I have really been grateful for the posts over the past two months. The conversation is powerful and is indicative of your inquisitive minds. Keep it up.
So I am really sad that i missed World History today, but I watched the recording. Towards the end when you were talking about one of the Chinese poets, Megan said something was just really blew me away. She said, talking about the line "to fulfill ones nature", that he had to go and take time away for himself and go to a place where he can learn and grow, so he could then go and fulfill his mission in life. I am at a point in my life where I am trying to define exactly what my mission is, and what I need to do in this life. What Megan said totally just caught me unaware and told me that I can't do it in the busy hectic life that I have. I have to take time for myself where I can be in tune with the spirit to grow and learn. It was really amazing what I learned from just this one class. And I can't wait for more learning experiences like this one. :)
History represents years and years of human nature played out. If our culture ceases to study history, it will become less conscious of human nature and of what we are doing.
that's true Kelsea! I agree with you!!! Greenman: we are doomed to repeat it... the patterns come and if we aren't knowledgeable enough to avoid them then they will hit us again and again and again and again and again... (pattern, remember? hehe)
@ kelsea Thanks! that actually blew me away too :) i know from personal experiance that you going off by yourself for a couple hours is the best thing you can do to find yourself. At elevation ( yes, i know i refer to that a lot) i was able to get a clearer picture of what i am supposed to do in my life. i was having the same thoughts, and i feel like i kind of found myself during that time. if you are religious, read your bible or scriptures and write in your journal during these few hours. sit alone. look around. see what you can find when you try and look for details. you'll be surprised what you will learn! you guys, i just want to say, that all these discussions are really inspiring! i read through here and i learn so much! please keep writing. and if you feel like what you say isn't important, please know that it is! something you may say or a way you phrase it may be exactly what someone needs to hear!!
Increase understanding of history, governmental principles, and the like, and also encourage people to care and increase morality is what I think we need. 'Tis a long road.
@ Hilton, A long road is right! But is there anyway to make the road shorter. Could we as the rising Generation do anything, ANYTHING, to cause a change in the next ten years? Twenty years?
you sound way too excited greenman;) i kind of agree with hillshum, but not completely. yes, that might be the easiest way to fix things, but waht if we were to begin to take an interes in waht was going on in the nation? we studied issues and what the votes were, and who was voting. we begin to write to our senators and representatives and express our opinions, either in favor of the issue or against it, and we backed up those statements with concrete evidance? spread awareness? i think it would be harder, but it will accomplish something i dont think any civilization has at this point in their existence: a trun around that returned its people to the founding principles, making it a great nation again. not only do we need to raise awarness on issues of governmental nature, we must encourage and convince the people that a return to good principles is necessary. waht else would a nation be founded on? Huh. I think i just gave myself an idea. does anyone know how to make a blog? ;) i also wanted to say that i have noticed a big change in my life. I am not afraid to do hard things anymore. i am not lazy (well, not as lazy) about doing things that will challenge me. most things come really rediculously easy for me, and so when it comes to the hard things, i give up after one or two tries! how bad is that! i was ( and still am) embarrassed when i mess up or dont get something right away. but now, when i sit down to do a school assignment or a job, i think, i am too tired to give this my all. if i do the bare minimum, no one will get mad at me, and i will still get the grade. or, i dont have to go the extra mile;i am doing well already without really trying; i'll just do the easier thing, i am still doing something, etc. but, almost immediately after, the thought comes into my head, what will mmake me personally grow? what can i do to challenge myself? am i really giving this 500%? anyway, those are my comments.
sorry for the typos, but i think you get the point. i wanted to also say that, connected to first paragraph, that i know we can do that. we are AMERICANS! we have done things no one else has, we started the 5000 year leap into the future! we were the first modern civilization to put together a gevernment that had the power in the people, not the government! we have done the impossible and we can do it again! WOOT FOR US!
Megan, we are the first Modern civilization to put the power in the people but are doing it as well? are we being as successful. We've lasted about 250 years. The Roman Republic lasted 482 years. What did Rome do that kept them going for half a millennium? What caused Rome to fall? is that same thing causing America to fall?
So... the person who supposed to send the link to the new website (which shows our grades) fails miserably. I am pretty sure that I am not the only one who had their email open since noon waiting for that blasted email so I could see the payment for 2 months of: dedication, hard work, 14 hour study days, expanding my mind (which can be a rather painful process), great peers, nights with only 3hrs of sleep, constant stress, fabulous mentors, inspiration, having the time of your life, skipped parties, new insight, gaining a whole lot of knowledge, etc.
In other words...I want my grades...as in three hours ago. However, I will pretend to be patient until the time when they decide to send over that blasted link...sigh ;)
haha Layne I so know what you are talking about I did not get it ether.
And I was going though the Odyssey and looking at the things I marked and I ran across something I think can have a lot to do with America and how we got where we are. It is in book 9 pg. 103 and it was talking about the difference between savages and hospitable men is that savages know no law, and hospitable men know right from wrong. We do know law but do we know right from wrong? I believe our morals are all messed up. They would have to be to allow things like abortion, immorality, dishonesty the list goes on. So how do we get our morals back then? because that is what is holding us back. The best and first thing is be true to your own personal morals. find your self what right and wrong is and stick to it, stand up for it, and do it. We cannot change others but we can influence them! An example is a big thing!
There is a quote i really like by Neal A. Maxwell "God doesn't ask our ability or inability, but our availability and when we prove our dependability, He will take care of our capability" And i think its pretty true
That is Such a good comment Gabriel! Even if we aren't sure if we can accomplish something, if we can set out to be dependable and to do our best, God will help us with the rest!
Did anyone get the email yet? i am pretty sure i haven't. ah well.
@ greenaman and hillshum you guys make a really good point. I think i should clarify by saying that the american set up for the country had the greatest potential, but somehow failed. I have always wondered why the civ's that had ok government have lasted longer than we have. I mean, 280 yrs? thats it? I am honestly confused and torn in many directions about this subject. I am simply brainstorming and trying to come up with a solution.
Everyone did great in there presentations today, btw!
@layne Hang in there if you haven't gotten it already! I promise, they are working on it! just a little longer!
And i am still kind of confused about the SIS, so i will probably be sending you guys emails (greenman, cough cough) ;)
i didn't get to share my slide in class, so here is the quote, "A conviction of man's sinfulness,and of the need for laws to restrain every man's will and appetite, influenced the legislators of the colonies and of the republic". PG. 29, Roots of American Order
The reason this stuck out to me was that the founders understood the basic nature of man, and they wanted the best possible lives for thier posterity. How much does this remind us of God? he loves us, but he understands our nature, which is why we have laws. Can't remeber who said this or how it goes exactly, but its something along the lines of, "if men were angels, we would have no need for government. But, because we are human, we have need for laws to keep order". God loves us so much that he makes things hard for us and doesn't let us make excuses so we will try harder and we will grow (that was an apostrophe i had today ;). The more we do what he asks and meet his expectations, the more the world opens up to us and we realize our potential and who we really are. At that point, God can take us in his hands as a tool, and use us to do great, good things that we could never have done alone. The road to get there, though, is HARD. The worst parts for me though, are when I am sitting around, twiddling my thumbs, 'cause there is nothing else i can do at the moment. those are the frusterating parts, because i want to do somehting, even if it is hard. I dont like bieing bored! I start to go stir crazy! ask anyone i was with at elevation, and they will confirm it. BUT, I had a poof (definition: A moment when something becomes clear in my mind, kind of like revelation. Most often, these thoughts go into the "poof journal") and when i had that poof, i realized that, are you ready for this? FAITH IN GOD INCLUDES FAITH IN HIS TIMING!! yea, i finally got that ;) ANYWAY, to conclude this......wow, really long post, i want to merci mon famille! vous est manificent!
@ Megan LOVED YOU COMMENT! If law is order and brings order, what is culture. Is Culture the foundation of law, or should Law be the foundation of culture. @Brooklyn I TOTALLY LOVE IT TOO! Peace out, my supa'novas!
@Meg's comment to Greenaman and hillshum: I think that this is not the end for America, like in Rome and Greece, they had their down points but then they corrected and continued (until they died...) I think that we just have to "pull up" so to speak so we dont smash into the ground... loved your comment Punky!!!
on an unrelated note... Beowulf was REALLY GOOD! well... pretty good anyways... it was short to!!! I really liked it... (I read it last night and this morning [yeah, I know I am early] ) it was a bit gory but... isn't ALL ancient lit gory? ;)
"If men were angels; no government would be necessary." ~James Madison, Federalist 51, (or maybe it was Federalist 10? I forget) I'm not sure if that's the quote you were thinking of Megs, but it’s the one that popped into my mind. ;)
You also mentioned that you feel like you want to DO something. That you want to get out there and help the country, help the world, even if it's really hard. I think you can.
I don't know what everyone's personal mission is, but I know that each and every one of the students in these classes not only has the potential to do great things in the world, but is capable of doing them now.
As many of you may know if you have been following some of the national news, Alaska is having a long, drawn out, very strange election; the results of which won't be decided for weeks yet. I won't go into detail, but I do want to share a little anecdote. As the election drew nearer and nearer I noticed there was much name calling, fierce accusation, etc., that was even fiercer than considered normal. I saw this and I just wanted to DO something. Like you Megan, I wanted to stop sitting around and get out there! But what could I do? I couldn't vote; I couldn't really make a difference. Could I?
Well, I did do a bit. Perhaps not much in the broad perspective, but a little bit nonetheless. I began searching for articles on all of the candidates for the election, researching ach and every ones point of view from as many different perspectives as possible. I talked to a number of people who supported each different one and why, and drew for myself what I thought was an informed decision. Feeling confident, I began again to search out articles about the candidates. This time, rather than just reading along, and observing other people’s, I added thoughts of my own. I commented on a couple different articles stating my opinion in as nice away as possible. Never being fierce, never calling other people names, but simply stating my opinion. It was quite the experience, seeing the people that agreed with me and added to my thoughts as well as those who didn't, (some of which responded very….creatively. ;)
Perhaps that’s not the best way for every person to go about it, but I found it uplifting and refreshing; leaving me feeling like I'd DONE something.
Other ways you can contribute are by writing articles and essays on the subject, and just posting them around, on Facebook, on this blog, to friends in an email, etc.
As I was perusing through many different articles, I came across a speech given in 2008 by none other than our very own President Barack Obama during his campaign for the presidency. I do not personally agree with all of Obama’s policies, but I think that in this case his words are very apt:
“Don’t tell me that words don’t matter. ‘I have a dream.’ Just words. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ Just words. ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself.’ Just words. Just speeches. It’s true that speeches and words don’t solve all problems, but what is also true is that if we can’t inspire the country to believe again, then it doesn’t matter how many plans and policies we have.”
Every person’s opinion counts, and there is no such thing as "just words.” So get out there and inspire, guys!
YOU STOLE MY NOVA!;) I believe that culture is the basis of law. After all, whatever your circumstances or beliefs are, that is how you will view the world. And, based on that perception, you will form laws that you and your neighbors will live by. These laws will make sense to you, because they will uphold your culture, which is ingrained into your very being. Dunno if that made sense :) @ Smithy That is awsome! Now I will have to go find some major places to post my research :) I wanted to share something with you guys. I have been writing papers off to the side (crazy, I know) but I thought i would post them and see what comments came back! I understand, these might be a little disjointed, but bear with me!
DISCLAIMER: These are very LONG. Like, several pages. So, be warned and don't get too bored :)
The Virtue of a Nation
Ladies and gentleman of America, I come before you today to express my opinion on the current state of our nation and what we can do to fix things. We, like Rome, are one of the greatest countries the world has ever known. We, like Rome, are in a state of digression, and if we do nothing to change our situation we too will fall. History repeats itself in an endless cycle or pattern which when observed and studied can help foretell the next step a civilization may take. A study of Rome, of Athens, and the Greek city states, of any civilization really will show that their decline was begun in a small place but one that was vitally important: the family. The core unit. Where the future generation is created. This generation will decide the things that will make or break the people for generations to come.
(continued) In order to insure a better, happier, and freer future certain fundamental principles must be ingrained in every mind. For those of the Christian religion, you’ll know some of these principles and the Ten Commandments. But even if you are not religiously inclined (or are of another faith) the principals outlined in the Ten Commandments are universally accepted as good and necessary for a happy, productive people. I wish here to show the commandments, that everyone may see how similar the basic idea of conduct is through all beliefs. The first is love the lord thy god (whomever or whatever that god may be) the second, love they neighbor as thyself. Honor thy father and mother that thy days may be long upon the land. Thou shalt have no other gods before me, honor the Sabbath day to keep it holy, thou shalt not lie, thou shall t not steal, thou shalt not covet, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery. I ask you to ponder these ideas and ask yourself; are theses correct? Do they make sense? Will they indeed make your life and the lives of those around you happier, more productive, and safer, or is it some sort of utopian ideal that will never come to pass? No, I declare, these are true principles! The virtue of our nation is tied to them, and that virtue is at stake! As Benjamin franklin said, this nation cannot be upheld and sustained without virtue. The singular virtue of each person must be grown before we can begin to move on to the public virtue of our nation. As Gandhi says, “be the change you wish to see in the world”. If we are a moral people, our principles will govern our actions, including those made when we are in a public office. The, the right choices will be made for the right reasons and for the better good, instead of selfish purposes that help no one and only erode society. When the governors of the people begin to disband their freedoms, the inclination is to go to one of two extremes: to absolve all governmental institutions completely, or to use the government even more to enforce those laws already in practice and new ones that are soon added. Neither of these is the solution. We must revert to the minimal government we had during the beginning of America. It was a necessary evil that was instituted to protect the people. “Life liberty and property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life liberty and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws for the protection of them in the first place” –Frederic Bastiat, the Law. The founders formed our government so that the checks and balances would keep is in the center of their political spectrum, between anarchy and tyranny, where the people are freer and safer under their own law. This is the best form of government that has been instituted since time began, taking its principles from other similar institutions in ancient times that inspired and contributed to the American constitution. The government by law and not the whims of men is the best way to ensure that those unalienable rights are kept safe, and if we wish to remain free, we will have to return to our virtues and original government.
(continued) Like I said, LONG. I will post the other one tomarrow, because it is an extension of my speech and I don't want to ruin the surprise ;)
One more thing before I end this................yet again, really long post, I thought of an interesting definition of a leader. At elevation, a lot of people were recognized as good leaders. I saw so many more of them, though I didn't quite know why I saw them that way. BUT, here is waht I came up with:
A leader is someone who guides us (whether it is through books, letters, or ideas etc.)to see someone elses perspective opr gives us a different way of thinking. For example, who has felt their mind expanded by someones comment, or felt they understood a new concept or idea better because of what someone said? A leader also is often one of the people who sees what needs to be done in a situation, and gets it done without being told to or having it delegated to them. So many times at elevation, I felt as if I was ordering people around (which I was, if you ask Layne and Ashley ;), and not really being helpful. But so many of my group simply did what needeed to be done, and taught me that I could let go, and things would still get taken care of. They also taught me to know when to backoff and to simply do what needed to get done instead of ordering everyone around (btw, wanted to apologize to all Reeses Pieces about the bossiness. Working on it :).
I respect those leaders, because they are just as important as the man standing on the box with the bullhorn.
SO...............now, I am FINALLY done, and I will leave you in peace :)
This is just FYI but when Dr. Groft mentioned in class some time ago that BC and BCE both mean the same thing it got me thinking. I’ve been taught that BC means "Before Christ" and BCE means "Before the Common Era". It has been changed to BCE for the mere effect of gradually erasing or abolishing Christ out of our society. The same principle applies with AD or Anno Domini which means "the year of our Lord" It is now CE "Common Era". With the current degenerations of our freedoms and the crumbling of our morals and virtues I think this concept applies. Certainly the debate between separation of God and state will continue, but no one can dispute that this nation was founded upon the teachings and principles of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I know Him to be the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of God the Father, he was the creator of the earth. All things were made by him. Christ went about doing good, yet was despised for it. His gospel is a message of peace and good will. He began his career in Palestine, instructing and preaching to people about the Kingdom of God. He healed the sick, caused the blind to see, and raised the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come. Though sinless, he was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He also instituted the sacrament as a reminder of his great atoning sacrifice. Jesus Christ was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave his life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth. Jesus is the Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of his Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. When the individuals of a nation are a God fearing and moral people, God looks upon that nation with favor. God has abundantly poured out His blessings to the United States of America. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. This heritage of freedom is as precious as life itself and we must preserve it. To abolish Christ would be like trying to build a house without the proper understanding; without the necessity of blue prints, tools, and/or materials. You would be left with bare wood. Would it be able to stand?
@ Siera That was a BOSS comment! I especially loved the analogy in the last paragraph! The house would stand, but wouldn't even be able to overcome even the smallest wind over time. Isn't that how it is? We build ourself on what we think is a safe foundation, then the adversary makes it so we become comfortable with the "stability" then he sends the angels of Hell to tear us down and leave us out in the cold? @ Megan, I did steal your Nova idea! you know why? because i thought it was AWESOME!
@ greenman well, if you thought it was awsome, then i guess its ok ;) so, I just went and saw my cousins play, peter pan. Where am i going with this? well, we live in an age of "peter pans" who don't want to grow up. Unfortunately, we can't all go to never land, so what do we do? remain in the safe mindset and habits we have had since we were children. By raise of hands, who thinks that that is just plain unhealthy?
@ Dr. Groft Are we going to continue to use Heroes of History for next semester or are we finished with it? I want to finish it so that I can mark it down on a scholarship that I'm working for. But, If not I'll complete it on my own!
Yea, does anyone know how to apply for scholorships? I need to get on that. I graduate next year, sssooooooooooo, yea.
Here is a follow up question: WHY is that unhealty? I think it is because we become stagnant. The energy inside us must constantly be flowing, being used to grow and make new branches, like a river. But, if the energy is not moving, we can literally make our spirits sick. We don't function as well and we aren't happy. I mean, who feels happy when they are sick? who wants to go hang out with friends? any other time, yes, but when you have the flue, no.
Here is the second essay. I think it is better than the speech I gave today, but please still comment and challenge the ideas presented! mucho appreciado!
God’s purpose for me
Many of us, I believe, have seen a change happening in our world. There is more anger, more apathy, and less godliness. Science has become our god, magazines our bibles, excuses our ambition. This change is contagious, as easily caught as the plague, but it is far more deadly. It erodes basics and beliefs, hope and humanity slowly but surely with caresses that lull us into a false sense of security. In reality, those things will not protect you from the ambitions of evil men whose only design is to take as much from you as possible in order that their lives may be full of ease and leisure. They will not give you food or hear your prayers as you supplicate them to give you food and shelter that your child may have a roof over his head and his belly may be swollen with food, not hunger. Which of them will listen to your broken stories of pain and redemption and offer you peace? Which of them will sacrifice, that your soul may be saved and your earthly existence may be one of joy, not agony? NONE of them, I say! The magazines and movies, they are not god, nor his word. They are not of his inspiration; inspirations and revelations that were often given to be blessing to his children. The husband and wife who leave each other to “live better lives apart because it simply wasn’t working” are lying to themselves! The only people I have ever seen coming out of those kinds of relationships are broken, miserable individuals who are very lost. Their children are confused, their realities shifting to a different reality that shouldn’t exist. Their stability disappears in a contract that says they are no longer a family. The teenager wastes his time partying and drinking, smiling all the while; he is decieved! He is not as happy as he thinks he is. All his airy castles will come crashing down around him and leave him with nothing to his name except an addiction that will ruin his life.
(continued) These are the poor, suffering souls we must help. We were put on earth to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, help the afflicted, mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and visit those in prison. This is our divine mission. We help our brothers and sisters in our own way, with our own talents. So many of us pass up golden opportunities to progress and grow into ourselves. Even as youth, we can help. We pass up the opportunity to reach or full potential when we say to ourselves, someone else will do it, I don’t have those talents, I can’t help in a big way- I am too young, I’ll do it tomorrow, and use other such excuses we delude ourselves into believing. We are the only ones who can make this world, our homes, our lives and the lives of those around us better! We have infinite, untapped potential that we can move mountains with, if only we are willing to brace ourselves against those walls and push! In the words of Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine, “They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a (devil’s advocate) shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?... THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their (fellowmen); but he that stands by them now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Friends! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Now is the time”… to throw off the chains of doubt and low expectations! There burns in the breast of every man and woman a fire that cannot be extinguished, placed there by god himself. A fire that burns to the glory of god! He has given us the ability to hope, and that hope is a driving force to better the lives of our brothers and sisters! Let not this hand be weary in thy service, oh god! Let not my heart be faint; grant that I may run and not be weary, raise others and not be faint, have ears to hear your children’s sorrows, a heart to withstand the tribulations of the world and be a rock to those who are faint. Make me a tool in thy hands to do what thou hast sent me to do; be a light and a rock for thy people.
So, those are my thoughts for today >) You guys are awsome, and I think we should give a shout out to Dr. Groft who is an awsome mentor! Give a WOOT! if you agree!
I don't know why, but when you talked about us becoming stagnant, it reminded me of a chinese proverb. It goes something along the lines of "Learning is like rowing upstream: to not advance is to drop back." If we aren't constantly applying ourselves to learn and grow then we regress. Since the youth of today isn't challenged enough, they aren't continually moving forward and learning.
This is about your scholarship question....there are quite a few websites out there that if you make an account with, you'll find a bunch of scholarships to apply for. A few that I've used are: fastweb.com, moolahspot.com, scholarshippoints.com...there's a bunch more. :)
This is my story from Writing Workshop on November 8, I hope it's ok if I post it on this screen.
Will was feeling lonely and depressed, he wanted so bad to be great. He had had dreams of becoming a famous writer ever since he was young. According to his peers, he was dumb, he was a nobody, he could never become a writer, let alone a legendary one. Lovingly, his good mother saw his want. She touchingly pulled him aside, and she, and Will's father told him of her love for him, and her pride in his greatness. Kneeling to thank his God for his wonderful Mother. Feeling overcome, and encouraged, Will went to find his feather pen. When he began to write, thoughts of doubt crept into his mind, his mind felt empty, he wasn't sure any more if he could do this. While he was struggling with this temptation to quit his dream, his parents words came floating into his mind, encouraging him, raising him up, loving him for who he truly was, not for who his peers said he was. Boom! Inspiration hit him like a thunderbolt. He wrote, and wrote, and wrote, following his inspiration. His pen flowed over the page, truly guided by some unseen Blessing. Finished! he looked over the last page of his newly written play, he saw that it was good. Unashamed, he wrote full name at the bottom of the page: William Shakespeare
I hate it how they put totally awesome stuff (like what we read today), in books that are icky! Boo on them! I want to read good stuff in GOOD BOOKS. But yeah, I loved World History today.
Oh yes, sorry I wasn't in class today guys. My mother left for the airport at 3:00 today and I was up, and then I woke up late etc. But despite all thatr my day has been AMAZING!
I started off by having a nice orange juice/donut breakfast
Then I watched the recording of a leading colloquia training for my Shakespeare class. Which was AWESOME!
Then I made a bunch of commitments and stuff to myself and my Running partner, things like making sure I get to bed by 10:00 all this week to experiement on whether or not I'm more productive than I am when I stay up to all hours studying, Which should be AMAZING!
Then I re-listened to one of my favorite talks, (living life in the sweet spot, by dan Ralphs, whom I miss terribly)Which was AWESOME!
Then I started reading the 7 Habits of highly Effective people again, which is bringing back super inspiration-ness!!!
Then I started thinking about ,my study guide and how by next year when I graduate I could almost make it a book! It's getting so big!
Then I decided that while WIlliamsburg is certainly a humongous part of my life and I shouldn't shirk in that area, there are times when you need to make sure you make time for other things that are important to you and your mission, even if it means either working a bit harder, or, if you're already working to your limits, cutting back on someting less important, you need to find time for it. I have now proceeded to make sure I have two hours almost every day to write whatever I want. :)
I've been having a sweet spot day and hope you all are too.
that's awesome Andrew! I was reading Roots (biblical roots... yeah... I am catching up...) and I was reading the Aeneid (also catching up on... I have 50 hours committed for this week soooo... I should be caught up soon... ANYWAY!) now... today I was reading both of these awesome books and in Roots Kirk talks about how it isn't important whether or nor Job, or even Moses, actually lived what is importiant is what we can leard from their storyes. and so, after reading and outlining that, I was reading the aeneid like, 15 min ago and I thought: It is the SAME THING!!! in the Odyssey odyssyes never ACTUALLY fought a cyclops, since they don't exist BUT we still read it! because his story, real or fake, teaches lessons that we need! it is the same in the Aeneid he never talked to a river! and the dates of the Trojan war and the founding of Carthage are, like, 200 years apart or something so he never REALLY could have met dido. BUT his story still tells us about his culture and teaches us about the world now even! the same thing with the bible, whether or not you believe that Moses actually was a prophet or that Christ was truly the son of god (I think most of us do but, anyways) you can still listed to their stories and their teachings and learn from them! there is my blurb... very disorganized at that but... oh well!
@ Andrew Blake Wow, that's amazing and so true! It is so hard to get past that gigantic voice, whether coming from yourself or others, that tells you, ‘you can't make it; succeeding isn't for you,’ but once you learn to resist that huge pressure you are able to develop yourself to the maximum of your potential in all ways and to help others do the same. Once you understand this and have had experience with it you will find that there really is a hero in all of us. To go above and beyond the status quo; to be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. To win that battle you have to thrust yourself out into the front lines. Be the warrior that God has destined you to be. Soon you will find that William Shakespeare’s triumph will be yours and your triumph will be ours. I can just see the founding fathers or famous philosophers, authors, or orators saying “Our triumph is your triumph if, you’re willing to fail, get back up, and try again.”
I know this has been said a lot, but i want to reiterate: you guys are awsome! think about waht would happen if we could get all the youth of today to write and think like we do here? what COULDN'T we accomplish? I have read some really inspirational things in roots, and it is taking me forever to read because of all the notes i am making, but here is one i wanted to share: In Roots cahp. 3, he says that the Greeks "began the principle of progress; movement onwards, not backwards or downwards, DESTRUCTION TENDING TO CREATION!" This reminded me of the thought by Heracleitus in Heroes of History where he says that "nothing is, everything becomes, things ceasing to be what they are, and becoming what they will be; all things flow" A couple other things that tie into this concept: the belief that there are parts of your body where energy pools, but if those pools are clogged, the energy cannot flow, which it must do in order for you to be at peace/ healthy. Yin and Yang are two opposites, but without them, you don't get the complete, whole circle which is BALANCE. Also, in this book i am reading called the Hero of Ages, there are two god forces: Preservation and Ruin. In order for the world to come into being, they had to work together. SO, I hope the pistions in your brain are going nuts, and the connections are sparking. Why do we need to have good and bad, creation and destruction in all things? chew on that for a while ;)
You guys are so AWESOME! I loved reading all the comments--I learned a lot. Maybe someday I'll make the time to post my own bodacious comments like ya'lls are doing! Don't stop guys! Keep it up!
I have really been grateful for the posts over the past two months. The conversation is powerful and is indicative of your inquisitive minds. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dr. Groft.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about something…What happens to our culture if we cease to study history?
So I am really sad that i missed World History today, but I watched the recording. Towards the end when you were talking about one of the Chinese poets, Megan said something was just really blew me away. She said, talking about the line "to fulfill ones nature", that he had to go and take time away for himself and go to a place where he can learn and grow, so he could then go and fulfill his mission in life.
ReplyDeleteI am at a point in my life where I am trying to define exactly what my mission is, and what I need to do in this life. What Megan said totally just caught me unaware and told me that I can't do it in the busy hectic life that I have. I have to take time for myself where I can be in tune with the spirit to grow and learn. It was really amazing what I learned from just this one class. And I can't wait for more learning experiences like this one. :)
@Greenman
ReplyDeleteThe standard answer is that we repeat history.
History represents years and years of human nature played out. If our culture ceases to study history, it will become less conscious of human nature and of what we are doing.
that's true Kelsea! I agree with you!!!
ReplyDeleteGreenman: we are doomed to repeat it...
the patterns come and if we aren't knowledgeable enough to avoid them then they will hit us again and again and again and again and again...
(pattern, remember? hehe)
@ kelsea
ReplyDeleteThanks! that actually blew me away too :) i know from personal experiance that you going off by yourself for a couple hours is the best thing you can do to find yourself. At elevation ( yes, i know i refer to that a lot) i was able to get a clearer picture of what i am supposed to do in my life. i was having the same thoughts, and i feel like i kind of found myself during that time. if you are religious, read your bible or scriptures and write in your journal during these few hours. sit alone. look around. see what you can find when you try and look for details. you'll be surprised what you will learn!
you guys, i just want to say, that all these discussions are really inspiring! i read through here and i learn so much! please keep writing. and if you feel like what you say isn't important, please know that it is! something you may say or a way you phrase it may be exactly what someone needs to hear!!
peace out!
me ;) punky
@ Hilton and all you other awesome peoples, That's what's happened to America. What can we do?
ReplyDeleteIncrease understanding of history, governmental principles, and the like, and also encourage people to care and increase morality is what I think we need. 'Tis a long road.
ReplyDelete@ Hilton, A long road is right! But is there anyway to make the road shorter. Could we as the rising Generation do anything, ANYTHING, to cause a change in the next ten years? Twenty years?
ReplyDeleteI think so.
ReplyDeleteI often wonder whether a total collapse and rebuild will be necessary or not.
Well lets start there :D
ReplyDeleteyou sound way too excited greenman;)
ReplyDeletei kind of agree with hillshum, but not completely. yes, that might be the easiest way to fix things, but waht if we were to begin to take an interes in waht was going on in the nation? we studied issues and what the votes were, and who was voting. we begin to write to our senators and representatives and express our opinions, either in favor of the issue or against it, and we backed up those statements with concrete evidance? spread awareness? i think it would be harder, but it will accomplish something i dont think any civilization has at this point in their existence: a trun around that returned its people to the founding principles, making it a great nation again.
not only do we need to raise awarness on issues of governmental nature, we must encourage and convince the people that a return to good principles is necessary. waht else would a nation be founded on?
Huh. I think i just gave myself an idea. does anyone know how to make a blog? ;)
i also wanted to say that i have noticed a big change in my life. I am not afraid to do hard things anymore. i am not lazy (well, not as lazy) about doing things that will challenge me. most things come really rediculously easy for me, and so when it comes to the hard things, i give up after one or two tries! how bad is that! i was ( and still am) embarrassed when i mess up or dont get something right away. but now, when i sit down to do a school assignment or a job, i think, i am too tired to give this my all. if i do the bare minimum, no one will get mad at me, and i will still get the grade. or, i dont have to go the extra mile;i am doing well already without really trying; i'll just do the easier thing, i am still doing something, etc. but, almost immediately after, the thought comes into my head, what will mmake me personally grow? what can i do to challenge myself? am i really giving this 500%?
anyway, those are my comments.
peace out, my novas,
punky
sorry for the typos, but i think you get the point.
ReplyDeletei wanted to also say that, connected to first paragraph, that i know we can do that. we are AMERICANS! we have done things no one else has, we started the 5000 year leap into the future! we were the first modern civilization to put together a gevernment that had the power in the people, not the government! we have done the impossible and we can do it again!
WOOT FOR US!
Megan, we are the first Modern civilization to put the power in the people but are doing it as well? are we being as successful. We've lasted about 250 years. The Roman Republic lasted 482 years. What did Rome do that kept them going for half a millennium? What caused Rome to fall? is that same thing causing America to fall?
ReplyDeleteSo... the person who supposed to send the link to the new website (which shows our grades) fails miserably. I am pretty sure that I am not the only one who had their email open since noon waiting for that blasted email so I could see the payment for 2 months of: dedication, hard work, 14 hour study days, expanding my mind (which can be a rather painful process), great peers, nights with only 3hrs of sleep, constant stress, fabulous mentors, inspiration, having the time of your life, skipped parties, new insight, gaining a whole lot of knowledge, etc.
ReplyDeleteIn other words...I want my grades...as in three hours ago.
However, I will pretend to be patient until the time when they decide to send over that blasted link...sigh ;)
haha Layne I so know what you are talking about I did not get it ether.
ReplyDeleteAnd I was going though the Odyssey and looking at the things I marked and I ran across something I think can have a lot to do with America and how we got where we are. It is in book 9 pg. 103 and it was talking about the difference between savages and hospitable men is that savages know no law, and hospitable men know right from wrong. We do know law but do we know right from wrong? I believe our morals are all messed up. They would have to be to allow things like abortion, immorality, dishonesty the list goes on. So how do we get our morals back then? because that is what is holding us back. The best and first thing is be true to your own personal morals. find your self what right and wrong is and stick to it, stand up for it, and do it. We cannot change others but we can influence them! An example is a big thing!
@Megan
ReplyDeleteIt definitely takes more than fixing government.
As to a blog, setting them up isn't all that hard. You live in Provo-ish right? I'll email you about something related to that.
@Brooklyn
ReplyDeleteSo true.
Plus, what law our society does know is often based not on right or wrong but on the whims of men.
There is a quote i really like by Neal A. Maxwell "God doesn't ask our ability or inability, but our availability and when we prove our dependability, He will take care of our capability" And i think its pretty true
ReplyDeleteThat is Such a good comment Gabriel! Even if we aren't sure if we can accomplish something, if we can set out to be dependable and to do our best, God will help us with the rest!
ReplyDeleteSIS is SO cool! Don't forget to upload you scores for the peer-graded assignments
ReplyDeleteDid anyone get the email yet? i am pretty sure i haven't. ah well.
ReplyDelete@ greenaman and hillshum
you guys make a really good point. I think i should clarify by saying that the american set up for the country had the greatest potential, but somehow failed. I have always wondered why the civ's that had ok government have lasted longer than we have. I mean, 280 yrs? thats it?
I am honestly confused and torn in many directions about this subject. I am simply brainstorming and trying to come up with a solution.
Everyone did great in there presentations today, btw!
@layne
Hang in there if you haven't gotten it already! I promise, they are working on it! just a little longer!
And i am still kind of confused about the SIS, so i will probably be sending you guys emails (greenman, cough cough) ;)
i didn't get to share my slide in class, so here is the quote,
"A conviction of man's sinfulness,and of the need for laws to restrain every man's will and appetite, influenced the legislators of the colonies and of the republic".
PG. 29, Roots of American Order
The reason this stuck out to me was that the founders understood the basic nature of man, and they wanted the best possible lives for thier posterity. How much does this remind us of God? he loves us, but he understands our nature, which is why we have laws. Can't remeber who said this or how it goes exactly, but its something along the lines of, "if men were angels, we would have no need for government. But, because we are human, we have need for laws to keep order". God loves us so much that he makes things hard for us and doesn't let us make excuses so we will try harder and we will grow (that was an apostrophe i had today ;). The more we do what he asks and meet his expectations, the more the world opens up to us and we realize our potential and who we really are. At that point, God can take us in his hands as a tool, and use us to do great, good things that we could never have done alone. The road to get there, though, is HARD. The worst parts for me though, are when I am sitting around, twiddling my thumbs, 'cause there is nothing else i can do at the moment. those are the frusterating parts, because i want to do somehting, even if it is hard. I dont like bieing bored! I start to go stir crazy! ask anyone i was with at elevation, and they will confirm it. BUT, I had a poof
(definition: A moment when something becomes clear in my mind, kind of like revelation. Most often, these thoughts go into the "poof journal") and when i had that poof, i realized that, are you ready for this? FAITH IN GOD INCLUDES FAITH IN HIS TIMING!! yea, i finally got that ;)
ANYWAY, to conclude this......wow, really long post, i want to merci mon famille! vous est manificent!
Peace out, my novas,
Punky
I got the link and I love this new sit it is so much nicer!!
ReplyDelete@ Megan LOVED YOU COMMENT! If law is order and brings order, what is culture. Is Culture the foundation of law, or should Law be the foundation of culture.
ReplyDelete@Brooklyn I TOTALLY LOVE IT TOO!
Peace out, my supa'novas!
Greenman
@Meg's comment to Greenaman and hillshum:
ReplyDeleteI think that this is not the end for America, like in Rome and Greece, they had their down points but then they corrected and continued (until they died...) I think that we just have to "pull up" so to speak so we dont smash into the ground...
loved your comment Punky!!!
on an unrelated note...
Beowulf was REALLY GOOD! well... pretty good anyways... it was short to!!!
I really liked it... (I read it last night and this morning [yeah, I know I am early] )
it was a bit gory but... isn't ALL ancient lit gory? ;)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"If men were angels; no government would be necessary."
ReplyDelete~James Madison, Federalist 51, (or maybe it was Federalist 10? I forget)
I'm not sure if that's the quote you were thinking of Megs, but it’s the one that popped into my mind. ;)
You also mentioned that you feel like you want to DO something. That you want to get out there and help the country, help the world, even if it's really hard. I think you can.
I don't know what everyone's personal mission is, but I know that each and every one of the students in these classes not only has the potential to do great things in the world, but is capable of doing them now.
As many of you may know if you have been following some of the national news, Alaska is having a long, drawn out, very strange election; the results of which won't be decided for weeks yet. I won't go into detail, but I do want to share a little anecdote. As the election drew nearer and nearer I noticed there was much name calling, fierce accusation, etc., that was even fiercer than considered normal. I saw this and I just wanted to DO something. Like you Megan, I wanted to stop sitting around and get out there! But what could I do? I couldn't vote; I couldn't really make a difference. Could I?
Continued below…
Well, I did do a bit. Perhaps not much in the broad perspective, but a little bit nonetheless. I began searching for articles on all of the candidates for the election, researching ach and every ones point of view from as many different perspectives as possible. I talked to a number of people who supported each different one and why, and drew for myself what I thought was an informed decision. Feeling confident, I began again to search out articles about the candidates. This time, rather than just reading along, and observing other people’s, I added thoughts of my own. I commented on a couple different articles stating my opinion in as nice away as possible. Never being fierce, never calling other people names, but simply stating my opinion. It was quite the experience, seeing the people that agreed with me and added to my thoughts as well as those who didn't, (some of which responded very….creatively. ;)
ReplyDeleteContinued below again…
Perhaps that’s not the best way for every person to go about it, but I found it uplifting and refreshing; leaving me feeling like I'd DONE something.
ReplyDeleteOther ways you can contribute are by writing articles and essays on the subject, and just posting them around, on Facebook, on this blog, to friends in an email, etc.
As I was perusing through many different articles, I came across a speech given in 2008 by none other than our very own President Barack Obama during his campaign for the presidency. I do not personally agree with all of Obama’s policies, but I think that in this case his words are very apt:
“Don’t tell me that words don’t matter. ‘I have a dream.’ Just words. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ Just words. ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself.’ Just words. Just speeches. It’s true that speeches and words don’t solve all problems, but what is also true is that if we can’t inspire the country to believe again, then it doesn’t matter how many plans and policies we have.”
Every person’s opinion counts, and there is no such thing as "just words.” So get out there and inspire, guys!
@ Greenman
ReplyDeleteYOU STOLE MY NOVA!;)
I believe that culture is the basis of law. After all, whatever your circumstances or beliefs are, that is how you will view the world. And, based on that perception, you will form laws that you and your neighbors will live by. These laws will make sense to you, because they will uphold your culture, which is ingrained into your very being.
Dunno if that made sense :)
@ Smithy
That is awsome! Now I will have to go find some major places to post my research :) I wanted to share something with you guys. I have been writing papers off to the side (crazy, I know) but I thought i would post them and see what comments came back!
I understand, these might be a little disjointed, but bear with me!
DISCLAIMER: These are very LONG. Like, several pages. So, be warned and don't get too bored :)
The Virtue of a Nation
Ladies and gentleman of America, I come before you today to express my opinion on the current state of our nation and what we can do to fix things. We, like Rome, are one of the greatest countries the world has ever known. We, like Rome, are in a state of digression, and if we do nothing to change our situation we too will fall. History repeats itself in an endless cycle or pattern which when observed and studied can help foretell the next step a civilization may take. A study of Rome, of Athens, and the Greek city states, of any civilization really will show that their decline was begun in a small place but one that was vitally important: the family. The core unit. Where the future generation is created. This generation will decide the things that will make or break the people for generations to come.
(continued)
ReplyDeleteIn order to insure a better, happier, and freer future certain fundamental principles must be ingrained in every mind. For those of the Christian religion, you’ll know some of these principles and the Ten Commandments. But even if you are not religiously inclined (or are of another faith) the principals outlined in the Ten Commandments are universally accepted as good and necessary for a happy, productive people. I wish here to show the commandments, that everyone may see how similar the basic idea of conduct is through all beliefs.
The first is love the lord thy god (whomever or whatever that god may be) the second, love they neighbor as thyself. Honor thy father and mother that thy days may be long upon the land. Thou shalt have no other gods before me, honor the Sabbath day to keep it holy, thou shalt not lie, thou shall t not steal, thou shalt not covet, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery. I ask you to ponder these ideas and ask yourself; are theses correct? Do they make sense? Will they indeed make your life and the lives of those around you happier, more productive, and safer, or is it some sort of utopian ideal that will never come to pass? No, I declare, these are true principles! The virtue of our nation is tied to them, and that virtue is at stake! As Benjamin franklin said, this nation cannot be upheld and sustained without virtue. The singular virtue of each person must be grown before we can begin to move on to the public virtue of our nation. As Gandhi says, “be the change you wish to see in the world”. If we are a moral people, our principles will govern our actions, including those made when we are in a public office. The, the right choices will be made for the right reasons and for the better good, instead of selfish purposes that help no one and only erode society. When the governors of the people begin to disband their freedoms, the inclination is to go to one of two extremes: to absolve all governmental institutions completely, or to use the government even more to enforce those laws already in practice and new ones that are soon added. Neither of these is the solution. We must revert to the minimal government we had during the beginning of America. It was a necessary evil that was instituted to protect the people. “Life liberty and property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life liberty and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws for the protection of them in the first place” –Frederic Bastiat, the Law. The founders formed our government so that the checks and balances would keep is in the center of their political spectrum, between anarchy and tyranny, where the people are freer and safer under their own law. This is the best form of government that has been instituted since time began, taking its principles from other similar institutions in ancient times that inspired and contributed to the American constitution. The government by law and not the whims of men is the best way to ensure that those unalienable rights are kept safe, and if we wish to remain free, we will have to return to our virtues and original government.
(continued)
ReplyDeleteLike I said, LONG. I will post the other one tomarrow, because it is an extension of my speech and I don't want to ruin the surprise ;)
One more thing before I end this................yet again, really long post, I thought of an interesting definition of a leader.
At elevation, a lot of people were recognized as good leaders. I saw so many more of them, though I didn't quite know why I saw them that way. BUT, here is waht I came up with:
A leader is someone who guides us (whether it is through books, letters, or ideas etc.)to see someone elses perspective opr gives us a different way of thinking. For example, who has felt their mind expanded by someones comment, or felt they understood a new concept or idea better because of what someone said?
A leader also is often one of the people who sees what needs to be done in a situation, and gets it done without being told to or having it delegated to them. So many times at elevation, I felt as if I was ordering people around (which I was, if you ask Layne and Ashley ;), and not really being helpful. But so many of my group simply did what needeed to be done, and taught me that I could let go, and things would still get taken care of. They also taught me to know when to backoff and to simply do what needed to get done instead of ordering everyone around (btw, wanted to apologize to all Reeses Pieces about the bossiness. Working on it :).
I respect those leaders, because they are just as important as the man standing on the box with the bullhorn.
SO...............now, I am FINALLY done, and I will leave you in peace :)
Peace out, MY Novas!
Punkt (yes, i am now a verb :)
This is just FYI but when Dr. Groft mentioned in class some time ago that BC and BCE both mean the same thing it got me thinking. I’ve been taught that BC means "Before Christ" and BCE means "Before the Common Era". It has been changed to BCE for the mere effect of gradually erasing or abolishing Christ out of our society. The same principle applies with AD or Anno Domini which means "the year of our Lord" It is now CE "Common Era". With the current degenerations of our freedoms and the crumbling of our morals and virtues I think this concept applies. Certainly the debate between separation of God and state will continue, but no one can dispute that this nation was founded upon the teachings and principles of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
ReplyDeleteI know Him to be the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of God the Father, he was the creator of the earth. All things were made by him. Christ went about doing good, yet was despised for it. His gospel is a message of peace and good will. He began his career in Palestine, instructing and preaching to people about the Kingdom of God. He healed the sick, caused the blind to see, and raised the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come. Though sinless, he was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He also instituted the sacrament as a reminder of his great atoning sacrifice. Jesus Christ was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave his life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth. Jesus is the Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of his Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.
When the individuals of a nation are a God fearing and moral people, God looks upon that nation with favor. God has abundantly poured out His blessings to the United States of America. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. This heritage of freedom is as precious as life itself and we must preserve it. To abolish Christ would be like trying to build a house without the proper understanding; without the necessity of blue prints, tools, and/or materials. You would be left with bare wood. Would it be able to stand?
@ Siera
ReplyDeleteThat was a BOSS comment! I especially loved the analogy in the last paragraph! The house would stand, but wouldn't even be able to overcome even the smallest wind over time. Isn't that how it is? We build ourself on what we think is a safe foundation, then the adversary makes it so we become comfortable with the "stability" then he sends the angels of Hell to tear us down and leave us out in the cold?
@ Megan, I did steal your Nova idea! you know why? because i thought it was AWESOME!
Keep it popping! my supernova's!
G-man
@ greenman
ReplyDeletewell, if you thought it was awsome, then i guess its ok ;)
so, I just went and saw my cousins play, peter pan. Where am i going with this? well, we live in an age of "peter pans" who don't want to grow up. Unfortunately, we can't all go to never land, so what do we do? remain in the safe mindset and habits we have had since we were children. By raise of hands, who thinks that that is just plain unhealthy?
Peace, my novas
Punky
[raising hand!]
ReplyDeleteMy hand is so totally raised in the air for that one.
ReplyDeleteMine's so high it's lifting me away.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Megan my hands are in the air!
ReplyDelete@ Dr. Groft
Are we going to continue to use Heroes of History for next semester or are we finished with it? I want to finish it so that I can mark it down on a scholarship that I'm working for. But, If not I'll complete it on my own!
Yea, does anyone know how to apply for scholorships? I need to get on that. I graduate next year, sssooooooooooo, yea.
ReplyDeleteHere is a follow up question: WHY is that unhealty? I think it is because we become stagnant. The energy inside us must constantly be flowing, being used to grow and make new branches, like a river. But, if the energy is not moving, we can literally make our spirits sick. We don't function as well and we aren't happy. I mean, who feels happy when they are sick? who wants to go hang out with friends? any other time, yes, but when you have the flue, no.
Here is the second essay. I think it is better than the speech I gave today, but please still comment and challenge the ideas presented! mucho appreciado!
God’s purpose for me
Many of us, I believe, have seen a change happening in our world. There is more anger, more apathy, and less godliness. Science has become our god, magazines our bibles, excuses our ambition. This change is contagious, as easily caught as the plague, but it is far more deadly. It erodes basics and beliefs, hope and humanity slowly but surely with caresses that lull us into a false sense of security. In reality, those things will not protect you from the ambitions of evil men whose only design is to take as much from you as possible in order that their lives may be full of ease and leisure. They will not give you food or hear your prayers as you supplicate them to give you food and shelter that your child may have a roof over his head and his belly may be swollen with food, not hunger. Which of them will listen to your broken stories of pain and redemption and offer you peace? Which of them will sacrifice, that your soul may be saved and your earthly existence may be one of joy, not agony?
NONE of them, I say! The magazines and movies, they are not god, nor his word. They are not of his inspiration; inspirations and revelations that were often given to be blessing to his children. The husband and wife who leave each other to “live better lives apart because it simply wasn’t working” are lying to themselves! The only people I have ever seen coming out of those kinds of relationships are broken, miserable individuals who are very lost. Their children are confused, their realities shifting to a different reality that shouldn’t exist. Their stability disappears in a contract that says they are no longer a family. The teenager wastes his time partying and drinking, smiling all the while; he is decieved! He is not as happy as he thinks he is. All his airy castles will come crashing down around him and leave him with nothing to his name except an addiction that will ruin his life.
(continued)
ReplyDeleteThese are the poor, suffering souls we must help. We were put on earth to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, help the afflicted, mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and visit those in prison. This is our divine mission. We help our brothers and sisters in our own way, with our own talents. So many of us pass up golden opportunities to progress and grow into ourselves. Even as youth, we can help. We pass up the opportunity to reach or full potential when we say to ourselves, someone else will do it, I don’t have those talents, I can’t help in a big way- I am too young, I’ll do it tomorrow, and use other such excuses we delude ourselves into believing.
We are the only ones who can make this world, our homes, our lives and the lives of those around us better! We have infinite, untapped potential that we can move mountains with, if only we are willing to brace ourselves against those walls and push! In the words of Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine, “They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a (devil’s advocate) shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?... THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their (fellowmen); but he that stands by them now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Friends! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Now is the time”… to throw off the chains of doubt and low expectations! There burns in the breast of every man and woman a fire that cannot be extinguished, placed there by god himself. A fire that burns to the glory of god! He has given us the ability to hope, and that hope is a driving force to better the lives of our brothers and sisters!
Let not this hand be weary in thy service, oh god! Let not my heart be faint; grant that I may run and not be weary, raise others and not be faint, have ears to hear your children’s sorrows, a heart to withstand the tribulations of the world and be a rock to those who are faint. Make me a tool in thy hands to do what thou hast sent me to do; be a light and a rock for thy people.
So, those are my thoughts for today >) You guys are awsome, and I think we should give a shout out to Dr. Groft who is an awsome mentor! Give a WOOT! if you agree!
ReplyDeleteWOOOOOOOOOOT!
Peace out, my novas,
Punky
@Megan
ReplyDeleteI don't know why, but when you talked about us becoming stagnant, it reminded me of a chinese proverb. It goes something along the lines of "Learning is like rowing upstream: to not advance is to drop back." If we aren't constantly applying ourselves to learn and grow then we regress. Since the youth of today isn't challenged enough, they aren't continually moving forward and learning.
woot woot!
ReplyDeleteMegan,
ReplyDeleteThis is about your scholarship question....there are quite a few websites out there that if you make an account with, you'll find a bunch of scholarships to apply for. A few that I've used are: fastweb.com, moolahspot.com, scholarshippoints.com...there's a bunch more. :)
WHOOOOOOOT
ReplyDeleteThis is my story from Writing Workshop on November 8, I hope it's ok if I post it on this screen.
ReplyDeleteWill was feeling lonely and depressed, he wanted so bad to be great. He had had dreams of becoming a famous writer ever since he was young. According to his peers, he was dumb, he was a nobody, he could never become a writer, let alone a legendary one. Lovingly, his good mother saw his want. She touchingly pulled him aside, and she, and Will's father told him of her love for him, and her pride in his greatness. Kneeling to thank his God for his wonderful Mother. Feeling overcome, and encouraged, Will went to find his feather pen. When he began to write, thoughts of doubt crept into his mind, his mind felt empty, he wasn't sure any more if he could do this. While he was struggling with this temptation to quit his dream, his parents words came floating into his mind, encouraging him, raising him up, loving him for who he truly was, not for who his peers said he was. Boom! Inspiration hit him like a thunderbolt. He wrote, and wrote, and wrote, following his inspiration. His pen flowed over the page, truly guided by some unseen Blessing.
Finished! he looked over the last page of his newly written play, he saw that it was good. Unashamed, he wrote full name at the bottom of the page: William Shakespeare
Andrew, that is BODACIOUS!
ReplyDeleteWho just LOVED world history class today! I SO want to read the book!
Dr. Groft you need get another week going (:
ReplyDeleteyeah that would be nice... ;)
ReplyDeleteand yes I want to read the book!
also:
THAT WAS AWESOME ANDREW!!!
I hate it how they put totally awesome stuff (like what we read today), in books that are icky! Boo on them! I want to read good stuff in GOOD BOOKS. But yeah, I loved World History today.
ReplyDeleteI have had the most inspiring day today!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, sorry I wasn't in class today guys. My mother left for the airport at 3:00 today and I was up, and then I woke up late etc. But despite all thatr my day has been AMAZING!
I started off by having a nice orange juice/donut breakfast
Then I watched the recording of a leading colloquia training for my Shakespeare class. Which was AWESOME!
Then I made a bunch of commitments and stuff to myself and my Running partner, things like making sure I get to bed by 10:00 all this week to experiement on whether or not I'm more productive than I am when I stay up to all hours studying, Which should be AMAZING!
Then I re-listened to one of my favorite talks, (living life in the sweet spot, by dan Ralphs, whom I miss terribly)Which was AWESOME!
Then I started reading the 7 Habits of highly Effective people again, which is bringing back super inspiration-ness!!!
Then I started thinking about ,my study guide and how by next year when I graduate I could almost make it a book! It's getting so big!
Then I decided that while WIlliamsburg is certainly a humongous part of my life and I shouldn't shirk in that area, there are times when you need to make sure you make time for other things that are important to you and your mission, even if it means either working a bit harder, or, if you're already working to your limits, cutting back on someting less important, you need to find time for it. I have now proceeded to make sure I have two hours almost every day to write whatever I want. :)
I've been having a sweet spot day and hope you all are too.
that's awesome Andrew!
ReplyDeleteI was reading Roots (biblical roots... yeah... I am catching up...) and I was reading the Aeneid (also catching up on... I have 50 hours committed for this week soooo... I should be caught up soon... ANYWAY!) now... today I was reading both of these awesome books and in Roots Kirk talks about how it isn't important whether or nor Job, or even Moses, actually lived what is importiant is what we can leard from their storyes.
and so, after reading and outlining that, I was reading the aeneid like, 15 min ago and I thought:
It is the SAME THING!!!
in the Odyssey odyssyes never ACTUALLY fought a cyclops, since they don't exist BUT we still read it! because his story, real or fake, teaches lessons that we need!
it is the same in the Aeneid he never talked to a river! and the dates of the Trojan war and the founding of Carthage are, like, 200 years apart or something so he never REALLY could have met dido. BUT his story still tells us about his culture and teaches us about the world now even!
the same thing with the bible, whether or not you believe that Moses actually was a prophet or that Christ was truly the son of god (I think most of us do but, anyways) you can still listed to their stories and their teachings and learn from them!
there is my blurb... very disorganized at that but... oh well!
Roots is one of the BEST history books ever!
ReplyDeleteHey! Nathan!
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean Cyclops arent real?!
hahaha I hope you are being sarcastic Smithy;D
ReplyDelete@ Andrew Blake
ReplyDeleteWow, that's amazing and so true! It is so hard to get past that gigantic voice, whether coming from yourself or others, that tells you, ‘you can't make it; succeeding isn't for you,’ but once you learn to resist that huge pressure you are able to develop yourself to the maximum of your potential in all ways and to help others do the same. Once you understand this and have had experience with it you will find that there really is a hero in all of us.
To go above and beyond the status quo; to be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. To win that battle you have to thrust yourself out into the front lines. Be the warrior that God has destined you to be. Soon you will find that William Shakespeare’s triumph will be yours and your triumph will be ours. I can just see the founding fathers or famous philosophers, authors, or orators saying “Our triumph is your triumph if, you’re willing to fail, get back up, and try again.”
I know this has been said a lot, but i want to reiterate: you guys are awsome! think about waht would happen if we could get all the youth of today to write and think like we do here? what COULDN'T we accomplish? I have read some really inspirational things in roots, and it is taking me forever to read because of all the notes i am making, but here is one i wanted to share:
ReplyDeleteIn Roots cahp. 3, he says that the Greeks "began the principle of progress; movement onwards, not backwards or downwards, DESTRUCTION TENDING TO CREATION!"
This reminded me of the thought by Heracleitus in Heroes of History where he says that "nothing is, everything becomes, things ceasing to be what they are, and becoming what they will be; all things flow"
A couple other things that tie into this concept: the belief that there are parts of your body where energy pools, but if those pools are clogged, the energy cannot flow, which it must do in order for you to be at peace/ healthy. Yin and Yang are two opposites, but without them, you don't get the complete, whole circle which is BALANCE. Also, in this book i am reading called the Hero of Ages, there are two god forces: Preservation and Ruin. In order for the world to come into being, they had to work together.
SO, I hope the pistions in your brain are going nuts, and the connections are sparking.
Why do we need to have good and bad, creation and destruction in all things? chew on that for a while ;)
peace out, my novas
punky
Jordan here! :D
ReplyDeleteYou guys are so AWESOME! I loved reading all the comments--I learned a lot. Maybe someday I'll make the time to post my own bodacious comments like ya'lls are doing! Don't stop guys! Keep it up!