this heat is so imperious you can feel it engulf you. it's prevailing and all powerful. you feel as if you could lift it off and assuage yourself. but knowing that you can't forces you to accept it; relish it. from my perch on the asperous gray railing, the horizon spans an empire so capacious my mind is incapable of cognizing its grandeur. the sun sinks down into its deep blue bed, as i envy their unwavering bond. the perennial gray wood i sit on does not hide its scars. it seems as if it may have been blue once long ago. before it served its time and gained its weathered marks. ashamed of them it is not; this wood hold stories, secrets, and memories few others have been fortunate enough to witness.
impervious: adj.- impenetrable engulf: v.- to swallow up, submerge assuage: v.- to make milder; relieve asperous: adj.- rough, uneven capacious: adj.- capable of holding much, vast cognize: v.- to precieve, know grandeur: n.- great importance, majesty unwavering: adj.- enduring, perpetual prevailing: v.- general, dominant
John “Cougar” Mellencamp was born October 7, 1951 in the small town on Seymour, Indiana. This rebellious, stubborn, misfit would struggle for many years of his life trying to find himself and his purpose in life. Growing up, his passion was music; it was music that would later become his salvation and main outlet of expression.
Mellencamp has accomplished his goal by painting portraits of hardworking Americans working to archive something bigger than themselves. This goal is most evident in one of his best known songs, Pink Houses. During a recent appearance on ‘Good Morning, America’, Mellencamp discussed the timely lyrics of this song and their relevance to our world today. He said, "The American Dream has kind of been hidden lately. So I think that it's time for hard-working people to be able to earn a decent wage and realize their dreams. That's what this country was founded on. I believe in the First Amendment, and I believe in hard-working people." Following the release of Scarecrow, Mellencamp became an outspoken advocate of the American farmer, organizing Farm Aid with Willie Nelson and Neil Young. He also became known for his anti-corporate stance, refusing to accept tour sponsorship offers from beer and tobacco companies.
In the recent Presidential election, Mellencamp asked the McCain Campaign to remove his songs from their event playlists. Mellencamp's publicist, Bob Merlis, noted to the Associated Press that "if (McCain is) such a true conservative, why (is he) playing songs that have a very populist pro-labor message written by a guy who would find no argument if you characterized him as left of center?" It is no secret that Mellencamp is an ardent Democrat and radical liberal. He utilizes music to communicate his both political and social views to others who subsequently identify with his lyrics. By doing so, he also challenges the current standards and moral regiment we as a society formulate. In this sense he is some what dangerous because he is not afraid to stand out by shedding light on the less glamorous side of America.
There's a black man, with a black cat, livin' in a black neighborhood He's got an interstate runnin' through his front yard You know he thinks he's got it so good And there's a woman in the kitchen cleanin' up the evenin' slop And he looks at her and says, "Hey darlin', I can remember when you could stop a clock."
Ah but ain't that America for you and me Ain't that America somethin' to see baby Ain't that America home of the free, yeah Little pink houses for you and me oh yeah for you and me
Well there's a young man in a t-shirt Listenin' to a rockin' rollin' station He's got ah greasy hair, greasy smile He says, "Lord this must be my destination." 'Cause they told me when I was younger Said, "Boy you're gonna be president." But just like everything else those old crazy dreams Just kinda came and went
Ah but ain't that America for you and me Ain't that America somethin' to see baby Ain't that America home of the free, yeah Little pink houses for you and me Ah yeah baby for you and me
Well there's people and more people What do they know know know Go to work in some high rise And vacation down at the Gulf of Mexico Ooh yeah And there's winners and there's losers But they ain't no big deal 'Cause the simple man baby pays for the thrills, the bills, the pills that kill
Ah but ain't that America for you and me Ain't that America somethin' to see baby Ain't that America home of the free, yeah Little pink houses for you and me, Ooooh
Ooh yeah
Ain't that America for you and me Ain't that America hey somethin' to see baby Ain't that America oh home of the free Ooh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Little pink houses babe for you and me
My hypnopeadia statement is "love is not at home with reason". This statement means that love is a very broad emotion that cannot be easily defined or formulated. There is no equation and there are no answers. Love can be the most powerful emotion, causing people to act in ways they would not normally, or in ways they never thought possible. This shows that sometimes we subconsciouslyseparate the two ideals, love and reason, because mixing them complicates things. Love is an inexplicable phenomena that can't be taught in schools or books and sometimes, when we faced with a situation, we must put one aside to make a decision.
So I get angry, don't I have reason to be? Put yourself in my position; you would act just the same. After all, I have been with him since the beginning. Back when he was just Willie from the country, back before I made him everything he is. And what does he do to me? He sleeps around with ninny girls who don't know the first thing about being a real woman. Those pretty, high maintenance, never worked a day in their lives girls, waiting for their prince to come whisk them away. Well, let me tell you, I could have been one of those girls. I could've sold my soul for the sake of security. But no, I live in the real world. I've fought tooth and nail to get where I am today and I'll be dammed if some little tart on skates or any other footwear takes that away from me. He'll come to his senses. He'll come back. He always does. Who am I to judge what kind of person that makes me? Who am I to care? Caring what others thought never got me anywheres. I could quit all this in a second. The tables could turn and I could be the one two-timing that son-of-a-bitch. I just choose not to. But don't think it's because i couldn't do it, because I'm weak or inferior to him. I mean, after all, I'm the one who made him what he is. That sad wife of his, she just can't handle life at these speeds. Stay at home, on the farm, feed the chickens and the kids, and patch up those worn out pants while you're at it. No thanks, that's not the life for me. I'd rather take on the real world and kick it in its two front teeth. That's why Willie and I get on so good. We see things for what they really is. All those other bimbos he gets chummy with are just pretendin'. Try as hard as you'd like, he's mine and no one elses. That's why he'll come back, like he always does. One day when all this foolin 'round is done I will put my guard down. He will tell me just how beautiful I really am and how all those others were just mistakes. And we won't get in these big ole battles. And we'll take on each day together, with no fighting or covers or secrets.
On August 28, 2005 Hurricane Katrina tore through the homes and lives of millions living in the Gulf Coast region of Mississippi and New Orleans. With category 5 winds and a failed levee system, nearly 80% of New Orleans flooded and over 1,000 people lost their lives. Nearly sixteen months later, I began my first mission trip.
I will never forget the images I saw of the lower Ninth Ward and other destroyed areas where we worked. Homes were completely ruined and personal belongings were strewn about neighborhoods in places they didn’t belong. The majority of homes remained untouched; even more, completely abandoned. For seven days we worked to empty and gut three different homes. This included everything from moving ruined furniture to tearing down drywall and ripping up linoleum floors. This labor was intense both physically and emotionally. Often times we met and talked with the devastated homeowners who returned to collect anything salvageable.
On the next trip, the summer of 2006, our group of volunteers worked in Waveland, Mississippi doing yard work. However, this was much more than just cutting the grass. We worked for a week straight, through summer showers, cutting down chest-high weeds and fallen trees large enough to destroy anything in their path. These jobs were not important by government standards, but for the homeowners, they were monumental. The gratitude they expressed taught me that sometimes the smallest contributions are the most significant. On my third trip during the summer of 2008 we worked with the Habitat for Humanity in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. We helped paint walls, baseboards, trim, and porch railings; lay floorboards; construct and caulk door frames and window boxes; and clean up the worksites at each of the six Habitat homes.
Each of these mission trips has had an immeasurable effect on me. Everything from the work we did to the places we lived and the people we met has made a lasting impression on who I am and what I want to do in my life. I learned countless valuable lessons through these experiences, such as the importance of helping others whenever and however possible. I do not put all my value in material things, and I am thankful for what I have. Most importantly I learned the importance of working with others and that I can make a difference in the world. While Hurricane Katrina and the chaos that ensued tested my hope and faith in people, each trip not only restored, but strengthened my outlook on life and society’s potential to do good. The small contributions made by others helped patch together a city previously torn apart. These trips have prepared me for the challenges ahead. They have given me the experience I need to be a productive member of my current community and future UF community. My leadership skills and strong work ethic, coupled with a big heart, ensure that I possess the qualities and dedication necessary to be a valuable asset to the UF community.
The values embodied in vires, artes, and mores, are reflected in my life through my service, goals, and relationships. Vires signifies strengths. The best example of my strength shows through my hard work ethic and my dedication to service. I continually participate in service projects within my local community, from the Ronald McDonald House to peer tutoring. I have also participated in three week long mission trips to the Gulf Coast region. Here, I worked with other volunteers and Habitat for Humanity to help areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. These trips were both physically and emotionally challenging. However, service opportunities such as these have truly enriched my life and made me a better person. On one trip a group of us stopped at a local store. Within the first ten minutes of entering, four different people approached and personally thanked us for volunteering. This incident had a profound effect on me I will never forget. Through serving others I have learned valuable lessons about appreciation and helping others. The value I place in intellectual pursuits manifests itself through my academic courses and leadership positions. I am involved in many school clubs such as National Honor Society, Student Government, and Mission Club and have held leadership positions in each. I also manage my time between my competitive swim team and a heavy academic course load. I dedicate eighteen hours a week to my swim team; this includes practices before and after school, and Saturday mornings. I also enjoy challenging myself with honors and AP courses and will continue to do so throughout college. While these pursuits keep me extremely busy, they have taught me organizational and time management skills, and given me the experience I need to continue to succeed. The final concept of mores signifies one of the most important yet most difficult concepts to define. Character is not defined by words but by our actions and examples. Mores undoubtedly reflects directly on vires and artes and vice versa. My most prominent characteristics include honesty and a genuine desire to help people. I believe these two qualities are evident through my dedication to service as displayed in both working for others and working with others to accomplish great things. I have participated in and lead many retreats at my high school and I am also a member of my county’s teen court. While these duties require a great amount of responsibility and leadership, the rewards they yield make all the work worth while. The fact that Florida State University emphasizes these three concepts and all they embody confirms my belief that I will benefit immensely from becoming part of that community but also; that the community can benefit from what I have to contribute. I hope to continue my commitment to service, academics, and leadership throughout my college and professional years. I know that Florida State will help me to do so and prepare me for the success I know I have to ability to achieve.
The little leap and plunk in my heart like a frog jumping into a Lily pool; drunk as a hoot owl on ice-water-blue eyes; while blood pounds in my head to make me dizzy. The whole air would vibrate with a sound like an electric fan. The truth was there and didn't need writing down. Every night I would look at the telephone. I would say to myself: It is going to ring.
Authors often draw upon personal experiences and beliefs when creating literary works. This tendency allows for a deeper look inside the author’s life and understanding of their way of thinking. A quote by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche states, “Poets are shameless with their experiences: they exploit them.” Largely influenced by his dysfunctional family, O’Neill manifests this quote in his autobiographical play, Long Days Journey into Night.
O’Neill’s own dysfunctional family provides the framework for that of the fictional Tyrones. Like James Tyrone, James O’Neill immigrated to the United States from Irish and became a talented Shakespearean stage actor, only to trade opportunity for stability and monetary gain. O’Neill’s mother, Ella, was the daughter of a wealthy father. She was educated at a convent and highly regarded for her piano playing skills. She abandoned her plans of becoming a nun however once she fell in love with the star of The Count of Monte Cristo, James O’Neill (Shuman). James and Mary Tyrone are virtually exact replicas of O’Neill’s biological parents. This autobiographical element shows the immense impact O’Neill’s family had on his life. Ella O’Neill later gave birth to a son, Edmund, who died before the age two due to measles supposedly caught from his older brother Jamie. The blame placed on Jamie for this death forever plagued his continence and contributed to his alcoholism and financial dependency on his father. After a long, painful labor Ella O’Neill gave birth to her third son, Eugene. James sent her to a cheap sanatorium where she became addicted to morphine (Shuman). This addiction, coupled with the premature death of her second son haunts the entire family for the rest of their lives.
Eugene O’Neill led an extremely tormented and sickly life both physically and emotionally. He had several failed relationships with both his wives and his children. He spent much of his time traveling as a sailor and drinking in bars. He attempted suicide but was revived. In 1912 he developed tuberculosis and was sent to a cheap sanatorium by his father. He discharged himself after just three days and moved to a better one. It was here that he decided to commit himself entirely to his writing. O’Neill underwent yet another depression when his father, mother, and brother all died within three years of each other. While grieving for nearly two decades he created Long Days Journey into Night (Shuman). O’Neill uses his family to create this tragedy while placing himself in the work as well.
While O’Neill stays true to life like descriptions of his own family while creating the Tyrones, he alters the character of Edmund by welding himself and his late brother together. Both Edmund and Eugene love poetry, writing, the sea, and fog, and have attempted suicide. However, in the play, Edmund Tyrone is the second son, and it is the third son, Eugene Tyrone, who dies as a baby. Edmund dies prematurely as well after he develops consumption. The death of Edmund Tyrone manifests Eugene O’Neill’s emotional death and desire to be physically dead.
The authenticity of O’Neill’s drama adds to its intensity by creating a situation many can relate to on an individual level. Both O’Neill and his idol, Nietzsche, use the idea of eternal recurrence in literature to show how the universe is cyclical and consequently, applicable to all real life situations.
Works Cited: Shuman, R. Baird. Great American Writers: Twentieth Century. Marshal Cavendish, 2002.
When I think yellow I think awakening. Perfect silence broken by an uninvited eruption of light, flooding my mind so quickly it hurts. The sound of disruption. The sound of the lights as I sit silently in detention, under their unrelenting power; taunting me, reminding me of where I am, and where I should be. The color of the voice inside my head, reminding me I'm not living up to my full potential. The color of rudeness. The color of reality.
