Open Letter to Cormac Mccarthy

Dear Mr. (Cormac) McCarthy,
I really liked your book. I felt a little lame for finishing it so fast, because it was assigned in school, but I must admit it was very hard to put down once I started it. It addresses many issues. Arguably the most overbearing issue is the apocalypse. I think it symbolizes what is happening to the world, and it is a realization that our lifestyles are unhealthy. It is frightening to think of a generation of people that will never see the sun, or animals, or civilization. I think it is a good thing you wrote this book, because it turned into a movie, and it makes this realization more public. Another issue the book addresses is love. As teens, we are getting to that age where we personally, or the people around us, are falling in love. By no fault of our own, we all know very little about love. We think it is ok to "love" our boyfriends or girlfriends no matter how wrong they are, or how unhappy we are. Somehow someone put into our minds that unconditional love between a man and a woman, or in our case a girl and a boy, is acceptable and it is not. This book has an appropriate setting for unconditional love. It is the love a man has for his son, and it is the most vivid and accurately depicted portrayal of unconditional love that I have ever read about. I thought this part of the book was very moving, and I'm glad i got a chance to read it.
Thanks Mr. (Ian/Cormac) McCarthy.

Victoria E. Thompson

Defend the Poet

I actually dislike the poem Dinosauria, We. It may be too far for me to say that I disagree with it, but I definitely don't like being exposed to such negativity, no matter how true it is or isn't. It may be right or wrong, but I am a believer of the saying "ignorance is bliss." In my own life, I have found that when a person knows too much, it is always devastating. If I am going to be told something that I don't want to hear, I would rather it be kept from me, because while it may enlighten me, it will also ruin my mood, and all I want is to be happy. That was my immediate reaction when I read this poem. However, I must admit that I am glad that I read it, and I think there are some more important people than I who need an opportunity to read it as well. The poem is brutally honest, and painfully graphic, and in some cases I think people will not take it seriously because it is so exaggerated. but it is hard to ignore the words in this poem. Charles Bukowski is right, for the most part. At the rate we're going, we will destroy the earth. Perhaps not while I'm alive, and maybe even after my kids have died, but if something doesn't change, my grandkids will be feeling the consequences of today's lifestyle.

A Direction This Class Needs

Granted I am a little late writing this blog, and I imagine if I had written it on time my thoughts on the matter would be a little different. But, better late than never.

Right now in class we are watching the movie about capitalism. I find it extremely interesting. I'm always interested in things that are going on globally, and things that could potentially make me money in terms of a career (said like a true American). Jobs are hard to find these days, and I want to study something in college that will be a booming business, so right now I'm very interested in the economy and the new world order and stuff like that, so naturally, watching a movie about capitalism and reading a book about globalization is right up my alley. If it were up to me, I wouldn't change the direction of this class at all. I find the class enjoyable and very informative. I think we have a good class in that we all have very different ideas and that we're all willing to participate. We have great class discussions. I don't know what's coming up next in class, but I think the direction we're moving in is fine. Any of my input is probably invaluable, because the only thing i know about philosophy is what i've been taught in this class, and I have no idea how to run a class.

So, in conclusion, i think whatever the direction the class is going in right now is perfectly fine. I am just hear to learn and be intrigued.