark "The Lark" Woodbury
(Writer's Note: Keep in mind, this is all Horatian sattire. Don't be offended, I'm just as guilty of these things as any. Just have fun with it.)
More often than not, I check Facebook only to see who may have added me as a friend or something else fun. However, today I wanted to make a real difference: something worthwhile for everyone in the community. So, in order to do that, I went straight to the one place that, for most teens, makes a bigger difference in their lives than any parental figure or canonized scripture: The News Feed. What a source of knowledge?! Nothing can really compare to its broad-based audience and wealth of instant information. It is fair; it is balanced; it is powerful. When one reads the news feed, he or she can feel secure that all the facts are solid and accurate. He or she can also have the latest relationship scuttlebutt at his or her fingertips, not to mention the numberless posts praising the incredibly mediocre achievements of youth across the globe. Oh rapture! So, when a person really wants to do something meaningful with their life, the obvious plan of action starts and ends with Facebook.
What does it take to make these kinds of impacts? Simple things, really. Start out with a post a day; the more pointless and random, the better. Then, work up to more complicated posts; add some strange formatting schemes and cast off grammar and punctuation - it helps. Next, it is imperative that you connect to Facebook Mobile - after all, you never know when you might beat your high score on bubble spinner! Finally, and perhaps the most crucial of my points, if someone happens to lose a duck in Farmville, don't sit idly at your computer seat muttering, "I hope someone helps this poor soul." Do something! Charge the mound of life and say, "Hey broseph! I have a duck that might fit in your flying V!" This is only one example of cyber love, or as I like to call it, e-charity. If nothing else, that is my message today: post unto others as you would have them post unto you. Before you post, ask yourself, "Would anyone really care about how I added too much milk to the omlette I just made for lunch?" I think the answer to this question is obvious; post it, son.
So, whenever you feel like your life has lost its substance and vitality, just simply log onto the most real thing I know of besides World of Warcraft: The Facebook. Make your posts brave; your comments, meaningless; and your tags, innaccurate. And, until we meet again in the News Feed, keep up the good work!
Mark "The Lark" Woodbury
(Writer's Note: Keep in mind, this is all Horatian sattire. Don't be offended, I'm just as guilty of these things as any. Just have fun with it.)
Devotional Dilema
To the Editor:
BYU administration and The Daily Universe stress the importance of attending devotionals. I believe they are a remarkable experience and should be attended by all those who are able to do so. Like many students, I have a class right before devotional at the opposite end of campus. I was told that devotionals were broadcast to the JSB so that students could view them there. However, when friends and I went to the JSB before devotional, the entire auditorium was full! We were then told overflow seating was held in the WSC. We dashed to the Wilk only to find that it too was full. At this point devotional had started, so we attempted to watch online. The server was too full for us to get through! Obviously, the school doesn’t realize the issues with seating for devotional. There should be a better system to communicate where devotional will be shown, and more showings accessible to students. If we really want devotional to be a part of student’s lives, we need to make devotional easy to view instead of a wild goose chase. It would be helpful if The Daily Universe would publish information regarding which viewing areas will be open on campus and when.
To the Daily Universe Concerning the Honor Code
Since the honor code is a key portion of our lives as students at BYU, I would like to raise the question as to what truly is its purpose. As stated by the official honor code website, the purpose of such a code is to "demonstrate in daily living on and off campus those moral virtues encompassed in the gospel of Jesus Christ". This begs the question, is living the honor code explicitly the only way to follow moral virtues encompassed in the gospel of Jesus Christ?
As a student at BYU and a firm believer in the gospel and the benefits of having such a code, I would like to address some typical concerns with a few of the rules: namely the dress and grooming standards. By having such explicit standards and qualifications, students have a harder time finding originality. In the honor code, beards on men are not allowed, however mustaches are. Does limiting man's god-given ability to grow facial hair necessarily promote spirituality and endorsement of the gospel? While, of course, mustaches and beards aren't for everyone, it does not deem necessary to explicitly ban all types of beards arbitrarily.
Similarly, as stated in the honor code, "Modesty and cleanliness are important values that reflect personal dignity and integrity, through which students, staff and faculty represent the principles and standards of the Church.". If this is the underlying purpose in having dress and grooming standards, who then decides what is categorized as modest and clean? Similarly, is it necessary to categorize all men with long hair or beards as unclean and immodest? Men having hair over the ears, or a small beard can still show cleanliness, modesty and the light of Christ. Who is to say that having clean cut hair slightly over the ears is less modest than having an honor code approved, short length, hairstyle much more attention drawing and extreme? Regardless, the strict rules for grooming and dress don't seem to reflect the overall purpose of the dress and grooming standards in the honor code.
Lastly, the honor code, like any good code of conduct, has changed with time to better represent modern day life. Dress and styles go through phases and as a result become outdated and change. As a result, it shouldn't be too preposterous to reconsider some of the current dress and grooming rules. While twenty years ago it may have been unacceptable to have longer hair, it may be socially acceptable now. Similarly, in the early twentieth century, having a beard showed a sign of maturity and wisdom; that may not come across as explicitly now. This issue is one that will continue to prove important to me as well as many students currently committed to follow this way of life.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
A Letter Regarding the September 11th "Religion Brief" by the Daily Herald
(This is a letter to the Editor of the Daily Herald)
The "Religious Brief" article that was published on September 11th was very informative and reflects a tone of religious tolerance that I enjoyed greatly and would like to see more of. Maintaining articles that represent the intents and ideologies of some of the surrounding religious groups is something that ought to be continually emphasized. If we fail to understand the beliefs of the people who we live by, how will we ever hope to establish a society capable of cooperation and the reduction of violent disturbances that take so many different forms?
This article reflected the intent of a couple of religious groups that I have a very limited knowledge about. The India fest that is going to be hosted by the Krishna Temple, was an event that I wasn't aware of, but now I definitely plan on attending. I'm extremely happy that this article was published and was so informative and encouraging. Hopefully you continue to publish information on religious gatherings that could give us insight into other beliefs.
Another point that I enjoyed being reviewed was the movement of the Utah Valley Ministerial Association to condemn the Qu'ran burning that was planned, but canceled. Many stereotypes are formed through remaining silent to movements like the one in Florida. However, open activism against religious intolerance is the only chance that we have to diffuse conflict. The use of the media is inseparably connected to this as an instrument, and in this case was used in a positive manner.
In conclusion, I'm grateful for the religiously tolerant attitudes that were projected using this news source. I certainly hope to see more articles of this nature in the future. However, I think that this section should be expanded into something that is more complete. Perhaps some expansion into news about other religious minorities and majorities ideologies from an objective perspective would be interesting.
The "Religious Brief" article that was published on September 11th was very informative and reflects a tone of religious tolerance that I enjoyed greatly and would like to see more of. Maintaining articles that represent the intents and ideologies of some of the surrounding religious groups is something that ought to be continually emphasized. If we fail to understand the beliefs of the people who we live by, how will we ever hope to establish a society capable of cooperation and the reduction of violent disturbances that take so many different forms?
This article reflected the intent of a couple of religious groups that I have a very limited knowledge about. The India fest that is going to be hosted by the Krishna Temple, was an event that I wasn't aware of, but now I definitely plan on attending. I'm extremely happy that this article was published and was so informative and encouraging. Hopefully you continue to publish information on religious gatherings that could give us insight into other beliefs.
Another point that I enjoyed being reviewed was the movement of the Utah Valley Ministerial Association to condemn the Qu'ran burning that was planned, but canceled. Many stereotypes are formed through remaining silent to movements like the one in Florida. However, open activism against religious intolerance is the only chance that we have to diffuse conflict. The use of the media is inseparably connected to this as an instrument, and in this case was used in a positive manner.
In conclusion, I'm grateful for the religiously tolerant attitudes that were projected using this news source. I certainly hope to see more articles of this nature in the future. However, I think that this section should be expanded into something that is more complete. Perhaps some expansion into news about other religious minorities and majorities ideologies from an objective perspective would be interesting.
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