my scrabbles for essay #3, reflecting upon UnderArpaio

I do see the connections between "Under Arpaio" and "Lies My Teacher Told Me."

"We begin to get a handle on this question by noting that the teaching of history, more than any other discipline, is dominated by textbooks. And students are right: the books are boring. The stories that history textbooks tell are predictable; every problem has already been solved or is about to be solved. Textbooks exclude conflict or real suspense. They leave out anything that might reflect badly upon our national character. When they try for drama, they achieve only melodrama, because readers know that everything will turn out fine in the end... No wonder students lose interest." (Loewen 2/??)

it's human to retaliate and hurt, it's our primal instinct, to attack like in Sherman's Game; and contrarily it's 'heroic' to "rise above the dungeon of darkness" (King 206?) as King puts it when he asserts the magnitude of "the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood."

From Jamie Wilson's article about Sherman, I have come to connect about the deeper issues of Arpaio, as in his personhood, how he grew up and what his class/background has indeed shaped him to see doing his duty the way he's chosen to do. what mindsets does/has Arpaio have/had. 

and borrowing Jamie Wilson's "why Richard Sherman scares us" connecting Sherman "shattered the comfortable illusions(that what he saw before was an illusion...that the shadows which he formerly saw was truer than the objects which are now shown to him, 304) of his audience." The Latinos are a scapegoat for the ordinary American life's boredom, which the Ugly Tourist built on.

(maybe the ordinary Americans' comfort-seats, the taught-believed-place, being challenged by the immigrants, linked to Cave.

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/seahawks/2014/01/30/seahawks-why-richard-sherman-scares-us/

"that black males must know their place, and more tellingly, that their place is somewhere different than that of whites. It's been etched into our cultural fabric that to act as anything but a loud, yet harmless buffoon or an immensely powerful, yet humble servant is overstepping. It's uppity. It is, to use Knapp's word, petrifying." (http://deadspin.com/richard-sherman-and-the-plight-of-the-conquering-negro-1505060117)

I am thinking to link the American idea of a rightful place for a non-white to act, such as Sherman and the brown that's being hunted in Arpaio's case.
What was the family dynamic that he had as a child, relating to "A Plaque of Tics?" Was his father a hard working man, was he influential in the communities? What prompted Arpaio joined the US Army when he was 18? What was happening in USA at that time?


I also saw the connection with Battle Royal in Invisible Man.
The Observers of violence, the Whites
The Victims and The Executors of Violence, the Blacks

In MLK Jr's Letter, the complacency among certain Blacks, the White Moderates, the White Church... 

The stumbling block of another man's "stride towards freedom" (King210) being the ignorant US Media? and this Media connecting to the Advertisers in Kid Kustomers.

The connection between people that have strong ties in Gladwell's "Small Change" suggests to me where the silver lining of small triumphs of the movement for the Arpaio being deposed and MCSO being monitored.. 

also, where have we read of these, or have we not?
Depersonalized?
Individuality being taken away?


and now I can only imagine what connections there are from the text of Allegory of the Cave!!!
off to read some Socrates now :D




now here are some reflective glimpses when reading the Cave:

chained since childhood(303)
chained by_______?

forced into the presence of the sun(304)
what forced it?

It's a process..
like the movement in Arpaio, and King's

"Last of all he will be able to see the sun, and not mere reflections of him in the water, but he will see him in his own proper place, and not in another; and he will contemplate him as he is."(305)

??
why is there not this text in our reading?

It is the task of the enlightened not only to ascend to learning 
and to see the good but to be willing to descend again to those 
prisoners and to share their troubles and their honors, whether 
they are worth having or not. And this they must do, even 
with the prospect of death. 
They shall give of their help to one another wherever each 
class is able to help the community.

a Google chip in my brain?

Heck no! a chip in my brain? and a Google chip? no, no no no no!

I don't care how smart I would appear to be, or how I may snap some photos without my crush secretly, I do not want any chips in my brain, thanks but no thanks.

Well, unless I was like that lady who had not taken a sip of her coffee for 15 years, and that was the only way I could have my morning chai, well only then, maybe.

The potential benefits for a chip in our brains, if it is available for everyone on the face of the planet Earth, would be such as a greater equality for individuals and societies, and omission of all diseases and disabilities. The potential dangers for a chip in our brains, if it is not at all available for everyone on the face of the planet Earth, would then be such as a greater inequality for individuals and societies, and major brain-hacks and major privacy compromises.

Personally, I really love that science advances to help better life at large, like medical advances that save millions of lives otherwise impossible.

However, I am also timid and weary on how ethically questionable scientific advancement could get should it be only available to the rich of rich---which is not a skepticism but a very likely reality. Not only the big brand cooperates but also the government have us in their sharp claws and things could only get worse when it comes to how individuals are being profiled and wired and tapped and monitored.

I rather look stupid and not know all the things there are to know, but to live at peace and have my life not censored and examined by the hidden chips.

But I understand for those who need a new heart, a new arm, or even a life that can be preserved.. people that are in a dire situation and struggles to live... they would do whatever to live and stay alive.. if a chip is what it takes, it would be more than stupid to pass it by. so again I respect that and understand that, and actually I do support that, for I believe technology is to better life, but not to be used as a tool to manipulate anyone in the population.

I can only hope and pray to God and all gods that human conscience will rule and will keep the potential danger of manipulation such as bran hacks happen.

in the end, I rather live off on a farm and grow foods for myself and my family and my community at large, and not be able to text my friends by thinking it outloud in my head.

no I don't want any chips in my brain. Please leave me alone, Google chips.



the example of a woman moving a robotic arm by her thoughts for a sip of coffee:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogBX18maUiM

dissociative reasoning of the blahs

I don't know how to finish my draft, and it is Friday tomorrow. I am stuck in a jam called dissociative reasoning.

I was going to write down an epiphany here, since I can write anything for this week's blog entry. But, I am now too nervous to resonate with my epiphany. I might have to blah my nervous energy out before I can remember my epiphany. It just dawned on me that Epiphany can be and is a person to me. To some, they could call it holy spirit, to me sometimes I call it my donkey, or my Epiphany, or my heart's thought. 

Anyway,  the epiphany was so pretty, and sweet. I am going to write it down now; of course I can connect to my muse, my Epiphany at my own will, my heart's will. (i keep thinking back on my first blog entry, I voiced that I am a heart person, or something like that.)

We are taking our afternoon walk.  Spring is truly just around corner even though the winter chill still dreads. Daughter shares her Epiphany with me, and as I listen I hear my Epiphany weaves in with her voice.

All of a sudden, I am at peace of death and dying, because of what Daughter says. 
she is sharing a moment with a fallen branch because she feels that desire of connecting with something smaller. then she sees the pine needles, so she acknowledges the pine needles, right then she sees the insects, then she sees the ground, then the dirt...

I at the same time am trancing out with a state of mind that is new yet with a familiar sense of serenity and peace in my heart.  My heart mind is seeing the freeing truth for the, maybe, first time that dying is not a curse, death is not evil. In fact, it will be a laid back a-ha moment with life.. that what life is about.. is to finally, at last, abide on such a level of one-ness.. one with the smaller ones.. and still smaller... and still smaller, fainter, lighter, freer... to finally be one with the almost-nothing ness.. the ultimate basic of it all..

Cognitive data and all this fails me.. but the peace in my heart's mind resonates...and I am thankful.

that's my epiphany.

ok, but MLK's letter from Birmingham Jail.. I would need to not worry more.. I just will have to ask questions and learn to read it in King's text. That's the thing, I don't know his text that way, of course I can't try to interpret it.

I care so much about doing a good job though.  I want to be proud of myself at the end of the day, but I can also learn to kick back when it is time to just relax.. time to chat with daughter and hears her heart and mind. My daughter is the best gift, and sometimes I am too busy with myself I forget to enjoy her life as she lives it.

Tomorrow though, I am taking her out for some Indian food, and we will go for a walk at the Arboretum. We love that place. Wherever we can see trees and beauties alike, we are happy and have fun.

Yes, we will have fun tomorrow.
Thank God I have tomorrows to hope for.

by the way, if God is what I think God is.. then God does not need to be called God or whatever.
No one-word says it all.

cheers :)

Respond to Galdwell's 'Small Change: ..' by reflecting on the way I use social media in my life

As far as social media goes, I only use Facebook, I like it and am even addicted to it.  I update it almost every day, and I enjoy it most of time.

I started using Facebook in 2009 due to a trip I would take to go to Bulgaria and Turkey with people I hadn't met prior to the trip.  After that trip, using Facebook to share pictures for our journey was not only fun, but also very efficient for getting all the digital images located and filed.  That was my initial experience, posting and sharing pictures, and it is still one of the main things I do on Facebook.

I take walks around my city, especially when the sun is out, I simply cannot stay indoor no more. I have to go for a good walk, either around the Lake or in the wooded parks.  I love seeing the light hijacked the dark in the midst of the branches and the sunbeams show off the blinding splendor on the deep water.  I take pictures, and I post them, with a haiku sometimes, or a word of Jilly goof.

I am a visual learner, and find the visual posts helpful and inspiring for me.  I have some like minded friends that share stunning images that are either soothing or challenging for thoughts and inspiration.  The key feature of Facebook fits well with the way I communicate on social media, generally speaking.

Sometimes I hear people criticizing how phony Facebook friendship is, and I understand where that can come from.  I used to have more than 700 'friends' on my list, I don't even really talk to two thirds of them.  I eventually unfriended people (now that is a walk of no fear of man, indeed.), and still I can dread of keeping 160 some friends right now.  However, I do have some significant friendship kindled and cherished on line from Facebook.  Most of them are not in town, or in the state.  Furthermore, some friends are not even on the same Continent as I am.  I have friends met on Facebook that traveled to meet with me and others; I have friends whom I talk with on the phone either regularly or from time to time.  We share jokes, sorrows and even secrets.  It is not fair to just criticize Facebook friendship cross the board, just because it's primarily on line and not in person.  Of course, I wish I could connect with peeps in my city even better than I connect with some of my friends on Facebook.  But it is what it is.  Social media is just a tool, the motives and intention take things further and deeper if we want to cultivate them.

It has been a great tool for friends and family that live away to stay in contact, and to share encouragement, and even insights on life and philosophy.

However, I admit that I have not yet utilize the function of social media by large to look into things in greater scope, such as global issues, news and events that are outside of personal connection and relations.  I rely more on journalism media for news and global events.  I understand many people use social media differently and can have much different experience with it.

Since I started to go back to school, my world view has been expanding from my own little desk.  I expect to look into this broader aspect of social media and other related topics I have come to be aware of.  I am looking forward to reading more on social and cultural aspects of these things more as I learn on.  That said, going back to school has been one of the best things in my life.  I thoroughly encourage all to do it.  Take advantage of the resource at the local community colleges, get out of the comfort zone and take a class or two!! 

Respond to James W. Loewen's 'Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong'

Who, in the world, would ever want to grow up hearing his own birth stories, mom's and dad's and family stories that are not entirely true, but are more like myths?

Loewen was precisely making such a point in claiming the American history textbook's sculpting with fallacy a statue of the origin of USA in his analysis, 'Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong'.  The author drew a multitude of examples as evidence from extensive theses and historical studies established by historians and alike. Loewen explained in great details how textbook-dominant history education in high school has failed to its mission to present, credibly, American history, and to educate with integrity of truth to her own student citizens.  Loewen, actively, made his case to his readers expressed with many forms of reasoning, such as synthesis and cause and effect.  He used all three types of claims in this essay: claim of fact, claim of value and claim of policy.  The tone of his voice was rational and professional; he made both emotional and evocative appeals.  

Growing up in Taiwan, I was aware, even at a grade school age, that history textbooks didn't tell me all the truth there had ever been to be told.   The political atmosphere was of a constant and vivid tension between the government and certain people groups of Taiwan, mine included. I remember whenever my dad and his friends discussed politics and history, I always nervously kept a watch at the window, and hoped for no eavesdropping from next door. 

History was always an ugly sore in the rear, like a bag of unpopular hot, but not sweet, potatoes for me. I was always confused and frustrated.  My people, especially my dad, would tell me things of our past that totally contradicted to what the textbooks taught, and vice versa.

I was confused, not knowing what really was truth, or who was telling the truth. It was actually so bad that I secretly hated my dad for a while, thinking he was entirely responsible for my problems for studying and making sense of history.  But, my dad was right, the teachers did lie to me.  I was never taught truthful history in my history class.  

My ancestors voyaged to Taiwan, the Beautiful Island--Formosa as the Portugal declared, about 400 some years ago from mainland China.  Like many other east southern Chinese seeking a better life without severe oppression, such as heavy taxes and corrupted imperial rule, they sailed through the ferocious water of the Taiwan strait, and eventually planted their root in Taiwan, where they buried their sorrow in the past just as the meaning of the name, Taiwan, articulated and read in the Fu-jian Chinese dialect.  My family belongs to one strong people group in Taiwan, the Yams.  If you pick up any piece of yam, or sweet potato at a produce stand, you'll see it likely resembling the shape of Taiwan on your world map.  Oh, that is if you could see Taiwan on the map.  Yes, we are the children of Yams, those of us that identify ourselves as Taiwanese, while the ruling government strive to maintain a omni-Mainland Chinese portrait of the entire entity of the country. 

The Chinese government that came only at mid 20th century to Taiwan didn't want to address many many true historical facts and events, for example, the 228 Incident which was a taboo and without official and public acknowledgement for 5 long decades.  Needless to say, 228 Incident never made to print in history textbooks, and if it ever did, it was not of all truth there was to tell.  And there are countless examples of half truths told in textbooks in order to create propaganda and a false sense of patriotism among the citizens of the land. 

On the same note, I have no doubt my Taiwan aborigine friends could tell me similar stories about how the early Chinese immigrants, my ancestors and alike, robbed the natives and treated them unjustly without ever reading the true stories that happened in the history books, either.

Therefore, I related very well to what Loewen addresses in his essay. Even though I was not familiar with how history has been taught with the textbooks, I clearly see the resemblance that correlates with my own experience.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Taiwan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/228_Incident

Response to Eric Schlosser's Kid Kustomers

Precisely as the introduction of this reading suggested what to appreciate this essay about, I was able to identify Schlosser's brilliant ability of making a strong indictment without sounding harshly judgmental or polemical.  Schlosser indeed showcased his ability to lay out intensive facts and maintain his objective, therefore, trust worthy tone and voice throughout the entire essay.

The claim of facts insisted by the author throughout the entire reading provides a straightforward warrant where children of our society have been victims by the lustful greed of the advertising industry, and it's only gotten worse since the 1980s, 'the decade of the child consumer.'

The main claim that Schlosser made in this essay is Madison Avenue has sought after children, as young as age of two, their immature prey.  The advertising industry has invested and constructed their strategic schemes with arsenal aiming at the youngest of the country for not only childhood, but a life time consumerism.  Schlosser pointed out, "Hoping that nostalgic childhood memories of a brand will lead to a life time of purchases, companies now plan "cradle-to-grave" advertising strategies."  He continued, "They have come to believe what Ray Kroc and Walt Disney realized long ago -- a person's "brand loyalty" maybe begin as early as the age of two. Indeed, market research has found that children often recognized a brand logo before they can recognize their own name."  In essence, the advertising industry has and will continue to stalk our young citizens incessantly. Its seize will not cease, especially, as the Internet has become common and regularly used.

Madison Avenue inspects and surveys, purposefully, their young and impressionable audience, the children, their tastes, and their behaviors.  From their finding, they build and design commercials satiable for children even to affect their beliefs.  They plot and design, carefully, the characters of the commercial to speak directly to the children, the effect on children even shown in products that are not age appropriate such as cigarettes and beer.

The industry has been reckless in predating kid kustomers to feed their insatiable greed. They entice the children to whine and demand their guilty and pleasing parents, who spend less and less time from being with their children at home.

My Thoughts On Sherman's Controversy

My dad had himself a nickname, Black Palms.  He was a typical hard working blue-collar man, and his hands were always dirty from the grease and grime at his work.  He raised me to be thankful for what I had, and to be loyal to my family as he had modeled it for me.

Because of the love I had for my father, I grew up with compassion and respect for the working class, I always held high regards for the labor they had to put in for their jobs, the communities they served, and the families they raised. 

Children from working class families, inevitably, have a special spot in my heart.  They often face more challenges to stay safe, and to gain access for education and opportunity to succeed.  

This is the primary thing I have, as a person, to relate to Richard Sherman, the American football cornerback of Seahawks of the NFL in the event of the entire post-game interview controversy.

Even though I am never a big football fan, for I have not yet learned to understand how the game plays, I choose to rally and cheer for Sherman since the controversy of his post-game interview swept the social media spectrum when Seahawks won the game against the 49ers of SF on January 19, 2014. After reading and viewing articles and recorded interviews on Sherman, I have concluded he is a fellow man who works hard for what he wants out of life, and he is intelligent and of integrity. He, also, is black.

Sherman grew up in a highly troubled inner city neighborhood, where his father has worked as a garbage truck driver for the city of L.A for over 3 decades. Sherman has been an academic marvel throughout his youth in his community. He grew up among most peers that have rarely made it out of the ghetto, safe or well.  In fact, Sherman has earned a degree from Stanford with a BA degree, and is in the process of pursuing a MA degree while playing at NFL.

I respect him being a hard worker, academically, and also professionally as an athlete. I enjoyed viewing the link titled, Student of the Game, where I learned of some secrets to his success in his own word. He studies diligently to know other players and teams well. He analyzes and strategizes, intelligently, the games his team has to play and win. He is strong, he pays great attention to details of his subjects. That's why he is the best cornerback in the Game. I toast to anyone who works hard to pursue excellence.

Sherman also gives back to his communities. He encourages the inner city kids to work for a better life, schools, and dreams.  He advocates for growth, for changes, for better life and future and for excellence. He goes against the social expectation and stereotypical labeling, but perseveres to grow to be his own person, and have his stand. He advocates for all to thrive.

I respect Sherman.  Even when he is rowdy and loud, especially when he just played an epic game like he did on January 19, 2014 against 49ers of SF.

It seems to me any of these attributes are not enough unless he is soft/well spoken to be acceptable socially.  Sherman was not soft-spoken at all during the post-game interview, given the fact that the nature of the game was physically intense, hence the adrenaline level was rocket high to say the least.. to critique Sherman's character and the value he has as a person based on the act of that interview showed me the 'classiness' of those who blowing the whistles.

Sherman knows himself well, and he is his own biggest fan. He knows where he has come from, and what it has taken for him to get to where he is, and  will be. He is not timid to celebrate the brilliance that he's partaken to possess and to exhibit. And that alone upsets people who have no ability to appreciate a hard worker, a brilliant hard worker, a brilliant confident hard work, and sadly but truly, a brilliant confident black hard worker that is successful and will be successful for more games to come.

I tip my hat for Sherman and anyone that fights a good fight against social classes and cultural expectations to take their stands.