I just finished reading the very interesting article Hug a Hoodie: What the U.K. Teaches Us About Making a Sweatshirt a Symbol. The article talks about the shooting of Trayvon Martin, and how his hooded sweatshirt could have possibly been the cause of his death. The article discusses how the United Kingdom thinks of the hoodie as a symbol for a hoodlum, who is up to no good. Then it goes on to talking about how in America, people are using the hoodie now to show their hatred for racial profilers.
Throughout the article, the author doesn't really have a clear standpoint on the issue at hand. Although, at the end of the article he/she says that clothing may be a factor of racial profiling, but that's not really what it's about. In the beginning of the article, the author is supporting what America has done to show their perspective about racial profiling. People all across America have spoken out and showed their respect for Trayvon, and the author does express that this is a good thing, (thankfully). Then he/she talks about the U.K.'s opinions, but he/she doesn't say anything about their views on it, there's absolutely no bias.
I think it's absolutely ridiculous to blame an innocent young boy's death on a piece of outerwear. For anyone to say that he could've prevented his killing by not wearing the hoodie is absolutely ridiculous. The only way this death could have been prevented was if George Zimmerman decided not to racially profile. I really respect and appreciate that so many people are seeing this, and are doing whatever the can, and I just wish all law and government officials would see the same thing. I completely think Zimmerman should be put in jail. In one part of the article they talk about Geraldo Rivera telling latin and black families to not send their kids out with a hoodie on. I hate the fact that this is what someone might do to try to keep their child safe, is that really what the world has come to? However, I don't think this statement should've gotten so much hate. Yes, it is clearly a controversial quote, but he's just trying to tell people that if that's what you have to do to keep your kid safe, then do it. I think the whole occurrence is absolutely horrific, and I hope that people can come to their senses and put Zimmerman in jail.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Test Prep 1: Song Lyrics
I have just recently come across the song Moments, written by Ed Sheeran, performed by One Direction. This song is particularly sad, and when I love the song, but I would love to look deeper into the meaning and the lyrics. After studying the song, I think Ed Sheeran wrote this song to say that when one is in love nothing else matters, and they will utterly devote themselves to their relationship.
The song starts by saying, "Shut the door/ turn the light off/ I wanna be with you/ I wanna feel your love/ I wanna lay beside you/ I cannot hide this/ Even though I try." The songwriter is say that he can't go on with life, he can't keep living, because his love isn't there. He is saying that he loves her so much and he just wants to be with her. He also says that his trying to hide it is inevitable, and there's no way that he can cover up his feelings. In the chorus of the song, One Direction sings, "You know I'll be your life your voice your reason to be/ My love my heart is/ Breathing for this/ Moment in time/ I'll find the words to say/ Before you leave me today." This line shows that he will devote everything to be there for her, and will do absolutely anything for her to be happy and okay. This line also gives off a feeling of desperation because he is trying to find the right words to say so that she doesn't leave him. I think the way Sheeran writes this shows that he is dying for a way to get his love to stay with him. In the last part of the song, the lyrics read “Flashes left in my mind/ Going back to the time/ Playing games in the street.” Here, Sheeran is saying he misses the time when they had fun and everything was happy and well in the world. You can see how much he misses the wonderful times they shared.
Though this song is about a love between two partners in a relationship, the message doesn’t just pertain to that type of love. Whenever you love someone, whether it be your mom, your best friend, your pet, anyone, whenever you love someone, it is extremely hard to let go. If you’re so close to someone, and all of a sudden you lose them, it can be one of the hardest things one ever has to face. This song clearly shows an example of someone who is utterly in love with someone, and has to deal with the terrible heartbreak of them leaving. You don’t necessarily have to have been in a broken relationship to read this song. I think anyone who has ever loved someone can relate to this song. Overall, I love this song greatly, and I think it has a really strong message showcased in the lyrics.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Impossible Changes
I am currently in the middle of reading a wonderfully enticing book called Dear John, by Nicholas Sparks. The main character, John, made a huge turn around in life a few years ago. He used to be a rough and tumble type of guy. He smoked, drank, and never did his any work in high school. Then after a few years of throwing his life away, he makes a huge change and joins the army. John has made himself into a completely new person, and I think it's really fascinating how vast the difference is between his life before and his life now.
Just graduating high school, John barely passed and had no way of getting into a good college. He didn't care about grades, school, or training for a possible career. Every single night John would go to Leroy's, a local bar, and drink his feelings away. He used to smoke and do drugs with his buddies because he didn't care about anything. "During my senior year, my rebellion reached a high point..... I'd wanted those material things I lived 18 years without." All his life, John had never gotten what he wanted. He was always living in a dump, not doing anything fun, and not having a good father figure in his life. His dad has always been awkward and unsocial, and they were never close. All his life, John has always wanted more, and was never able to get it. Now that he was finally old enough to realize that he has been cheated his whole life, he's pissed. His tough childhood has definitely made him into an aggressive and mad person now.
3 years later, John's life has completely turned around. The book doesn't specify exactly when this day came, but all of sudden he had a wake up call. He realized he was throwing his life away, and he didn't want to do that anymore. With that, John decided to join the army. Now, 3 years since his senior days, he's a changed man. John is a slight drinker, doesn't smoke or do drugs. He still is not close with his father, yet they have an okay relationship. The two of them are able to have friendly conversation, and at least sleep in the same house, which wasn't too likely a long time ago. John and his dad haven't gotten in a fight in forever. He's a nice guy now, and he helps others. For example, Savannah says, "would the old you have jumped in the ocean and saved my purse?" John replies by saying, "No. I probably would have laughed." This completely shows the reader that he is a different person now. He doesn't do whatever he wants to now. He knows what's right and he knows what rules to follow. For the first time in years, John actually went on a real date. He claims he used to hook up with girls for a day and then drop them like flies, but not anymore. John met a girl named Savannah, who he really really likes. John treats her like a lady, and they do fun things together. They surf, eat, take walks, drive, go to parties, whereas before it was all about him picking up as many girls as he could. John is in such a good place with Savannah, and although they just met, I can see a love unfolding, which never would have been possible for John a few years ago.
In conclusion, John has picked up his act and turned his life around, and has become a great man. While he used to be a total rebellion who disobeyed the laws, and didn't care about anything, he's completely different. Now, John is a nice guy, who serves his country, and always does the right thing. John's life has made a complete 360˚ turn, and that's really inspiring. This book tells people that anyone can accomplish anything, and to not give up when the times are rough. I am interesting and excited to see how John evolves into an even finer young man throughout the rest of the book.
Just graduating high school, John barely passed and had no way of getting into a good college. He didn't care about grades, school, or training for a possible career. Every single night John would go to Leroy's, a local bar, and drink his feelings away. He used to smoke and do drugs with his buddies because he didn't care about anything. "During my senior year, my rebellion reached a high point..... I'd wanted those material things I lived 18 years without." All his life, John had never gotten what he wanted. He was always living in a dump, not doing anything fun, and not having a good father figure in his life. His dad has always been awkward and unsocial, and they were never close. All his life, John has always wanted more, and was never able to get it. Now that he was finally old enough to realize that he has been cheated his whole life, he's pissed. His tough childhood has definitely made him into an aggressive and mad person now.
3 years later, John's life has completely turned around. The book doesn't specify exactly when this day came, but all of sudden he had a wake up call. He realized he was throwing his life away, and he didn't want to do that anymore. With that, John decided to join the army. Now, 3 years since his senior days, he's a changed man. John is a slight drinker, doesn't smoke or do drugs. He still is not close with his father, yet they have an okay relationship. The two of them are able to have friendly conversation, and at least sleep in the same house, which wasn't too likely a long time ago. John and his dad haven't gotten in a fight in forever. He's a nice guy now, and he helps others. For example, Savannah says, "would the old you have jumped in the ocean and saved my purse?" John replies by saying, "No. I probably would have laughed." This completely shows the reader that he is a different person now. He doesn't do whatever he wants to now. He knows what's right and he knows what rules to follow. For the first time in years, John actually went on a real date. He claims he used to hook up with girls for a day and then drop them like flies, but not anymore. John met a girl named Savannah, who he really really likes. John treats her like a lady, and they do fun things together. They surf, eat, take walks, drive, go to parties, whereas before it was all about him picking up as many girls as he could. John is in such a good place with Savannah, and although they just met, I can see a love unfolding, which never would have been possible for John a few years ago.
In conclusion, John has picked up his act and turned his life around, and has become a great man. While he used to be a total rebellion who disobeyed the laws, and didn't care about anything, he's completely different. Now, John is a nice guy, who serves his country, and always does the right thing. John's life has made a complete 360˚ turn, and that's really inspiring. This book tells people that anyone can accomplish anything, and to not give up when the times are rough. I am interesting and excited to see how John evolves into an even finer young man throughout the rest of the book.
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