The Tao Of A Tree

When leaves have fallen, roots and bark are left, what is intangible such as Tao, is unlimited. Tao has no description. It is a path, a way, or a source of power and balance. It is the whole, the mother of all things. Tao gives the basics of live, to the known, tangible and named. It is beyond form, beyond what is hidden, further than what is present. It has no beginning and no ending. Tao is available as aid to release what is material, and to be able to reach a spiritual peak with only what life delivers. One has to take advantage of what is already there, knowing and being aware of what is important and what is logical. Then pure simplicity is reached, where wisdom and humility come into action. Humility is appreciating what is simple, and wisdom is a matter of choosing simplicity, with non-intention, non-action and non-contention. A tree is plain simplicity, it is the most basic shape in nature, a memory of necessity.

A tree is a selfless living thing. It is harmless, simple, a true example of nature’s beauty. The tree is the protector of the world. It takes our damage (CO2), and makes it beneficial for our survival (O2). This is done subconsciously, we (as humans) keep on damaging the world by creating CO2 and all trees do is what their nature was programmed to do, they by following each of nature’s laws, is valuable for the rest of the world. Trees are an example of life itself. They have a chance of eternity. The problem is that they are dependent on heaven and earth, because they have been there since the beginning, they will be there to the end. They will last until everything of earth (in general) remains. They are the providers, therefore what any other needs. Trees are the beginning of the cycle of life, the bottom of the food pyramid. Innocent and necessary to the rest. Who sees it this way, is in position to take advantage.

A tree serves as a shelter, it literally is a supplier, or maybe an organism that is overused, still it is helpful for everything. It serves as a home for living things, the shelter of life. It is the refuge of the beginning, the mother figure for the cycle to continue, without a tree where to start? It is the support, mostly for humans, which overdo its intentions. Makes life easier, by providing everything. Wood and paper mostly for decoration. It is the source of fire, what humans consider their start, the principal of our natural life. We need trees, but they don’t need humans, it is not a mutual relationship. They basically are our lungs, contribute our air, what we depend on living. A tree only gives us profit, it is the foundation to our needs. Some trees have food, others give us money, and most give air. What else do we need? What else do we want to take of nature? When will we see that trees don’t need us? They are better without us, we just keep on cutting them and damaging the rest of the world. Humans keep on complicating everything for everyone (mostly for them), but is inevitable if we keep on taking the simplicity out, we keep on damaging by innovating and misleading. It is just a matter of live being weary, and just wanting to have its final ending.

A tree is a symbol of wisdom, the ancient path. Its roots are so long that, their start isn’t clear. They prove knowledge just by standing there, by there perception of living each day undefined. Trees have always been there. They have lived and seen mostly everything. For this (and their necessity), they have never been forgotten. A tree is like an ancient master, “Who can wait quietly while the mud settles? Who can remain still until the moment of action? Observers of the Tao do not seek fulfillment. Not seeking fulfillment, they are not swayed by desire for change.” (pg. 17). A tree fits the description given in Tao Te Ching of the ancient masters, “The ancient masters were subtle, mysterious, profound, responsive.” (pg. 17). A tree is not seeking fulfillment, and by these it provokes no desire, which means no change comes from trees. They remain still for all those years, with profound wisdom and simplicity of nature. Trees have no desire, no evil, no selfishness. It serves to everything that surrounds it. It is exemplar of ingenuity and kindness. Trees preserve through many years. All left is their presence, felt by their spirit, or their essence. It stands firm, not following others. A tree gives peace when there is chaos, and is ignorant to good and evil. A tree contains from the rest, to surpass what is left.

In life, trees are a symbol of several things, and as well used as concepts for various things. They are represented by their branches and their roots. Their roots are knowledge, their wisdom compared with their age. Their branches are choices, they are the options we have, either to living, or forgiving. They symbolize what we have for life, that there is a way out and that choices are numerous. A tree then is left to representation, for you to judge it the way you want to. It can be a naïve piece of wood that only enriches materialism. A source of the world, the beginning of a wonderful life. The nourishing mother of what nature extends. The tree only stands there, quietly letting you acknowledge your view to him, your view to life itself. To open your eyes without fulfillment, without selfishness. A tree wants you to wonder more than what you see, to open your essence to simplicity. Remain subtle when ingenuity overtakes, and mostly prove that there is a start to any ending.

Withdraw And Follow

Go is a game of saving yourself. It is not about taking out your opponent but of compromising yourself. Usually a game is like a life. Sometimes you sacrifice, other times you need, and it is always about loosing and wining. It is really uncertain which is best, to win or to loose? In Go it is logically better to win (as in most games), still the only way is by trying to loose. It is played the same way that Tao Te Ching is read, without desire. In this particular game, it is about playing your opponent, and yourself. As in Tao Te Ching, there is a need of analysis for every move, to think how it is going to affect you in the entire situation. When you read Tao you want to understand the whole book, connect it, which is your objective in the game.

Forever Is Beneficial

Everything on earth has a beginning and an ending. Everything that already exists, subsists because it has a name. “The name that can be named is not the eternal name.” (pg.3), which means that what doesn’t exist, or doesn’t have a name, is eternal. The nameless’ energy then never gets destroyed, or misled, it never dies. For instance, heaven and earth, “Heaven and earth last forever. Why do heaven and earth last forever? They are unborn, so ever living.” (pg. 9), they actually never were born, and then are they real, or just an idea? They are named, but unborn, so do they exist? Then what really comes into importance, are not the unborn heaven and earth, but the interaction of everything with heaven and earth, the reason why they are named and eternal.

For everything to exist, there is a “universal law” to follow. Not exactly a law, but a natural order of things in general. A balance in which there is stability among the known. Every object, substance, element, bit and piece complements each other. To harmonize between each other, things become opposites. “Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness. All can know good as good only because there is evil.” (pg. 4), this maxim is prove of how opposites are dependent, this means that without any of them the other wouldn’t exist. The matter of eternity, is empty within contrary. By contradicting themselves, they follow an order of being. Consequently, the primal virtue is taken, which explains that the body comes in pair with the soul, this is the spirit. They complete each other, probably by differing. In this way, benefit for usefulness comes from opposites, which are the basis of the material world in which we live. It is beneficial or useful, to complete what is not there, it is a compromise of taking ambition into simplicity, and wanting what is careless. In the following maxim, “Therefore benefit comes from what is there; usefulness from what is not there.” (pg.13), opposites are beneficial, therefore useful, in what materialism takes care and the spirit forgets.

Just Keep Swimming

Coco Chanel once said, “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” Everyone intends to be different on their own way. Everybody wants to be irreplaceable, unique. They are in need of being an individual, literally, one person, distinctive from the rest. To be different then one has to be individual from society, be distinguished. Being different, corresponds to being yourself, you have to keep track of your actions, and the principles you have. When the Master says, “I have never been able to do anything for a person who is not himself constantly asking, ‘What should I do? What should I do?’” (15.16), it clearly explains the importance of being oneself, of identifying our own principles. Then, your actions form their own path, you are able to leave your own mark. By asking what should I do, the concept is mistake, you can’t sit and wait for your footprint to get there, it is your responsibility to create it.

Principles enlarge any person, they are able to withstand any control. For this result, you have to sharpen your tools. Use everything you have available to brighten your life. These tools are a double side weapon, if they are misused, they go against you, and they drown you into society. For example, “When the multitude hates a person, you must examine them and judge for yourself. The same holds true for someone whom the multitude love.” (15.28), when someone judges they have already found their principles, they judge because this certain person isn’t in their standards. Still, does this give the right to anyone to judge? Judgment is a matter of using your tools, either you judge to drown others, or you don’t so that others judge you. Is there any other way in society to use your tools, to just keep swimming without anyone else drowning?

What is the word?

Words That Sound Alike: Exercise 1
Question

Question	Your Answer	The Correct Answer	Your Response is:
Question 1	Where	Where	Correct
Question 2	wear	wear	Correct
Question 3	we're	we're	Correct
Question 4	to	to	Correct
Question 5	two	two	Correct
Question 6	too	too	Correct
Question 7	conscious	conscious	Correct
Question 8	conscience	conscience	Correct
Question 9	led	led	Correct
Question 10	lead	lead	Correct
Question 11	their	their	Correct
Question 12	They're	They're	Correct
Question 13	there	there	Correct
Question 14	idea	idea	Correct
Question 15	ideal	ideal	Correct
Question 16	than	than	Correct
Question 17	then	then	Correct
Question 18	It's	It's	Correct
Question 19	its	its	Correct
Question 20	You're	You're	Correct
Question 21	your	your	Correct
Question 22	advise	advise	Correct
Question 23	advice	advice	Correct

Correct
You had 23 out of 23 questions correct.
Very good!

Pursue What You Know

“I transmit rather than innovate. I trust in and love the ancient ways.” (7.1)

Confucius feels that transmitting lessons is much better than creating new ones. This means that he sticks to what he has been taught, to what gave him knowledge. Then, innovation is not always right, it is not always trusted, many times fails. Innovation is only right with, knowledge, it only works this way. Instead, with transmitting there is no need for knowledge, as the master says “I am not someone who was born with knowledge. I simply love antiquity, and diligently look there for knowledge.”(7.20). He is referring to what one transmits, lessons, which show the pursue of dreams that are worth, lessons bring up believe. They make us imagine our aspirations, through what we learn, through what we are transmitted. The master then says something about pursuing, “If wealth were something worth pursuing, then I would pursue it, even if that meant serving as an officer holding a whip at the entrance to the marketplace. Since it is not worth pursuing, however, I prefer to follow that which I love.” (7.12), he says just follow what you love, no matter what it is.

Knowledge makes life easier. It is a personal burden, life, but with knowledge you are able to move along. Knowledge is gained, with it you are able to be virtuous and to self-cultivation. “No doubt there are those who try to innovate without acquiring knowledge, but this is a fault I do not possess. I listen widely, and then pick out that which is excellent in order to follow it; I see many things, and then remember them. This constitutes a second-best sort of knowledge.” (7.28), the master intends to prove how basic it is communicating, not only transmitting but listening. Learning and teaching, knowledge the pursue of us all, besides goodness, the key to living.

Goodness...

In the Analects, Confucius describes morality, principles and virtues make his goals for the perfect gentleman. Then, virtues come in consideration rather than principles. “The Master said, “Acquiring Virtue by applying the mean-is this not best? And yet among the common people few are able to practice virtue for long.” (6.29), he is saying that virtue is not always there, that is hard, that not everybody has it. Virtues are the moral conduct, therefore, your ideology and basis to be a better person, one better according to your interpretation. This way it is beneficial to coexist not only as an individual inside of a society but as oneself. Then come principles, the basis of a society, then this are already there, and will always be, we as individuals have to fit in the ones we belong. According to these the master says that virtues are the strategy of education instead of principles. For that reason he would be saying that it is better to have and be a better person, over having laws for a better society. But, isn’t the good of an individual still good for a society? Each individual conforms a society, the good of each makes a good of all. Besides, virtues are to coexist, not to only to oneself but to others. Goodness? Why goodness? What is exactly goodness? Confucius describes what happens with and without goodness, but never what goodness itself is. “Merely set your heart sincerely upon Goodness and you will be free of bad intentions.” (4.4), this says it all, goodness is just good, the option to stay away from the bad. Goodness in The Analects is given the same importance as God in the Bible, God and Good, Good is God, God is Good…is there a connection, as if Goodness were a force, would God be a force? Goodness, is the morally positive, in any behavior, why so much important? How can someone state what is morally positive for all (such as principles), when the strategy of education are virtues (what is morally positive for each)?

Is Innocence Blind?

I’ve always said that all left in life are choices. This episode of Job finally proves my point, when it is implied how destiny depends on your decisions. Satan says that destiny is written. Evil then says that destiny is written…but what does God say? Is it self explanatory? Probably, maybe the reason why God is so logical. So evil, it is inside you, the “other” side of you, the one you choose to be, or for a moment, an action, your choice. Yes, it is unbelievable how choices influence us so much. Everyday we are exposed to many different choices which remark our life completely. Choosing between water and juice, maybe is not the best example, but when deciding, pay attention to every mislead, detail every part, because choices do determine anything. When Job “shunned evil” all God could do was forgive, one of the hardest actions towards anyone. It is proving to them that you are fine, that it is okay to you what they did, you forgive them, but what they really need to do is forgive themselves. In that case when God forgives Job, the mistake remains in Job, it was his own path, his own destiny, his life. Still he questions God, anger…disappointment, the feeling so unlikely and disapproved. Why is he the almighty? Why does he judge all? Why does he judge me? Questions maybe of jealousy, the frightened envied destiny, the one he wanted but at the same time feared. When Job says, “The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.” (Job 18:7), he is cursing, wishing the worst for that which he wants. Then Satan is right, are destiny is written, but still we chose which destiny to write.

The Contest

“He who does not punish evil, commands it to be done.”

-Leonardo Da Vinci

Satan doesn’t punish evil, he commands it. This is exactly what he does, and what we usually avoid. What it means, is that evil is wrong, and that is entirely, true, evil is evil. The same way God is God, and good is good. It was as if God and Satan were playing a game. Job’s life, a contest for his happiness, for his believes. We have always been taught that God is the “good one”, yes, he is the best the one to follow, and our hearts always guide us to him. I am not saying it is wrong, it is simply to forced, the truth, of what we have to believe. Then comes the image we have of Satan, the one taught to us, the mean guy, who frightens our insides, without notice he is there, wondering why evil wasn’t before. I find then Job to be an unpredictable person, as most humans, he is in the middle of a question, waiting to be answered, but all he needs is patience. Evil or good? It is really all up to him. God directs to humans as his servants, something Satan doesn’t agree with, “And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.” (Job 2:4), Satan criticizing God, for what man is to be proved. Job is the first one to analyze the options, Satan or God? As if not determined right or wrong among them. He has this anger towards God, which somehow leads to the acceptance of evil. Job then is forced to question God, as if he weren’t enough, “Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?” (Job 6:30), pure judgment, definitely undiscovered.

What I would then suggest, is that evil is a state of mind, specially in Job, to which God doesn’t give answers to his questions (but this is the true mystery about faith, about religion itself). Wisdom is Job’s tool, used to discriminate between good and evil, his choice towards a decision. At the end it is clear, Job fears God, avoids evil and pursues wisdom. Job was a man who wanted to learn.

Man Of The People: The True Persuader

Barrack Obama is a well-known candidate for the presidency as representative of the Democratic party of the United States. His acceptance speech for presidency is persuasive and monotonous. He constantly implies how grateful he is for being elected, somehow humble and gives the appearance of compassion. This then becomes part of pathos, the rhetorical division used to persuade. Obama is in his speech always promising of what he will do. This is somehow cliché but still, used by him to prove that promises are to be remembered. Besides, he exposes his opponent not only to convince, but in a repetitive manner. Therefore, it is evident how Obama expresses himself by logos, pathos, and ethos.

ETHOS
 “You know, unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America. “
 “I stood up and opposed this war, knowing that it would distract us from the real threats that we face.”
 “When John McCain said we could just muddle through in Afghanistan, I argued for more resources and more troops to finish the fight against the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11, and made clear that we must take out Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants if we have them in our sights.”
 “America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this. “
 “Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment, but, really, what does it say about your judgment when you think George Bush has been right more than 90 percent of the time?”
 “Now, I don't believe that Senator McCain doesn't care what's going on in the lives of Americans; I just think he doesn't know.”
 “You know, John McCain likes to say that he'll follow bin Laden to the gates of Hell, but he won't even follow him to the cave where he lives.”
 “And when one of his chief advisers, the man who wrote his economic plan, was talking about the anxieties that Americans are feeling, he said that we were just suffering from a mental recession and that we've become, and I quote, "a nation of whiners." “These are not whiners. They work hard, and they give back, and they keep going without complaint. These are the Americans I know.”

PATHOS
 “It is that promise that's always set this country apart, that through hard work and sacrifice each of us can pursue our individual dreams, but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams, as well. That's why I stand here tonight. Because for 232 years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women -- students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors -- found the courage to keep it alive.”
 “So -- so let me -- let me spell out exactly what that change would mean if I am president.”
 “I'll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars.”
 “You know, Michelle and I are only here tonight because we were given a chance at an education. And I will not settle for an America where some kids don't have that chance.”
 “Tonight, tonight, I say to the people of America, to Democrats and Republicans and independents across this great land: Enough. This moment...This moment, this moment, this election is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive.”
 “And when I hear a woman talk about the difficulties of starting her own business or making her way in the world, I think about my grandmother, who worked her way up from the secretarial pool to middle management, despite years of being passed over for promotions because she was a woman.”

LOGOS
 “More of you have lost your homes and even more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can't afford to drive, credit cards, bills you can't afford to pay, and tuition that's beyond your reach.”
 “ These challenges are not all of government's making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed policies of George W. Bush.”
 “I'll eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow. I will -- listen now -- I will cut taxes -- cut taxes -- for 95 percent of all working families, because, in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle class.”
 “…that sits on its hands while a major American city drowns before our eyes.”
 “But I will also go through the federal budget line by line, eliminating programs that no longer work and making the ones we do need work better and cost less, because we cannot meet 21st-century challenges with a 20th-century bureaucracy.”
 “The truth is, on issue after issue that would make a difference in your lives -- on health care, and education, and the economy -- Senator McCain has been anything but independent.”
 “Ours -- ours is a promise that says government cannot solve all our problems, but what it should do is that which we cannot do for ourselves: protect us from harm and provide every child a decent education; keep our water clean and our toys safe; invest in new schools, and new roads, and science, and technology.”
 “Our government should work for us, not against us. It should help us, not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who's willing to work.”

After hearing his speech, and as well analyzing it, I realized Obama cares for what he is doing. He is not any other candidate who wants to persuade and get fame. He really believes in change. His promises…well they are promises, and all he can do, is try to keep them. I realized that he is a man of the people. Yes, wondering what is best for other’s benefit, not for himself. Then to get this image, this caretaking image, he has to convince, mostly using pathos. Obama as a politician is able to read people’s emotions and play with them. To get that sympathy, as if we the one’s hearing him, knew him perfectly. This simulated reliance, which he then gains by means of ethos. Barrack Obama is candidate who trusts and is trusted.

License To Love

I have always looked forward to having my own children. Being a mother, for sure is a great experience. That first look to your child, the special bonding reached, inexplicable, a feeling only a mother can tell. It is like love at first sight, some may think it isn’t real, but how can you explain this? It is a unique bond. This connection is not biological, it is one that is developed. It begins by that first look, and then it is created throughout the years, day by day. An example of an artificial bond is the one experienced by Saul and David. For them it was as if something was missing in their lives. They were in need to find the peace within them, mostly Saul, who had been abandoned by LORD. As follows, “And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.” ( Samuel 1, 16:21), it is logical and majestic their straight affinity. Then particularly an adoption, they don’t know each other, Saul needs someone to withstand and rely on, and David looks for more, and when they meet… BAM! Love! A miraculous, unique, and systematic union.

“They Were Fallen By The Sword”

The king of Israel, Saul, after going into war with the Amalekites, has lost his son, but above all, his beloved crown, and ultimately his life. His dear friend, David, mourned for his death, I might say, his companion of a journey beyond all reigns. What was to be lost, was gone without a trail. The worse of all was that Saul believed his life was less than his crown, and he gave it up for the further penalty of a victorious failure. Living without a crown meant dishonor, destitution, a feeling that not any king could overtake, he had by himself to accept his own punishment. By loosing a war, Saul had lost his prestige, which was something he couldn’t stand. This then was threatening, therefore meant that his only way out was his own death. Apparently, we think alike in terms of the dignity we have left, because when being enemies, the Amalekite then was forced to a crime he thought was naïve, only to serve the petitions of a king which was misled by lack of power. Then, in Saul’s words, “Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.” (Samuel 2, 1:9), his misfortune is seen.

A common misfortune, that is simply not planned, not expected, not destined, not controlled, known as suffering a terminal disease. The adverse person definitely has a troubling choice. To live or not to live? Their live is in their hands, no choice but the one they take, no further notice. Euthanasia is what I’m talking about. Yes, that unique path to overcome, the final lesson to some, the final challenge to solve. There is something so unjust about getting into this “step” of life, is it karma? Is it by random choice? Does God influence? For me it is just not right…WHY? Saul had his own Euthanasia, one that only he could understand. It is a matter of wanting, of believing, fateful choices that by themselves stand alone, this means they are the only ones left to living. It is always said that everything happens for a reason…how can this statement apply if a fulfilling life ends without exceptions? The only way personally to say what would you do if you were in such situation, is being there, living each moment of it. The mistakes and overtakes, maybe at last a happy ending. We are given a trial that without a doubt is obvious, but still not exposed. When the Amalekite man says, “…because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen…” (Samuel 2, 1:10), he takes a decision so obvious for him, but so blinded for Saul, that all we do is open his eyes, mislead that broken path. At the end misfortune regrets its own destiny.

Adjust The Power

God is God for being the greatest of all, the almighty, the transcendental force of knowledge. Knowledge, the main difference between the LORD and mankind, well, is how knowledge itself is able to distribute the judgment among the community that stands by itself. But is this community the one in a constant conflict between their believes and the wisdom above all? YES. Of course, God and its seekers revolve around one idea, which explains thoroughly the behavior when people judge God.

For example, in the movie Bruce Almighty we can say is an adaptation of the way God is shown in Exodus, the way he as a ruler is able to manage the situations involving power, when people overrule him. This is a constant friction between us humans and him, as the maximum exponent of authority over us. Our relationship with the LORD is a balance of weight, when he feels greater we encourage the power (suppose to be our duty in the first place for us the followers of religion), and when we feel greater God’s job is to remove that feeling. It is a vicious circle.

“Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing where in they dealt proudly he was above them.” (Exodus18:11), here is implied how God is magnified by his followers. God is an interpretation, we are not even sure if he is real, we only stand there in cause of our faith. This is probably why in modern times all we have is each person’s opinion about this image that overcomes any other. One well known representation of God is then in Bruce Almighty. God is seen as one disguised between the people. He figures (as part as his job), to help one of his own, since the only way to help the whole is going little by little. Bruce then is given God’s power, which obviously having God’s powers is being greater, but a difference about this certain movie is how at the end, is not this way, if God is really there this means, his powers are diminished, or sometimes overrated.

Who's the boss?

How do we create a hero? Everybody has their own role model, or hero, or simply a world wide superman. For example we constantly relate our hero to the person we are closest to, or know the most, usually parents which become our idols. We probably admire famous characters because their life is exposed to the entire world, we think we know them and imitate them. So if our life would be displayed it would be there for anyone to take as their own guide, what I’m saying is that anybody can be a hero. How would you then identify a hero? Your biggest admiration, the person you can look up to, a future prospect and an influence for any decision. When you admire you give power to that one person, but is this power always granted?

The power taken by God is always granted, our faith equals his power. But the misuse of power is the main issue of a true hero. We can identify this in the constant encounters of power versus power, I mean, between God and Pharaoh. This situation unleashed one of the first disagreements between a nation and its leader, between Hebrews and the Pharaoh. Actually, Hebrew were repressed by the power of his ruler, they served him, for his own benefit. Corruption? I think so, it’s just a way to manipulate his control over what is already done. The pharaoh was seeking what was right for him, not what was right for his nation (which is not what he was supposed to do). This is the pure example of power. Exactly what the image of God reflects. Then this constant divergence shows how humans want more than what god destined them to have, yes…ambition, which in the first place is the cause of corruption.

Moses is the first true hero expressed in the bible. He is the savior of the Israelites in their constant conflicts with the Pharaoh and God. We can say that Moses is God’s representative to the people, he interferes to help his nation against the oppression of the Pharaoh while God intervenes. Then the relationship ends up being: God recurrently argues with Moses, while Moses helps the people who are limited by the Pharaoh. But is commitment the key to this relationship?

Up the Mountain Moses

We need to see to believe, is a constant reminder of what we do every day. The sight is tricky, and the mind plays with our believes, is an unusual thing in the human nature. But why­? Is how we are made. This takes me to the story I will tell, a story of proves and faith. “I AM THAT I AM”, five words used by LORD to convince Moses of being his messenger, five words that helped Moses to recover the faith of a lost nation. Egypt had been forgotten, misplaced by their conviction, one they left behind when mentioned GOD. Their Pharaoh had been a repressor, one who seeks to get all to his benefit from his people. When Moses went up that mountain he was as any other, the only difference is that he reached for help. Being God and seeing such desperate times he gave his hand, commanded his follower to help. All Moses could think was that the oppressed would again respond with disbelieve, in his words they would say, “What is his name? what shall I say unto them?” (Exodus 3:13), and all he would had was what he saw. It is funny how ironic this is being faith a believe to see interpretation about life, no prove to what is guided by god, here expressed as see to believe, more scientific.

Anyway, Moses saw that they wouldn’t believe him until they saw all he had, God’s response was simply “I AM THAT I AM”, which may imply how God is a mystery and that is just what he is. On the other hand the visual prove he provides is the cane turned into a serpent. The nation doesn’t have a choice but to believe after the miracles Moses gave them. How can the bible turn religion scientific and switch back to straight faith? An inexplicable answer about moderate contradiction. What I understand is that the old testament is the historical part according to religion, and the new testament faith and acknowledgements.

An Injust Lord

It is always important to know the facts before the actions. The story shown in Genesis 12 proves my point. Abram was blessed by Lord after blessing others, he received back everything he gave, and deserved a woman in his life. Lord said to search his wife in Egypt, after blessing this land, therefore a foreign land to him. The blessing then was brought to him, a wife for life. To be able to survive in this unfamiliar country, he disguised himself and his new braid as siblings. She was Egyptian, and he was Hebrew, being from two different nations or cultures was mostly prohibited. Unfortunately the Pharaoh took Abram’s wife, upon knowing he was her sister. Lord had said, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3), all in protection of Abram who was just going were his religion demanded him. Then Lord had to punish the Pharaoh, but for an action the Pharaoh wasn’t aware of knowing. The pharaoh proves his innocence by asking Abram why he had received such plagues. Abram is able to trust that nothing is to happen to him, and he tells the truth. Knowing this assured Abram the blessing from Lord. In my opinion an injustice story…How come lying comes to be rewarded, and innocence punished?

Recline of the Divine

White skies, green lines
Under mountains were we recline,
Separated and mutually fond,
The last touch kept undone.

More than aware not to fall,
Felt the rejoice before it broke,
The divine and the one soul
Committed in stroke,
Over leaf, over sun
Leaping away, ready to run.

Resting over earth,
Drift as in the air
Much like a rebirth,
Although carried with despair
Notice it's ignored,
The miracle explored.

Mark the Meter

The vile/ cushions/ above/ the air
Weeping/ the death/ of the sun,
The streets/ resting/ full of /despair
Shooting/ his tears/ with a gun,
Hit by/ bullets/, crying/ in pain
Walking/ alone/ beneath/ the rain

Genesis

Honesty vs. Hipocrites

“Those who know not how to dissimulate, know not how to rule.” (Tacitus, pg.6)

Hypocrisy is often reached by ourselves in our social groups, as well as European rulers of the middle ages. The disputes expose this hypocrisy between the Scottish king James Stuart and his enemies. When I talk about disputes, I should pause there, since arguments led to changes. Arguments affected not only the king but the aristocrats, the lack of natural allies proves that. This is the main difference between the Scotland crown and the rest European crowns. Changes then were developed by disagreements and their interests. Hypocrisy then became their main interest as said, “To survive in this net of hostility, James had been forced to compromise and dissemble, to become cunning and to lie.” (pg. 6). In other words James was forced to wear another personality for him as a king to be able to move on. This was reflected in the weakness of the crown, which also was fed upon aristocrats disparities (social, political, religious, and economical). The country gave weight on its government and the government then turned to its people, who made the crown rely on its only opportunity, faith.

The king’s task became being God’s lieutenant, the same task that popes had, but with different interests. Now, the king had to deal with both the crown interests and the nobles’ issues. James reveals two faces, one for himself and another to the rest. This is plain hypocrisy, as the one compared to ourselves. Honestly, we live in a hypocrite society, one in which what we say is different from what we think. We even are hypocrite without thinking, we criticize and lie without knowing, it becomes one of those unconscious actions. Hypocrisy destroys, is part of what we know as social suicide. We by providing different faces forget honesty, an unconceivable value, one only remembered when needed.

Spell and Check

Corrected:
In dealing with students on the high-school level - that is, the second, third, and fourth year of high school - we must bear in mind that to some degree they are at a difficult psychological stage, generally called adolescence. Students at this level are likely to be confused mentally, to be subject to involuntary distractions and romantic dreaminess. They are basically timid or self-conscious, they lack frankness and are usually very sensitive but hate to admit it. They are motivated either by great ambition, probably out of all proportion to their capabilities, or by extreme laziness caused by the fear of not succeeding or attaining their objectives. Fundamentally they want to be kept busy but they refuse to admit it. They are frequently the victims of earlier poor training, and this makes every effort doubly hard. They are usually willing to work, but they hate to work without obtaining the results they think they should obtain. Their critical faculties are beginning to develop and they are critical of their instructors and of the materials they are given to learn. They are beginning to feel the pressure of time; and although they seldom say so, they really want to be consulted and given an opportunity to direct their own affairs, but they need considerable guidance.

Score: 201/215

Incorrect Words: physiological psycological phsychological bare

Use of Hints: psychological (13 times!)

Zoomed In

The preface to God’s Secretaries: The Making of King James Bible magnifies the piece of writing. It brings high expectations, which is what a preface can be used for, to persuade the reader into the writing. It says of the work as, “The translation these men made together can lay claim to be the greatest work in prose ever written in English.” (God’s Secretaries: The Making of King James Bible, xi), which is an immense assumption to make about any work of writing.

The perception I get is more knowledge, they mentioned examples and authors I was clueless about, translations and writings I hope to learn. I want to be able to understand who are the authors, what they write, and so make my own opinion. This preface is introductory to a high literacy.

According to the preface the writing will be in context to the era, but still different from other pieces written at the time. It says it wasn’t of “self-promotion”. Mentions, how complex it was to take the piece of writing to that level, the arguments, discussions, and the period in context. Most of all it seems political and religious, different from what we have read until now.

What is the word?

Words That Sound Alike: Exercise 1




You had 23 out of 23 questions correct.
Very good!

Cliché All the Way

Movie Titles:

1. What Happens in Vegas
2. In Her Shoes
3. Cheaper by a Dozen
4. Mission Impossible
5. Gone with the wind

Movie Plot Lines:

1. Poor girl/ boy trying to accomplish their dreams usually against all odds. (Ice Princess, Maid in Manhattan)
2. Romantic comedy: funny scenes, happy ending (Trust the Man, How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days)
3. Meeting the family (Meet the Fockers, Family Jewel)
4. Friends and their adventures (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Sex and the City)
5. Saving the United States as if saving the entire world (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow)

Unappreciated

Why does mythology explain some of the things we have now? All the flowers, birds, and even blueberries! When I finished reading a myth it either astonishes me, or disappoints me. Definitely, I don’t believe in what Greek mythology says, but its logic is right there. Is their way to answering why life is life, if that’s their point of view what is there to say?

Echo wants to be the first to begin a conversation. Most of us want to have the final argument. It is always about having the only one and right answer. In the myth it states, “Her bones were changed into rocks and there was nothing left of her but her voice. With that she is still ready to reply to any one who calls her, and keeps up her old habit of having the last word.” This is how mythology interprets what they didn’t understand, as Echo, a nymph. She wanted the last word and she was granted it, for us having the final word is crucial and makes us feel greater. Echo turned out to be the opposite of our intentions. Narcissus the self centred youth, can be interpreted as the flower, or what we know as narcissistic, “The term narcissism means love of oneself, and refers to the set of character traits concerned with self-admiration, self-centeredness and self-regard….While almost everyone is narcissistic to some degree, certain forms of narcissism can be highly dysfunctional” (Wikipedia, Narcissism). Here it says we all love ourselves to some degree, our ego is high or low, when it is too high we are dysfunctional. The same happens in any case of extremity, too much or too little is always a problem. The issue then is in staying in that “normal” spot, being able to control ourselves.

The doomed love of Pyramus and Thisbe proofs barriers. It is explanatory of the unreachable, what we don’t want. We always want what we can’t get, most of the times life works against us. What I like about mythology, is that it proves this point, life is not at all perfect. What we see in Disney or movies in general are mostly happy endings an hallucination of reality. In the case of Pyramus and Thisbe exposes how love can be impossible, and what we think we can get is always influenced by our actions, our beliefs, what we do and what we say. The memories of this imperfection are blueberries, according to Greek mythology this is how they came to be.

We sometimes give love but don’t receive, in mythology it is because of Cupid’s fault. His arrows, his misfortunes are a curse. In the case of Venus and Adonis, it is for his own mother. Venus is in love with Adonis, Adonis dies and his memory is a flower, what we know as Adonis. This love is often seen in real life, but we leave it for what is granted, or maybe because it is not enough. Love can get to be a curse, a calamity but something to be overcome in life.

Myths are never to be forgotten, myths are myths and that is why they are remembered. For me it how myths connect themselves to our present, how Greeks thought ahead, how they had a different point of view. Their religion explained everything to them, which can be why our religion doesn’t satisfy many of us. Now scientific proof has defeated this faith, but what still remains, can’t be taken away.

The Contract!

I, Manuela Giraldo, hereby understand and will abide by the Pre-AP/AP
(Print your name)
Academy’s expectations, obligations, and admission/drop policy outlined below with respect to my

admission status and standing in the Pre-AP/AP Course, English.
(Print the name of the Pre-AP/AP Course)
Pre-AP/AP Academy Expectations;
• Maintain Acceptable GPA,
• Motivated and Positive,
• Responsible and Dedicated Work Ethic,
• Attend Opportunity Day and/or Additional Review Classes,
• Complete AP College Board Exam,
• Sign Pre-AP/AP Student Contract.

Pre-AP/AP Academy Admission/Drop Policy;
• First Progress Report with Teacher’s Signed Approval…receive no course credit,
• End of First Semester with Teacher’s Signed Approval…receive only partial course credit for grade of 6.0+. No partial credit will be awarded for any grade below 6.0,
• Students who Drop Pre-AP/AP Courses or who Do Not take the College Board AP Exam will have the Pre-AP/AP Designation for that course removed from their transcript and they will not receive any grade or GPA enhancement awarded for taking that Pre-AP/AP course.

Please note that at any time during the school year if the teacher deems that you are not meeting the expectations above for any or all reasons, then that teacher will require that you sign an additional academic probation contract. Your admission status and/or removal from the above identified Pre-AP Course will then be re-assessed based on your abiding by the academic probation contract signed and agreed to by you and the respective Pre-AP/AP Teacher.

Student Signature of Agreement,

Manuela Giraldo

Date: September 23,2008