There are many meanings a song may have: the artist's intended meaning, the listener's perspective, or the "perhaps" unintended meaning. Here is one song to consider...U2's "One"
Is it getting better (is your time here on the rise?)
Or do you feel the same (or are you stagnant, not changing or evolving?)
Will it make it easier on you now (do you need help in some way?)
You got someone to blame (is there a finger to point towards others?)
You say...
One love (all we need)
One life (all we have)
When it's one need
In the night
One love
We get to share it
Leaves you baby if you
Don't care for it (if not nurtured and rekindled, LOVE will surely go away!)
Did I disappoint you (what could I have done better?)
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth (a tough experience?)
You act like you never had love (or is it too tough to admit you have?)
And you want me to go without (selfishness?)
Well it's...
Too late
Tonight
To drag the past out into the light (why hash over old things?)
We're one, but we're not the same (we are in this together, like or unlike)
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other (brotherly love, help fellow mankind)
One... (we are one people...worldwide, despite our obvious differences)
Have you come here for forgiveness (come or go to the source of your troubles)
Have you come to raise the dead (bring hope to those who have lost?)
Have you come here to play Jesus (is there any other messiah?)
To the lepers in your head (for all your ills and misgivings)
Did I ask too much (could it be love?)
More than a lot
You gave me nothing (something I never should have asked for?)
Now it's all I got (better to have loved, than to have not)
We're one
But we're not the same
Well we
Hurt each other
Then we do it again (even though we may find strife in our lives, love keeps coming back because of how important it is!)
You say
Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law (love, epecially for al lthe right reasons is why we exist!)
You ask me to enter (you say you love me, and want it in return)
But then you make me crawl (unrealistic expectations?)
And I can't be holding on
To what you got (I can only control what I do, not eanyone else)
When all you got is hurt (
One love
One blood
One life (we are ALL interconnected in some way, espcially in the eyes of God)
You got to do what you should (THE GOLDEN RULE!)
One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers (we are all...)
One life (the only one we need)
But we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other (Love your fellow man and woman, for eternity)
One...life
One (the only number!)
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
What is Prejudice?
Have you have ever faced a situation where you were denied access to an opportunity everyone else shares, or been wrongly accused of some act or action, all due to the fact you look or appear different from the majority? This situation, as wrong as it may be, occurs all too often in society today. Millions of individuals are prevented from reaching out and grasping the necessities of life; food, shelter, education and health care. Even in advanced countries like the United States, these violations of basic human rights occur. Please do not, however, confuse prejudice and bias with being held accountable for one's actions. If you choose to act out, inappropriately, illegally or immorally and you are consequented fairly for your misdeeds, it is NOT bias or prejudice, it is a NATURAL consequence for your actions. Those people who choose to live on the fringe or the outer reaches of society: the criminal, the thoughtless, the sinners with out repent, they are receiving what society has deemed appropriate and logical.
Prejudice remember then, treats individuals unfairly, illogically and immorally.
Prejudice remember then, treats individuals unfairly, illogically and immorally.
Monday, March 15, 2010
A Day No Pigs Would Die
Why would it have to come to this? Couldn't Rob learn these things and have his father around to act as a council or guide? Yet we see how a young man finally becomes what he must ultimately be, following the death of his father. The main character, Rob Peck, sees life in a new vision now; a new-found light is thrust upon him. He must be the man of the farm, something that his father prepared him well for. The events of the story most certainly fit the maturation process all of us must face, some sooner than others. Nonetheless, a step we all must take in moving from child to adult occurs over a long period of time or very rapidly, but either way, it is a necessary step.
Monday, November 16, 2009
A sample piece for you to enjoy
Bridge to Terabithia
In the case of Leslie Burke, her strength came from her ability to adapt to most any situation. Whether it was taking the challenge of running against the other boys in fifth grade, working with her father in the remodeling process of their home, or sympathizing with the mean school bully Janice Avery, Leslie was someone who both boys and girls could relate to. The novel, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, shows readers that strength comes from within a person, not from what others may think.
Jess Aarons, our main character, deals with the unique situation not often told through children’s literature, the story of best friends who are a boy and a girl. What makes this story unique is that a true affection builds between the characters, an almost “love like” interest brews as the two characters learn about themselves, along with the children and adults around them. While reading the story a sense of hope for a true boyfriend/girlfriend relationship kept coming to mind. While this story may have been about kids in 5th grade, it could have been written from the perspective of older teens. The situations that Jess and Leslie faced are very similar to those that high school age teens face: jealousy, competition and self-concept. Too often, we find stories where the main characters are the same gender. It is few the number of stories that mix the two genders, allowing boys and girls to be equals. Bridge to Terabithia brings many good qualities of both genders together few books today combine.
The qualities Leslie possesses are not unique to females today, or of the past. However, these admirable qualities; confidence, a strong opinion, athleticism, creativity, a caring attitude and having multi-talented abilities are not often written into stories involving 11 and 12 year old girls. Leslie is the kind of kid everyone would be a fool not to like. She seemed to know what to say and when to say it no matter the situation, even though Jess may have not have thought so in the beginning. Jess’s initial impression of Leslie could be described as guarded, but once he was beaten in a foot race, he knew what he had to do. Even though his desire to run ceases, his desire to know Leslie takes over.
Bridge to Terabithia takes the path of creating very real and interesting stories, making them come alive for the reader. Careful to not “pigeon-hole” gender specific roles on the characters, the author takes great strides to make this a believable story. Jess’s infatuation with his music teacher is a very real thing that young boys occasionally face. The ways which rivalries come to be within a school setting are something all youngsters face. The manipulation of school bullies, much like the ones Leslie and Jess face, is all too real. Teachers within the story seem very genuine, even though most have very limited roles. All except for Ms. Edwards, Jess’s, favorite. It is easy to see why she is his favorite, she cares about him and the progress he is making. Surely this caring is what teachers try to do, it is just that Jess sees her attention like “guitar strings strumming to a beat”. This is clearly shown by how the author describes Ms. Edwards appearance and behavior from Jess’s point of view. The competition and cooperation that Jess and Leslie have within the story helps to strengthen the bond between them. Even when Jess learns of Leslie’s death, we see Jess gaining strength in character. While initially saying he hated Leslie, one could tell Jess really missed her and felt guilty for not, in some way, preventing her death. The parental figures in the story are present, but their strengths are not truly revealed until late in the book. Jess is able to see things more clearly by talking with his dad, seeing how Leslie’s family felt about him, and working to become a “big brother” to his younger sibling, May Belle.
Bridge to Terabithia is a wonderful story due to its’ telling theme, vivid characters and highly descriptive language. All of these qualities help to make it a tale that younger readers should hear. The impact strong male and female characters can have on young readers can pave the way to open-mindedness and gender equal opinions, and at the same time, strengthening the self-concept of youngsters, something more children need to see in literature and develop in life.
In the case of Leslie Burke, her strength came from her ability to adapt to most any situation. Whether it was taking the challenge of running against the other boys in fifth grade, working with her father in the remodeling process of their home, or sympathizing with the mean school bully Janice Avery, Leslie was someone who both boys and girls could relate to. The novel, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, shows readers that strength comes from within a person, not from what others may think.
Jess Aarons, our main character, deals with the unique situation not often told through children’s literature, the story of best friends who are a boy and a girl. What makes this story unique is that a true affection builds between the characters, an almost “love like” interest brews as the two characters learn about themselves, along with the children and adults around them. While reading the story a sense of hope for a true boyfriend/girlfriend relationship kept coming to mind. While this story may have been about kids in 5th grade, it could have been written from the perspective of older teens. The situations that Jess and Leslie faced are very similar to those that high school age teens face: jealousy, competition and self-concept. Too often, we find stories where the main characters are the same gender. It is few the number of stories that mix the two genders, allowing boys and girls to be equals. Bridge to Terabithia brings many good qualities of both genders together few books today combine.
The qualities Leslie possesses are not unique to females today, or of the past. However, these admirable qualities; confidence, a strong opinion, athleticism, creativity, a caring attitude and having multi-talented abilities are not often written into stories involving 11 and 12 year old girls. Leslie is the kind of kid everyone would be a fool not to like. She seemed to know what to say and when to say it no matter the situation, even though Jess may have not have thought so in the beginning. Jess’s initial impression of Leslie could be described as guarded, but once he was beaten in a foot race, he knew what he had to do. Even though his desire to run ceases, his desire to know Leslie takes over.
Bridge to Terabithia takes the path of creating very real and interesting stories, making them come alive for the reader. Careful to not “pigeon-hole” gender specific roles on the characters, the author takes great strides to make this a believable story. Jess’s infatuation with his music teacher is a very real thing that young boys occasionally face. The ways which rivalries come to be within a school setting are something all youngsters face. The manipulation of school bullies, much like the ones Leslie and Jess face, is all too real. Teachers within the story seem very genuine, even though most have very limited roles. All except for Ms. Edwards, Jess’s, favorite. It is easy to see why she is his favorite, she cares about him and the progress he is making. Surely this caring is what teachers try to do, it is just that Jess sees her attention like “guitar strings strumming to a beat”. This is clearly shown by how the author describes Ms. Edwards appearance and behavior from Jess’s point of view. The competition and cooperation that Jess and Leslie have within the story helps to strengthen the bond between them. Even when Jess learns of Leslie’s death, we see Jess gaining strength in character. While initially saying he hated Leslie, one could tell Jess really missed her and felt guilty for not, in some way, preventing her death. The parental figures in the story are present, but their strengths are not truly revealed until late in the book. Jess is able to see things more clearly by talking with his dad, seeing how Leslie’s family felt about him, and working to become a “big brother” to his younger sibling, May Belle.
Bridge to Terabithia is a wonderful story due to its’ telling theme, vivid characters and highly descriptive language. All of these qualities help to make it a tale that younger readers should hear. The impact strong male and female characters can have on young readers can pave the way to open-mindedness and gender equal opinions, and at the same time, strengthening the self-concept of youngsters, something more children need to see in literature and develop in life.
In the beginning...
As a student in the langauge arts classes of Asa Clark Middle School, you will be part of a peer review program designed to allow you the opportunity to read, review and comment on student work. Enjoy your experience and good luck!
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