Post 28: Best Class Blogger

I think that the best blogger of this class was Andy Ferguson. I mean, you could notice just by reading the name of his blog site "The Late Night English Blog with Andy Ferguson" that it was going to be something catchy. He always completed the blog posts in much detail, in a timely manner, and his blogs were interesting to read - there was never a dull moment with him! In almost every blog post, he started out by saying "How's it going internet?" and then continued on with something humorous to get the readers attention, and he didn't just answer the blog post and sign off; he always made a joke out of it and made it sound like he was speaking right to you in conversation. This made his posts very enjoyable to read and they didn't bore me to death.

One of Andy's blog posts that really caught my attention was in Post 10, when he was critiquing others' articles in the class over their heroes (this particular one being about nurses), where he stated: "Two of the truest traits of epic heroes, classical or modern, fictional or non are that they fight to overcome gargantuan obstacles and furthermore that they fight for the collective good of mankind." This explanation by Andy was probably one of my favorites because they are very wise words about how nurses fall into the category of a hero, and he continued to explain how he never considered them to be one before. Andy is an amazing writer with great potential, and it seems like he has an even better personality that he shares through his blog posts, which is what makes him the best blogger...well in my opinion anyways! Great job, Andy!

Post 27: Something I'd Read Again

My favorite reading we were assigned this semester would have to be The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon. I decided to write my Doc2 over this particular reading because Shonagon's writing was beautiful and about her everyday life. Also, I learned that the meaning behind the work and the hiragana used was very interesting, after I completed my research over it. In one of the sections titled "Things That Have Lost Their Power”, she describes a woman who may try to leave her husband to make him chase after her, but “she cannot stay away forever, [so] she swallows her pride and returns” (Shōnagon 458) and through this section, she describes how women could be so sufficient to men and how they have no respect for themselves, and there is real beauty here because of the truth she speaks. All of her writing comes from moments she experiences personally, or that of which she sees or hears herself, so it makes this reading enjoyable and relatable. I really enjoyed this and completing my research and papers over it.

Post 26: Is Hamlet a Modern or Ancient Hero?

Hamlet was known to be kind, but cruel, smart, but alone, and was most importantly brave and known to be a hero because of his being called upon to kill his own uncle. In my opinion, I think that Hamlet is a modern hero because it is easier for us to relate to him and his problems, rather than an ancient hero and what he/she must face. Hamlet's problem could happen to anyone, whether it be centuries before or in today's society. His feelings, questionable acts, and his issues alone are all aspects by people in the modern day. When Hamlet says, "Listen to many, speak to a few" this can be considered advice today rather than in previous years, and his heroism and the things he says still can be advice and words of the wise to anyone today, which makes him more of a modern day hero in our  modern day world; along with the fact that Hamlet's work is still popular and well-known literature today, this is another supportive reasoning.

Post 25: A Character Most Like Hamlet

Out of all of the passages, stories and poems we have read so far this semester, I think that the one character that relates most to Hamlet would be Arjuna with his guide Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. In this story, Arjuna is led by Krishna to "fulfill his Kshatriya duty as a warrior and establish Dharma", so basically he is ordered to tend to a specific and important duty in order to win a battle; however, Arjuna is torn between what to do, and most of the Bhagavad Gita consists of conversation and debate between the two. Like Arjuna, Hamlet is also called upon to complete a task. "Haste me to know 't, that I, with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love, may sweep to my revenge", this is Hamlet's response after he is ordered to plot and perform revenge upon his uncle after all of the evil things he has created and done to Hamlet's family. In the stories, both Arjuna and Hamlet debate with another character over whether or not to do something; in the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna debates whether to battle with family or not, and in Hamlet, Hamlet debates whether or not he really wants to go through with revenging his uncle by killing him. Lastly, both Arjuna and Hamlet are both called upon to perform these duties, and if not completed, they both could be threatened with serious consequences.

Post 24: Utopia Compared to the US

Sir Thomas More's Utopia differs that of our country of the United States because Utopia is more of a peaceful society, with no class distinctions, little crime or immoral behavior, and little war, and the US, at one point, was very similar to this style. As centuries have passed, this has changed, where we have classes, crime and murder occurs almost anywhere, and we have been apart of major wars in Iraq and now Syria and are completely fighting ISIS. We do compare to Utopia, however, in the fact that we are one of the strongest and most superior nations in the world, and that is what Sir Thomas More believes of Utopia. We also compare in many different areas as well, which are important aspects to recognize.

“There are fifty-four cities in the island, all large and well built, the manners, customs, and laws of which are the same, and they are all contrived as near in the same manner as the ground on which they stand will allow" (324) and this is build of Utopia is very similar to the build of the US, because we have many states, that most all follow the same rules and well-built, strong, independent, and all under one government. The explantation from Utopia, "Every city sends three of their wisest senators once a year to Amaurot, to consult about their common concerns" (325) is like that of the US, due to the fact that each state has different members, including a senator, that meets with higher areas of the government and address different aspects, rules and even contradictions regarding different things going on in each state. Lastly, another way Utopia and the US compare is, when it is stated in Utopia, "Whenever they are engaged in war, which is the only occasion in which their treasure can be usefully employed, they make use of it themselves; in great extremities or sudden accidents they employ it in hiring foreign troops, whom they more willingly expose to danger than their own people..." (325) so the US is only engaged in war, like Utopia, when it is needed (most of the time anyways), and war has occurred after many long battles, but also on short notice and last minute decisions from our president. But, we also have ties with other countries/nations that are aligned with us and assist us in war, putting their own people at risk for our country, just like described in Utopia and how it actually worked in Sir Thomas More's country of Utopia. 

Post 23: Is President Trump a Good Leader According to Machiavelli?

Machiavelli's view of a good leader was much different from the standards of humanity during his time period, where he believed that the prince (leader) should be the sole authority that determines every aspect of the state and to serve the public policy with his best interest. Overall, Machiavelli's views of a good leader are mostly reasonable and compare to the standards we hold and expect of our own presidents, and other leaders of the country, government, communities, etc., so Machiavelli's ideas and expectations are reasonable. 

Machiavelli would view President Trump as a well-standing public leader because Trump complies fairly with Machiavelli's rules and beliefs of what a good leader should be like. When Machiavelli states: "Therefore, a prince who has a strong city, and had not made himself odious, will not be attacked, or if any one should attack he will only be driven off with disgrace..." (246) this complies with Trump and his actions with our current military because Machiavelli is basically saying that a leader's military should be commendable and strong, and whether it is or is not, this falls upon how other leaders, and also those whom you rule, will view you; a leader does not want to be viewed weak in Machiavelli's eyes, but instead "feared, and not hated." The military of the US happens to be the strongest in the world, and Trump has used that to his advantage to plant attacks upon those countries who think less of us and want us to become weak; however, Trump has made us strong and "feared" by fighting back and not letting enemies attack without us biting back. In my opinion, this is a good aspect of President Trump, because the US has been ran over and bullied for too long. 

The quote "...that is, whether a prince has such power that, in case of need, he can support himself with his own resources, or whether he has always need of the assistance of others" (246) from Machiavelli explains that a country should be abundant with resources and supplies and should be most independent with little help from other countries. Although the US is dependent upon resources from other countries, I think that the US isn't completely dependent on supplies from other areas, but we choose to align and trade with other countries to get the best and so we can receive alliances and more trademark, and vice versa for other countries as well. Trading with other countries keeps our country safe in the long run, and it isn't President Trump's fault that we are dependent upon resources from other places because all of this happened before his term began. 

However, another view of Machiavelli is, "...it is necessary wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong" (248) and this basically means that as a leader, one must admit to where they are wrong in order to prosper as a nation together. A president should be able to own up to his/her mistakes and apologize for them in order to gain the trust and respect from their people. President Trump does not do this, nor does he apologize for his faults, but the things he does wrong are not necessarily wrong for the country, but wrong socially, such as bashing others on social media. This does not affect the country in any way, but it does affect Trump's relationship with his people, and this is important to have strongly. This is one thing that Machiavelli would criticize Trump for, but it wouldn't be too threatening for a leader's role. 

Post 22: The Beauty in a Song

A song that is full of a beauty and is one of my favorites is "Holdin' Her" by Chris Janson. The song is based on the day his life changed when he met his wife. The lyrics are simply beautiful because in the beginning of the song he sings, "...I couldn't remember, who was lyin' next to me, or even how I got there" but explains how he spotted his future wife and sings, "she stole my heart, and I started walking down a new road" which is a beautiful change for his life because his life was not going into the right direction, but she changed that for him and made him the better man that he is today. In the chorus of the song, he sings:

When I'm holdin' her, 

It's like peace on earth

Where time stands still, 

Love's the only thing, 

Yeah, that I feel 

When she's in my arms, 

No matter where we are 

I feel right at home, 

When I'm holdin' her 

The chorus in this song is probably the best explanation of beauty because it explains how his wife makes him feel, and how she makes his world feel. He feels at peace and feels that nothing else in the world matters at that moment, except for her. The way he describes this feeling through the lyrics just proves to any listeners how strong his feelings are for her, and how amazing the love is between the two of them. In the second verse, he sings about how his first little girl was born and how his world completely changed when she was brought into it. He ties the lyrics he used to describe his meeting his wife with the feeling he had when he first laid eyes on his baby girl, and sings "I became a brand new man". The beauty in this lies not only within the love he shares with his wife, but also the love he shares for his children. He explains through his song that his life was completely changed and he became more humble and a better man because of his wife walking into his life at the perfect time, and also the creation of his baby girl. Through this song, you can tell that Chris Janson loves and cares about his family more than anything, and his love for them will only grow stronger, and there is nothing more beautiful than love.