title change.

Propaganda [prop-uh-gan-duh] noun:information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.
Examples of such propaganda were clearly exhibited in President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address presented on January 25.  Obama used the word "invest" multiple times within his speech. Each time, he was listing out more and more things that the government (which isn't having the best time financially right now) should spend money on. Obama replaced "spend" with "invest" simply to deceive the viewers and audience into believing that what ever the money is being used for is not a waste and for the most part, will turn out to be a beneficial investment. You see? Obama states "...and in a few weeks, I will be sending a budget to Congress that helps us meet that goal.  We’ll invest in biomedical research, information technology, and especially clean energy technology...an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people." Obama continues to say that "Countries in Europe and Russia invest more in their roads and railways than we do.  China is building faster trains and newer airports.  Meanwhile, when our own engineers graded our nation’s infrastructure, they gave us a 'D'...We’ll put more Americans to work repairing crumbling roads and bridges.  We’ll make sure this is fully paid for, attract private investment, and pick projects based [on] what’s best for the economy, not politicians" IS this all completely necessary? Obama gives the impression that our country has a gazillion dollars laying around to "invest" and people probably believe it too. I personally have nothing against Barack Obama. I was just told to find an example of propaganda, right?

Alright, so in class for the past week we have been watching Beat Street. There are probably about 5 minutes left in the movie, but I expect that we are not going to go back to it. The movie covers the dancing styles of the train painting delinquents in New York. The movie reminds me of a lower budget version of the Step Up movies. They seem to have a same concept, but obviously the Step Up movies are much better. I do not mean to be "hating" on this movie but... honestly many of the dance scenes tend to drag on and on. When you think they are over, a kid turns around and does another flip for another 20 minutes. I make the movie sounds way worse than it is. It honestly was not that bad... really. I am not going to lie, the break dancing was pretty intense and the music decent. Oh and the head spinning was...wow.

Imagine a universe that is completely opposite from the one you are currently living in. In this universe, you are the absolute center. Everywhere you go, all cater to you and pay nothing but attention. You never have to worry about being ignored or feeling invisible. Everyone has their eyes on you. Sounds great huh? Most could only dream of this. But, this could only be a dream. Since, obviously it can't be possible to be recognized by everyone.To have everyone on the planet listening to you,or at least care to listen to you. To have everyone just give you some attention.
In chapter 1 of Black Boy, Richard finds himself unconsciously acting out. There is an instance were he goes to school for the first time and learns various "four-letter words." he doesn't quite comprehend what the words mean, but he still joyfully skips around the neighborhood still stopping to write them on every window. This kid clearly wanted attention. I know there were times especially when I was younger were I would learn things, and obnoxiously repeat them (or when it came to learning my ABC's, recite them) just so I could be congratulated and told how smart I am.
Earlier on in the Chapter, there was the fire incident. Richard just wanted to see some curtains burn right? Could this be a cry for attention? It could...it could. Richard might seem like the typical attention-craving youngster. However, this may have just been an accident. Richard may not have even had the intention of burning anything...but the curtains. He may have just wanted to see some fire. The incident does not have to be automatically connected to him being deprived of attention.
I know I for one like burning things, and I of course could careless if anyone is watching or giving me attention.

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life"
Thoreau experimentally spent two years at Walden Pond without the accompaniment of others. He was for the most part completely alone and was able to free himself from society. However, he was not far away from civilization and would occasionally talk to others. Thoreau's Walden is basically the written explanation for why exactly he went to the pond and what he did there. In the wilderness, Thoreau is able to focus on his surroundings and nature. He notices things most would be too distracted to notice and embraces it.

"The surface of the earth is soft and impressible by the feet of men; and so with the paths which the mind travels (p.219)" To me, this quote basically means that individuals follow the same "paths" as the others before them. That in society, the usual is to do as others have or that others want you to. Thoreau obviously found the need to separate himself from society and choose what "path" he wanted to take on his own without the influence of others.

Thoreau's attempt to isolate himself from the world is admirable. For some reason every time I read a book or watch a movie about someone isolating themselves, it makes me want to do the same. Honestly, I wouldn't mind spending a few years in an unmarked forest by myself. The serene solitude would be nice, but eventually I would get tired of it.

Ah, so if you are an individual living in the United States, you should know that all things will take a pause Monday next week. Why you ask? Simple, it's Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday. Actually, his birthday is technically on January 15, but is observed on Monday. For as long as I can remember, I have always gotten the 3rd Monday of January off. I recall back in kindergarten reading books about MLK and coloring him with Crayola crayons the Friday before the break. But, obviously at that time I just liked coloring and did not really understand the concept of Martin Luther King. As I grew older and the tradition continued, I slowly learned more and more about the civil rights activist. Honestly, since graduating Elementary school, I haven't done anything for Martin Luther King Day. It has gradually become just another day off. I like 3 day weekends and this day makes me happy. I take it and use it for myself and not exactly to celebrate the civil rights activist that is Martin Luther King Jr. I know I am not the only one. Don't get me wrong, what he did was great and all but, is it possible that we could have achieved the racial tolerance we have today without Martin Luther King? Is it necessary to have a day to celebrate someone just because he unwillingly died for the cause? Martin Luther was assassinated by someone who didn't exactly agree with him. It wasn't as if he was protesting or marching around doing something illegal and then shot by a police officer. Martin Luther King was great. But to this day, he just seems overrated. Again don't get me wrong. He did something great. But, honestly it's not like there's a Rosa Parks day. Judy Shepard Day (Gay Rights activist). Elizabeth Cady Stanton Day (women's suffrage/voting rights leader). The list can go on forever. But, why? Why don't we get a day off everyday for those who have made a difference. Simple. We have to go to school. 

These words  soon became an adopted greeting exchanged between oppressed Haitian women as basically a code for hope.
Danticat recalls her experience being born under Haiti's dictatorial Duvalier regime and later her immigration to the United States when she was four.
"I know women who, when the soldier came to their homes in Haiti, would tell their daughters to lie still and play dead. I once et a women whose sister was shot in her pregnant stomach because she was wearing a t-shirt with an 'anti-military image'. I know a mother who was arrested and beaten for working with a pro-democracy group. Her body remains laced with scars where the soldiers put out their cigarettes on her flesh." This is insane. I can't even fathom to understand going through this. Tragedy is never good, but for some reason "the man" can chose what is important and what is not. While things like this, fly under the radar, unnoticed. On the news, I have never heard anything about Haiti... not until the Earthquake sometime last year, but Danticat wrote this in 1996.  Obviously, there are somethings more important than those segments on "New dog foods" and "Gas prices rise." Some things need to be said but are never heard. And if they are heard....they need a larger audience. I'm not trying to say that if they broadcasts more segments on Haiti, it would go 180 and become perfect. But, it's worth a try.