"The distance between who I'm and who I want to be is roughly the same distance between what I think of myself and what I actually am".

Probably the hardest thing for a human being is to judge who I am. We all move in the world of fantasy, the world of imagination. When I was a kid, I was thinking myself as a superhero, when I'm an adult, I think myself as a superstar; at my old age, I might think myself as a super dad. But in the real world it might be something else. there is a long distance between this fantasy and real world. In the real world in my childhood I was just a kid, in my adulthood I'm a student and a taxi driver. When we dream and daydream, it makes us happy and it might be the real happiness. (Biswajit Sarker)

How do you define cool?

Akin to the Wolfe quote I wrote about last class, what defines “cool” is defined by the individual or cohort of individuals who belong to a certain group. For example, what might be considered “cool” for a group of scientists (who are, to reference the Boswell quote, usually constantly thinking of the future and, as a result, are likely ahead of their epoch) may not be considered “cool” for a group of French literature majors, who may focus more on literature of the past or anthropology of the present. To essentialize, what defines “cool” is defined by what the cohort an individual is part of believes is cool, because, though we are all complex in our own ways, what comes off as cool with a certain group of people will always remain relatively non-individual because it is appealing to a greater number of people. This is the great maxim of society and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

- Josie Raccuia

Culture

"Culture is the arts elevated to a set of beliefs." - Tom Wolfe

This quote reminds me of the term "cultural capital." Meaning, one cultural experience can be worth more in the cultural capital than another. Take the New York Philharmonic versus Justin Bieber. One is worth more than the other.

Though, is this really true? Who is to say what has "more" worth in cultural value? Typically we think that seeing Othello at the opera is cultured, but what about for those who grew up around cultural experiences akin to the finer things in life? Visiting the Florida panhandle could be just as "cultural." So, yes, culture is elevated to a set of beliefs, but this set is valued and determined upon what the individual considers "culture."

- Josie Raccuia

The Bible Tell Us to Love Our Neighbors and Love our Enemies Because Generally They Are The Same People

He said he loved me, he said we were a team
"Do or die, it's you and me baby against the world"
He said he couldn't breath without me

These are the beautiful words he would speak after he would
Blacken my eye, bust my lip
Promising to never do it again

How do you love a person who is your best friend and your enemy
rolled into one, very carefully
Never sharing too much, but just enough
Knowing one day you might have to confront your enemy
Killing your best friend


K. Germany

I refuse to have such little faith in humanity

“The floor of the white man’s failures is the ceiling of the black man’s expectations.”

I’m not entirely sure how to approach this quote, though this certainly denotes that black men either have a very self-deprecating sense of humor or have very little confidence in themselves. It is unfortunate to think that the color of one’s skin could inhibit one from becoming the greatest he/she can become. Everyone has the same amount or odds of potential when we are all put on an equal playing field. I find this quote to be a very unfair and, frankly, unorthodox because I find such self-deprecation frightening. To think that blacks could or would think of themselves like this – even in a humorous context – shows the opposite of how far society has come. Contrary, I’d like to have more faith in humanity in saying that we HAVE come far. Of course, there are still problematic issues in our society that are in dire need of recognition, but I refuse to believe that this is one of them.

I refuse to have such little faith in humanity.

- Josie Raccuia

Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.

Political strength amounts from war, deception, and credits, corruption to say the least. The barrel of a gun yields prowess and agility. So what else would politicians want than to look unbeatable? The best thing about politics, nowadays, isn't the rhetoric, laws, or morals of a nation, but rather the appearance of a successful congress, invincible men in combat gear and a leader. Political power doesn't have to do with the actual matter and content of a nation's problems. Political power has evolved into a diagram of spectacles, appearances, and much more. The world has seen its empires, and great civilizations, but when will the people once again hear the voice of a virtuous hero? The barrel of a gun signifies nothing but violence, war, and strife. Political power should grow from the mind of a leader.

We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.

No one is immortal, and nothing will ever be immortal. So what's the purpose of trying to create something that will? Eventually, time will lead us to an age where men, women, and children will die at an earlier age than normal, and we certainly won't be able to stop that. There's no point in ever trying to invent something that could possibly live forever, because that would simply go against the laws of ethics, morality, and virtue. History has witnessed failed attempts at finding everlasting life, so again, what's the significance of creating something that is immortal? Even if something were to remain immortal, it wouldn't stay so for the rest of eternity.

The only possible answer that would sound reasonable, is that creation is imagination, which in turn is the essence of fun. People only imagine immortality as a way of escaping the problems in their lives. Everyone seems to be so fed up with life, that having fun seems to be the only other option to living. Imagining immortality is creating immortality, and that seems to be the goal of contemporary society, just as it was ages ago.

“One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching.”

Imagine if your life flashed before your eyes and all you saw was yourself sitting around looking depressed. Of course, that would never happen. If your life flashes before your eyes you’re going to see what really mattered in your life. That’s why I don’t like these kind of extremely general, open-ended quotes about life. They want to guilt you into acting a certain way and into taking risks. I hear people say things like “life is short” and “cherish every moment”, but it’s impossible to live like that. You aren’t cherishing every moment when you’re waiting for your flight at the airport. Most people would do anything to make that time go by more quickly. Then there’s the four-hour flight itself. You can listen to music, fall asleep, wake up and there’s still two hours left to go. You don’t think “cherish every moment”. You can only think “get me out of here”. We also spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping. That’s a big waste of time, if you think about it. Even if your life was really exciting, you definitely would not want to watch the entire thing over again.

-Timothy John

Every generation needs a revolution

My mother always told me that a part of being young is having a yearning to save the world. As the new generation emerges we find ourselves wanting to make the world a better place. Revolutions are a part of this. We become Achillean, seeing it fit to bind a cohort of individuals together to “damn the man.” While some might see this type of revolt as revolting or barbaric, where would the world be without youthful optimism to change the world? The world would be a very dull, bleak place. It would be achromatic and prosaic. So, yes, every generation needs a revolution, because sometimes what others see as “barbaric” insanity is just what we need to keep the world sane.

- Josie Raccuia

Success after all loves a witness, but failure can't survive without one.

If we don't experience failure, how can we appreciate success. If we don't go through trials and tribulations, how can we appreciate the good. There must be a testimony from where you were, to where you are, to where you are going. One can give inspiration to another who is now where you were and how you were able to move from there and be where you are and how to continue moving ahead. We must learn to handle the bad as well as the good. F. McPhee

WE are All Worthy of One Another

Are we? Are we really? Isn't this the problem parents have with their children and their relations whether it be friends or significant others? "You are so much better than the person you are dating! Where will this friendship get you in teh future? Isn't this what we think of in terms of "you are so much better than x-person? Worth in other people is perceived by the individual. Personally, yes, we are all worthy of on another but will i sometimes forget that? Oh yeah! Because we have this strive to be PERFECT, to the best it means we must see ourselves higher than the people around us. In relations to my paper [about the Scottsboro Trials], back then not everyone believed we were all worth of on another. As a matter of fact the Scottsboro Boys were not worth anything to the two white women who were allegedly raped by the 9 boys nor did the judge think they were worthy of a trial, let alone a fair one. Throughout history, although we want to live in a world where we really act and feel everyone is worth of one and other, but really someone or some group will be seen lower or less worthy -- socially, racially and in gender roles.

-I.N.P.

Sucess After All Loves A Witness But Failure Can't Exist Without One

Success is the greatest revenge
Failure is ones greatest enemy
Both needing an audience

Success loves to hear "well done" , "your the greatest"
Failure is a hater who then manipulates the same words into doubt

Mrs. Success and Mr. Failure is a dysfunctional marriage with no desire to co-exist, but must do so
Awaiting the day when their divorce will be final



K. Germany

Self Love Is Not So Vile a Sin as Self Neglect

Do I love me
Do I love you more than me
Is loving me more vanity or self preservation
Is loving you more stupidity or God Like
In order to love you I must love me
When I neglect me, I'm neglecting everything that is important to me
Neglect is not an option
Love is a must



K. Germany