New Ideas

Isaac Asimov in this interview says that every person likes something in particular more than other thing. For example although he studied chemistry he is passionate to astronomy. He says we going to have a revolution of learning and the only way to archive it, is if we have minds that appreciate their own creativity, then almost all of us will be creativity. The point here is that we have to let people to be free will and give them the opportunity to set their own point of view in order to make change. Although one fact has several theories we have to assimilate what it teaches and set new ideas without resistance to change. One example is the Extinction of the Dinosaurs by Stephen Jay Gould. In this case there are three theories which caused to dinosaurs become extinct. These theories are testicular malfunction, psychoactive overdosing, and asteroid zapping. There are detractors and supporters of these theories, but the point is that both sides focus in the sense of each point of view and then learn from each other in order to develop new thesis or improve the one they support.

Affirmative action: The Price of Preference

Shelby Steele begins this essay worrying about the dilemma that he will face with affirmative action once his children apply to college. Steele in his essay clearly demonstrates his position against affirmative action. He gives several examples of way affirmative action far from eliminate racial discrimination, what does is reverse discrimination. He believes that racial preferential treatment for blacks is a kind of demoralization and self doubt that undermines their ability to perform. Also, he thinks that affirmative action in some way gives power and privilege to black people because of their own past victimization. Placing them as a social victim is not the way he believes blacks can achieve what they want by themselves. For me, it is a very interesting essay because although he is black, he gives important facts which demonstrate that victimizing blacks does not repair their past. So, what they really need are equal opportunities for their effort not for being victimized.

Cinematypes

Susan Allen Toth in this essay describes how have been three movies dates with different guys. She compares these dates according to how these guys behave and the kind of movies they like. For example, Aaron takes her to strange movies that she never understands and classifies as art firms. He meets her by the box office, sits tentatively in her seat, and gleams with intensity watching the screen. Although he stays away from her in the movie, he tries to stay overnight with her. Peter like movies that have redeeming social values. They drive together to the theater and avoid paying for a parking space. In the movie, he sits companionably close to her. He is conservative and do not take advantage over her invitation to stay at home with her after the movie. Sam likes entertaining movies without sappy love history that not force him to think. He pays for everything and sits comfortable during the movie. When he takes her at home, he kisses her long and hard, but he does not stay with her because he feels regretfully with his girlfriend. Finally, in the movies she goes to by herself, she feels more comfortable, eating freely and feeling completely at home.

Sexism in English: A 1990s Update

Allen Pace Nielsen has written several studies about sexist language and about the images of women in literature. She bases her essay in her study about sexism in language. In this study, she arrived to three important points which are the mindset of American society. First woman are sex, men are successful. She explains this idea comparing how topographical features are named in sexual way after women or to honor accomplishment after men. The second point is that women are passive and men are active. To support this idea she is focused in how a bride is something to be handed over from one man to another. Also, she compared how the royalty acts when a male and female holds the royalty title. The final point is that women are connected with negative and men with positive connotations. She compares the differences between boys and girls freedom to experiment with sex roles. Moreover, she gives examples of words that differ in connotations between positive male and negative female, word that differ only in the matter of sex.

The Lie Detector

In this essay, Lewis Thomas insists in that we are biologically designed to be truthful to each other. Also, he questions the capacity of lie detector to inform us that untruthful behavior can gradually undermine our vascular system. I agree with Lewis Thomas because it is not necessary to use machines in order to detect if someone is lying. We are genetically designed to show up if we are lying. That is why once we lie, in one way or another, our body discloses that we are hiding something. I complete agree when he says that “Truths is a fundamental requirement for our kind of existence.” Due to the fact that we live in society, we need each others, so if we do not truths each other the society does not function. In addition, although we lie, our behavior contradicts our words. Consequently, it is not necessary a machine to see if you are lying, yourself always discloses you.

Why We Crave Horror Movies

Stephen King is credited with reviving the genre of horror fiction. In his essay, he explains the reasons for people like to see horror movies. I totally agree when he says that we all are mentally hill. Scary and gruesome scenes are unusual for us. For that reason, when we see something like that, we avoid looking at it, but then we pay attention to the scene. It happens if we see car accident or injured athletes. When he says that we are all insane and compare our reaction to Jack the Ripper or to someone that pick the noise in the buss, he implies that our society had set what is rational and irrational behavior. In conclusion, because our mind is deep and mysterious, what is gruesome for someone is enjoyable for others.

"A Chase" and "Salvation"

“A chase” is an essay written by Annie Dillard in which two boys enjoy playing in their neighborhood. “Salvation”, is an essay written by Langston Hughes in which he tells his own experience about god. After reading both histories “A Chase “and “salvation”, we realize how the authors remain in their lives those moments in which they were under pressure especially in their childhood. Unfortunately, both histories dislike in how happy or sad their finales are. In “A Chase” the history is funny because the kids enjoy throwing ice balls to the cars. The problem is that they never imagined themselves needing to run so far ahead of the driver, but it is also humorous. At the end of the race the man said “You stupid kids” and enjoyed catching them. In “Salvation” the author grew up dreaming about the day when he would meet God. Once in the church he was excited waiting for his moment with God, but it never happened. His moral support was Westley until he decided to run to the platform. Then, the author under pressure lied to the crowd and said Jesus had come. It was painful for him because he lied to his aunt and changed his paradigm about God. Both histories had an important effect in the author’s life. In conclusion, maybe the most important thing that Annie Dillard learned was to face problems instead of running away from them, and Langston Hughes learned to be true his belief although he paid the price of being isolated.

Culture and The Way to Rainy Mountain

Momaday in this essay embodies the legends and songs of his Kiowa heritage. He leads us to the Rainy Mountain describing its hardest weather and the isolate aspect of the landscape. The story is interesting because the author use similes to pictures every moment and place. He goes through the story, traditions, myths and legend of his people. Also, he describes the Kiowas’ transformation from mountain people with unclassified language to fighters, hunters and priest of the sun when they decided to move to the plains. The bad side of the history is the grandmother’s death. Unfortunately, the author could not be at the grave but he has his best grandmother’s memories. He remembers her peculiar postures and praying in Kiowa. At the end, he felt the deep silence of the house without the grandmother and left her among ancestral names and the Kiowa Culture.

In defense of Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson was an American marine biologist and nature writer called the mother of the modern environmental movement. In her book “Silent Spring”, she blamed the relation between the pesticides use and the health of all living things including humans. She was not complete against the chemical insecticides use, but she insisted on use the insecticides in rational and correct manner. She disclosed how ignorant people manipulate potent chemicals and questioned why these chemicals were allowed to be used while ignoring their effect. Consequently, she was attacked by the Chemical Industry which categorized her thesis as absurd. In addition, she was blamed for the deaths of millions of malaria victims. On the other hand, her thesis was supported by other scientist. Then, her book encouraged presidents to investigate the safety of pesticides, and new laws were dictated in order to restrict chemicals use. I think her work was very important because due to the controversy, the scientist community, politics and the chemical industries give more importance to the way chemicals are used today.

Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts

In this essay, Bruce Cotton compares two great generals that brought the civil war its virtual finish. They were two strong different men which represented the strengths of two conflicting currents that, through them, had come into final collision. The author describes how similar and different Grant and Lee were in background, personality and aspirations. Lee was tidewater Virginian, who embodied the element and traditions of aristocratic ideas. On the other side, Grant was the son of the western frontier who embodied the shape of the man that grew up beyond the mountain. What is more, Lee stood for proper order of human society and social structure. Grant on the contrary, was a man who stood for democracy and not for forms and social patterns. In spite of their differences, they were similar strong men, and strong warrior whit the ability to think faster and run away faster from the enemy. I think that both were extraordinary men and they differences are due to the way they grew up. I recognize in both two important characteristics. They were important leaders and were so intelligent to signing the peace.

Message of "A Hanging" by George Orwell

“A Hanging” was inspired by Orwell’s experiences in Burma, a part of the British Empire in Asia. The story is about one Hindu prisoner who was condemned to be hanging. The history is ironic because we can see how common it became for people to kill others under determined situations. I freak out reading how tranquil the superintendent says to Francis “The man ought to have been dead by this time”. Aren’t you ready yet?” as if the man were an animal. The author describes how naturally the warders lead the prisoners to the gallows without resentment. Also, once the prisoner was executed, they laughed about him, drank together and put him a hundred years away. The epiphany occurs when the author realizes that the man about to die avoided his destination aside to the puddle, was as healthy and conscious as he was. In addition, we can feel it as a reader when the dog ran towards the prisoner expecting that something wrong was about to happen. In conclusion, as human beings we take irrevocable decisions that put us below animal levels, and ironically, although we realize that we are committing a mistake, we cannot do anything about this decision.