Quotations

“Sole among nationalities, these States have assumed the task to put in forms of lasting power and practicality, on areas of amplitude rivaling the operations of the physical kosmos, the moral political speculations of ages, long, long deferr’d, the democratic republican principle, and the theory of development and perfection by voluntary standards, and self reliance.”

-Walt Whitman, Democratic Vistas

“Ever since the publication of Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America, the United States has played a central role in systematic studies of the links between democracy and civil society.”

-Robert Putnam, Bowling Alone

“Associations are formed to combat exclusively moral trouble: intemperance is fought in common.”

-Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America

Black Elk and Bin Laden

The Wasichus rejoiced today when they learned of the death of one from across the ocean in the east. They think it just to harm him, after he killed so many of their children. They are right to rejoice. When a Wasichu has killed many of our people, he should be killed as well. It is for our protection, so that after we perform the kill ritual, we may feel safe. They now feel safe, and are rejoicing in their own form of the kill ritual.

Note: I do not agree with what I believe Black Elk would say.

Words

Sorry I haven't posted at all this week - I have been swamped with work, and it hasn't been getting any better!
I thought I'd share a few of my thoughts left over from Friday's discussion.

As Liza said, many families can relax and gain closure in grief for their loved ones that were killed by Bin Laden. But sometimes I feel that maybe it wasn't really Bin Laden that killed them, but his voice. He persuaded men to commit suicide to carry out his ideas. His words moved men to kill thousands of innocents. His words told them that it was the right thing to do, because America was evil. It was his words.
Now his body is dead, yes, but in all of the people that he inspired to kill for the sake of what he believed to be a better world, his words still carry on.

This is why I do not feel relieved in his death - only more scared.

One Square Inch of Silence

Here's something I think is cool:

The One Square Inch of Silence is located in the Hoh Rain Forest in the Olympic National Park. Here, it is possible to sit and hear no sound made by mankind. It is located about a 2 hour hike from the nearest visitor center and marked with a red rock. One is surrounded by nature.
At this site, there is jar of quiet thoughts where visitors can read notes left behind from other visitors (or leave one of their own).

Someday, I want to visit the One Square Inch of Silence site. But in the meantime, I'd like to find one of my own. Certainly on the St. Olaf campus, there is nowhere you can go where you're not surrounded by the sounds of other people. I'm sure there are other places of the world that are as quiet as this one.
I dare you to find one too.

http://onesquareinch.org/

"Yellow Metal"

Just a quick thought -

While I read this book, it strikes me as kind of tragic that the "Wasichus" nearly destroyed an entire culture for something their supposed enemies found completely worthless. Gold.

Taking a Stand on "Black Elk Speaks"

I believe that Black Elk Speaks provides what was an almost forgotten voice in the history of the United States' expansion westward.

As we discussed in class today (and it's in one of the Prefaces), when Black Elk Speaks was redicovered by readers, it provided a starting place for many American Indians who had forgotten their culture. If its message fails to live up to the expectations of more modern readers like us (which it doesn't for me, at least), at least it helped an entire culture rediscover their roots.

November... in July?

Hello!

Well, since I couldn't really think of what I was blogging about this week... I thought I'd share with you one of my projects for the summer.

I've told you before about NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). In case you forgot, or you haven't read my entries since October, I'll remind you. NaNoWriMo is an event that takes places every November where writers all across the world (despite the fact that it's "National Novel...") sprint to achieve a 50,000 word novel.
The average daily goal is to write about 1,667 words a day. This translates to about 3 pages single spaced every day. That's a lot of writing. It seems daunting, but when you break it up every day into equal parts, it's actually not that bad. 50,000 words is more of a novella, rather than a full blown novel.
Don't get me wrong, it is a huge time commitment, and you'll probably lose a little sleep and some of your social life, but it's totally worth it.

Anyway, most people think it's crazy, and I'll tell you why.
When I try to convince people to take on this challenge with me, they tell me that they've always loved the idea of writing a book. A lot of the time, they've even tried. But they tell me that they can never get past the first few chapters or so. They tell me that they can't imagine writing so many words in so little time, because their novel would be terrible.
That's exactly what NaNoWriMo is about.
It's about bad novels.
That sounds confusing, but let me share with you part of an explanation from the "What Is NaNoWriMo" page on their website:

"Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that's a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and editing and just create. To build without tearing down."

NaNoWriMo is about teaching yourself to accept the mistakes you make. Once you do, and you plow through your rough draft, you've accomplished the hardest part of writing your book. Once you have your rough draft, you have something to work with. You have some idea of what happens when, what could be said, what needs to happen before that one plot twist can happen, and (hopefully) at least some work worth salvaging.
Or it's a great endurance exercise.
This is why I love it.

November 2010 was my third year participating in NaNoWriMo, and my second year completing the challenge. This year, I did it in 13 days. Yeah - kinda crazy. My original goal was to write 100,000 words (two 50,000 word novels), but when Christmasfest rehearsal started, I didn't have time to complete the second one.
13 days, though, is still impressive.

So here's my challenge to you:
I'm going to do my own special informal NaNoWriMo in July. I dare you to do it with me.
A lot of people claim to be too busy in November to write a novel then, and that's a valid excuse. But in July, there's no schoolwork, so you have no excuse.

Writing begins at midnight, July 1st.
Be there.

On Civil Disobedience

When reading Civil Disobedience, I am reminded very much of the Conserve School.

If I haven't already told you about it, my high school has had an interesting history, despite only being about ten years old.

On January 30, 2009, halfway through my sophomore year, the headmaster and two trustees of the Conserve School announced that after the completion of that year, the four year program would be eliminated, and would be replaced by a semester program.
Essentially, once that year was done, the school would become a semester away program, a get-away retreat, summer camp in the winter, for one semester of students in their junior year.
They told the staff about 15 minutes before the student body, telling them only that over half of them would lose their jobs... but they left them to fret over who. The seniors would finish that year as planned. The juniors were invited to participate in their "transition" year, along with a few sophomores (myself included) depending on space. The freshman were told, "Sorry, but there's nothing left for you here."

Needless to say, we were not pleased.

At least I was one of the lucky ones. I came back for the "transition" year (it was hellish). I got to complete my entire high school career (though a year short) at The Conserve School.

The Conserve School, to all of us, was more than just a school - it was a home. It was a place where each individual belonged to a very special family. Even at our largest enrollment of 150, we were still an extremely small, tight-knit community - students and staff.
But I'll try not to get all sentimental. I tend to do that when talking about this.

After this was announced, the entire campus became involved in acts of civil disobedience. We wrote letters to the trustees, begging for answers (we received few), a little more on their part (such as letting those students already attending to finish up their four years... no such luck), and understanding.
Our parents bonded together and formed a lawsuit against the Conserve School Corporation, trying to pry control from the trustees that already had conflicted interest in their business decisions. (Conveniently enough, they were also the Board of Directors for Central Steel and Wire, of which The Conserve School Corporation holds more than half the stock)
We wore shirts that said "Preserve Conserve", with the five values of the school listed on the back. They are as follows: Honesty, Justice, Respect, Responsibility, and Compassion. No matter how angry or upset we became, we literally wore these values on our backs as we tried to resist this decision.

I am reminded of my physics teacher's speech at graduation that year. He was one of my favorite teachers, despite the fact that physics game me so much difficulty. He was one of the founding members of The Conserve School. He was also one of the many that were let go with this decision.
The following is an excerpt from his speech:

"If you walk around the LAB and look in the classrooms you will see some familiar portraits on the walls. Gandhi, Thoreau, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela. We teach about these guys, but in addition, we venerate them. Interestingly, they were all criminals- that is, they all broke the law and they all went to jail for their crimes. Each of these men decided there was an ethical problem with the law, and they decided that when ethics and law conflict, it is imperative that one be guided by the principles of ethics rather than by law. Thoreau thought it unjust that his taxes supported war, Mandela fought government mandated apartheid in South Africa, Gandhi fought against both unjust taxation and discrimination, and King fought an Apartheid-like system supported by federal and state law right here in the US. These four men all decided that it is ethically justifiable and honorable to break the law in order to uphold ethical principles."

*If you want to read the whole speech, comment. I'll post it if you want.

Is Thoreau Afraid of People?

I don't know...
Maybe the reason he didn't get more involved in activism is because afraid of communication with people. After all, he isolated himself from the rest of the world for two years when he wrote Walden (though he did eat dinner frequently with his Emerson).
Henry David Thoreau barely left Concord. He went to college at Harvard, but then returned to Concord for most of the rest of his life.
He turned down the only marriage proposal that ever came his way.

Maybe he's an isolationist because he's really bad at communication with people.

My Walden

If I could live like Thoreau did while he wrote Walden, my Walden Pond experience would be a little different. Well, first, I wouldn't visit my teacher for dinner every week, like Thoreau did (Kinda cheating, don't you think?). My home would not be valued for the structure itself, but the world around it.

My Walden would probably my somewhere on my high school's (Conserve School in Northern Wisconsin) campus.
Any by somewhere, I mean, my favorite spot.


<-----This is my favorite tree. Ever. It reminds me of a story. Well, actually, the first novel I ever tried to write (which ended up a terrible failure, by the way). I could see my character sitting right there, reading. Anyway, the first time I saw this tree, I stopped, and someone on the path behind me ran into me.
Over the course of my three years at Conserve School, I came to this tree many time to sit at the base and write.

When we left Conserve, every senior (and the Juniors in my year, because of special circumstances) received a rock to place anywhere on campus. On it was engraved our name, graduation year, and one word of our choosing. I'll let you wonder what word I chose. I never got a picture of my rock, but I do have a friend there this year who is on a mission to get a picture for me within the week. I'll probably post a picture of that too.
I'm being all nostalgic.

I'll leave you with one more picture of my tree before I go see the Manitou Concert. It's the crooked one in the middle ground of the photo, about 10 feet right of the path.

Things I Noticed...

When I read Emerson's "Nature" last week, I noticed a few things that were mentioned a fair amount.

God.
He doesn't seem to ever stop talking about God. God created Nature. God created us. God is fantastic. God God God.
"Spirit is the Creator. Spirit hath life in itself. And man in all ages and countries, embodies it in his language as the FATHER."

Humanity.
In relation to God, mostly. But also that because humanity is everywhere, there is humanity in Nature. Which I do not agree with. I think nature is nature, and should not be disturbed by humanity. Once it is, it's not nature anymore. But that's just me.
"Nature is so pervaded with human life, that there is something of humanity in all, and every particular."

It seems to me that he focuses a lot on the things that aren't nature, like humanity and God. He tends to stray away from the intended topic. But that's just what I think.
I did like the section where he talked about Shakespeare (but that's 'cause I really like Shakespeare).

I will share my favorite quotation from the reading, which was towards the beginning:
"Nature always wears the colors of the spirit."
Either that, or this one:
"We are like travellers using the cinders of a volcano to roast their eggs."

Quotes and Trees

I like quotes, and I like trees.
Since I'm already getting ahead on reading Emerson's essay, "Nature" for Friday, I thought now would be a good time to share a bunch of quotes that I've collected about nature that make me smile.
Then I'm going to go outside and finish tomorrows reading.

"Most persons do not see the sun. At least, they have a very superficial seeing. The sun illuminates only the eye of them an, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nature

"Nature always wears the colors of the spirit."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nature

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life[.]"
-Henry David Thoreau, Walden

"The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, / But I have promises to keep, / And miles to go before I sleep, / And miles to go before I sleep."
-Robert Frost, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

"And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything."
-William Shakespeare, As You Like It

"'It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,' he used to say. 'You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to."
-J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

"It'll be spring soon. And the orchards will be in blossom. And the birds will be nesting in the hazel thicket. And they'll be sowing the summer barley in the lower fields... and eating the first of strawberries with cream. Do you remember the taste of strawberries?"
-J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."
-William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressidea

"I believe that a leaf of grass is no less than the journey work of the stars."
-Walt Whitman

"With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?"
-Oscar Wilde

"After you have exhausted what there is in business, politics, conviviality, and so one - have found that none of these finally satisfy, or permanently wear - what remains? Nature remains."
-Walt Whitman

"Rivers belong where they can ramble / Eagles belong where they can fly / I've got to be where my spirit can run free / Gotta find my corner of the sky!"
-Stephen Schwartz, Pippin

"A light wind swept over the corn, and all nature laughed in the sunshine."
-Anne Brontë

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
-Oscar Wilde

"Have been unavoidably detained by the world. Expect us when you see us."
-Neil Gaiman, Stardust

What Makes for Good Conversation?

I think the most important quality in good conversation is excitement. If you're not excited about what you're talking about, obviously, you're not going to want to contribute to its converstaion. I would want to be caught in a conversation about physics - it's boring, and I don't understand it at all (Not for lack of trying, though! I used to want to be a meteorologist... until I took physics).
That's part of why I like AmCon. Obviously, we all chose to partake in this conversation because we were all excited about it.

Another important aspect that we mentioned in class is preparation.
I have to admit, I wasn't entirely prepared for class discussion yesterday. Some days, I just don't have time to do every reading closely. I had a Greek quiz at 8am that morning (not the best way to start out a week...), and spent most of Sunday studying for it. I wasn't able to do any more than skim the readings and was therefore ill-prepared.
I'm really sorry about that.

Another thing I think is important is to be arguing for the correct point of view.
Clara mentioned yesterday how it was actually helpful for her to try and argue for the opposite of what she believed, as it helped her to understand both sides better. I respect that. However, I find it rather difficult for me to do so.
My favorite discussion set up that we've had in AmCon was towards the beginning of the semester (I think I blogged about it), when we had the fishbowl discussion where we chose one point or the other to argue.

Those are my thoughts on discussion.

The Dead Poet's Society

So, I'm kind of blogging about the same thing twice, but I absolutely love this movie. You should watch it if you haven't.

I can't find a clip of it on youtube, but there is a scene where they quote Thoreau, which is what made me think of this movie.

If you've never seen it, Dead Poets Society is about a group of friends in a very conservative all boys boarding school, and how their English teacher, John Keating (Robin Williams), teaches them to see the world differently.
While the Welton Academy actively curbs the idea of freedom of thought, Professor Keating encourages the boys to think for themselves. He teaches them of free thinkers from transcendentalist literature to Walt Whitman. His motto is carpe diem.

Though all of the boys in their group of friends are important, I'd say that two characters, Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard) and Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke) are the major characters.
Neil has struggled with his father all his life. He comes from a middle class family, and his father strives for him to be a doctor. Mr. Perry will not allow Neil to be distracted in any way from his studies - he even makes him resign from being the editor of his school's newspaper. When Neil gets the role of Puck in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream and finally realizes that he wants to act, he and his father get in a great disagreement.
Todd Anderson is a very quiet boy, living in the great shadow of his hugely successful brother. He is constantly overlooked by his parents. He struggles with his shyness, though Professor Keating and his roommate Neil encourage him as best they can to break out of his shell. The scene I posted before was of Todd: When he failed to write a poem to preform in front of the class, Professor Keating asks him to make one up on the spot about Walt Whitman.

Anyway, this movie is fantastic. It is rich with literary references, and is a great story about friendship and free thought.
Watch it.

I Sound My Barbaric Yawp Over the Roofs of the World

"The spotted hawk swoops by and accuses me, he complains of my gab and my loitering.

I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable,
I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.

The last scud of the day hold back for me,
It flings my likeness after the rest and true as any on the shadow's wilds,
It coaxes me to the vapor and the dusk.

I depart as air, I shake my white locks at the runaway sun,
I effuse my flesh in eddies, and drift it in lacy jags.

I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love,
If you want me again, look for me under your boot-soles.

You will hardly know who I am or what I mean,
But I shall be good health to you nevertheless,
And filter and fibre your blood.

Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged,
Missing me one place search another,
I stop somewhere waiting for you."
-Walt Whitman, Song of Myself, #52

Walt Whitman is actually my favorite poet. Well, my favorite poet who writes in English (Pablo Neruda is fantastic). While I think his poetry is absolutely amazing, his prose is very thick.
Going back to first semester, I think this poem embodies one aspect of the American Dream.
My favorite quote, "I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable / I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world." suggests that he is experiencing freedom, or yearning for it at the very least.

This is my favorite poem. I think it's beautiful.

I'll leave you with a scene from one of my favorite movies, The Dead Poet's Society. Some of Whitman's work is sprinkled within the movie - this poem appears, and the other prominent one is "Oh Captain, my Captain".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbzLUQKTDQE

Blog Posts

Oh goodness.
I probably won't be able to post three times this week, what with this paper, three other midterms, and 2(+?) callbacks. Just thought I'd let you know.

Cool.
Gotta go study.
Bye.

And on a Completely Unrelated Note...

As I sit here in writing club watching the Princess Bride, I just wanted to share with you how amazing a movie it is.

If you haven't seen it, you should definitely watch it. It's a great feel-good movie and always makes me feel better when I'm down.

That is all.

:)

Social Capital

Thought I'd make a list for you of communities I am/have been a part of;

At St. Olaf
Classes
Writing Club
Deep End APO
Member of Hoyme
Ballroom Club
DnD
Corridor Meetings
Manitou (but I left)

At Conserve School
Classes
Writing Group
Bobcat Wing
Drama
Elaine House
Quiz Bowl
Community Service team
Choir
Anime Club
Conserve Community
Food Committee

Other
Girl Scouts (till 5th grade)
Apple Valley Foundation
Tennis

Bowling Alone

“There is striking evidence, however, that the vibrancy of American civil society has notably declined over the past several decades.”

Putnam acknowledges that America has greatly changed since de Tocqueville’s visit. He agrees with the rest of the class that our values as American’s have shifted since the 19^th century. I am thinking of the “letters” we wrote to Fredrick Douglass when I say this.
The “average” American citizen has changed their focus from creating a fair place for everyone to just themselves. The focus on associations has lessened, and we are more likely to “bowl alone,” as Putnam states. But we should not be focusing on ourselves.

“Successful outcomes are more likely in civically engaged communities.”
He stresses de Tocqueville’s point of associations.

He also talks about how the quality of membership has declined.
“For the vast majority of their members, the only act of membership consists in writing a check for dues or perhaps occasionally reading a newsletter. Few ever attend any meeting of such organizations, and most are unlikely ever (knowingly) to encounter any other member.”

Perhaps people joining organizations have just joined others. Maybe the decline of organizations is not true – it’s just to other organizations.
For example – The League of Women Voters. Membership of this club is down 42 since 1969, according to this article. I feel like this is because voting is something women take for granted now.
I wouldn’t join the League of Women Voters because, well, throughout my life, women have always been voting. It doesn’t seem as special to me as it would to someone who spent half their life fighting for these rights. I’m not proud of the idea that I can vote – it’s just a fact to me.