04/28- Dirty Mouth....

Books containing obscene language tend to both me when I feel that the language is not meaningful. I feel like authors do this to aid characterization. They make the character have and accent if the character is from the south, and the add slurs and slang if the character is from the ghetto. The only way to deal with books with bad language is to buck up and keep reading and hope there is purpose behind the language.

04/21-Walk the Line

Authors include powerful, shocking, or even disturbing events to either prove a point or entertain the reader. Oftentimes, I do not enjoy these type of inclusions because I feel like the same point may have been proven in a different way. Are they necessary? It really is not for me to say; though I do believe that they are affective. But for me, that affect is almost always negative, leaving me enraged and confused. Society has unwittingly forced people to become callous to the misery of others. Ergo if a writer wants to write a powerful book or passage, it will take even more for that writer to breach the callous society has developed.

April 15-To Atone or Not to Atone

Atonement is always a possibility but only if you truly want to be forgiven or forgive yourself. I have a lot of regrets, but thankfully nothing serious. All of my regrets were very personal which means they had little or no affect on those around me. I had make peace with my regrets, but I feel like they were never truly go away.

Decisions...Decisions

I make many types of decisions, decisions based on morals and ethics, decisions based on personal gain, and decisions based on efficiency or convenience. I don't think I ever solely employ just one of my decision-making techniques, certain situations call for different approaches.

03/17- Columbia and Venezuela

pg 163 "It was...as if everything solid melted away in to the ether, eliminating all individuality and absorbing us, rigid, into the immense darkness."
This quote talks about how Ernesto feels like many of the poor people are just slipping away because no one cares about them. They don't have a voice. These are the people that Ernesto wants to help.

pg 165 "bloodstained weapon"
This quote is simple. Violence, conflict, struggle, a willingness to do battle are all good interpretations of this quote. Now at the end of the book, the reader can finally see that Ernesto doesn't just want to talk about change; he wants to fight for it.

pg 165 "I feel my nostrils dilate, savoring the acrid smell of gunpowder and blood..."
This quote kind of goes with the one above. It is very descriptive. "gunpowder and blood" is like violence and death. And the word "savoring" means that Ernesto enjoys those smells. He wants to kill for want he believes in.

pg 165 "...prepare myself to be a sacred space within which the bestial howl of the triumphant proletariat can resound with new energy and new hope."
This is probably the single most pro-communist quotation in the entire book. Ernesto/Che is pretty much letting the proletariat (working class) know that it is time to rise up and fight to get rid of suppressive capitalist governments. Fight for communism.

2/27 Six Word Memoir

War, money, new President. Anything else?
I was very impressed with the ones on the website. It still amazes me how much can be expressed only through six words.

2/24 Argentina

In general the introduction is a prime example of Che’s voice and diction. It was written so well that when the narrative actually began I could tell the difference. This voice is very informative, in my opinion Ernesto’s introduction was better than the two girls’ introduction.
The second excerpt:
“The intention of this diary is not really to recount those days in Miramar where Comeback found a new home, with one resident in particular to whom Comeback’s name was directed. Our journey was suspended in that haven of indecision, subordinate to the words that give consent and create bonds.”
I had to read this quotation at least three times and I still don’t know if I understand what is being said. The diction is very complex and Ernesto’s voice is enigmatic, yet explicative. I think that Ernesto sums up the entire reason or reasons why he went on this journey, but puts it in terms of this little dog, Comeback.

2/19 Essential Question

I want to be successful. That's all I know for sure. Throughout my life I have had many different ideas for career paths. Sometimes I want to be a lawyer, teacher, Senator/President, or my latest one: a therapist. The reason for my indecisiveness stems from the fact that I do not know what impact I want to have on the world; or rather to whom I want to impact. My impact needs to be significant, and preferably memorable.

2/17 TMD Intro

3.
Little did I realize that it would be this strange human specie that would motivate me to do great things in the years to come. Some things would be wonderful, and others would be terrible; but they would all be great.
Revolution. A single word with multiple meanings. No revolution was ever successful without bloodshed. Revolution is exactly what the people of Latin America need in order to get them out of the harsh environment. We must change our capitalistic economies and embrace socialism. Only through socialism can our brotherly love be expressed.

2/12 Ideology

Freedom to Petition
Maintaining one's freedom to petition is arguably the most important right. A government that does not allow the people to voice their discontent, will quickly lapse into a suppressive totalitarian regime.
All of an individuals rights stem from a free population that retains the right to petition their government for change.

El Che Reaction #1

enjoyed the movie yesterday because it was very informational; and information is exactly what I needed. I think that the director of the movie is a little bias; I would prefer that the movie not be so pro-Che. I still don't understand exactly why he is so famous, I have yet to read anything written by Che that is as powerful as other people have lead me to believe it should be. To me, he is still just an ordinary revolutionary.