Problemize- The value of “Ethics” these days.

Tara Wilson

Prof. Deborde

Intro to Lit

Sept. 29, 2011

Reflective- “Ethics” by Linda Pastan

In the Poem “Ethics,” by Linda Pastan, Pastan first takes the reader back to a memory that took place in her ethics class while she was still in school.  Her teacher asked her every fall: “If there were a fire in the museum which would you save, a Rembrandt painting or an old women who hadn’t many years left anyhow?” This question made me think. It was questioning how I value life and art.  Deciding weather to save and old lady or to save an old famous painting that is probably worth a lot of money. If you were in this situation, what would be your first instantiate? Hopefully, it would be to save the old lady no mater how old she is. I believe that whatever your instinct would be in this situation, tells a lot about yourself and your ethics. What would be the ethical thing to do in this situation? Everyone, including myself, enjoys having money and valuable things but is someone’s death worth it? Even though the old lady was probably going to pass on very soon, would you consider their family, maybe her grandchildren? Would you think about the fact that maybe she wasn’t a believer yet and you could save her life?

The poem centers on the idea of ethics ,and moves the reader to examine their own concept of ethics. What I realized is, nobody can actually force somebody else to practice somebody else 's code of ethics. Everyone has a different view on whats ethical. Being ethical is also not the same as following the law. You may feel something is ethical and it may break the law.  People also view being ethical as  doing “whatever society accepts” which is also wrong.  I have been put in situations where I had to make an ethical decision weather it was looked upon on or not.  I have been put in many tough decisions were I had to make a morally ethical decision as a Christian. It was difficult, but you must be ethical.  

The Road Not Taken-Creative-photo

Tara Wilson

Deborde

Intro to Lit

Sept. 21, 2011

As I look at this photograph, I think of the many times I've been forced to make decisions in life. Each decision made in your journey of life affects your life in the long run. On an everyday basis us humans, have learned how to decide which choices are better, and what are the consequences of these choices. As the man stood in the woods, deciding, he decided to take the less traveled on path. The man in "The Road Not Taken" took a risk, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”  By the man in this poem taking the one less traveled by, he was making a decision to not follow the crowd. Sometimes being a leader and being the first to do the right thing is difficult.s A lot of times God puts a fork in your path, and he wants to see you obey him and lean on him when held up with decisions. As we all should know, God will never give you anything he doesn’t know you can’t handle, so trust in him and take the path less traveled. When decisions are throw our way, us being humans, stress out, we must always remember to have faith that there is a higher meaning to life and a spiritual destination worth working toward.

I’ve learned that life is never a straight path and that decisions are always having to be made between what path to take.  I’ve made many of good decisions and of course plenty of bad decisions. It’s always helpful to have friends that keep you accountable to your decisions in life. It is also awesome that we have a forgiving God that forgives us when we take the wrong path.  

Reflective

This week we read from A Raisin in the sun, by Lorraine Hanberry. In the reading, The Younger family continue to really struggle finically. Mama was to receive a Check in the mail any day now. With this check, Walter, the oldest male, had his own idea on where the money should be used. Walter believed all he needed was this cash from Mama’s check and he would be all set to follow through with his dream. Walter’s dream was to start and known his own Liquor store. Ruth and the rest of the family, understood what his desires were but didn’t think it was the best way to spend the big check coming in. The family felt there was a better way to benefit from the check. Just like anyone else would, Walter became quite frustrated that no one was supporting him. Although, I agree their most likely is a more realistic target to go after during this finical struggle, Walter seems very determined. I feel starting a business with this money would either teach him a lesson or it may be successful and they may benefit. If I was placed in the Younger family at that point in time, I would most likely not support his unrealistic goal.

       Chasing after unrealistic goals can be positive but also very negative. Even though, when you chase after unrealistic goals you teach yourself to never give up and work hard, but chasing can get tiring. Chasing after unrealistic goals can be quite a downfall. Sometimes you need to re-gather your thoughts and think things through. You may need to look at the big picture and realize if you set the bar to high, you may tire out because it was way to unreachable. A way I’ve avoided having unrealistic goals was to narrow down the dream. You should take baby steps towards the dream, while setting smaller realistic goals.

       I can personally relate to how Walter feels with no support system. Thankfully, I was blessed with an awesome family who supports anything I want to do, but can’t say the same about my friends from high school. I grew up in a public high school, being the only Christian out of all my friends. As many of you have already experienced, its difficult to stand alone in my faith.  I’ve been put through some of the hardest, most embarrassing, situations because I needed to be the light in the room.  I do believe having dreams and no support system may have been tough for Walter; hopefully he learns and realizes what is best for the family and not just for himself.

Problemize- Class discussion

Tara Wilson

Deborde

Intro to Lit

9-7-11

Death of a Salesman/Class discussion

In the reading this week, Willys real character shined through. Biff walked in on his father, Willy, committing adultery. She was most likely a prostitute that actually seemed to be real annoying. As Biff walked in she was hiding in the bathroom were Willy told her to stay while he answered the door. Biff was very upset but I feel he really wasn’t completely caught off guard because Willy has always lived in such an illusion. Willy has taught Biff an awful life lesson, to live a lie. Willy has failed to teach his son how to truly live life, but he has taught him that illusion is better then reality. Biff then never took responsibility for his lying, but he blamed on his role model father and also his feelings of being something he didn’t want be.  Biff was not interested in being what his father wanted him to be.  Willy didn’t really take care what his son wanted, Willy wanted the “American Dream” for Biff. The “American Dream” for Biff consisted of being successful in a business and working hard at it, Biff didn’t want it.

Another thing we discussed in class was about Willy’s car “accident.” Was it really an accident and was it really a suicidal attempt? And Why would he do such a thing of purpose?  He was on his way to a football game, seeming very thrilled and pumped for the game while he got into his car. Although I do feel if he knew he was going to attempt to kill himself it would have been very difficult to put on such an act, I feel it was a fake excitement and he was planning on attempting suicide that day. This suicide attempt could have been for multiply reasons. One reason I believe is because he just wasn’t happy with his life at that point in time. He was caught committing adultery, and he was just living in illusion, and everything was catching up to him. I also believe he may have wanted it to occur to help give his son money to reach the “American Dream” that willy is so passionate about for him. 

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