High School

If you could go back and do high school over again taking the courses the optimal way- would you do it?

No, I would not. Redoing high school (even if I could go back in time) would not be worth it because high school is not a particularly fun institution to be involved in. I would like to change my schedule choices- I'm not happy with my inability to enroll in more difficult class earlier- but even with that incentive to learn what I wanted, when I wanted, I would not do it again.

The social pressures and restrictions are too strong, I would rather move on and be able to get a fresh start. Also, I would hate to have to go through the time crunch that is high school when you take difficult classes and involve yourself in extra curriculars. I also hate the feeling that you are not actually accomplishing anything, that everything you do is meaningless and that somehow afterwards your actions will mean little or nothing. I want to move on and do something. High school again would be hell.

Thomas Freedman: Situational vs. Sustainable Morals

Thomas Freedman began his lecture by critiquing modern morals in comparison to the morals of the 'greatest' generation, by saying that their morals were sustainable and our morals were situational.

First I would note that no moral is completely sustainable- in sustaining anti-communistic values you end up with the red scare and the cold war, in sustaining pacifist values you end up being shoved around and out of rights. (unless you possess the genius and self-sacrifice of Gandhi, that is)

On the other hand, a situational moral is tough to define. It is not right to meddle militarily in the affairs of other countries, I would say, but at the same time it was entirely correct for the United States to become militarily involved in World War II in order to end the Nazi regime.

That said, it is clear that the 'greatest' generation did not possess sustainable morals. Their excess following World War II is the cause of our current economic and ecological situation, as consumerism was nurtured under the cold war presidents, especially in the fifties. The constant wars to push back communism had no positive effects on the nation's budget. The capitalist culture in the United States encouraged excess for profit, and here we are combating those values in order to make a better world. So really, are morals sustainable and situational, or do they defy those limited definitions?

Thomas Freedman: Studies Prohibit Studying

I was the only student from my grade to go and see Thomas Freedman, despite a widespread desire to see it because of both marching band and copious amounts of homework. These activities are of course participated in because if extra-curriculars and grades are not seen on college applications then students cannot get into prestigious schools. In effect, the curiosity and self-motivation of the student body is stifled as they work hard to get their check boxes checked and appear on paper to be the world-changing students that prestigious schools want to enlist.

This of course ends up not being the case, as by the time students have been accepted into these schools they have been torn down to mere shells of their true capabilities as learners, and are instead worker ants bent on getting the grade and earning money after college. For this reason our education system is flawed- true curiosity and learning are not rewarded and instead hard work and a loss of self determines who can come out on top and who must settle for a lesser school.

Students should be encouraged to study on their own, to explore their world, and to exhibit their curiosity, but cannot because they need the grades. Hence, only one senior went to see Thomas Freedman despite widespread interest.

Thomas Freedman: My Goals

After seeing Thomas Freedman my personal life goals changed almost dramatically. I had already intended on making a contribution to human technology and advancing civilization in some tangible way, before with my intentions to help invent true AI. Now though, I intend on finding a solution to the clean energy problem. Unlike Mr. Freedman however, I do not think that government is the fastest way to accomplish this goal. I agree that legislating a need for clean energy would in fact force clean energy on the country, I think that because of the political currents in the country this economic ecosystem cannot be created very quickly.

Therefore, I no longer plan on majoring in Computer Science but now plan on majoring in Math and Physics so that I can use this combination to help me either make the clean technology cheaper or to use my math degree to invest in the stock market, make money, and then devote this money to building hydroelectric facilities, allowing me to bid low for governmental energy contracts in the United States or anywhere around the world. Also, I hope to then make enough money from the energy business to build hydroelectric plants in Africa and Asia in

order to give their people a better chance to become educated and compete on the global market. This I find is connected with my desire to provide education opportunities to students in Vietnam.

Thomas Freedman: Petropolitics

I learned the term petropolitics- which refers to the ability of countries dependent on the production of oil for economic stability to control their people and affect human rights detrimentally.

The concept is, the higher the price of oil the less freedom there is in the countries that produce oil, and the lower the price of oil the more freedom there is because without the easy money supply of oil for the government and the upper class, the more everyone has to work and therefore the more everyone needs to be educated in order to contribute effectively to the GDP.

This education consequently leads to greater freedom as the people demand the rights they come to believe they deserve. As long as the price of oil remains high and the need for oil constant, the people living in those oil dependent economies will not be able to experience the freedoms due to all humanity.

Of course, the solution to the oil demand is clean energy. If clean energy is achieved then the demand for oil will be cut short and the governments of the oil dependent countries will have to provide their citizens with more freedoms, and the y will not be able to fund terrorist organizations as well as they could with oil putting an adequate supply of money in their pockets.

Thomas Freedman: Energy Poverty

In the course of his lecture Thomas Freedman brought up Africa and poor countries in Asia where energy is not readily available for use. He said that these countries were energy poor and that because of this they could not access the internet and the knowledge that this resource provides. Even more importantly, they cannot use electricity for a light source.

Because of this single disadvantage companies cannot compete in the global market because their production capability is too low compared to foreign companies that have the advantage of electrical energy, which enables them not only to work 'harder', but also to work longer. Students cannot keep up with the education standards in other countries because they cannot study once the sun is down, as they have no lights to read by. (many go to the airport to use the lights there) Moreover, they lack access to the internet as aforementioned, and so their ability to learn on their own or to learn a wider variety of knowledge than is offered by their meager textbook supply is greater reduced. This simple fact destroys Africa's ability to compete at all or to revive itself from the economic and political mess that it is in. However, providing Africa with energy would only increase the amount of emissions that the environment has to shoulder, and that is not okay, and again the solution is clean energy.

Thomas Freedman: Environment

I recently heard Thomas Freedman talk about the United States and climate change. I found his perspective on the environment to be interesting, as he talked about the next generations use of the environment instead of couching the argument in doomsday terms, at least at first. Then he went on to describe the effects of our emissions production on the globe. This was a reality changer when time was brought into perspective, and the realization was made that time had already been up for a while.

The next thing I found interesting was his argument for action on climate change. He compared himself to Dick Cheney in saying that if there were just a one in a million chance and that one in a million had catastrophic effects that preventative action needs to be taken, and so whether you believe in climate change or not, the chance that it could happen and have devastating implications for the world means that you should support legal action that is environmentally friendly and focused on creating clean, emissions free energy.

Volumes for Vietnam

Over the summer I read the book Leaving Microsoft to Change the World by John Wood at the recommendation of my good friend Brian Katona. The compelling story of an expatriate finding such intellectual poverty for children of poor heritage in Nepal that he left his lucrative position at the ironically named software giant to start a charity for building these children libraries so that they might have chances for a better future.

Wood's story inspired me to start my own fundraiser for his organization, Room to Read, because of the connection I had with his cause. I spent a lot of my time as a youthful lad reading and expanding my knowledge, and without this I would not be the person I am today or have the opportunities that I have today. Because of this great personal effect of books in my life, I decided to devote my time and effort to bringing these opportunities to other children around the world.

Hopefully my charitable contribution helps the next einstein achieve his dreams, or helps the next working man to find more joy in the life he was given.

Catholicism

Recently Mr. Wilcox made the statement that the pope has decreed that those people born catholic who changed their religious viewpoint have a special spot in hell all plotted out for them. However, I find it interesting that I do not find this to be my personal belief as a catholic, and in fact I do not agree with the pope being anything other than an administrator for the church.

Drawing a connection between my lack of focus on actual tenets of my organized religion, and the lack of focus on actual tenets of the Jewish religion by many Jews, I hypothesize that the older a religion is the more it becomes a cultural or racial quality and the less it is a religious entity. Both Judaism and Catholicism have been around a long time, with Judaism obviously lasting longer, but it is clear that the newer branches of Christianity find themselves more vehement about what they deem to be right for the world.

Ironically, the Islam faith is very old and yet contains many a radical. However, these radicals appear to be ignoring the tenets of their faith as they shun forgiveness and spend their time killing instead of loving their brethren on earth.

Is Money Indicative of Intelligence

I have read the phrase "If you're so smart, then why aren't you wealthier?" in stores many times before. I often have wondered about the veracity of the assumption behind the statement: that it takes intelligence to make money, and that intelligent people make money. I find that the axiom used is in fact lacking in truth, because many intellectual power houses do not go very far in the world of fiscal matters because they are so focused and passionate about answering questions, not filling their wallets.

For instance, many professors, inventors, scientists, artists, and authors of great import spent their entire lives in complete destitution, and yet they are hailed as some of the most intelligent people of all time. It seems to me that more important that intelligence in earning money is obsession- just as obsession is one of the most important factors for success in any area. If one does not focus on making money, then one will not make money, this is self-evident.

The real question is then whether it is intelligent to pine after money or not. Is it better to devote yourself to self-gratification and bodily comfort or to devote yourself to intellectual discovery, creation, or fulfillment? I would argue that in fact devoting ones life to the acquisition of value dictated by arbitrary bartering laws is in fact lacking in intelligence and instead bulging with the same satisfaction that any animal experiences when it knows that it is surviving and well-fed.

Rights

Recently the French president has been attempting to pass a law prohibiting Muslim females from wearing their face coverings because of the safety of the people. On the same note, he has executed plans to rid the country of its gypsies. Both of these things have been justified by him as a necessary action for the security of the people- of course not meaning the people, but his people.

I have been asked in French class to discuss my opinions on the subject and I have concluded that security is just an excuse that the government uses to take more rights from the individual, and that only tyranny comes from complete security. This one might trace back to the middle ages and before, when the governmental contract was based on the idea that the king protected his subjects, and in return they gave him all he desired. Governmental policy that restricts rights based on security is to me a distinct step backwards, and in fact security is just an excuse to grasp more power. When the government fails to fulfill its purpose, that is to protect the rights of the people, meaning in France liberty, equality, and fraternity, as it does when it protects the security of certain people, the government no longer deserves to be the government and should in fact be overthrown.

Of course when times are tolerable no one stands for principle, only comfort. It's when things become uncomfortable that real change occurs.

Priest

The priest who presides over my parish is retiring next week because he got cancer. Sad story, I know, but my curiosity leads me to ask: What happens to retired priests, what do they do? How is this affecting his faith?

My current hypothesis is that retired priests go somewhere warm and sit around all day watching masses being performed by their brethren living in the limelight. They drink a lot and they eat a lot and try their best to die as quickly as possible of natural causes, because they've been working hard their whole lives and now they want their reward. Give me Heaven, or give me McDonald's and a beer! They all shout together. Or perhaps they live on peacefully and enjoy simple human hobbies for the rest of their lives. Or they finally break under the pressure of moral expectations and embark on long journeys of debauchery.

Regardless of the particular poison my priest picks, I wonder how his illness is affecting his faith. For someone who spent their whole life ignoring God or doubting him or even hating him, their proximity to death might lead them to find new faith and use their illness as a way to turn a new leaf and have a positive impact on the world. For someone who spends their whole life serving the Lord and praising his works, for someone who put all their trust in this all-knowing all-powerful being that brought all of creation together from absolutely nothing (a true American, pulled himself up by his bootstraps, so to speak) there is nothing more to turn to. You've already given everything to God and suddenly you've reached the ultimate test of your faith. It must feel like punishment. So now what?

Family

My brother is in college right now, in his junior year of college to be exact, and if you ask any of my close friends you'll find that I tend to talk about him a lot. I look up to him, and I am not afraid to admit it. How could I not- he is my older brother, and that relationship is hard to avoid, admitted or not.

I've learned that he has gained fantastic taste in literature, film, and music since he went off to college, and I enjoy enjoying his recommendations. He recommended two books that I found irreplaceable- The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea and Neuromancer, he also introduced me to several artists including Baths, Phantronic, and Crystal Castles.

I have also learned that he has begun drinking and smoking. Of course the drinking I suppose is unavoidable as it is acceptable and event expected by society that college kids drink. I of course have a particular abhorrence for alcohol, but even more so I dislike the idea of tobacco usage. It seems stupid- the knowledge about its negative effects is widespread and readily available, so why make such a detrimental decision that affects not only you but also those around you?

Regardless of this, I seem to have forgiven my brother and I am willing to spent time with him despite his bad life choices. This leads me to believe that the tie of blood holds people together beyond moral disposition in many cases, and hence ignorant pride and more importantly, the capacity to forgive.

Religion

Religion has its place- to give society its moral perspectives, and to explain the unknown. The problem with religion is that it does more than just suggest morals and provide interesting nursery rhymes, it manifests itself with the carrot and the stick. In the case of Judeo-Christian religions, Heaven and Hell. It gives these motivation piece in order to 'encourage' those people who do not see the self-evidence in moral living. This of course leads to indoctrination and fanaticism, filling the world with people bent on avoiding the carrot and the stick by using their own carrots and sticks to motivate their fellow man. This of course, is the cause of all that is wrong with the world.

To break it down: religion steals rights, as it restricts individualism and curiosity by describing a checklist for the carrot and the stick. Religion twists politics, as it creates loyalties between members of a particular faith rather than loyalties to reason, humanity, and in an ironic twist, principles. Religion creates inequality, as its use of the carrot and the stick allows mankind's use of the carrot and the stick, which forces the reality upon the world that where some are rewarded, others are punished, and not everyone can win. Religion creates pride, which creates violence. Religion restricts curiosity, as it describes the way things are and allows no room for questioning, and as it moralizes on every part of life. Religion restricts life, as it starts wars, induces terrorist activity, encourages prejudice, and demolishes understanding.

Religion however, cannot be the root of all evil. It is human interpretation of the writings of other humans as the writings of God that creates religion's negative effects. It is in following the letter of the law that man finds his downfall, and in understanding the spirit of the law that he finds his salvation.

Commitment

Commitment means a lot to me. It means respect, accountability, dedication. It means responsibility, maturity, equanimity. I find it incredibly difficult for me to give things up once I've committed myself. I wonder often how I've come to this perspective, and land consistently on my parents choices.

When I was just a wee wipper snapper I signed up for baseball and hated every second of it, but my father always told me I couldn't quit until the season was over, because I had committed myself to the team. I was never allowed to stop doing anything unless I had well argued reasons. I could not quit anything because I no longer wanted to do it, or because I wanted instead to spend time with my friends.

This constant indoctrination, for lack of a better word, has made commitment a moralized obligation for me. When I commit, I am committed. There is no turning back, for better or worse, no matter how I feel, because when I commit, when I promise, I am defining myself based on how I apply myself to that promise. A commitment to me is more than just something I say I will do. It is something that I will do.

Working

The beginning of this year I spent working ,which opened my eyes to how much free time I really enjoyed before. I quit because I felt overwhelmed as was keenly aware of the long-term dates hanging over my head that I could not procrastinate on, even though I barely had time to keep my homework assignments together. Anyway, it really allowed me to see the difference between wants and needs, and how when it comes down to it what needs to be done needs to be done, and nothing else really matters (at the sacrifice of sanity).

While working and after quitting my work ethic was very good, and I got things done because I did not have time to be lolly gagging. I hope to apply this honed discipline to the rest of my life, such as my charitable ambitions, namely building a library in Vietnam through room to read. I feel that building that library is more a necessity for the future of those children than making spending money and cutting myself off from success in academics is for me. Needs versus wants- what they need outweighs what I want, and for that I need to work harder and more efficiently.

Health Care and Welfare

When considering Health Care and Welfare and their political situation, I find many things about this battle confounding. For one, the belief that people take advantage of the welfare and therefore welfare should not exist is one that is clearly flaws. Saying that because a minority take advantage of welfare and therefore it should not exist is akin to a teacher or coach seeing that one person did something wrong and so giving the entire class a Saturday school.

Next, I find it ironic that the Christian right most vehemently opposes both programs. Is it not a Christian tenet that one ought to be generous? One might argue that by making welfare and healthcare government providing you are forcing someone to be charitable, and this perhaps is not Christian as it forces someone to think a certain way. However, if the far right is okay with forcing Christian beliefs on others with abortion and gay marriage laws, then they should definitely be okay with forcing generosity and charity on the people.

La Haine

This past week we watched a movie in French class titled "La Haine" meaning the hate, literally. The film focused on conflict between les HLMs, or moderated housing units, like the projects in America, and the police, which of course represented the rest of society. The pretext of the film is that one young man from the projects is severely beaten by the police, and in retaliation the projects riot out of control, burning down schools and blowing up cars and assaulting police stations.

The film then focuses on three young men, one an African boxer who lost his gym in the riots and whose brother is in jail, another an Arab who wants his hair cut, and the last a Jew who thinks he has something to prove. All three sell drugs for a living. La Haine chronicles one day in their lives, the day after the riots take place.

By violent demonstration and dramatic symbolism, along with an allegory by an old man in a public lavatory, the film implies several things about violence. One of the obvious implications is that violence begets violence, which is in fact stated by Hubert, the African, at one point in the film. Another is that unless you let go of your pride you will never be saved. This comes from the allegory of the old man in the lavatory, who tells the story of a man attempting to get on a train in the Russian winter who had his pants down and would not let them fall in order to grasp the hand of his potential savior. Combining these two ideas, one must conclude that pride causes violence and death.

I thought this an interesting conclusion to arrive at, as a lot of media created by those coming from the lower socio-economic classes tend to emphasize pride and knowing where you are from, and the film points out that this mentality only restricts you from being saved.