Presidential Election

I agree with the point David Harsanyi made regarding Bill and Hillary Clinton. They are taking very questionable tactics to try and ruin Barrack Obama’s candidacy and all the while making themselves look unnaturally foolish. As a freshman student at the University of Denver, I believe the antics of our former president are very childish. I think comparing Obama to Jesse Jackson is immature and irresponsible. Clinton played off Obama’s victory in South Carolina saying “Jesse Jackson won South Carolina in ’84 and ’88.” I don’t think race and gender should influence a vote, but the voters should vote for the candidate they see fit to lead the nation based on knowledge of the candidate’s policy. The main focus shouldn’t be whether Hillary is a woman, or Barrack is African America; it must still come down to the fact that they are suitable to run, or not run, the United States. When did the Presidential election become a game of who could damage the other candidates name rather than proving themselves worthy? But I guess it’s like they say, you don’t have to prove yourself right as long as you can prove the other person is wrong.

Story Telling

The most recent assignment in class was to write an essay that described how a piece or literature had made an impact on our life. It could be something we wrote, read or even something a little more abstract. This was the first assignment like this I have had to do in college and as far as I can remember ever. It didn’t feel like a normal assignment because I had the ability to form it however I wanted. The paper was on my terms, not just answering questions and ending with the same story as everyone else. I really enjoyed writing this essay. I found myself sitting and reflecting on all the lost memories that reappeared. I remembered teachers than I hadn’t thought about in years. Also, I wanted the reader to be able to connect with my paper the way I intended them to. I wanted them to feel the passion I felt. I think it was a great experience to be able to mold and form a story that no one else had heard. I felt like an author who had thousands of fans waiting for his new novel. It was a childish feeling but I truly did enjoy it. It made me think about what it would be like to tell the world a story and have them intently listening. I really enjoyed this story and hopefully I will be able to tell the world a story I want them to hear someday.

January 16

During class on January 16, we did the first writing workshop. This was the first workshop I have ever done where I use my writing, and to be honest I was a bit intimidated. I’m not confident in my ability to write, so I was nervous to say the least reading my paper to my classmates. I had no idea what the writing workshop was, so being told to read it aloud shocked me; it was not what I had in mind. I was pleasantly surprised when we all took turns reading our pieces. Not only were they respectful about my piece, they gave me some great feedback as well. I also enjoyed reading their topics; even that helped me edit my own paper. It was also enjoyable to read the others essay’s because they both told great stories. I was able to sit back and listen and actually be taken away by their unique stories. In my opinion, it was nice to hear corrections from a student rather than from a professor. In most every class you get a deadline and have to have the completed essay in by the date. I really enjoyed getting feedback on my paper before having to edit; and even better was it came from classmates. I think it will be great when I also get feedback from Professor Bateman. I believe I’ll be able to make a very well written essay because I had a chance to really run through it with a fine tooth comb. I really enjoyed listening and reading the essays, and I don’t think I’ll be so intimidated the next time through.

Mike Rose

Recently we read a chapter out of Lives on the Boundary, by Mike Rose. The title of the chapter was “I Just Wanna Be Average.” I really enjoyed reading this chapter; I plan on finishing the book shortly. I thought the way rose talked about his childhood allowed you to connect closely with him. He didn’t shy away from his past but rather embraced it as an essential piece of who he is today. I think most people, especially students, can relate to how he describes his high school experience. A lot of kids have trouble with certain fundamental subjects such as algebra and grammar. Sometimes though, all it takes is that one special teacher to get to you. In Rose’ case it was Jack MacFarland. Rose says “Jack MacFarland couldn’t have come into my life at a better time. My father was dead, and I had logged up too many years of scholastic indifference.” I agree that most kids, especially in today’s culture, develop indifference for school. I know as a student in high school it was easy place school on the shelf behind sports, girls and life in general. It didn’t hold a high priority in my life. Perhaps that’s why I took such an interest when reading this chapter. It was different than reading Dorothy Allison because I felt like I was simply traveling in her pocket as she showed me her life. With Rose, I could place parts of his story and match them with my own experiences. I really enjoyed reading Mike Rose and hope I run into his literature again.

Letting Go

In the book by Dorothy Allison she talks about her experience with karate. She talks about being the only girl in a class dominated by males. During this chapter she explains how she met the wife of the sensei. Shortly after she tells about one of her experiences running, "My hips shifted. Something in the bottom of my spine let go. Something disconnected from the coccyx that was shattered when i was a girl. Something loosened from the old bruised and torn flesh. Some piece of shame pulled free, some shame so ancient I had never known myself without it. I felt it lift, and with it my thighs lifted, suddenly loose and strong, pumping steadily beneath me as if nothing could hold me down." Everything I had read up until this point seemed to be words gathered without reason. To me, everything was connected in this short paragraph. The way Allison explained her hardship running, how the only thing keeping her going was that she was not supposed to be able to do it, made this chapter so easy to relate to. It allowed you to connect with her in a way you could not do before. She opened a vein and began spilling her thoughts. In short, I think it allowed you to truly connect to her entire troubled childhood. You can actually feel the pain she went through, and the satisfaction she felt not giving up. I’ve read many books but none that have given me the satisfaction that I got reading this paragraph.