Back To The Present

There is so much going on in the two readings for today.—so much, in fact, that I couldn’t decide on only one subject. Instead, I’m going to list a few areas which caught my attention and write briefly about each. 

1)      In Morrison’s reading, I was hoping to hear more about the time period this young man has awoken to. I can look at our society and government today and decide that things need to change. Therefore, I know that the time which this man came from needed a major change, and don’t really want a review of why. Instead, I want the major differences are now. We get some of that in a few of the chapters, but the longest chapter is mostly back-story. 

2)      While we’re on the subject of chapters, I must say that they were relatively short. But when it came to the chapters of history, they became so boring that they felt as if they lasted for the same amount of time that the protagonist was asleep! 

3)      Diction. It is clear that the language in which this was written was way off the mark. When Morris finally indicates that the protagonist has been dropped in the 2000s, I was confused as to the reason why they were speaking in such a manner. I soon had an “ahh-hah” moment when I realized that Morris could have only imagined people speaking in the same way they spoke when he wrote the book. Similarly, Bellamy’s manner of conducting the dialogue is also a bit outdated. It would be fun to see a version of these books in which the protagonist speaks in this outdated manner, while the other characters speak in whatever the authors would have imagined to be the change in vernacular.

4)      On page 79 in Bellamy’s text, he talks about the way the society decided to change. This makes me wonder whether our society will ever reach a point in which everyone supports a common approach/need for change. It seems impossible to think of a world that is so far beyond working successfully as a unit that, without violence, they unite with a shared goal.

5)      Both protagonists seem to find the most appalled—and sometimes judgmental—interviewees to speak with. When asking simple questions about the change in government or societal standards, the character will often exclaim things like, “in heaven’s name,” or, “no, no.” It makes me sympathize with our main character. How was he supposed to know?! He’s only trying to better understand the world he has woken up to—I feel like people should try and cut them some slack.

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Please Feed Them!

     PHEW! I knew I made the right decision in not becoming a Nun. Now I am certain that I would never have been able to follow the rules of the monastery. 

     Right off the bat, I’d like to start with a statement that I hope does not offend any of my classmates, for it is merely an opinion/question that I would like some explanation to: 

     I have never understood the concept of fearing a god. 

     When it comes to religion, I have always been under the impression that a god is a figure who is worshiped for the love he/she generously gives to all human beings. Throughout this “Rule of St. Benedict” reading, I have been wondering whether things would work better, if members of the monastery were not afraid. There are so many great concepts within this text, starting with the prologue. When the narrator is speaking of making it to heaven, he states, “we must run to it by good deeds/ or we shall never reach it.” I agree whole-heartedly with this piece of advice. It is the writing that follows, which makes me second-guess what has already been said.

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      Beginning in chapter 23, we start to get a glimpse of the consequences that follow rule-breakers. I have never given the act of punishment a thought when it came to monasteries. Before this reading, I assumed that there would not be a punishment for those who chose not to follow rules, or those who chose to leave the monastery. I assumed that the members and “bosses” of the school would follow the same rules that are given to us in chapter 4. For instance, rule number three states that you should not commit murder, yet, in chapter 28, we are told that an Abbess must kill a sister who continues to go against the monastery’s orders.

    What happened to rule number 30?: “To do no wrong to anyone, and to bear patiently wrongs done to oneself.” 

    OR rule number 32: “Not to curse those who curse us, but rather to bless them.” 

    Pardon me for my criticism, but this doesn’t seem fair! Or just! 

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   You see, I started this reading completely happy with sentences that tell us:

To help in trouble (Rule #18)

To become a stranger to the world’s ways (#20)

Not to forsake charity (#26) 

 

     Then, I read about the killing of sisters who disagreed with the way the monastery was being run, I heard about the starvation the brethren (etc.) endured whenever the Abbess felt it necessary, and the rules against speaking, even when you have something good to say. 

    This reading made me angry—very, very angry. 

    But I need to get to more important things before this blog is up. So, I must turn your attention to my biggest concern within the reading. A concern which I have alluded to in previous paragraphs. A concern which hearts my soulless ginger soul to consider—the lack of eating. 

    I don’t think I will ever understand the concept of fasting. Our bodies were meant to be fueled by food, and will only be damaged by the deprivation of this important energy source. 

    Yes, I could be bias. I am proud to admit that my entire day revolves around food. But even given that fact, I would not describe myself as over-indulgent (because if so, I would surely burn in hell. But also because I wouldn’t consider my diet to be gluttonous). 

     I know, I know, it’s not like the monastery was starving the children and the old. BUT THEY WERE STILL STARVING EVERYONE ELSE! 

     I’m going to have to be sure to pack snacks for Tuesday’s class, because I think I’ll need to emotionally eat my way through this upcoming discussion.

120 Minutes of Me

“What would you change in order to make the world a better place?”
 This blog question has been bothering me. When I originally answered it in class, I was afraid that my answer was too simple— too general. But after longer consideration, I’ve decided that general and simple is exactly the kind of change our society needs to make.
 What:
 More than anything, individuals in our society need to begin making a conscious effort to practice patience and kindness.
 Why:
 It is no longer surprising when fellow humans do not say hello to each other while passing on the sidewalk. People are no longer expected to share. And cellphones, computers,and tablets have become the new definition for “socializing.” Less and less humans are making an effort to directly interact with one another. Have we completely forgotten how nice it is to be complimented by a stranger? Have we decided to ignore the happiness that jumps into an otherwise miserable day, when we are able to laugh with a neighbor or find similarities with a person so unfamiliar? And why, oh why, have we stopped making time for nature and peaceful thinking?
 ***A lack in human interaction, leads to a lack in the acceptance of differences among individuals. We must find ways to understand ourselves. Once we can see the millions of qualities that make us who we are, we will then be able to see the qualities of others, and the beauty within those qualities—no matter how vastly they differ from our own.***
 How:
 Originally, I had the idea of requiring stress courses for individuals (starting at the age of 15). I soon realized that those stress courses wouldn’t be enough to take care of the issues. So, in addition to stress management courses, I have come up with a different system. Each and every day of the week, there will be a mandatory break. This break will require all working adults to stop what they are doing for two hours. Students will be taken out of school, and will not return to class until the two hours is up. This midday break will be from 12:00pm-2:00pm. It will be referred to as “120 Minutes of Me.”
 During the first hour of the break, people are required to be outside. No matter what type of weather, everyone must dress appropriately and find a way to enjoy the nature around them. No matter a person’s age, they are allowed to play, exercise, meditate, contemplate, or simply be in nature.
****The knowledge that nature offers to humans is insurmountable. The knowledge that humans are willing to accept from nature is unreasonably low. If people were to spend one hour every day surrounded by the very essence of life, we would become a society that is more aware of that life’s fragility.****
 During the second hour of break, individuals are required to create happiness. The only two rules: the second hour must be spent alone; doing something that makes you happy by yourself AND no technology is permitted.
There is not enough emphasis put on the importance of discovering our own happiness. It’s so easy to get lost in a life that depends on other people’s actions to make us smile or laugh. If more people were to practice self-created happiness, than our society would be more likely/willing to contribute to the happiness of others.
When more individuals are content with his/herself, our society will become a more patient and kind entity.