"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." -- Theodore Roosevelt
In lieu of the upcoming election, I found this quote to be appropriate, and very interesting...
1.) Roosevelt does not merely state that criticism of the American government is merely allowed by the U.S. Constitution, but asserts that it is absolutely essential.
Theodore Roosevelt, the, Ruff Rider, founding father, former president, etc, etc (the list goes on and on...) is, I feel, exactly correct in his quotation.
It is the duty of the American people to be skeptical, and to question the decisions made by their leaders. We, the American people, must play an active role in our government. It is my belief that many people feel their job is done once they leave the polls. However, voting is not enough...
The words of the Preamble shout out to us...."We the people of the United States..."
The United States was founded "for the people, by the people" and we must keep it this way...
Just think back into the past...
2 cases that I can think of...
The Pilgrims.
i
They chose to flee the reach of their native government, in search of a new life.
Religious persecution...we've all heard the story.
To make a long story short, without the bold action of revolt (the criticism Roosevelt's quote mentions) the United States would not be here as it is today.
ii Nazi Germany
Here is a case of what can happen if we DON'T criticize our government. The level of brainwashing and strengh of national unity that Hitler was able to create was incredible. I don't think I need to explain what can go wrong when an entire country conforms to one belief. The people of Germany believed every word Hitler said to them.. no one questioned, no one criticized. We all know the result...
The quote which I discussed is courtesy of the immortal J. A. Miller...my extraordinary high school history teacher.
((Alan))
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
October Break
Sunday Night Football
Bears v. Packers
For the past 2 or 3 years, me and a group of my friends have had a weekly tradition. We all get together every Sunday over at my buddy Ryan's house to watch the Bears game. Living in a south suburb of Chi-town, its a pretty big deal...
Anyways, because most of us are all away at school, we haven't yet been able to get together this year. However, October break came at the perfect time. A couple of "the boys" were all home and the Bears were playing primetime. It couldn't have worked out any better.
Making all these new friends in college is great, but there is nothing like old friends.
I love being around those guys, mostly because we all get along so well.
We were the athletes in high school, all of our lives pretty much revolving around sports.
Many summer days were spent outside playing ball.
Back to my story, so we all got to house around 6.
(So we had plently of time to watch pregame, which is very important..haha)
And just like always, Ryan's dad had a magnificent spread of food set up for us.
Ribs, Chicken, Potatoes, French Bread, Chips, Dip
It was outstanding.
Overall, it was just a great night. Theres nothing like a night out with the guys.
We all were able to relax, not having to worry about school for a couple hours.
It was nice to be able to sit down and talk with someone from home, someone familiar.
I can't wait till Thanksgiving...
There was only one thing that went wrong that night...
My Packers lost a heartbreaker 27-20
((Alan))
Bears v. Packers
For the past 2 or 3 years, me and a group of my friends have had a weekly tradition. We all get together every Sunday over at my buddy Ryan's house to watch the Bears game. Living in a south suburb of Chi-town, its a pretty big deal...
Anyways, because most of us are all away at school, we haven't yet been able to get together this year. However, October break came at the perfect time. A couple of "the boys" were all home and the Bears were playing primetime. It couldn't have worked out any better.
Making all these new friends in college is great, but there is nothing like old friends.
I love being around those guys, mostly because we all get along so well.
We were the athletes in high school, all of our lives pretty much revolving around sports.
Many summer days were spent outside playing ball.
Back to my story, so we all got to house around 6.
(So we had plently of time to watch pregame, which is very important..haha)
And just like always, Ryan's dad had a magnificent spread of food set up for us.
Ribs, Chicken, Potatoes, French Bread, Chips, Dip
It was outstanding.
Overall, it was just a great night. Theres nothing like a night out with the guys.
We all were able to relax, not having to worry about school for a couple hours.
It was nice to be able to sit down and talk with someone from home, someone familiar.
I can't wait till Thanksgiving...
There was only one thing that went wrong that night...
My Packers lost a heartbreaker 27-20
((Alan))
Friday, October 12, 2007
Friday...
So here I am...Friday night...in my dorm room....doing nothing............
That pretty much sums it up, but I'll elaborate.
I can't help it, but I already have a bad attitute about this weekend.
Nothing is going on; I have zero plans for the next 2 days,
except for homework, but that definately does not count.
I've been sitting on my bed since about 6 o'clock, when I got back from dinner.
In the last 3 hours or so, I haven't moved.
Its been me and my laptop, with me forcing myself to get my blog entries done from the week.
*Special note* I noticed there is no post for our required entry this week...
Does this mean we don't need to do one!?
I doubt it.
Who knows, it could show up magically online, say, Sunday night.
(this is for my engineering readers, referencing a certain Chip assignment we had to do)
Anyways, I still have to put the finishing touches on my narrative for Monday.
Boy, did that turn out to be a lot of work...
I guess it has been a fair trade off though,
I have enjoyed not going to class this week thoroughly.
Today was especially nice, I was done with class on a friday by 1:30 for the first time all year.
Well, I think that is all for now, the Boston-Cleveland game is calling...
Go Bo Sox!
((Alan))
That pretty much sums it up, but I'll elaborate.
I can't help it, but I already have a bad attitute about this weekend.
Nothing is going on; I have zero plans for the next 2 days,
except for homework, but that definately does not count.
I've been sitting on my bed since about 6 o'clock, when I got back from dinner.
In the last 3 hours or so, I haven't moved.
Its been me and my laptop, with me forcing myself to get my blog entries done from the week.
*Special note* I noticed there is no post for our required entry this week...
Does this mean we don't need to do one!?
I doubt it.
Who knows, it could show up magically online, say, Sunday night.
(this is for my engineering readers, referencing a certain Chip assignment we had to do)
Anyways, I still have to put the finishing touches on my narrative for Monday.
Boy, did that turn out to be a lot of work...
I guess it has been a fair trade off though,
I have enjoyed not going to class this week thoroughly.
Today was especially nice, I was done with class on a friday by 1:30 for the first time all year.
Well, I think that is all for now, the Boston-Cleveland game is calling...
Go Bo Sox!
((Alan))
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Ali is known to many as the greatest boxer of all time (rightfully so),
however, few are aware that he may also have been the greatest rapper of his era
Here are some examples...just for fun
"I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was."
"If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize. "
"It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am. "
This next one is probably my favorite...
"Last night I had a dream,
When I got to Africa, I had one hell of a rumble.
I had to beat Tarzan’s behind first,
For claiming to be King of the Jungle.
For this fight, I’ve wrestled with alligators,
I’ve tustled with a whale.
I done handcuffed lightning
And put thunder in jail.
You know I’m bad.
I have murdered a rock,
I’ve injured a stone,
and hospitalized a brick.
I’m so bad, I make medicine sick.
I’m so fast, man,
I can run through a hurricane and don't get wet.
When George Foreman meets me,
He’ll pay his debt.
I can drown the drink of water,
and kill a dead tree.
Wait till you see Muhammad Ali. "
"It's gonna be a a killa, a chilla, and a thrilla when I get that gorilla (Joe Frazier) in Manila"
Ali talking about himself before a bout with Sonny Liston...
"Then someone with color,
someone with dash,
brought fight fans a runnin with cash"
"This kid fights great,
he's got speed and endurance,
but if you decied to fight him,
increase your insurance!"
"This kid's got a left,
this kid's got a right,
If he hits you once,
your asleep for the night,
and as you lie of the floor,
as the ref counts ten,
you'll pray you never have to fight him again"
"Here I predict Mr. Liston's dismemberment,
I'll hit him so hard,
he'll wonder where October and November went"
And finally, an elderly, more humble Muhammad Ali, suffering form Parkinson's disease...
Ali is known to many as the greatest boxer of all time (rightfully so),
however, few are aware that he may also have been the greatest rapper of his era
Here are some examples...just for fun
"I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was."
"If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize. "
"It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am. "
This next one is probably my favorite...
"Last night I had a dream,
When I got to Africa, I had one hell of a rumble.
I had to beat Tarzan’s behind first,
For claiming to be King of the Jungle.
For this fight, I’ve wrestled with alligators,
I’ve tustled with a whale.
I done handcuffed lightning
And put thunder in jail.
You know I’m bad.
I have murdered a rock,
I’ve injured a stone,
and hospitalized a brick.
I’m so bad, I make medicine sick.
I’m so fast, man,
I can run through a hurricane and don't get wet.
When George Foreman meets me,
He’ll pay his debt.
I can drown the drink of water,
and kill a dead tree.
Wait till you see Muhammad Ali. "
"It's gonna be a a killa, a chilla, and a thrilla when I get that gorilla (Joe Frazier) in Manila"
Ali talking about himself before a bout with Sonny Liston...
"Then someone with color,
someone with dash,
brought fight fans a runnin with cash"
"This kid fights great,
he's got speed and endurance,
but if you decied to fight him,
increase your insurance!"
"This kid's got a left,
this kid's got a right,
If he hits you once,
your asleep for the night,
and as you lie of the floor,
as the ref counts ten,
you'll pray you never have to fight him again"
"Here I predict Mr. Liston's dismemberment,
I'll hit him so hard,
he'll wonder where October and November went"
And finally, an elderly, more humble Muhammad Ali, suffering form Parkinson's disease...
"God gave me this illness to remind me that I'm not number One; He is."
Hope you all enjoyed that...
((Alan))
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
"Handicapped by History: The Process of Hero Making"
By idolizing those whom we honor, we do a disservice both to them and to ourselves....We fail to recognize that we could go and do likewise. --Charles V. Willie
To start, I think it is important to note the word usage of Charles Willie in is epigraph.
Idolizing…honor…disservice…fail…likewise…
“By idolizing those whom we honor”
Idolize, from the root word idol, has a very negative connotation. When I first read Willie’s quote, I thought about the Bible and the early practice of idol worshipping. I was brought back to Sunday school, where we learned about the Lord’s response to idol worshippers.
Destruction…chaos…anger…
Willie is telling us that we have gone too far in our adoration of those we honor. We have put them up on a pedestal, much like an idol.
“We do a disservice to both them and ourselves”
When we reach this state of idolization, we detached ourselves from those we adore. They no longer seem human to us. Willie argues, and does so effectively, that this action can have damaging effects on both sides. Let us put this is terms of the modern era.
Celebrities…Paparazzi…need I even say more?
On the flip side, if we hold our heroes up so high with so much esteem, what are we saying about ourselves?
“We fail to recognize that we could do likewise”
In other words, we are selling ourselves short. We place or heroes and those we honor on levels much higher than our own. By thinking, “wow…I wish I could be like them…” we have failed, failed to believe in ourselves. If we no longer believe in ourselves, then what hope do we have?
((Alan))
To start, I think it is important to note the word usage of Charles Willie in is epigraph.
Idolizing…honor…disservice…fail…likewise…
“By idolizing those whom we honor”
Idolize, from the root word idol, has a very negative connotation. When I first read Willie’s quote, I thought about the Bible and the early practice of idol worshipping. I was brought back to Sunday school, where we learned about the Lord’s response to idol worshippers.
Destruction…chaos…anger…
Willie is telling us that we have gone too far in our adoration of those we honor. We have put them up on a pedestal, much like an idol.
“We do a disservice to both them and ourselves”
When we reach this state of idolization, we detached ourselves from those we adore. They no longer seem human to us. Willie argues, and does so effectively, that this action can have damaging effects on both sides. Let us put this is terms of the modern era.
Celebrities…Paparazzi…need I even say more?
On the flip side, if we hold our heroes up so high with so much esteem, what are we saying about ourselves?
“We fail to recognize that we could do likewise”
In other words, we are selling ourselves short. We place or heroes and those we honor on levels much higher than our own. By thinking, “wow…I wish I could be like them…” we have failed, failed to believe in ourselves. If we no longer believe in ourselves, then what hope do we have?
((Alan))
Monday, October 8, 2007
I Flipping Hate ENGR126
Liars!
Dirty liars!
As if the bonus lab, postlab, and project wasn't enough...
Here I am, relaxing, about to call it a night...
I log onto blackboard to get an idea of what the postlab looks like, so I can try and tackle it on the way home tomorrow...
What do I find?
CHIP hmwk!
The T.A. at our last lecture specifically told us... no CHIP homework
and there it is...posted either today or Sunday...
As if the class hasn't broke me down enough...
I can hear their excuse now...."we're preparing you for the real world"
b.s.
Now I have one more thing to worry about when I get back...
I almost feel bad about ranting...bc I can't stand it when people complain...
but seriously...why can't you just assign it like always, so we have all week to do it...
What about those of us with lives who don't check blackbaord every waking second of our lives!
Please... someone tell me I'm not the only one a little ticked off about this...
((Alan))
Dirty liars!
As if the bonus lab, postlab, and project wasn't enough...
Here I am, relaxing, about to call it a night...
I log onto blackboard to get an idea of what the postlab looks like, so I can try and tackle it on the way home tomorrow...
What do I find?
CHIP hmwk!
The T.A. at our last lecture specifically told us... no CHIP homework
and there it is...posted either today or Sunday...
As if the class hasn't broke me down enough...
I can hear their excuse now...."we're preparing you for the real world"
b.s.
Now I have one more thing to worry about when I get back...
I almost feel bad about ranting...bc I can't stand it when people complain...
but seriously...why can't you just assign it like always, so we have all week to do it...
What about those of us with lives who don't check blackbaord every waking second of our lives!
Please... someone tell me I'm not the only one a little ticked off about this...
((Alan))
Home...
"Let me go home
I’ve had my run
Baby, I’m done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all be all right
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home"
October break...finally...
It feels absolutely amazing to be back home...
These past three days have been so relaxing...
No class, no hmwk...
o wait, I do have homework...Engineering...
English, Calculus, and Chemistry professor's => "no homework over October break, have a good weekend!"
Engineering professor => "Here everyone, make sure to do ALL of this for class next week: lab bonus, postlab, and group project...Remember....October break means nothing to me, you should have expected this...ohh and have a nice break..."
Great, Thanks prof. Imbrie, I appreciate it.
I guess i should re-phrase what I said before...
no class, "not doing any" homework
This weekend was for me, and i think I deserved it...
Its been go go go go go ever since school started...
And I'll tell you what, it feels SUPER not having done anything school related all weekend...
except until now, when I forced myself to write these blogs for English...
Don't get me wrong, college is great, Purdue is great, but it was time to go home...
and I'm not going to lie, I don't really want to go back tomarrow...
I will I could stay here...until....lets say...January...ya...I'll be ready to go again by then...
((Alan))
ps - Anyone know what song I took the words from on the top of the post?
I’ve had my run
Baby, I’m done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all be all right
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home"
October break...finally...
It feels absolutely amazing to be back home...
These past three days have been so relaxing...
No class, no hmwk...
o wait, I do have homework...Engineering...
English, Calculus, and Chemistry professor's => "no homework over October break, have a good weekend!"
Engineering professor => "Here everyone, make sure to do ALL of this for class next week: lab bonus, postlab, and group project...Remember....October break means nothing to me, you should have expected this...ohh and have a nice break..."
Great, Thanks prof. Imbrie, I appreciate it.
I guess i should re-phrase what I said before...
no class, "not doing any" homework
This weekend was for me, and i think I deserved it...
Its been go go go go go ever since school started...
And I'll tell you what, it feels SUPER not having done anything school related all weekend...
except until now, when I forced myself to write these blogs for English...
Don't get me wrong, college is great, Purdue is great, but it was time to go home...
and I'm not going to lie, I don't really want to go back tomarrow...
I will I could stay here...until....lets say...January...ya...I'll be ready to go again by then...
((Alan))
ps - Anyone know what song I took the words from on the top of the post?
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