Blog13: Anything+frustrations

            Oh man… so right now I’m waiting to pass off a computer program for my class. I’ve been waiting for over an hour for this, and I had a date type thing that started 15 minutes ago. I just saw the list and I still have at least 15 minutes to go and the lab closes in 15 minutes so it might all be for nothing. Great eh? It hasn’t even been productive because I didn’t bring anything with me but my laptop with limited batteries, because I thought I’d just come in here, pass it off, and leave (like a boss). But now I’ve been here forever, nothing to do but text friends and work on my Spanish through texting haha. A few minutes ago I realized my battery life would last all the way to when I would have to leave anyways, so I got on and am now writing this blog. So a TA is helping the guy at the table across from me, and he’s been there for 20 minutes… wow. Man I need to be more nice, I don’t understand his situation.

            Anyways I wish I had brought my book, one of the Great Works Papers I’m going to do is on the book by Victor Frankyl “Man’s Search for Meaning”. (You know, I’ve never known for book titles if you put it in quotes or italicize it.) Anyways I still have about 50 pages left in that so that would’ve been a great thing to do for the last hour. Dang it 10 more minutes. Agh!!!! And I’m over 20 minutes late for my date, this is pretty stressful. I could’ve been sitting here forever for nothing. Happy day. You know what, I just realized I won’t make it. I can skip my first class tomorrow to pass this off, that might be what I need to do. Life is so much fun, you have no idea.

            I think I’m going to go through an exhibit in the Museum of Art for my other Great Works. And that is 50 words, there we go.

Blog12: How's the Paper?

            Well, I just adapted my focus on the paper (thanks for the advice Rachel!) and I’m now going to work on just “under God” in the pledge of allegiance.

            When I’ve been working on this, my main focus has been to discover what the real, underlying issue is. I mean, I can understand the perspective and the reasons for why people think we shouldn’t, but is there any legitimate reason that can stand in law and political circles why we should have “under God” in the pledge?

            After a few discussions with my roommate I believe I discovered what’s the fundamental issue, at least on the side of supporting the phrase. It’s tradition. America was founded on a belief of an Almighty and our dependence on such an entity. Although “under God” wasn’t added until 1954, it has already become a concrete part of our national identity. By publicly acknowledging such a founding value, we legitimize our Government’s right to authority and power. No leader, whether it be a person, organization or Government can have a weak foundation of ideals and beliefs. The act of removing “under God” from the pledge would be such a bold action against the values of America that it would dramatically decrease the legitimacy and integrity of the American Government.

            There are legitimate arguments against the phrase however. (I’m using the word “legitimate” a lot, but it’s exactly what I mean.) The Supreme Court has created what’s called the “Lemon Test” to determine if a law religious in nature violates the Establishment Clause. It has 3 points, and if the law fails any of the three then it is not constitutional. The first says that the law must be secular in nature, the second: the law cannot advance or inhibit religion in any way, and I forgot the third haha. Anyways, the 1954 legislation that inserted the phrase “under God” in the pledge of allegiance clearly violates the first two points. The insertion was motivated by the Red Scare, and how much of America was trying to prove itself not communist by reverting back to fundamental American values, like God.

Blog11: Issues Paper

            So I’ve been trying to come up with a topic for awhile, it’s been the hardest part of this assignment, to think of an issue I’m interested enough in to write 8-10 pages about. Today when we were in the library looking up on the EBSCO Database I realized there was a lot of information on the debate of omitting “under God” in the pledge of allegiance. I’m pretty interested in that debate, and I’m also really excited to learn more about it and develop a more educated stance on the subject.

            Because of this super late start I’m obviously super behind on the paper. On the EBSCO Database today I found about 10 peer reviewed journals talking about the debate and so I thought “man, there looks like there’s enough research to back up a paper, so I’m going to try it.” I think I’m much more interested in writing about religious debates than about the tenure of teachers.

            So I actually haven’t come up with a thesis statement or a title, really because I want to be as unbiased as possible during my research. My initial question for the paper, which I just realized is quite a bit biased is “Should we appease the atheists in America by omitting “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance?

            So my small outline is to first talk about Atheism in America, for their influence in political circles, and perhaps the fundamental reasons that people are Atheist. Then I will discuss the importance of religion in America.

            Then I will discuss possible solutions. Even without my research I understand that we cannot force atheists to acknowledge the existence of a higher deity against their will, and I don’t think we should take out “Under God”, because that could offend the majority of people, I know it definitely offends me. Possible solutions are allowing people to not say the words “Under God” during the pledge or making the pledge optional. With that kind of law different schools or classes could vote on policies regarding the pledge of Allegiance.

#10: Choosing my topic

            So after looking over many of the topics on procon.org, I think I have chosen to write about teacher tenure. I had created a list of different topics I could do, some on the website and some not, I was thinking that my decision would be based on something which could be influenced by religion. I was thinking about researching the debate about people being gay at birth, taking the side that yes in fact, some people are born gay but can overcome it, just as God gives pretty much everybody else difficulties which they could overcome, like a tendency for heterogenic immorality, pornography or drinking and drug problems. However as I further researched the idea I realized that I would not have as an enjoyable time without quoting our modern day prophets as experts in moral issues. Without the religious element, I do not think I would have enjoyed and learnt as much as I desired from studying this topic.

            So I kept looking and thinking about what kind of topic I would like to research. I decided that I want to research a topic where there might not be that strong of feelings, where it might not be that much fire and emotion on either side. I now expect to write with a lot of pathos, which will hopefully take the reader aback by the comparison of the emotions of all other players in this debate. I think that this will help establish my paper and make it stand out.

            As I looked over topics I thought about writing about teacher tenure. My big fear however is making it interesting enough to last for 8 pages, it’s like Sister Elliott said if I get bored of it before I’m done, my writer will definitely have a hard time.

            So now that I’ve chosen this topic, I am already second guessing myself. I’m now thinking about researching the debates: 1) Should America switch to Nuclear Energy? 2) Should America have the 2 party system? 3) Under God in the pledge? 4) Death Penalty? In the next few hours I hope that I will be able to choose from among these 5 worthy topics.

#9: Rhetorical Analysis

            K honestly I felt so good about my rhetorical analysis! I have never liked writing, but I just felt like I had done a good job finally! I was really focusing on using good powerful verbs and building on each argument and I think it made a huge difference in my writing.

Blog8: How's the paper going?

            My rhetorical analysis is going great! Great in the sense that I have no wasted any time on it, which basically mean I haven’t started really. The reason for that is I haven’t found a speech I’d really like to analyze. I was going to do “Blood, toil, tears, and sweat” by Winston Churchill, but it is too short so I’m looking for another one. Let me know if you have any ideas!

Blog7: Rhetoric of a King

            Can I first just say wow? I could stand silent for hours in respect and awe for Dr. King’s mastery in rhetoric.

            Ok, now that that’s over with, time to analyze and criticize.

            Martin Luther King Jr. truly understands his audience, the white clergymen of Birmingham, Alabama; knows them well enough that he has no problem speaking to them with integrity. The fact that he is so straightforward and open establishes himself as an honest man throughout his letter. He further develops his ethos by explaining his position in the south, establishing and enforcing the idea that although he is black, he is a major leader in the South. The reader then thinks even more of Dr. King as he explains through the course of the letter the responsible actions his followers have taken to obtain that which they see as justice.

            King’s credibility only increases by his powerful appeal to logos. The home base for most of his logic is Christianity, which works very well because he is addressing clergymen. He calculates when laws should be followed and when they should be disobeyed. The ability to be so understanding of an opposing view and really putting himself in basically his enemy’s shoes and not lose his cool really makes this paper.

            Lastly, King appeals to the belief that all men are children of God, and should be treated as such. He reveals to the white moderate the persecution his race has gone through, all the injustices and the fears. He appeals to the greatest emotion of all: love. If logic cannot sway these people, hardened by decades of conforming to norms, only love can.

Blog6: What Christians Believe

            C.S. Lewis’ article is a revealing assertion of what Christian’s believe. His daring Christian writing takes on one of the most important discussions in all of time, is there a God? And if there is, who is He? Once he answers this question, his purpose is to describe the kind of God his fellow Christians believe in.

            Lewis takes a message usually examined in a spiritual sense and argues his points through logical deduction. His purpose is to prove the inconsistencies of atheism. He then explains the nature of God from the Christian’s view. His purpose is not to force his readers to believe anything, but to make them think more seriously about the nature of God.

            C. S. Lewis originally gave this article over the radio during WWII to Allied soldiers, as well as all the articles included in his work “Mere Christianity.” His audience was a diverse collection of soldiers: some hardened by the death around them, some striving to know more and some striving to forget everything.

            These men were conditioned for no-nonsense, and Lewis certainly didn’t waste their time. He quickly gets on the same page as the reader then leads him on a quest to discover God. He establishes his ethos by his honesty, telling every one of his disbelief and efforts to be ignorant to fact. For the bulk of his argument he implements logos, analytically looking at the necessity of a God by presenting the atheist’s ideas and proving them impractical. He finally appeals to the reader’s pathos by describing the enemy of God.

Blog 5: Veil of Fears

Genre: Informative, Persuasive Commentary

Purpose: The writer is informing the reader of the sensitive nature of veils in Islamic society, and the reasons and rules for the custom.

Central Message: We should be respectful of others’ views and not force our Western view of feminism on other cultures. If we want them to change, start by focusing the pressure on the political system.

World View and Assumptions: That Americans want to change the Islamic lifestyle, and that many Islamic women want it to change as well.

Use of Tools and Evidence: He establishes his credibility well, especially establishing how he’s not an extremist in one way or the other, making it easier to believe what he’s saying. He uses a lot of logic and information.

Personal Narrative

I don't know how I really feel about my Personal Narrative, mainly because I was trying to find the right topic. My first instinct was to write about my conversion, because if anything has changed me, it would be that (I was born in the church, but when I was actually converted), but that would be too personal and I don’t want other people reading over it.

So I started thinking of moments in time that have changed me, and I decided to write about a kinda funny moment when me and a buddy decided to run as Student Body President and Vice President and how we flipped a coin to decide which would one we would be. Ran as a joke, but made it. My 2 pages of prewriting were actually on this.

After I wrote the prewrite I was bored of the topic, so I started thinking about a different one, realizing that I didn’t have much time left. So I wrote about my most serious concussion and how it made me value the memories we get. The paper turned out alright, but I realized I was missing an important flavor to these personal narratives, but it was already too late when I figured it out.

I was missing a real change. Yea, I learned something. Don’t let any moment pass you by, live so you have tons of good memories, etc. but I didn’t necessarily change much.

2 days before the paper was due, I was already pretty much done with it; I started just writing down memories. Not necessarily ones that changed me, but just memories. I remembered one memory though, and once I thought about it I really wish that I had written my personal narrative about it. It was my first time home alone, I believe when I was about 9. I looked all brave and macho till my parents left, then ran around the house locking all the doors. They were to be gone from 7-10, and I thought I could handle it. I watched a movie and ate some food, but after a while I just started freaking out too much, I couldn’t handle it. I ran into the backyard where my dog was and just held her and talked to her for an hour and a half, crying. When I knew they were close to being home (Mom called) I wiped the tears, ran inside and just sat on the couch acting like it was no big deal.

This changed me. Ever since then I can look totally fine, even when life is horrible, but I need someone to talk to. I need someone to be close too. Looking back on my whole life I’ve been that way since I was about 9. Kinda cool.

Blog3: Anything

Argh crap! For the assignment it said we can write about anything, so I’m going to write what’s on my mind right now. So me and my buddies love rugby, we play as much as we can and play every Saturday down at Wyview (a few of us played in High School together.) Well I roomed with 2 of these guys last semester; they’re big twins that I love to death. Last year in April one of these twins tore his ACL in a rugby game, and that has majorly affected his life in the last year. He’s still recovering so he hasn’t been able to play with us yet. Well, last week we were playing like we normally do, when the other twin got tackled or something and wasn’t able to get up, we had to pull him off the field (rugby doesn’t stop). After awhile he could get up and limp, and he thought that he had just hyperextended the knee.

            Well, it’s been almost a week so I totally forgot about it. Honestly this week I’ve been focused on getting my mission papers ready, I am just so excited! These two twins have their calls; David the one that got hurt a year ago is going to North Carolina, and Mark, the one who hurt his knee last week, is going to Tampa, Florida; both of them leave May 2. Well, Mark just texted me and he said that that the Dr. said he might’ve torn his ACL… this is no bueno, could completely affect his mission! As I was freaking out I get another text from him and he said that the Dr. just confirmed it… he tore his ACL. He’ll get surgery next Friday, and hopefully his mission plans won’t be altered.

            Man I’m just scared for him right now. I love Mark so much, and we’re all excited to go on our missions, I just can’t believe that something like this would be thrown into the situation. I’m texting him right now and he’s in good spirits, he always his. He’s just so “take-it-easy”. I’m trying to remain calm, but I’m worried for him.

Leaving Home

I’m a freshman, so leaving home was a very recent event for me. I’m from the exotic land of Orem (a 3 minute drive from here) so you could describe my experience as extremely hectic, because if I forgot something, I wouldn’t be able to go back and get it for weeks or months! It was very stressful.

            No but seriously, I was super excited to move out. I love my family and everything, and I think I would miss them if I wasn’t so close, but just the idea of moving out was awesome. Plus, I would be moving in with 3 of my best friends.

            When the day came to move in I moved in around noon, I was so anxious I had actually been packed for weeks. I get down there and put a big dinner in a crock pot (first and last time I’ve used that thing) because I had told my buddies that I was going to cook good meals every day and we were all excited for that. My friends didn’t seem that excited to move down, they took their time moving down, and I was a little impatient to get them down there so we could all start partying.

            The day after we moved in there was a big Wyview dance. I was stoked but there was a small problem, one of mi amigos had been really sick the last few days and we just found out that night that he had mono, and would have to take it easy for a few months. This was college, freshman year for Pete’s sake! This was party year, and all of a sudden one of the 3 musketeers (there were actually 4 which is why I use this reference, but it’s a little confusing because it has the number ‘3’ in it) but anyways, one of the 3 musketeers couldn’t party with us!

            It was a much different next few weeks then I originally thought it would be. I stopped cooking awesome meals because I just didn’t have the time. We didn’t party as much because of my friend, but we definitely did party!

Blog 1: Me (for English)

I’m an avid skier from the exotic land of Orem, Utah. I always have to be doing something, to me a moment “just sitting there” is a moment wasted. I love to try new things, which have led me to try everything from rugby to student government to competitive ice skating (please don’t ask). I don't like when people are undependable, and I dislike cats a lot. Right now I’m studying Electrical Engineering. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is everything to me, and I want to live my life in a way to prove my devotion to God. I’m beyond excited right now, because I put in my mission papers in 2 weeks!! Stoked.

The Inconvenient Messiah: Jeffrey R. Holland

http://speeches.byu.edu/index.php?act=viewitem&id=856