"Zeitoun"

I felt that the novel Zeitoun was a very interesting story. I felt that Zeitoun was a very admirable person for the contributions he made on behalf of other hurricane Katrina victims left behind, people and animals. Being an animal lover this story made a familiar connection with me. Zeitoun caring for the left behind dogs  showed that he was a good person. I was very sad at the end of the book when I came to learn that the dogs had died. Along with the sadness of abandoned animals was sadness of stranded human beings as well. Zeitoun did many things in the book that made me think there are good and caring people in this world.
I couldn't believe what had happened to Zeitoun and all the ridiculousness he went through after the hurricane. I also couldn't believe how as an American, he was denied his rights and arrested for no apparent reason other than an assumption.
The authority that was in New Orleans was on a high power trip and from the beginning they had their guards up and many civilians looked like criminals including Zeitoun. As I read about all the things Zeitoun seen and what he felt I got a chilling feeling. Reading that our country adopted third world characteristics and handled the situation in an unprofessional manor really upset and frightened me.

"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker

In our last class we were asked if we could relate to the characters in "Everyday Use" on the idea of being educated may separate you from others in our families. I can kinda relate to the mother/daughter relationship of Mama and Dee in the story and how the growth/lack of education discouraged their relationship. It seems since I had gotten an education I tend to over look my mother's advice or pay no mind to what she has to say because I feel she is not at the same level of thinking as I am. I don't do this on purpose but I just find that since I have been educated I can look at things with more of an open mind. On the other hand my mom seems to be more closed minded about a lot of things so we "butt heads" one might say. All though she is proud of my accomplishments I sometimes think she gets upset and thinks I don't appreciate her and that I think I'm better, which is not true. I'm very blessed to come where I come from and to have had a loving and caring family.

"Corsons Inlet"

In "Corsons Inlet" on line 93 you can find the word "field" marked with quotations.  Ammons shares his interest in nature throughout the poem and in this particular section of the poem he is describing tree swallows as they begin to take flight for migration.  He writes:

"the news to my left over the dunes and reeds and bayberry clumps was fall: thousands of tree swallows gathering for flight: an order held in constant change: a congregation rich with entropy: nevertheless, separable, noticeable as one event, flight from winter, cheet, cheet, cheet, cheet, wings rifling the green clumps, beaks at the bay berries a perception full of wind, flight, curve, sound: the possibility of rule as the sum of rulelessness: the "field" in action with moving, incalculable center. 

My idea for the reasoning for why Ammons quoted the word field is because I think Ammons in his vision while writing this he seen a great majority of the tree swallows gathering in the field preparing for the flight of migration and noticed the birds as they move around the fields as if the field its self was moving about.  I have noticed myself when birds in large groups seek a near by field for a gathering area they go about creating almost a sea  like effect, from a distance its almost wave like.  Its only times like these that the field has such action. Most of the time they are empty and still waiting to come to life in the fall when the birds have returned.  For Ammons to quote the word field it could be a pun or just emphasis on expressing how the field came into action with the help of the birds.

Invisible Man

I feel that the character in the reading "Invisible Man" found the success that he needed to find.  But in the back of his mind was unsure if he went about finding the success he searched for in the best way possible.

Relating to a time when I felt successful would have to be when I graduated from Miami University with my Bachelor's in History.  Even though I knew this was a great success I knew eventually I would have to go to graduate school to actually make my degree worth while.  I had a four year degree that I couldn't do much with, it would take having to pursue my master's in education to accomplish what I really wanted "to do when I grow up".

I think many of us have had a time when we feel invisible.  I sometimes feel invisible when I'm alone in a new or unfamiliar place.  For instance, when starting a new school I have found myself looking around and noticing everyone seems to know someone but me. At first I feel like the loneliest person alive and lost but eventually I get into the groove of things meet people and find my place.  What once was new and unknown becomes second nature therefore I don't feel invisible anymore.

Gertrude Stein "Tender Buttons"

The poem "Tender Buttons" consist of no particular characters only objects.  I have learned that during the time Stein wrote this poem, American women were fighting for change and equal rights.  This was also around the era of cubist influenced painters; which seem to impact the thoughts of Stein and her writing of "Tender Buttons".  I feel Stein was proud of the way women were evolving and through her work she wanted to express female awareness focusing little on the presence of male involvement.  The objects being presented in the poem seem to be described in a feminine manor eliminating masculinity. I will be honest and say that I have a hard time understanding this poem and exactly what Stein is explaining through her play on words but I do find it very interesting and mysterious.  Talking about the "Carafe" in class started to make more sense to me by hearing other students thoughts. I was more able to draw a visual picture in my head about what Stein may have meant.  The students that shared their ideas were very creative making it easier to understand, rather than interpreting it on my own.  I would recommend this to others to read because it is such a unique piece of literature.