I found it very interesting what the Government and certain Senators had to say about the Second Amendment. Many of their opinions surprised me, as well as confused me and made me question as to why they were thinking as to what they thought.
First, the 5-4 decision in the court lead by Justice Scalia surprised me. I would have thought that wise men and women like them would have ruled it out. I did not know though that most of the court was very conservative, which also surprised me. I thought it was very interesting that 4/5ths of them support gun ownership and rights, which I am glad for, given that I support it also. This also brings me to what Levy commented on. He mentions that the court rejected both arguments saying that the Second Amendment only ensures members of the state militias are to be armed and not private citizens, as well as, “…. that D.C.’s Legislature can constitutionally ban all handguns if it determines, for example, that rifles and shotguns in the home are reasonable alternative means of self defense.” It still surprises me that both arguments are rejected even when the courts are very conservative. I never really figured the courts to be this protective of their gun rights.
It confuses me as to why D.C. has a ban on the right to carry a hand gun when so many other states allow it. Is it because that is where the President of the United States resides? All individuals should have the right to keep and bear arms. Agreeing with Justice Scalia, in conjunction with her comments on the Heller case, people need guns for necessary protection. However limits are essential, and the limits and rules we have are enough as it is. I am also confused with Justice Stevens’ comments. He mentions that the political process is “working exactly as it should.” However, not too long ago he voted to invalidate Louisiana’s death penalty for child rape and substitute an outright ban on capital punishment for any crime that isn’t fatal to its victim. Reading that threw me off, given that he is basically contradicting himself. Why would someone be in favor for the current political processes if at the same time in favor of child rape?
The different readings differentiate in many ways. Everyone seems to have their different interpretations of the Second Amendment, and whether it applies to all individuals or just our armed forces. I am surprised that after many centuries, the courts are just now starting to question who the Second Amendment applies to. I feel that the quarrels that are going on right now will be going on for quite a while, given that everyone has their different opinions, so it will make it harder to make decisions as to who it applies to.
I believe that reading these readings will help me greatly as to how to structure my argumentative essay. Just as I remember in class, an argumentative essay is not about taking sides; rather it is about keeping an open mind and developing your opinion as you research on a certain topic of interest. The comparisons between the courts’ opinions and what not will help me to see how to compare to others in my next essay.One question that arose while I was reading deals with the government and their control over our basic rights. Has the government thought about what would happen if they did take away our gun rights? I think that the courts need to take a step back and realize how it will affect the economy and our way of society. As mentioned in the cartoon, “Senator, the point is that once you have gun control, the only people left with guns are criminals!” I have never thought about this before, but I have realized that this would be a huge issue if the courts would take away our individual rights to carry even just a hand gun. Even if the courts do decide to do that, they have to think about what is going on on the streets. The black market will always be there. I am not sure how it works, but what happens when our rights are taken away and the only ones in control are the government and the criminals making deals on the street? How will we defend ourselves? I do not think that this will happen any time soon, but it’s something for everyone, including the courts, to think about as they are deciding who the Second Amendment applies to.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
In Class: Freewrite
Overall, I did not like The Man in the Irony Mask as much as I thought I would. As I was reading, I noticed how there were so many details. They were very good details, but sometimes using all of them were a little unnecessary. I slowly became unengaged in the reading the further I read.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
In Class: Freewrite
What I liked most about "Home Girl" was the specific details the author gave throughout the story. I also liked how she was real detailed as to what she said about Badu's lifestyle. This is another reason why I liked Badu's story. Her lifestyle is so different, so it made her story more interesting to read. There wasn't one moment when I got bored reading about her, and was engaged the entire time.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
In Class: Freewrite
I picked the poster of the 1933 King Kong movie. I think this image decorative. It makes me feel suspenseful because of the images given. I think that I like this image so much is because of all the decorations, colors, and multiple images concerning one topic. The images make me want to see this movie, and why the images are the way they are, such as who the people are at the bottom right hand corner, and why they look scared. I also like how the words "King Kong" are the largest words on there, given that he is the largest character in the movie. I think that this poster compared to all the others is the most attention-grabbing.
This poster is trying to tell that two large cultures are mixing, and the large animal is shown stealing a woman. It sends a sense of mystery or adventure. Almost anyone says they love mysteries or adventures, and everyone is familiar with this story. Along with mystery and adventure, most of the poster portrays a sense of fear from the woman, large animal, and the other three people. This poster makes me think of something I can watch that I know I will never see in everyday life. It is a poster sending a message saying that whoever watches this movie will experience fear and adventure.
The colors in this poster are filled with bright and bold colors such as yellows, oranges, and reds. When I analyzed this poster, these colors made me feel suspensed and fearful, with some help of the visuals. They also made me feel adventurous. The color that I noticed first was the large animal. He is the only dark colored image on the page, compared to all the brighter colors on the page. It makes him look scarier when he is the only dark color on the page.
The main image that I noticed first is the giant gorilla, due to the darkest color that stands out in front of the brighter colors. My eyes then moved to the text, which says King Kong. I knew that this poster was created from the original movie made a while ago due to the clarity of the colors and pictures. I could tell that they were all drawn by sometime, as compared to today when the pictures would all be taken from the actual movie and pasted on the poster before printed out.
The image is trying to make people feel fear. Anyone who likes suspenseful or scary movies would be interested in this movie. This poster is appealing to the city culture and the wilderness culture combined. There is also some prehistoric culture expressed in the movie.
This poster is trying to tell that two large cultures are mixing, and the large animal is shown stealing a woman. It sends a sense of mystery or adventure. Almost anyone says they love mysteries or adventures, and everyone is familiar with this story. Along with mystery and adventure, most of the poster portrays a sense of fear from the woman, large animal, and the other three people. This poster makes me think of something I can watch that I know I will never see in everyday life. It is a poster sending a message saying that whoever watches this movie will experience fear and adventure.
The colors in this poster are filled with bright and bold colors such as yellows, oranges, and reds. When I analyzed this poster, these colors made me feel suspensed and fearful, with some help of the visuals. They also made me feel adventurous. The color that I noticed first was the large animal. He is the only dark colored image on the page, compared to all the brighter colors on the page. It makes him look scarier when he is the only dark color on the page.
The main image that I noticed first is the giant gorilla, due to the darkest color that stands out in front of the brighter colors. My eyes then moved to the text, which says King Kong. I knew that this poster was created from the original movie made a while ago due to the clarity of the colors and pictures. I could tell that they were all drawn by sometime, as compared to today when the pictures would all be taken from the actual movie and pasted on the poster before printed out.
The image is trying to make people feel fear. Anyone who likes suspenseful or scary movies would be interested in this movie. This poster is appealing to the city culture and the wilderness culture combined. There is also some prehistoric culture expressed in the movie.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Rhetorical Response #3
I feel that the story of Badu is the most intriguing and entertaining stories I have read this year. The Author expresses many good details, including how they influenced me, the reader, and how here profile connects with a larger culture.
I believe that there were many moments of excellent descriptions worth mentioning. First, I loved basically the whole first paragraph. I liked how she gave so much detail into what she was doing at that moment, and when she starts to describe about the circle she created. I thought it was unique that she goes to that circle when she needs time to herself, and doesn’t mind it being there. I also thought the author did a great job of expressing all the details about Badu’s home when she was there. For example, “The smell of peppermint incense mixed with the music of seventies Motown songwriter Willie Hutch, which was playing on the turntable in the next room….” I could really picture what was going on at that moment and could put myself in the author’s shoes when she was describing her home. In addition, it was very interesting to me as to what she thought about Dallas. One would think, especially me, that a famous person like her would want to stay in Dallas. I thought it was unique how she had such a personal connection to Dallas, but I am thinking that it is mainly because of her family background and the way she was raised. The author did a good job of giving vivid details about this, such as when the author and Badu went to visit her old neighborhood in which she grew up in. For example, “Families were active, lawns were beautiful, trees looked nice, people put up Christmas lights at Christmastime. It was a neighborhood. Now I feel like I’m in New Orleans after Katrina.” When I read this sentence, I could really sense the emotion Badu and the author must have felt, such as sadness or a loss of hope. I would have felt the same way if I saw the neighborhood I had grown up in all deserted like that. Furthermore, I also liked how the author and Badu mentioned why she had changed her name. I wondered why at first, but then I realized she being a rap and hip-hop star, it would make sense for her to want to change her name to something music related.
The details influenced my reading in many positive ways. They most importantly kept me engaged throughout most of the story and was quite entertaining to read. However, for a while I was confused about what culture she was from when the story was introduced in the first paragraph; such as when she started talking about the red circle and how she goes there when she needs some time alone. Later in the story when the author mentions she is a hip-hop African American star, then it made more sense to me. I feel that all the details the Hall and Badu gives made the story so interesting to read. I feel that it was so engaging because of all the personal details she gave. If they weren’t personal, the story would not have been as good and engaging to read. Without personal details and experiences, the whole point of the story is harder to grasp for the reader.
I think that the biggest connection between her normal life and past culture really brings out my reading experience. I liked reading how she originally got into jazz and hip-hop when she was younger, and how it has shaped her life as she has gotten older. I also think that her way of life has also made a huge effect on my reading experience. As I was reading about her separate cultures of a hip-hop star and an average mom, I thought of her as very independent and a strong-willed woman. Usually girls these days will do anything for fame and fortune, but Badu was different and kept to herself in a good way. She just wanted to be normal and have a normal life, which she was able to do. I love how she is doing what she loves, while sustaining a normal life and being a great mom to her kids.
The profile was more meaningful to me as a reader when I could put myself in her shoes and really see the big picture. Even though she only had one visual of herself, I could picture her all throughout the story and what she was like. In addition, the more personal she made the story about herself, the more meaningful it was to me.
I believe that there were many moments of excellent descriptions worth mentioning. First, I loved basically the whole first paragraph. I liked how she gave so much detail into what she was doing at that moment, and when she starts to describe about the circle she created. I thought it was unique that she goes to that circle when she needs time to herself, and doesn’t mind it being there. I also thought the author did a great job of expressing all the details about Badu’s home when she was there. For example, “The smell of peppermint incense mixed with the music of seventies Motown songwriter Willie Hutch, which was playing on the turntable in the next room….” I could really picture what was going on at that moment and could put myself in the author’s shoes when she was describing her home. In addition, it was very interesting to me as to what she thought about Dallas. One would think, especially me, that a famous person like her would want to stay in Dallas. I thought it was unique how she had such a personal connection to Dallas, but I am thinking that it is mainly because of her family background and the way she was raised. The author did a good job of giving vivid details about this, such as when the author and Badu went to visit her old neighborhood in which she grew up in. For example, “Families were active, lawns were beautiful, trees looked nice, people put up Christmas lights at Christmastime. It was a neighborhood. Now I feel like I’m in New Orleans after Katrina.” When I read this sentence, I could really sense the emotion Badu and the author must have felt, such as sadness or a loss of hope. I would have felt the same way if I saw the neighborhood I had grown up in all deserted like that. Furthermore, I also liked how the author and Badu mentioned why she had changed her name. I wondered why at first, but then I realized she being a rap and hip-hop star, it would make sense for her to want to change her name to something music related.
The details influenced my reading in many positive ways. They most importantly kept me engaged throughout most of the story and was quite entertaining to read. However, for a while I was confused about what culture she was from when the story was introduced in the first paragraph; such as when she started talking about the red circle and how she goes there when she needs some time alone. Later in the story when the author mentions she is a hip-hop African American star, then it made more sense to me. I feel that all the details the Hall and Badu gives made the story so interesting to read. I feel that it was so engaging because of all the personal details she gave. If they weren’t personal, the story would not have been as good and engaging to read. Without personal details and experiences, the whole point of the story is harder to grasp for the reader.
I think that the biggest connection between her normal life and past culture really brings out my reading experience. I liked reading how she originally got into jazz and hip-hop when she was younger, and how it has shaped her life as she has gotten older. I also think that her way of life has also made a huge effect on my reading experience. As I was reading about her separate cultures of a hip-hop star and an average mom, I thought of her as very independent and a strong-willed woman. Usually girls these days will do anything for fame and fortune, but Badu was different and kept to herself in a good way. She just wanted to be normal and have a normal life, which she was able to do. I love how she is doing what she loves, while sustaining a normal life and being a great mom to her kids.
The profile was more meaningful to me as a reader when I could put myself in her shoes and really see the big picture. Even though she only had one visual of herself, I could picture her all throughout the story and what she was like. In addition, the more personal she made the story about herself, the more meaningful it was to me.
In Class brainstorming for essay 3
- Stayin in shape
- Horse riding
- Military knowledge
- watching movies
- skiing
- Rock climbing
- Europe
- Cleaning the house
- Taking care of animals
- Running
- Country music
- Playing the flute
- Studying for school
- Good manners
- Egypt history
I learned how to learn the strategies of rock climbing from my friend Kris. He works up at the
Canyons teaching people how to rock climb, and has taught me on many occassions.
I learned how to stay in shape from my first personal trainer. I had a few lessons with her last year and she has taught me many things about how to use certain strategies in the weight room.
I learned how to play the flute from my old band director from middle school, who is now the band director at the high school I graduated from.
Kris has been my friend for many years since high school. However I don't know anything of his rock climbing experience and knowledge. He probably knows just about everything about it, and I think it will be an interesting essay topic to write about. I don't know how he got into the whole rock climbing thing, due to the fact that he doesn't talk about it that much, I just know that he works at a rock climbing place and goes on a few camping trips every once in a while.
- Horse riding
- Military knowledge
- watching movies
- skiing
- Rock climbing
- Europe
- Cleaning the house
- Taking care of animals
- Running
- Country music
- Playing the flute
- Studying for school
- Good manners
- Egypt history
I learned how to learn the strategies of rock climbing from my friend Kris. He works up at the
Canyons teaching people how to rock climb, and has taught me on many occassions.
I learned how to stay in shape from my first personal trainer. I had a few lessons with her last year and she has taught me many things about how to use certain strategies in the weight room.
I learned how to play the flute from my old band director from middle school, who is now the band director at the high school I graduated from.
Kris has been my friend for many years since high school. However I don't know anything of his rock climbing experience and knowledge. He probably knows just about everything about it, and I think it will be an interesting essay topic to write about. I don't know how he got into the whole rock climbing thing, due to the fact that he doesn't talk about it that much, I just know that he works at a rock climbing place and goes on a few camping trips every once in a while.
In Class: Freewrite
I feel pretty good about essay 2. However I probably need to go back and revise it regarding the grading rubric to make sure that I have included everything. I also am worried that I may have too many quotes in my essay. I don't want to take any out though because they are all very good quotes that really support my opinion on the topic. I plan on taking my essay to the writing center today to have it further revised, so hopefully doing this will help my grade on my next essay. I also am worried if I included enough narrative in my essay. There was so much I learned and researched that I didn't have much room to put my opinion in, although I did but very briefly. I also hope that I get a better grade on this essay than I did on my last because I spent more time on it and I enjoyed writing it more. I hope that the reader understands why I wrote about the essay and why it means so much to me, but I am worried that they may not because I am unsure if I have enough of that information.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)