Week 7: Summary on concept essays.

The essay Cannibalism written by Linh Kieu Ngo illustrates the different beliefs of the practice. Cannibalism can be broken down into two main categories: exocannibalism and endocannibalism. “Exo” represents the eating of outsiders or foreigners and “endo” is described as the eating of members within a social group. Three of the most common functional cannibalism is survival, dietary and religious/ritual cannibalism. The only acceptable type of cannibalism in my opinion is survival cannibalism. It is necessary to take action in dire situation in order to preserve a human life, even if that action may include the consumption of human flesh. The Chemistry of Love written by Anastasia Toufexis can be summarized into two main concepts. Amphetamines fuel romance and endorphins/oxytocin sustain lasting heterosexual relationships. Although the physical evidence is defined, chemical reactions do not explain why specific people are initially attracted to each other. Toufexis explains that the intial attraction occurs because each of us carries a “unique subliminal map” (144) that lead us unwearyingly to a partner. In addition, she explains that men search for maximal fertility, whereas women look for security, resources, status, and a willingness to be a father. The essay Born to be Happy, through a Twist of Human Hard Wire, written by Richard Friedman, describes that everyone has good and bad moods. Everyone suffers setbacks that have emotional consequences. Friedman explains that some people are wired emotionally under two categories: dysthymic and hyperthymic. That is, people’s temperaments and their genes inclined their emotions to behave in a depressed or happy mood and are uncontrolled. The essay In the Blink of an Eye written by Bob Holmes describes that human activities transform the Earth, forcing species to die. What are our moral responsibilities as individuals and as a nation? What are the possible steps to reverse our destruction on the very same planet we live upon? Apparently our human existence is causing rapid contemporary evolution because of our constant destruction on the environment.

Week 6: The Long Walk Ch. 1-5

The first chapter of The Long Walk describes Slavomir Rawicz experience as a prisoner of the Soviet Union. He explains every detail from the clothes on his back to the detailed description of his prison cell. Rawicz was interrogated and tortured on a daily bases. The Russians were persistent in their search for the “truth” and believed that Rawicz was a polish spy because he was able to speak Polish and Russian. They wanted him to sign a release form that stated his identity as a Polish spy. The Russian secret police used several torturing device on their prisoners and often succeeded. One of the device that Rawicz described was called a kishka—a cell-like chimney. The kishka was often filled with bodily fluid, waste and had a horrific odor left by other prisoners. The second chapter describes Rawicz sentence and trial. The judge too was persistent in his search for the truth. Other officials in the courtroom kept questioning Rawicz identity and trying to convince him to tell the truth. Rawicz has spent days and weeks in prison and being tortured. He logically explained to himself that even if he tells the truth and conforms to the identity perceived by the Russian that his life would not get any worst. In fact, after Rawicz confessions, the Russians treated him a lot better than usual, but it did not last as he was to be transported to another prison. Chapter three, four, and five are similar because his experience in the truck, train, and another truck were all conflicted with the same harsh environment. There were little food, clothes, and it was always cold. The three trips he took were not wasteful as he build friendship with other prisoners and found that they had similarities. Most of the prisoners were force to plead their guilt as a threat to the Soviet Union.
The essay Cannibalism was a rather gruesome topic to research. Cannibalism can be divided into many subcategories. The only category that I would approve is the survival cannibalism in which the consumption of human flesh was a last resort to avoid starvation.

Week 5: Essays on Remembrance

The essay "Calling Home," written by Jean Brandt is a story about a time in Jean's young life when she shoplifted and was faced with an irrational punishment. People say that every action a person makes has an equal and opposite reaction. But jean's consequences were unlawful. I feel that the story was overly exaggerated. Would the police take a young child to jail for stealing an item that is less than a dollar? I think not. The significance of the essay explains the emotional effect and expression of shoplifting. The moral of the story is to not steal because there are consequences for each action. The emotional trauma will teach her not to repeat the action again. The essay “An American Childhood,” written by Annie Dillard explains the joy to “fling” oneself at opportunities presented in life. The story goes on to her childhood memory. She explains that when she was young, she threw a snowball at a car and the owner got out and started to chase her. At the end of the pursuit, all the man said was, “You stupid kids.” The significance explains that goals in life are to be met and pursued “wholeheartedly and fearlessly”. Another perspective can suggest that she learned her lesson: be careful in what you do. The essay “On Being a Real Westerner,” written by Tobias Wolff is a story about his childhood experience with ammunition. The significance of the essay explains a certain characteristic that is expressed in role playing. Wolff experiences bravery as he played soldier. He also enjoyed the role of a soldier and being able to hold a rifle—feeling the sense of power. He also experiences the emotional trauma of killing an animal. The essay “100 Miles per Hour, Upside Down and Sideways,” written by Rick Bragg is a story about a time when Rick got into a tragic accident and survived. The story in itself is a miracle because the police officer said that he surely should have died from the crash. He saved up his earnings to purchase the car and got into a reckless accident. He was speeding on the highway and a police car spotted him. He slammed on the gas and ended up landing in a ditch upside down because he lost control of his vehicle. In the end, he got the car fixed and eventually sold it to a pastor’s son. I find the ending to be ironic because Rick and others proclaim that his survival is due to God’s will for him. The story sounds unbelievable and I feel that it is exaggerated, and perhaps even made-believed.