Decisions

In the last chapter of our rhetoric book, on page 356, it states “the decisions we make define our character.” I believe this to be a completely, 100% true statement.

Every decision I have made thus far in my life, and all the decisions I will make during the remainder of my lifetime, did and will shape who I am as a person. Growing up, I was never the one to step outside the boundaries or break the rules; I was the epitome of a “good girl.” I went through high school with this persona, and that is who I was known as (and who I am still known as by most people in my home town).  However, as I grew up, I decided to do more things for myself than to please other people and always live up to that image. I formed a completely different personality by doing so, and made completely different friends, along with completely different decisions.

Some of the decisions I made growing up, I’ll admit, weren’t the greatest or wisest of choice. However, to counter this, some of the decisions I made also have been the best I have ever made, and probably will ever make in my life. At age 22, I can say that I have chosen paths that most people will not even have to think about in their lifetime. Never a regret, however, came with my decisions. Because of every choice I made, I am a better person today with the best people around me that I can ask for.  Every step I took to be where I am today and every question I answered has formed who I am. My decisions have defined my character, and I love it. No regrets.

Gangs

I would like to take a moment and think about over population again. This time, however, I don’t want to look at the over population of human beings. This time, I would like to look at the overabundance of the squirrel population. The squirrels in this area are ridiculous. Such scatter-brained creatures, I swear they think it a good time to run half way out into the road, panic a few times, and then scurry off to the side of the road, all while an on-coming driver is approaching in a panic trying to swerve and save the life of that poor, little squirrel while in turn putting their own life in danger. These furry little critters, although cute in thought and cartoons, are becoming a nuisance to the driving population of rural areas. And not only once in a while does the life and death, squirrel life and human death, situation occur, but these clans of squirrels, in my opinion, team up in strategic locations to make for an even more terrifying driving experience. Not only is the life of the driver a concern, in this case, but the innocent life of the brown, schizophrenic animal is held most worthy in most situations, hence the swerving to hopefully avoid all casualties. However, there are the few road-kill victims that do not make it out of the battle of the Buick. These tragic situations often call for remorse and tears… until the next squirrel makes his leap-of-faith run out into the middle of the road. These squirrels are on a whole new level of suicide attempts.

Now this is a general message in concern for the overall rural population driving on back roads that these gangs of squirrels are occupying. This is not at all a rant from a frustrated Kutztown driver who would like a nice drive to school and back without being ambushed by a city of panicked creatures leaping in front of her car. No, this is in no way a personal matter.

Personality of Flower

Just as humans and animals are accompanies by unique personalities, I believe that flowers are graced with the same trait. Just looking at the appearance of a specific flower, once can come up with some sort of personality that that particular flower may have. Here are a few flowers that I have thought about:

Daisies. Daisies are quite the polite and graceful flower. They are poised and proper, while young at heart and childish. An innocent spirit, Daisies always have a smile accompanied with laughter. They are the fun-loving, adolescent flower of the bunch.

 Roses. Roses are sophisticated and high-ranking. Proper to the point of royalty, Roses look down upon other flowers as being less worthy of such praise. A sentimental and sensual flower, roses are the emblem of love, their crimson red showing the color of a heart ripened with love and beauty. Roses are the Belle of the ball.

Sunflowers. Sunflowers are the sun babe of flowers. They enjoy lazy days soaking up the sun and basking in its rays. A bright personality, sunflowers are always cheerful and bubbly, glowing with excitement in a hot summer’s day. They are the wild child of the group, a lively persona to go along with their lively color. Sunflowers are a burst of fun and sunshine.

Marigolds. Marigolds are the elders of flowers. They are reserved in size, and sometime color (although not always). Marigolds are the average flower that everyone can enjoy the company of. They possess great beauty, yet are second best. Marigolds are shy and speak little. Marigolds are the average student in class.

M.J. sings for M.E.

Michael Jackson is one of the greatest artists of all time, and one of my personal favorites. In this song, he brings awareness to listener’s ears about some of the questions we should ask on a daily basis. With the corroding earth around us, we forget to think about others living on the planet besides us (e.g. elephants, whales, nature). In the lyrics, nature is referred to as a “womb.” This particular line struck me as the most powerful. Nature is in fact the womb of Mother Earth, nourishing and giving birth to so many new, beautiful things. Mother Earth, through her womb, nurses plants, nests animals, and neglects the harm done upon her by us. As we continue to beat and batter her, she still continues to try to be resilient against our violence and feed our damaging addiction. Yet soon, sooner than hoped for, our Mother Earth will succumb to our abuse and have nothing left to give.

Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song” definitely uses a Sophist approach of rhetoric. Not only are the lyrics geared toward questioning our thoughts and reaching our emotions, but the melody behind the lyrics is soft and sentimental as well. Along with this appeal to emotion, Aristotle’s theory of rhetoric is also seen when looking at the lyrics. Several times personification is used. For example, one line of the lyrics reads “the crying earth, the weeping shores.”

Although this song is not only talking about Mother Earth, but also about war and our survival, the power behind the music MJ sings is enough to open your eyes about all three topics.

..... Hippo?

A hippo. Not the most attractive animal, but I’ll take it.

World Wildlife Fund website named my inner animal a hippo. Should I take offense to this?

I mean, hippos have ugly teeth, a massive nose and big hips.

Although I wouldn’t label the hippo a “sight for sore eyes,” they are usually portrayed as fun-loving and cute, cuddly animals on TV shows and as stuffed animals. So I guess that’s a good thing!

Not only that, but the description of the hippo, on the WWE website, describes them as a people person who also enjoys alone time. This is very true of myself.

However, it also says I’m awkward but have a graceful style. What’s that supposed to mean?!

The site does say I like away time close to water for swimming and other activities. This is also true.

So, I come to the conclusion that I’m okay with being a hippo! Call me a hippo all you want! Sure, I’m awkward, but in the best way possible! Although I wouldn’t say the physical resemblance is there (if you think differently, shut up), I would agree that, like the hippo, I am outgoing but also like alone time.

So, hippo it is!

Marxism In Bed

Advertizing sexual paraphernalia has become popular as there has been growing sex appeal in our population.  There are certain standards, or “effects” if you will, that are more favorable. For example, the newest condom commercial provides both a “fire and ice” effect for men and women’s enjoyment. Concentrating on the “big moment” is what these products are geared toward. Likewise, the KY Intense for Her commercial focuses specifically on her “moment.” To appeal to the female audience, the commercial can be looked at as using Marxist rhetorical strategies. Here are a few of the things I pin pointed.

Who is allowed to speak? The female, obviously! This product is designed specifically for the female’s use and pleasure. She is the experiment and experimenter in the situation and her voice plays a part in the product’s appeal to the consumer, and the consumer’s appeal to the product.

What is being said? This potential addition to the sex lives of women is one that comes with a hell of kick. As the ad portrays, if using this product with your partner, sexual encounters will be rather “climactic” for the woman. Not only this, but this product has the ability to allow a conservative couple to experience intensity outside of their comfort level.

What lies behind the promises being made? Pleasure, intimacy, arousal, intensity…

What actually created the message? The KY Jelly Foundation for Woman and Better Sex (Or just KY)... And unsatisfied women all over.

"Workers of the land, unite!"

As Karl Marx said in his “Manifesto of the Communist Party,” “Workers of all lands, unite!” This is exactly what the TED video on the importance of the relationship between production and consumption depicts. The video explains that at the rate we are consuming and using up the world’s resources we will deplete them at a quicker rate than scientist first anticipated, and that scientists have now proven. To aid in the preservation of what resources we have left, the video proposes that companies buying out the resources work together in production to lower the rate at which resources are being used. However, the video also spells out that the companies, for the most part, are not interested in uniting for the greater good. “You can’t wake a person who’s pretending to sleep.” This line in the video exemplifies how the companies are responding to the suggestion to work together for the greater good. Instead of having the revelation that working together will in the long run help everyone, they are turned off to the idea, not listening and “pretending to sleep.”

I found the video to be very eye opening on my part. Its description of our environmental footprint and the effect we have on the resources of the earth is actually frightening. Although the video offers a seemingly simple solution, get productivity and efficiency up and consumption down, it is obviously in no way that easy. I mean if it was, we wouldn’t be so concerned with the availability of resources tomorrow, but rather just concerned about what we have today. But this is a serious issue and needs to be addressed in an efficient manner. Kenneth E. Boulding said “I would argue, furthermore, that tomorrow is not only very close, but in many respects it is already here. I agree.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/jason_clay_how_big_brands_can_save_biodiversity.html