Cultural Diversity

I read a small personal stroy by Tanya Maria called Se Habla Espanol found here http://genius.com/Tanya-maria-barrientos-se-habla-espanol-annotated#note-4157724. I found the story very well written and easy to read. There wasn't a point were I had to re-read something. Her style of writing flowed and was to the point. 

I could not relate to her having lost her first culture but I do love to learn about other cultures and I have always tried to pick up other languages when given the chance. She touched on how America has changed and is becoming more tolerant of other cultures and I agree. I think a smart person should embrace other cultures and especially languages. Being able to speak multiple languages could never be a bag thing and I have never understood the resistance to Spanish especially when I was younger. I always heard “if you’re are going to live here learn to speak English”. I completely disagreed with these and always thought to view it as free Spanish lesions. When I was younger I worked jobs with Spanish speaking people and always annoyed them by attempting to speak to them in Spanish. It was learning and I know far more Spanish than an ignorant xenophobe.

I guess if I had an aversion to any culture or religion it would be one that imposed their belief on other or devalued the lives of others because they did not share the same belief. Perhaps a culture that thought they were owed because who they were, what rich or poor family they were born into, the color of their skin or religion they were part of.

                             Jacob Hollar

World Hunger

           I have just read a story by Peter Singer called "the Singer Solution to World Poverty". http://www.unc.edu/courses/2009spring/plcy/240/001/The_Solution_to_World_Poverty1.pdf. The stories is full of annoying hypothetical situations desgined to make the reader re-evaluate there morality. I find that the author tries to take a very complex problem and give it a simple answer; which reinforces my belief that the Educated (a professor in this case) are not always intelligent.

The story is about poverty and wealth allocation and this "problem" has bent wrestled with sense the beginning of recorded history. The reason why this issue hasn't been solved is not because there is not enough wealth or resources but who controls them and that the few that have wealth don't want to give it away. Most of the wealth is controlled by the few or as I have heard the term 1%.

Even if we could provide free energy and infinite food to everyone there would still be opposition to that. For the wealthy to remain wealthy, wealth has to say unbalanced. This is the reason are world still runs on oil. Think of all the power companies and oil companies that would shut down and all the jobs lost if he had free energy. You can't solve the problem of world hunger while we are still using "money" to allocate wealth. Man has to change what motivates them and honestly that wont change any time soon.

As far as the children used in this story I find it irritating that the author never puts blame where it is due. Where are the parents of these children. Where are the families which in my opinion is where many break downs happen. Local community and family support. I think it is each persons responsibility to deal with there own choices. To help or not to  help. Is it wrong to spend money to further your education? No. Is it wrong to work money to purchase comforts? No. I do think society has a responsibilty to the children who are in need but systems that are funded through taxation for this purpose are abused.

I think instinctivly people don't give in some cases because they know they can't solve the world hunger problem because humanity does not change. The world hunger problem exist because humanity through individual complacency says it does not mind that it exists. In the end as with everything else its about choice.                    
                                                                    Jacob Hollar

A short story review

Hello, I recently read a short story by Rick Bragg called "All Over but the Shoutin". It can be bought here http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-over-but-the-shoutin-rick-bragg/1100619483?ean=9780679774020.  I thought the story was bitter sweet and highlighted the authors troubled origins. Many emotions are presented, Regret, Pity, hatred and Love. The author successfully paints a visual image in the readers mind about the environment, culture, time and emotional conflict. 

Both characters resonate with me because I of personal experiences that I have had. The author who is telling the story through his eyes,  clearly torn between the reality and abuses from his past and the current pitiable state of his estranged father. The father oblivious to the pain he caused his loved ones.  The father also proabably knows he doesn’t have much time left. My mind goes to cerosis of the liver due to the mention of alcoholism and descriptions the fatherss physical appearance.

What I have taken most from this story is that all actions have consequenes. Learning to deal with difficult situations and choosing a coping method that does not harm others. The actions we take in this life really do echo down through time one person effecting the next in a chain reaction of life. Seeing time through this lens puts smaller issues in their place and puts important  consequential issues at the forefront of the mind where they belong.

                                                                        Jacob Hollar

Welcome

Welcome to this blog. I have created this blog for my confusing class. I hope you find it informative.