Response Essay 8: I Like...

Central Argument: We do not like some things more than other things because we actually like them more but, because we choose to think that way.

            Often, we are put in positions when we have to choose between two things. It can be between jewelry, drinks, food, or anything at all. When we finally pick what we prefer out of the two, the decision is usually based on what we like more. I will always choose KFC over McDonald’s. Do I make the decision because I like KFC more? Or is it because my friends say that it is a better place to eat. According to the article Why WE Like What We Like, Alva Noë believes that we do not like some things more than other things because we actually like them more but because we choose to think that way. I believe she is right because people base their decisions on what pop culture influences, and what people around them think of them.

            People’s decisions can be based on what they believe in, or what people make them believe. Today, in the world of technology and faster ways of communicating, pop culture’s influence has greatly increased. The things we see in magazines, the Internet, and on television easily influence us. Many people do not buy or do things because they like it. Instead, they do it because other people like it. This means that pressure from society plays a huge role in people’s decision making. Years ago, when hip-hop was the in thing, people used to walk around with baggy jeans, and t-shirts that were three sizes big. Nowadays, people wear jeans that are really tight, and the influence came from many different celebrities. There are some celebrities who do their own thing, and other celebrities copy that, and the trend spreads among the fans, and finally worldwide. Things like this spread fast and affect our decision making because when a lot of people like something, we think that we should like it to. People appeal to popularity, and that is why many trends originate from celebrities. People think, “If Justin Bieber thinks it is cool, then it probably is.” That is how it all starts.

            Like celebrities, the people around us can also affect our decisions in a big way. I changed my fashion a few years ago, because my cousins made fun of me too often. I did not have to, but I chose to do it. I was conscious of what the people around me thought of me, so I decided to change what I wore. As time passed, I grew into what I was wearing, and I actually liked it. I chose to make the change, and I chose to like it, but in reality it was other people who influenced my decisions.

            There can be a lot of reasons as to “Why We Like What We Like.” The main reasons usually come from what pop culture, and the people around us think or like. People can choose to do their own thing, but that usually makes them an outcast.

Response Essay 7: Know your manners...Please

Central Argument: “The importance of acknowledging appreciation expressed” and being respectful will not change.

Woodstock School is a home to many people, staff and students alike, including me. Woodstock is set in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, and the school is home to people from different parts of the world. This means that it is culturally diverse, and students usually mix with people from other cultures. As mentioned by Linton Weeks in Please Read This Story, Thank You, no matter how much society changes, “the importance of acknowledging appreciation expressed” and being respectful will not change. I believe this is true because etiquettes and manners are ways of showing respect, and we cannot allow them to be replaced with casual slangs.

            Since I was young, and I am sure this is true for many other people my age, my family always used to teach me basic manners. “Mom! May I have that chocolate?” would usually be answered with the words, “only if you say please.” Every time I forgot to use the “magic words,” I got “the stare” from my father, or a screaming from my aunt. I believe that I am the way I am today because of that kind of upbringing. I try to behave the best way I can at all times, and I also try to practice my manners in every situation. I was taught to be respectful all the time, and that is what I try to follow. There are many things that change with time, such as music, fashion, and language, but the importance of being respectful and practicing good manners does not change. Etiquettes and manners are means of expressing respect, and even though society goes through changes, respect is still respect.

            I believe I am right when I say respect is appreciable to everyone. Parents always teach their children to be respectful, and those lessons are good things to practice and grow up with. Showing respect is really not a hard thing, but sometimes as Woodstockers, we tend to forget what we have learned, and that is a really bad manner.

            As our generation is filled with new slangs, new words are used in place of the good old “magic words.” The introduction of slangs like “no probs,” and “sure thing,” seems to be very poor substitutes. They are very informal, and take the R-E-S, out of respect. It is ok to use these slangs with friends, but the old “magic words” should not be substituted when speaking with elders. In fact, they should be practiced even when speaking with friends. New slangs become so usual to the young crowd, and adopting them somewhat affect good manners. Even if society around us changes, we should not let it change our respect and acknowledgement of other people.

            Linton Weeks is right in saying that the importance of being respectful and acknowledging people will not change. No matter how much the world changes, we should keep practicing these two important aspects of living a good life, and we must encourage the people around us to do the same.

            

Response Essay 6: Cool

Central argument:  Being cool is a balance between “submission and subversion.”

From what I believe, a cool person is a person with a lot of “swag.” “Swag” is the new word in our generation, and someone who walks and talks in a “cool” way is considered a person with swag. According to Thorsten Botz-Bornstein, cool is a balance between “submission and subversion.” I believe that the meaning of cool is flexible, and the meaning changes in accordance with the people, and their generations.

            Bornstein talks about how the word “cool” is a “paradoxical fusion of submission and submersion.” The meaning of cool has its own flexibility, as mentioned in the article. The “Greek” had their own definition of “cool,” and so does modern society. This change in the meaning of the word does not only apply for “cool,” but many other words as well. Bornstein has his own definition, and it is completely different from what I think of the word. For the people in my generation, the word “cool” is just thrown around, and used to describe almost anything that impresses a person. Personally, I use the word cool anytime I can replace “good,” “excellent,” or anything close to those words. Whereas, if I used the word “cool” to describe something to my grandparents, they would not understand it because it only applies to our generation, and the older people who try to stay hip. The use of the word changes in many cases, and the other cases that affect the meaning of the word is with the people, and their generation.

            I only started using the word cool when I was around seven, or eight. That was the time when I started falling in love with hip-hop, and all the other famous aspects of pop culture. That was when I started thinking that using the word “cool” was cool. I was influenced by pop culture, and started to emulate how my idols spoke. I continue to do that and I have recently upgraded to the word “swag.” There are so many changes that happen over the years, and one of them is in language. Famous people often influence the changes in language, and people adopt them, and it quickly becomes a part of the way we normally speak. For example, Nigahiga and Chester See, who are YouTube stars, released a song called “Bromance.” The song not only captured a majority of the young people, but also influenced the use of the word “bromance.” Which is the kind of love shared between best friends. It is because of times like these that word “cool” cannot have a definite meaning.

            People are easily influenced by what is popular. Just this year I have learned many new words, and the new set of words just keep growing. I believe that it is not possible to give a particular definition to words that are influenced by pop culture because the meanings will keep changing with age, time, and the pop culture of different generations.

            

Response Essay 5: Surveillance

Central argument: Surveillance restrains people from doing the wrong things, but the reason they restrain themselves is for the wrong reason.

We are always put through tests in this world, and we are almost in constant pressure of making decisions. Being a teenager, I feel that it is even harder for us, because this is the time when we are trying to find out who we are, and where our moral beliefs stand. We have to experience things ourselves, so that we learn, and not just be carbon copies of other people. Emrys Westacott talks about how constant surveillance stunts our moral growth. Sure, surveillance helps people make the right choices, but the reason they base that decision on comes from fear, and not moral beliefs.

            There have been a lot of times when I have changed my decision because of someone else. When I make these decisions, it does not come from me, but from the fear of disappointing that person. I have not been in a place where I have been kept under constant surveillance, but I know that that is not the kind of place I would like to be in. When people are watched, they feel the pressure of doing the right thing because they know that they cannot get away with it. Surveillance makes people conscious, and acts a reminder of what they are doing. Surveillance decreases the rate of cheating, crime rates, etc. But, people follow the rules because they are afraid of the consequences they might face if they get caught. When you are under constant surveillance, your freedom is somewhat taken away from you; freedom of making personal decisions. Surveillance stops people from making the wrong decision, but it is fear that compels the person to do good, and not his own moral beliefs.

            Decisions between good and bad should be made from within the person. I believe in God, and I believe that he has given us the knowledge of good and evil for a reason. If surveillance automatically makes those right decisions for us, then there is no need of our conscience. It also stops us from developing our moral beliefs. I am merely a teenager, but I know that fear should not be the reason that compels a person to do good. People should do good things based on what they believe in, and a camera, or people watching you should not influence it. Parents should be able to trust their children’s ability of making decisions, and the children will only learn to make the right decisions if they experience the difficulty between choosing the right or wrong decisions.

            Surveillance works really great to stop people from doing the wrong things, and it is becoming more and more popular in the world. London is covered with cameras, and the whole city is under constant surveillance. Crime rates have reduced because people know that they are being watched, but at the same time, the citizens lose a lot of their privacy, and freedom. The act of doing something good should not be motivated by cameras, but by a personal consciousness of doing what is right. 

Response Essay 4: Live

Central Argument: Intelligence does not come from studies alone, but from a practical application of what you study, and first hand experience.

There have been a lot of times when I have found myself in a position, where I could give an answer without having had any prior training. This is what leads me to believe Sir Francis Bacons beliefs, about how experiencing things in life adds to your knowledge.

Many people who spend time on studies and nothing else are lost in the world, because they do not understand how to apply what they have learnt. I also know people who seem to waste time doing useless things, but instead end up successful. The point is they do things, and according to Sir Bacon, doing matters.

            Benjamin Franklin once said, “we are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.” There is a lot more to education than just studies. In fact, I believe that one can learn from any experience. We as human beings constantly grow, and do not stop learning till death. I believe that there is a reason to why older people are usually wiser, and the reason is experience. Like Franklin said, getting smarter is a natural thing. We are smart beings, and we usually learn from the past, or the mistakes we make. There are also people who get a perfect score in the SAT, by studying hard, but have no idea on how to survive in a university. A person can learn the physics involved in how to shoot a basketball all he wants, but he will never be good at it unless he practices. He will not know what to do, unless he fails and realizes how the ball actually moves.

             “Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them.” I learn more about how a cue ball travels, by playing pool rather than siting in a classroom and calculating the angle at which I should strike the ball. Studies are very important, but not as important as living. We cannot live without learning, and we cannot learn without living. I would not have understood Of Studies by Sir Francis Bacon, if I could not relate to the things that he is talking about. I could relate to his words because in time, I have learned that the things I have done in the past have helped me make better decisions, than the things that I have studied in the past.

 “Studies themselves, do give forth directions too much at large, except the be bounded in by experience.” Studying offers a lot of ways to do things, but things will never get done unless someone closes the book and actually tries to do what he has learnt. Through my experiences, I have learnt that practice does make perfect. People can choose not to study, but they will still be learning as long as they continue to do things; no matter how useless that thing might be.

Response Essay 3: Lifetime Investment

Central Argument: Being single is good when you are young and fit, but once age catches up, a partner can make your life all the more interesting.

            In Sir Francis Bacon’s Of Marriage and Single Life, He talks about the different ways a person can choose to live. One can get married and live a happy, or sad life. Also, one can remain single and live a sad, or happy life. Whatever a person chooses to do with his life is his decision. The outcome of happiness or sadness in life is affected by the relationships we share with people. I believe this is true because the experiences I have had in my life would not have been the same if it were with people I had no chemistry with. Being single has its good and bad points, so does marriage. I believe Sir Bacon is right when he says that a good married life is an investment for the future.

             “Certainly the best works, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried or childless men.” When you are single you have more time to yourself, and this means that you have more time to focus on what you do. A man can choose to do things without another person interfering with his decision, and he will not have to get his partner’s permission. People may not get married, “because they may be thought so much the richer.” A single person will not have to share his wealth with anyone, and that person can keep his fortunes to himself. Although being single is fun when a person is young and fit, everyone has to face old age at some point in time. That is when having a partner becomes very important. When you are old and weak, you will need someone who can take care of you.

It is true that a person has to sacrifice a lot of things to make room for marriage, but the sacrifices are worth it. Sir Bacon says marriage for “A young man not yet,” because a person’s youth is the time when, he or she, can enjoy life, and is able to do things without worry. Marriage is a commitment, and in my religion of Christianity, once a person commits to marriage, he or she, becomes one with the partner. That means that decisions have to be made on behalf of two souls, and not one. Yes, it is true, that you would not get to do as many things, compared to when you were single, but that is what your youth is for. Make the best of your youth, and do not commit to marriage until you are ready and mature enough to leave some things behind. Yes, it is true, that you have to share your wealth with your partner, but a happy life is more important than having a deep pocket.

 Sir Bacon is right in saying, “Wives are young men’s mistresses; companions for middle age; and old men’s nurses.” I believe that I would rather give up my time, money, and freedom of decision making, for someone who will love me and take care of me till the day I die.

Response Essay 2: Choices

Central argument—Women should be given full information on their unborn child, so that they can make a decision that is not altered by other people’s beliefs.

            I have never stood in the shoes of a parent, but from what I see, I do not think it is easy. I have made my mother feel all kinds of sadness, and I am truly sorry for the stupid things that I have done. Despite the stupid things, one day my mother is going to let me face the world alone. She is preparing for the world out there, and with God’s grace, I am healthy enough to face it. Emily Rapp’s Rick Santorum, Meet My Son, talks about how a woman was not given a choice, that would have saved a lot of suffering. Rapp gave birth to a child with a “degenerative disease.” Rapp believes that and abortion would have saved the child a lot of suffering. She would have chosen to tramp on values.

            The child, whose name is Ronan, is suffering from Tay-Sachs. He is blind, paralyzed, and there are times when he stops breathing. No mother deserves to see her child that way, and no child deserves that much suffering. In her article, Rapp’s says, “I would have had an abortion,” given the information that her child would have Tay-Sachs. She says that not because she does not want a defected child, but because she loves her child so much. If she had known that her child would start his life with so much difficulty, she would not have let it happen. Parents make choices for their children, until they learn how to make their own decisions responsibly. The only choice that Rapp’s wishes she could have made, was the one that would have “saved” her child.

            Rick Santorum, on the other hand, believes that abortion should not happen, as “all life is inherently valuable.” But, how can someone live without “relationships, thoughts, and pleasant physical experiences.” Between, Santorum and Rapp, it is a battle of values, and choices. In this matchup, Rapp has the advantage, as she experiences, and understands the situation first hand. It does not mean that she does not value her child’s life. The fact that Ronan physically exists, but not mentally, makes it pointless for him to go through the pain. All she wants to say is that, the moral things do not matter, when your child can hardly breathe.

            Personally, this article leaves me thinking, and somehow I cannot come to a conclusion. I always had a feeling that told me abortion was wrong, until I read this article. Rapp accepts Ronan as he is, but watching him breaks her heart. She knows that there is no doubt he will ever live normally, and she has prepared herself to say goodbye. Parents should be given full information on their unborn child, so that they do not have to watch their children suffer from the moment they are born.

            

Response Essay 1: Empowerment Boxes

Central argument—Televisions benefit the women in the rural areas of India, because they get empowered from what they watch.

Technology. What would I do without it? Actually, I would do a lot more if technology were not around. I remember having a lot of free time in my childhood. That was back when nobody had iPods, iPhones, and all the other iStuff. Nowadays, I cannot even sit with my friends for more than five minutes, before one of them whips out their iPod. Now, why am I saying all this? Oh yes. Televisions. Televisions, (especially in USA) take up a lot of people’s time, and they are used in an unhealthy way. In the rural areas of India, the story is not quite the same. Televisions actually give the women a sense of empowerment.

            According to Joel Wardfogel, the person who wrote the article TV Is Good For You, women in rural India learn a lot from their sets. Television for them is actually an “Empowerment box,” rather than an “Idiot box.” Wardfogel mentions that the women have to get permission for almost everything they do, so even if they watch TV, they would probably do it in a moderate amount. My mother always told me, “Too much of anything is not good.” Many people have become so used to four hours of TV a day, that they have even forgotten the health risks. The women in the rural areas watch a healthy amount, and that is why they gain from it. Society is still quite backward in the rural areas, so men often dominate the women. The women do not know their rights, so they take the ill treatment they are given, and do not complain about it.

            In the societies in the rural areas, men expect the women to “cook and clean and to have lots of babies.” This is a very outdated way of thinking. According to Wardfogel’s research, with the introduction of television, “Women’s attitudes changed quickly and substantially.” There a lot of shows that have great role models, and people tend to emulate their behavior.  In the case of some Indian shows, which show the women standing up to the men, the lesson could be beneficial from where the oppressed women stand.

            Technology is made to benefit us, and make life easier for us, but there are many ways that we have made technology a disadvantage. If some of the women do choose to stand up to their husbands, then it would not necessarily end up in a happy discussion. Although, Wardfogel’s point is that televisions empower the women in terms of knowledge, and their rights. He does not mean that they should argue, and start fights, but instead, he means that the women should not just sit back, and take random beatings. They should know that they are not just robots that are supposed to cook, clean, and make babies.