Computers sure seem to be ruling over the world of paper books and leather bound stories, with the world giving out new tiny devices that fit in your pant’s pocket and the meaning of literacy taking on a new face. It was first grade when I first saw a computer, be it the screen only showed green and black but it still was a pretty incredible thing; the device with all those little symbols on it, some old and some new, with simple responses making you move a couple dozen green dots around the screen. Back then, it wasn’t necessary to even to touch the computer, cause one knew that the only time would you use it was during a short game time if you got lucky enough to snag it up out of your classmates hands right quick, even if that was a little bit selfish. Even though we had our fancy box with the moving green squares, we still wrote in pencil and paper just as had been for years before we were even thought up. Nowadays, one would reckon to be lucky if they had a single overnight assignment not requiring the use of a computer, boxes fancier now than what they used to be. The internet zips quick through knowledge than a book could handle to tell you in one sitting and a toolbox filled with games and quirky programs that boggle your mind and full classes are offered just to learn about that one program. It could blow your mind. None of us symbol-poked up papers until middle school. That was until Bill got on the ball and his workers and competitors started to make new things and everyone had a fancy box downstairs in the office. No one had an office before, at least not for computers, unless they worked at one of those rich places where there’s one computer and the internet made your phone calls get interrupted by little insects birthing in your phone and it was so slow compared to today. Mama didn’t teach me how to use the computer, because she hardly knew how to work the contraption while I zoomed on past her understanding playing on fun little discs that had more and more realistic pixels dancing around your screen and they never used to make your computer slow down or crash. One is downright up the creek without a paddle these days without one now with the requirements of teachers and crazy little concepts like MLA format with certain sized alphabet letters, specific paper toppers, and a weird name for the shape of the letters on your paper. Back when I learned the alphabet before education was even in my mind, I sure as heck just thought one way to write a letter was good enough, except for cursive writing, but that was hocus pocus anyway.

Regardless of the actions people take, I believe that everything happens for a reason and is therefore planned by a controlling higher power even if they believe their actions are performed independently by their decisions. Though people may think that their actions are of their own will, I think that God or any other higher power would have planned for them to do such things regardless of which course or action they make take. Of course there are many individuals who don’t believe in any god, several gods, are a god different than the one of Christian faith, but because of my religious upbringing I stand by saying that God or any other god someone may believe in would likely plan life for the actions of all people and he or she is omniscient in that aspect. One may ask why such an all-powerful figure would not simply force people to accept the proper way of living and make it their fate to worship him or her and him or her alone, but I think that be it God or any other worshiped being, they would desire for you to come by that worship of your own free will, thus leaving only that aspect of life unplanned; whether one is willing to accept him or her into his or her life or not.

May he turned 21 on the base at Fort Bliss
“Just a day” he said down to the flask in his fist,
“Ain’t been sober, since maybe October of last year.”
Here in town you can tell he’s been down for a while,
But, my God, it’s so beautiful when the boy smiles,
Wanna hold him. Maybe I’ll just sing about it.

Cause you can’t jump the track, we’re like cars on a cable,
And life’s like an hourglass, glued to the table.
No one can find the rewind button, boys,
So cradle your head in your hands,
And breathe… just breathe,
Oh breathe, just breathe

There’s a light at each end of this tunnel,
You shout ’cause you’re just as far in as you’ll ever be out
And these mistakes you’ve made, you’ll just make them again
If you only try turning around.

2 AM and I’m still awake, writing a song
If I get it all down on paper, it’s no longer inside of me,
Threatening the life it belongs to
And I feel like I’m naked in front of the crowd
Cause these words are my diary, screaming out loud
And I know that you’ll use them, however you want to

But you can’t jump the track, we’re like cars on a cable,
And life’s like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button now
Sing it if you understand.
and breathe, just breathe
woah breathe, just breathe,
Oh breathe, just breathe,
Oh breathe, just breathe.

Upon first hearing the song, I may have disliked it, but that was probably because I was more into rap music at that time. Go figure. Regardless, now this is perhaps the most relaxing song I have out of all my songs, maybe for the calm and relaxing qualities or the overall message of simply breathing through one’s problems. I truly enjoy playing it once or twice before going on for a performance since it relaxes my body so much and lets me focus in on what I need to for the upcoming event. You, Mrs. Scow, might just like it for its meta-songwriting. To me, the song says how sometimes it’s better to just take things easy and not let life become so overwhelming. When things do get to become a little much, it’s always best just to breathe and go with the flow. People may have all sorts of problems, be them with relationships or self-conflict, but in all cases it is possible to stop stressing out and just breathe instead. I feel that the truth in this song is a universal one because there really is no better approach to any problem than taking a breather at first so you can look at your dilemmas with clarity rather than confusion. Especially now with school becoming more and more overwhelming, guard practice becoming more tiresome and frequent, and squeezing in hours at part time jobs just to get by on minimum wage, I really do think I just need to breathe sometimes, and luckily this song is there to comfort me.

Mike Rose, in his memoir “I Just Wanna Be Average” from the novel Lives on the Boundary: The Struggles and Achievements of America’s Underprepared (1989), discusses the conditions of his education in relation to the social conditions and cultural standards of society during the late 1980s. He explains the conditions of his education and upbringing through the use of a chronological memoir with the record of personal events displayed through dialogue, metaphor, single instances of various rhetorical devices, and a notable reflection of events in specific detail on his behalf.  The combination of these provides the reader with a story in which the opinions and outlooks on education may be questioned by the reader through a clear understand the detrimental quality of Rose’s education.  Rose’s purpose is to cause the reader to question to effectiveness of the education system in which he grew up in order to demonstrate how ineffective a system of education may become with severe mishandling and poor standards set for students. He adopts a reflective and humorous tone for students in the education system so that he may relate to them on a personal level and provide a grander connection with the reader than what could previously have been expected.

Vocabulary Words

1. (para. 2) euphemism (noun) – the substitution of a mild expression for one considered more harsh

2. (para. 2) vocational (adjective) – pertaining to instruction or guidance in a profession

3. (para. 8 ) bejeweled (verb) – adorned in jewels

4. (para. 8 ) crow (verb) – to gloat, boast, or exult

5. (para. 8 ) preen (verb) – to make oneself appear smart

Rhetorical Strategies

General Assertion–”‘Students will float to the mark you set.” (para. 11)

Metaphor–”‘I and the others in the vocational classes were bobbing in pretty shallow water.’”(para. 11)

Allusion–”…like Mr. Gross in Horace’s Compromise…”(para. 11)

Discussion Questions

Clarifying: (Para. 9) What caused the fight between Billy Hawk and Mike Dweetz?

Style: How does the chronological order of events compliment the purpose of Rose’s writing?

Application: Throughout the paper, Rose discusses the ineffectiveness of the vocational track in his school. What programs do you think have ineffective purposes in your own school?

Quotation: “During my time in Voc. Ed., I developed further into a mediocre student and a somnambulant problem solver, and that affected the subjects I did have the wherewithal to handle: I detested Shakespeare; I got bored with history.”

With so much focus on the war in Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, the growing threat of Iran, and so many other arising issues in the Middle East, it is difficult to focus on the very threats we have close to home. Upon seeing this article hit the front page of Comcast, I was entirely shocked because I was completely unaware of any sort of problems arising from our Mexican neighbors, excluding illegal immigration. Although I was aware the importation of drugs from South American countries such as Columbia, I had no awareness of the uprising of corruption in one of our closest neighbors in the world. Unfortunately, for Mexican citizens, I believe this realization of the eminent threat the drug wars in Mexico is only more ammunition to supporters of the initiatives for stronger border control. Even though it may be immoral for America to not let Mexican citizens cross the border as easily even though they may just be trying to avoid the corrupt and dangerous life in their homes, more border security may be necessary in order to ensure the safety of American citizens. Another daunting factor is the significant amount of oil we acquire from Mexican reserves, which could cause gas prices to reach nearly unaffordable prices once again. I believe that once Obama finally cleans up the mess in Iraq, America will have the opportunity in assisting the Mexican government to remove control of powerful drug lords and once again have control of their country.