Title: "Please Read This Story, Thank You"

By: Linton Weeks

Central Argument: As we become more knowledgeable we seem to have forgotten our manners.

As each generation takes their place on this planet, things change, including the way we behave. As kids, we are constantly reminded by our elders to say our pleases and thank yous. It seems as each generation takes their place on the planet, we become more rude, and instead of asking for things, we demand for things. Now days people are so involved with their own lives that they do not even have time to smile at a person sitting on a bus seat next to them. With the world becoming more complex, people start focusing on just themselves. We all seem to be relying on just the outward appearance, we have forgotten what it was like to smile, to take a break, to enjoy life. We have forgotten to live.

With such a competitive world, and new technology we feel as though we do not need to communicate with people. We simply do what is needed without thinking twice about it. If we need coffee we walk over to Starbucks and get coffee from a stranger. Neither the stranger or the buyer finds it important to communicate. We don't say please, we simply say I want it. With the seller at the other end of the wall, no one feels the need to communicate beyond just getting their work done. Now the world seems to revolve around the work getting done, rather than the people who are doing the work. We feel as though going beyond just getting what is done, or doing what needs to be done is not important. We feel that it is not asked of the job to communicate more words than necessary.

The point is maybe it is not asked of the job to do more than deliver, or buy. The fact is we are all connected. When even just one person smiles and asks you how your day was, this makes things all the more better. The world for those few minutes seems more of not just work and success, but joy and happiness. We all need a little bit of cheering up every once in a while. We need people to give us compliments and respect us. As the saying goes “do one to other as you would have them do to you.” No one likes to be shouted at, or demanded of things. It does not hurt us to be civilized and be peaceful people. For if we made the effort to go out of our way just a little to be nice to someone, say please, and thank you. We would not just make the other person feel, but feel good ourselves for we have changed maybe just few seconds of someone else's life.

Title: "Why We Like What We Like"

By: Alva Noe

Central Argument: Are likes and dislikes are influenced by the things around us.

I agree with the argument in the article “ Why We Like What We like” which talks about how are likes and dislikes are influenced by the things around us. We can see why this is true because of the fashion trends everyone follows, the way we talk, and who we date. Change takes place everywhere, and because of the change in the way others think, our likes and dislikes change. When we see a fashion trend change we want to follow it. We, along with others change to fit in, and not be left out. We accept what is accepted by the rest of society.

Fashion changes constantly. I remember being in middle school and wearing bell bottom jeans; why well because that was the trend back then. Suddenly in ninth grade every one started wearing skinny jeans because that was the fashion. No one wants to look like an outsider or a weirdo; everyone wants to fit in. This is why are likes and dislikes change according to the choices of society. If we had a banquet to go to we wouldn't be wearing jeans but we would be wearing dresses. If we did wear something unusual according to others perspective, we would be ashamed of ourselves and feel as though we did something wrong. How others perceive us changes the way we think of what we like to wear and where we like to wear it. In certain occasions we wear a dress and in others we dress up casually. Why, not just because we simply like to, but because others choices determine what our own individual choices are. Eventually we find ourselves liking the things that others like

We talk differently to different groups of people. To our friends we may be joking around, teasing and having fun. With the elders we behave politely and with respect. We behave in a certain way mostly because we are told to do so. Because society expects us to act in a certain way. As children we may not always like this, however, when we grow older we too start expecting our children to behave in certain ways. We do certain things not necessarily because we like them, but because we are expected to do them.

What beauty is, also changes over time. Now days we like to date people who are thin, good looking, and successful. But suppose we never could see the man we were dating, would this have changed things around? We like date those who we are worthy to be seen with, who we think society is going to accept. We think ahead to what kind of dinner the man will take us to. Will it be an expensive restaurant, or will it be road side food? We like what others like. Others like to have expensive dinners, expensive cars, branded dresses and therefore we too like those things.

Our perspective of people, clothes, beauty, food changes according to what we think others view them as. Are likes and dislikes change according to what we think is acceptable in society, and what others like or dislike.

Title : What Does It Mean To Be Cool?

By: Thorsten Botz-Bornstien

Central Argument: To be cool is to submit and subvert.

To stay cool may mean different things to different people. To some it may mean to stay calm. To others it may mean to be awesome. But above all it means to submit and subvert to the higher power. What does cool do to you or to the other powerful person when you submit and subvert? As said by the article “What Does It Mean To be Cool” the person who uses subversion and submission to resist a power without physically harming anyone. We can see examples of staying cool in many movies such as The Help, or in our daily lives. We may not realize it, however, we use this technique many times to resist an authority. We must balance the submission with subversion in order to fully put this technique into place. Neither one or the other alone can be powerful enough to use on its own. In order to make this technique most effective we must use it in balance.

In the movie The Help the main character who is the help looks after white children of the rich family. She is constantly abused and mistreated, however, through all these difficulties she keeps calm. The movie is set during the time of slavery and focuses on the perspective of the African Americans who are treated unjustly. The help, who are the black maids are mistreated by their masters through out the movie. However, the main character finds an inner strength to deal with this crisis. She says “Yes Mam” pleasantly and does her work diligently, no matter how many times she is screamed at. The master blames the help for having stolen the silver cutlery, however, the help makes it clear that through all the years she has lived she has not stolen and would not do it ever. This makes the main character realize that her master does not care, and the best is to leave the job. The help at first submits to her masters every single decision, only to realize later that she has had enough and she is going to stand up for herself. She quits the job without hurting anyone. This helps the master to see what she is missing and for the help to realize that being submitted isn't always good. Eventually you have to stand up for yourself.

At times I too get have to follow this technique to resist authority and find my own way. With other elder people around me I have to be careful to have the balance between submission and subversion. When people tell me to keep doing their things for them at first I do them. But eventually I realize they are just using me for the benefit of themselves. They do not say thank you, or ask for help instead they order, and expect me to do the things for them. I stop submitting by simply doing what I am told with a smile so the person realizes that he or she is being abusive of her or his power. Or I simply stop doing it and ask the person to go to it on their own. This way they realize what kind of effort it takes to do the certain job.

People should balance their life with submission and subversion. At times it is okay to submit, but only to the certain point that the submitting does not become abusive.

Title : The Rise Of "Awesome"

Central Argument: Change over time is present in any subject, such as in the word awesome.

I agree that our lives are filled with things changing. As the article “The rise of Awesome” suggests that even with the meaning of words change exists. First the word awesome only meant to awe and now the words means great, evolution takes place everywhere. Whether it is to do with human evolution, or do to with ourselves changing in personality likes and dislikes. Change does exist in the little as well as the big things in our lives. Thanks to the scientists we know that evolution does take place over a long period of time. We as humans have also changed in our thinking and the way we put things into action.

First we made fire out of the friction between two stones. Now all we have to do is switch on a button. Before we used arrows to hunted in order to survive. Now we go to a grocery store to buy our food. Our physical appearance has changed as well as the way we do things. We, humans have evolved as well as the world around us. From walking on all fours and having a hunch back. We now are bipedal, improved and useful.

Not just us, but also the wildlife around us has changed. Dinosaurs no longer exist, as well as the wooly mammoths. Now we have different kinds of creatures roaming around us who have similar characteristics too the animals before them, such as elephants, sharks, and birds. All these creatures have changed over time just like us. The flowers, the trees too have evolved over the generations.

We cannot stop change from taking place. For something to change it can take years or months. Meaning of words over the years has also changed. Such as the meaning of the word sick as mentioned in the article. I too use these words to mean something completely different then what the word use to mean. At times I tell my friend that her dress look sick. Which may sound like I am insulting it, but actually what I mean is that my friend looks fabulous.

Change has also taken in the way we think. All around the world women were seen as nothing more than just wives who would produce many children. This thinking is still changing, in many parts of the world women have become successful and have found freedom. However, there still remains many places in the world that still have a long way to go.

The way we view children has also changed. Before the Enlightenment children were viewed as young adults. However, with the great philosophers such as Rousseau, who wrote Emile, discussed how children are children and they should be treated with care and support. As John Locke said that we are born as blank slates and as we grow up we learn and experience and therefore we gain knowledge. Children from this time period onwards were given their own toys to play with, and were expected to act nothing more than just children. Change is constant and change is everywhere.

Title: "Of youth and Age"

By: Sir Francis Bacon

Central Argument

Youths are the ones that should be hired for jobs as they are young and have fresh ideas.

In the essay called “Of Youth and Age” by Francis Bacon, the youth group is strongly supported for being imaginative at a young age. I like many other people will have to agree with this statement because youths have more energy, and are ready to take up challenges. In this age you do not think about the consequences you just do what you can without thinking twice about it.This is the age of love, career, experimentation and see the world in new ways. This age group are young and therefore not yet corrupted with the world around them. They think on their own and have a life that is filled with new things everyday. Being a teenager, I know why youths have so much energy and why they would make perfect for any kind of job. As you grow up you see and learn more about the world, so by the time you are older you know much about the world. However, if you are a youth, you have just come to know the world. You do not know get involved with other politics of life, and therefore you want to know more and experience different things.

The Romantics favorite age groups was youth, because this is the age group where all the excitement of life takes place. This group comes up with new ideas, and are ready to take risks. This is what employers want to hire, people that are ready get things done with speed and efficiency. Youths have this in themselves. They do not think too much about the work. They hurry up and get things done. Whereas, an older man or a women will take their time making decisions, and worrying about their future. An older person may not be able to work at a very high speed. With the world getting so much more competitive, employers need young people to do their work at a high speed. Youths do not make rational decisions, and therefore the employers can easily exploit them at any point of the youth career; this also makes then the perfect age group to hire.

Just getting out of some kind of education, youths are also filled with knowledge. They want to try different things and work on different experiments. Youths are the ones that are going to provide the rest of the world new products, and various kinds of technology. This is the kind of workers employers want to hire, someone that can give them new products that will sell in the market. The older generation in today's world are not that efficient with computers as a youth might be. Employers are constantly wanting to upgrade to the level of societies standards, and the younger generation are the perfect people to do such a job.

Article: "Marriage and Single Life"

by: Si Francis Bacon

Central Argument

Single men are more successful in their life because they do not have to worry about their children or wife, and the cost of marriage.

I agree with Francis Bacon in his essay “Marriage and single life” where he focuses on how single men are more successful. This statement can be true in Francis Bacon's time period because when a man married he had to look after his wife and children. The women did not work or get paid for doing house work, so the man had to be able to afford a living that was suitable for his wife and children. He might be constantly worried about his family, and if he can provide for them. However, in today's world women are allowed to work and earn. The educated women do not marry until later in their life. This gives them time to be successful as well as any other man. In today's world men and women do not have to marry because societies views have changed. Men and women can be in a healthy relationship without having to worry about children. Or without the man worrying about his wife and children.

In today's world every person has a chance to be successful without relying on his or her partner. A women does not need to depend on her husband to take care of her. Therefore, the man does not need to worry about his wife or children. A man and a women can be in a healthy relationship, where one does not rely on the the other for financial support. The two do not need to marry or have kids. In fact both can live a standard life by being with a partner or alone. With societies views changing an individual does not need to rely if the society is going to accept his or her point of view.

Each individual is different, and each has a different ways to live. Some like having the support of another. In this case marriage, or being in a relationship can be the better option, however, some want like to live alone and are happier that way. A close friend of mine always thought that marriage will block out all success in her life. However, she soon met a man that she fell deeply in love with. My friend who is a successful doctor married her husband who is also a successful doctor. She decided that this was the better options for her. Unlike before when the women had to rely on her husband for financial support. Today each women can earn as much as any other man. This causes things to change. The man does not have to constantly worry about his wife.

Marriage is a relationship where both sides have to be in agreement. Now days love marriages are more common. People marry not because it is better for the family's reputation, but because they are in love. Now it is more common for women and men both to work and take care of a family together. This does not only worry the man in the marriage but also the women. In today's marriages couples work together to have a better married and successful life.

TV Is Good For You

TV is good for the rural women in India, because it exposes them to new ideas, peers that they can look up to, and get away from traditional views.

People are influenced all over the world by different people. Rural women in India may not be literate, therefore the only way of expanding their views is through TV. When cable has made its way to rural places in India, the women are likely to get some part of the technology. TV may not be good in the western part of the world, however, according to an article named TV Is Good For You the rural women in India are exposed to new ideas thank to TV.

Living in a rural part of India, I have noticed changes taking place. Every night around seven o'clock women switch on the TV to watch various dramas. These dramas consists of characters who may go through similar situations as the ones that rural women go through. The female characters face ups and downs, family drama, abuse by their in-laws, rejection from their own family. Many women in India are made to think that they are the slaves of their husbands and the in-laws. Watching these shows, the rural women of India are watching how a women can have independence, make her own choices, and live how she wants. These shows give women courage to stand up to their families and fight their way to freedom. In these dramas that come on TV the rural women see how there are opportunities out in the world that they too can have. Everyday that they watch these dramas the women are exposed to new ideas and new experiences. Once exposed to new ideas women feel they have the right to make their own choice, and do as they wish. They no longer have to be subjected, they can gain freedom.

The women start looking at the TV shows not just for entertainment but for people who are going through similar situations. Once one has the courage to stand against societies views, the others (rural women) get the courage to stand up for themselves. These dramas help the women to see that they aren't they only ones going through a rough patch. Others may also be going through a rough time. Seeing these shows encourages women to think out side of traditional views. They start to think about themselves, not just how to impress or have a happy family.

They no longer feel that they have to sit at home and cook, or look after the children. The views of this women are changing. The shows range from having teen characters, to having grandmothers. Each character goes through some kind of trouble. The rural women see women just like them standing up for themselves. They no longer feel that they have to have a son in the family. They start seeing job opportunities outside of just being a good mother. The women, just like any other man can have social lives, without getting permission from their husbands, or fathers. Through these dramas the women see that there is a world outside the four walls of their own house. They realize that the other women have moved away from traditional views and it is time that they too move away from them.

Rick Santorum, Meet my son

Women should be able to make their own choices regarding their pregnancy, with as much information as they can possibly get, because then it is the women's choice not one that the others make for her.

Through out our lives we face many decisions and we need to be able to make the right choice. Women's lives have been controlled by other for centuries. The article Rick Santorum, meet my sons, talks about how the womens son faces disease, and how the son will die any time soon. This hurts the mother. She does not truly know what to do. She loves the child as much as any mother would love their child. The situation she faces is a lack of information before the baby was born. If she knew that the baby boy was going to have a disease which aren't curable she says she would have aborted the child out of love. She like no other human being wants to see her son suffer. We all have loved ones, who care for us, and are their in times of need. This little baby boy has his mother who loves him, however, she cannot do much to save him. Yes she loves him, but is that enough?

A women should not be judged on the decisions she makes of her pregnancy. If a child is going to turn out to be a little defected and suffer most of its life, what is the point of the child being born? The mother may love her child, but does that mean she acts selfish and allows the child to suffer? A mother's love, I suppose, is hard to understand. If she aborts the baby knowing that the baby is not going to enjoy its childhood is that loving? I imagine mothers do what is going to be best for their child. Whether it is aborting the child or letting the child live?

It is the mothers choice to do what she wants with the baby she has to carry for nine months. We all face difficult choices. But when we face such situations do we always have all the information there to make the right choice? The mother in the article did not have all the information, and now the baby suffers every second of his life. Do we as humans like suffering, generally not.

If we make a decisions without the influence of others we humans feel satisfied. A women should not have to do what she is told to do. She should be given the choice to make. Surely a mother, wouldn't harm her own baby in any way. A mother always looks out for her children, so no matter what the situation is she will always look for the better of her child.

I know my loved ones will always look out for me. They may be strict at sometimes, but that is because they know that is what I need. Women all over the world are judged. In many parts of the world if there is a baby girl born it is a disgrace to the family. The women in such situations does not get to make the choices, others do. Whey is it that when there is a baby the women does not get to make her own choices, after all it is her baby. If a child is going to suffer most of its life, the women should choose to do what she wants with the baby.