Father and Son, Mother and Daughter, Mother and Son, Father and Daughter

I have experienced and seen the father/son and mother/son relationship very closely because my parents have three sons. My father/son experiences are different from my mother/son experiences. I think this is because of their differing personalities, not necessarily because of gender roles they think they have to fill. My dad has always been the more stern one. Though he generally doesn't want us to make mistakes, he tries to make sure we feel the consequences when we do. I remember when I was in elementary school, my dad would always tell me "if your not ready by 8:00 [am], I'll drive off with out you." There were multiple times when I wasn't ready, and many of those times he drove off with out me. He would come back, though, but it would be five to ten minutes later, and would drive me to school. Soon I understood that he didn't have that heart to actually leave me but he had been tempted to do so a few times; there have been other occasions, though, when my dad has left without someone when we are going somewhere. On the other hand, my mom, if put into the same situation, would never leave with out us. Though she knows we are late she will either get angry or keep that anger within her. She doesn't try to let her feelings interfere with the bigger goal, which is to reach a certain place as a family. My dad cares less about this aspect and would rather make his sons feel the consequences of being late in order to get his point across (or at least that's what he outwardly shows). My opinion is that each method is effective to a certain extent: sometimes I prefer my mom's softer way, but other times the only effective way is being stern like my dad.

My parents are not always like this, and to generalize them in this way would be a crime. I just think that this stark contrast shows the differing relationships I have with my mom and with my dad. There is no question that occasionally my dad can be as soft as a teddy bear and my mom a hard-nose.

I have tremendous amounts of respect for both my parents, though I respect them in different respects. My dad can be humble and always tells his boys, "I want you to be ten times bigger than me." I respect his knowledge and wisdom. I like to discuss politics and world issues with my dad just to see what his perspective is. I also admire his work ethic. Another one of his signature quotes is "there is no substitution for hard work." It is because of his hard work that he is where he is today. I am often inspried by him and his past.
I would go to my Mom if I had emotional distress. She is more sensitive toward others and more understanding. She is easy to talk to does not just give me generic advice. I don't know if it is her "motherly touch," but she has been there for me when I needed someone with whom to talk.

Each of my parents has shaped me in different ways, some being ways that I do not even consciously recognize. They are a large part of why I am what I am today. I know they are trying the best, and I thank them for that.

How Do I Know What I Know?

It is kind of funny how this is our topic for this week because just earlier today I was unsure if something I had experienced was in my dreams or if it actually happened. It was something that was insignificant and only took a second of my life, but I still remember it from somewhere, though the source of that memory is hazy to me. How do I know if this memory is real or not? I believe the memory is real because I have it, but I do not know if it was derived from my actual experience or from my imagination. But then again, how do I know if anything is actually from reality? If dreams and reality can be so easily confused with each other, would it not be the case that I in fact do not know what is "real"? That begs the question: How do I know what I know?

This is my own form of the Descartes "Meditations". This actually did happen to me and I am not just trying to mimic Descartes. Descartes was trying to answer the question "How do I know what I know?" This question can be thought of in two regards 1) by what process did I come to know something OR 2) how do I know what I know to be certain?

I don't think certainty can be philosophically proven. Trying to prove certainty usually leads me into confusion. How do I know that my experience was imaginary or a dream? I do not think I can  prove one because there can always be an argument for other. Since this experience which I am talking about is insignificant, I will probably just shrugg it off and move on, never knowing if it was real or imaginary. I guess I will "almost certain" about something when I find it......clearly and distinctly.......wow, I am turning into Descartes!

Our Meaning

Our meaning in life can be reasoned many ways.
Is it to be happy or to be productive or to know God? Is it to be in communion with our fellow human beings? Or could it be something as simple and common to all animals as continuing the existence of our species? Do we have a specific (or even a general) purpose? These are some of the things I think about when I think if life has any true meaning.

I have always been interested with outer space because I believe it is filled with mystery and majesty. Sometimes I like to look at the night sky and see the thousands of scattered stars. The magnitude and awesomeness of the universe begins to sink into me and I try to see where I might fit into all of it. Essentially, I am a speck compared to the Earth, the Earth is a speck compared to the galaxy, and the galaxy is a speck compared the entire universe. What, then, is the significance of me, a speck of a speck of a speck? Would the world be different with out me?

I do not think that I am totally insignificant; this reflection, I would like to think, helps me to put some perspective as to how small I am relative to the rest of the world, putting me in my place so to speak.

As to the question if we are all important in the grand scheme of things: My belief is that even an individual can make a big difference. Sometimes he or she can make a difference in someone else’s life without even knowing it. Ideas are created with the interaction of individuals. Without individuals, there would not be countries or ideas. Though it may have been the country or idea that made an impact, everything had to originate from an individual. I would like to believe that famous people are the way they are because of other normal individuals who might have made a difference in their lives.

My American Literature teacher once said the people we remember in history are the ones who had original thoughts. I think I believe him. We remember people from centuries ago because they had a novel idea that changed the way things were. We usually don’t remember people who went with the flow of status-quo. I sometimes wonder if I want to be remembered in a hundred years or if I want to an “average” person. I am not sure if to be famous I need to make myself do something or if the circumstances will just naturally come to me.

God in 2010

What has God or the idea of God become of in the year 2010?
The concept of God has evolved over time. It is safe to say that many years ago, a lot (probably the majority) of the people believed in polytheism, and that these gods had control over a certain range of activities. Now the predominant belief is that there is only one God.

In the past, religion was an integral part of daily life. Now, in our more secularized West, religion has fallen in authority. I am not sure, though, that this means that God has also fallen in our society. I do not know if God is synonymous with religion; so to say that God plays a smaller role in our culture because the role of religion has diminshed is not a great argument. It is probably because our concept of God is changing from that which was in the past. Before, the concept was related to many gods and then to a single God. Before, God was only accessible through the religious, but now there is greater belief that God is equally accessible, even to the layperson and the poor. Before, natural forces like lightning and earthquakes were eqauted to God and his attitude toward humans. In the future there maybe another evolution to the concept of God will take place.

Are these evolutions showing us a clearer picture of what God might be? Maybe we are slowly hacking away what God is not, which helps us see what God truly is.

I think many people today get comfort from the idea of God, that there is someone who can look after them or understand them. In this strange and complicated world, it is hard to get the emotional and spiritual nourishment that people need, and God can be the nourishment they need. Also some people may feel comforted that God is protecting them. I have sometimes thought of a situation in which I have no control and am totally helpless. I imagine myself as a soldier in war. In this case, should I ask God to guide and protect me because I do not have any control over the situation? I am not sure if I should keep my trust in God at this point or whether I should trust in my [God-given?] abilities.

The nature of God is not always agreeable among people today. Is God a personal God with whom each and everyone of us can have a unique and intimate relationship? Does God actively involve "Himself" in the affairs of people on Earth or is God on the sidelines, just having been the role of a catalyst for creation?

Candide's Punishments: Do they fit the Crime?

To decide whether Candide's punishment fits the crime one must first analyze the crime and the punishment. What was the crime? Well, according to Baron Thunder-ten-tronckh, the crime was kissing his daughter, Lady Cunegonde. Candide was then punished by being literally kicked out of the Baron's castle. Obviously, the Baron did not like what was going on with Candide and his daughter, so what other choice did he have? If he did not agree with their love, but let Candide stay in the castle, nothing would have probably changed; and Lady Cunegonde and Candide would continue the love that was not favored by the Baron. The only punishment that would stop them from seeing each other would be to kick Candide out from the castle. This is in the viewpoint of the Baron.