Brews'n'Blues

Post 10: From Seven Floors Up by Sharon Olds

brewsnblues — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:40:42 +0000

In the poem From Seven Floors Up the author of the short poem creates a short video of homelessness that we have all seen before. She depicts the homeless man coming out of Central Park with his buggy that contains all the contents that he owns. She compares his trek up the ramp to one of her own when she was on a camping trip in the desert. The poet recalls how she felt when she was able to take a shower and had a toilet, this is a feeling that we all have when we are deprived of something and we finally get it back. These things which we take for granted he does not enjoy everyday, as the author points out. Near the end of the poem the writer comments that she never thought it could happen to her, being homeless that is. She compares the impossibility in her mind to the equal impossibility of death.

Looking in depth at this poem the author seems to go beyond portraying sympathy for the poor sod. She instead digs into the readers feelings and relates them to the feelings of the man. She shows how our feelings are merely temporary most of the time and shows how his are permanent and helpless. This poem invokes the question of why people are allowed to live like this in our society completely ignored and brushed off like a fly on our vest. Most people would believe that it is not our problem that they are on the streets, but maybe if society looked twice they would find that possibly the immorality of business in this age makes the issue more pressing. Some may find that they need to take others down in order for their own survival in the business world. It seems that everyone wants a slice of the pie, and they are not afraid to do what it takes to get it. Maybe if society showed that it cared more about itself rather than turning a profit than the poet from the seventh floor would be looking across the street at another seventh floor and seeing that man instead of looking down to street level. Equality, it appears to be so elusive in a country that claims to offer it

Post 9: Money By Dana Gioia

brewsnblues — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:28:29 +0000

The short poem Money, by Dana Gioia, exemplifies the drive of an American citizen. Gioia starts by listing different names that are commonly substituted for the word money. In the list he uses terms that would relate to many classes and uses for money as it is used in America. For instance the author uses “the long green” and “cash” which are more middle class slang for money as well as “jack” and “just plain dough” which are more lower class slang for money. I think this shows how everyone in America is related in the way that we all know what money is. We all want at least some of it. The common belief is that if we have some we are freer. We are freer to do as we please because we have some green piece of paper from the Fed that says to anyone that tries to stop us “Hey! If you don’t try to stop me I can let you in on the action and you can be just as free as I am.” With this the cycle continues and we are continually consumed with the want, desire, need, and thirst for more money. The writer carries on with his illustration with a few exclamatory lines saying “To be made of it! To have it to burn!” this paints a picture of the elatedness of people who are getting it. I have never known this to be untrue considering I have never known anyone who was unhappy to get some cash. This also could make a person wonder if money, the symbol of wealth, is cross-cultural in a sense that in all cultures there is a need and want for money. Is this what other countries in the world strive to have more than anything? Or is it just what we believe as Americans that it will make us more powerful and other nations that do not have as much will bow down for a slice of the pie? The last stanza points out “Money. You don’t know where it’s been, but you put it where your mouth is. And it talks.” This seems to be the mantra that our culture is driven by and as long as it holds true will never change. As long as we are able to walk into the store and throw down a stack of “ cash, stash, rhino, or jack” and we will get what we want than the dance will go on.

Post 8: Stephen Cruz by Studs Terkel

brewsnblues — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:03:32 +0000

The story of Stephen Cruz by Studs Terkel explains that the American dream may not be the same for all Americans. The main character is a Mexican American who was always taught by his father to work hard and never take anything that wasn’t earned. He describes his father working through the depression and never going on welfare. When he was in college the Russian satellite Sputnik had just launched and he immediately went for engineering and when he graduated in ’62 he went back for his masters in business. When Stephen went into the working world he grabbed a job quite quickly which he thought was because of his qualifications. After working in the corporate world he realized that he was the only one in an all glass office. When a new plant manager was hired, he asked him to interview blacks in a different way and to make sure if they “smell.” As he began to make more money in the business world his mind became triggered that the American Dream was a bit skewed and did not really apply to everyone. The minorities were being hired because the businessmen knew that they could make money by hiring them and did not care if it was a just and fair decision. As Stephen started asking more questions and stirring up issues the more he was told that he should “fall in line” and “get to know our business.” This meant that he should basically if he just kept working than he could be thrown into top management. In the end he concludes that the American Dream is really just determined by a top few who will do everything in their power to keep it that way.

In this story the American Dream is put into question by a young Mexican American who has worked hard to climb the heights of the business world. He believes that the dream he was working towards isn’t really meant for him. The dream was about making the strong man stronger by taking advantage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and hiring minorities to make their business look better. This story which was written in the 1980s is slightly less true today as it was then but not by much. Minorities as still being used to make business look better, however they are not being given the power to make crucial changes that would prevent the cycle from continuing. It makes it seem like they are setting up mannequins of diverse races to make their shop look better without allowing them to move around and break free. The question is if we let them break free will they help the company or will they revolt? Why should the business world be scared of them revolting since they are already doing so? Let them climb and speak their minds and they will help make the American Dream become true for all Americans.

Post 7: Against School by John Taylor Gatto

brewsnblues — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:00:59 +0000

In this story by John Gatto, Against School, is a very critical piece on the American school system. Gatto cites several authors, such as Horace Mann, before him that support his argument in calling it Prussian in the sense that the school system is like a factory that is set out to make children designed to serve an exact purpose later in life. He also believes that the terms schooling and education are wrongly synonymous in our culture. The author argues that in order to have an education schooling is not necessary to achieve that goal. Schooling he disputes is not put in place for the children of America to receive an education but only to make them obedient to the higher powers and to those who might have a chance of changing the status quo by questioning the power. These allegations are very well supported by other great minds in the history of America.

Gatto’s arguments in this piece call us all to look back in our lives in schooling and think if what he says is true. I do remember thinking back to elementary school and seeing myself being molded into a drone just like the others in my class. I never really remember going to the dreaded principal’s office for anything because I was one of those kids who was easily scared into believing the power of the teacher and school officials could land me in a pot of boiling water. I even remember in fifth grade that I never really felt challenged in my classes and I read novels during class just to keep myself entertained. I can agree with the fact that sometimes the children do not want to be there anymore than the teachers do at points, but I cannot agree with statement that we are manipulating the nations children into becoming drones programmed to perform tasks in their lives that keep the wealthy, wealthy. I am more inclined to believe that unbalanced educations, depending on school location, are the reason for the rich staying rich. I believe that equality in education will provide greater equality in social class. It seems to me that the author was merely bitter about having to take a nine month hiatus from teaching in order to receive his license again.

Post 6: Us and Them by Maria Johnson

brewsnblues — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:01:21 +0000

The story “Us and Them” by Maria Johnson gives insight to anyone who is of the Christian faith, especially catholic, about the how a Jewish Orthodox community is much different than most Christian communities. The author begins by telling the reader that she, a theologian of the catholic faith, moved into a Jewish Orthodox neighborhood with her husband. She reviews the differences of each faith by taking a good friend in her community to speak to her students about the Jewish Orthodox community, and explaining how shocked the students are when they are told of the life styles there. The narrator comments in the story that she tries to “think Jewish” when reviewing the Old Testament because through living in the community she realizes that they in the community have a much stronger understanding of text and meanings. She teaches her students to think more Jewish in order to understand more of the intensity of the New Testament because of an enlightened knowledge of the Old.

I personally find a lot of insight in this story having attended a Catholic high school where I was taught theology in depth during my freshman year. I also remember my teacher teaching the importance of the Old Testament in relevance to the New. Since America is predominately Christian I think that America could take something from this story. We do not understand most other faiths, and most likely whenever we come upon something that we do not understand we have a tendency to hate it and caste it out. Why do we do this? I is because we think that our religion superior to all others? For the most part I believe those who persecute others because of their faith think that their religion is superior. However, I cannot help to wonder who does have it right? Just because we have an old textbook of our religion does that make it entirely right? I think that most people are missing the concept that religion is meant to be a guideline for morals and a provider of hope to the human mind. I do not believe that I should go about to someone of a different religion that their religion is wrong because of a slight conflict in morals through religious practices. I also believe that the morals of each religion are culture based as well. It is just as impossible to convince a Catholic that genuflecting is immoral as it is to convince a Muslim that the burning of a widower with her late husband is immoral. People will stick to what they believe in and if they are easily swayed than they will not have anymore faith in your religion as they did in theirs.

Post 5: From Social Class and The Hidden Curriculum of Work By Jean Anyon

brewsnblues — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:42:25 +0000

In this excerpt from Jean Anyon’s Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work there is an implication that schools can be separated into social classes and the curriculum taught in those schools are reflective of the expected careers of the children. The author in this story conducts a study in five different schools within close proximity of each other and classifies them according to the occupations of the children’s parents. For example, the first two schools observed were “working-class schools” where the parents of most of the children were earning at or just under poverty status salaries each year, and they were working semi-skilled jobs to unskilled jobs. The other classifications of schools include “middle-class schools”, “affluent professional schools”, and “executive elite schools.” The in depth analysis of the teaching styles of each type of school is advocated by the author to be indicative of the type of learning and thinking that the children of a specific class will continue to see throughout their lives. In the “middle-class school” the teachers will give a slightly more in depth analysis of how to get answers, however the main goal of the students it to get the right answers. This provides a compelling point that when looking at middle-class jobs, such as carpenters, plumbers, and accountants, that the focus of getting right answers seems appropriate in these professions. The article exhibits that the higher the wage of the parent the more open minded thinking the schooling of the child is. Once the writer comes to the “executive elite school” the children are thinking for themselves and practically running the classrooms based on the work that is put before them. The math classes are based less on obtaining the correct answers and doing it the right way, but contrarily based on the reasoning of getting to those answers. The teacher in the class asserts that “I’m…just as interested in how you set up the problem as in what answer you find. If you set up the problem in a good way, the answer is easier to find.

I believe that this is just as true in present time as it was when the article was written in the 1970’s. Although the author only sampled five schools in one state the evidence there is concrete enough to justify observing other schools in different states using the same classification criteria. I affirm that the question that needs to be answered by educators in America is, do you teach on what you expect the children can learn, or do you teach them what will give them the freedom to choose their path in life? In the “working-class schools” the teacher only taught the children what they thought they were able to learn and what they needed to learn in order to follow in the footsteps of their parents. If we are able to educate everyone in the same manner despite their socio-economic background would that not make equal opportunities for everyone a more realistic expectation? Currently, if a person wants to succeed in life and become more than what their parents were, they will have to take it upon themselves, if they can, to free their minds to reasoning and complex thought. The SAT is a test of reasoning in math and English skills. If we are not teaching the children, who will take that test in order to improve their chances to be educated in a prestigious university, reasoning then how do we expect them to rise above and show their full potential? To me young minds are created with the same amount of potential knowledge. The thing that will make the difference in those minds is if the potential can be let out by those teaching them.

Post 4: Looking for Work By Gary Soto

brewsnblues — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:27:58 +0000

In this story by Gary Soto, “Looking for Work” shows a young Mexican American boy who shows a determination to be like the white people that he sees on television shows. Seeing these television shows gives him the willpower to try to change his economical status in the community. He begins by deciding one day that he is going to become rich right away and goes out through the neighborhood with a rake looking for work. He also tries to emulate the families on TV by wanting his brother and sister to dress up for dinner, which is proven very futile as he cannot even get them to wear their shoes to the dinner table. In this story the boy seems to have a desire to live the life that he sees on television shows daily. He sees the life without complications, and a life with such routine that every dinner is predictable down to the conversation at dinner. I think that little Gary believes that everything that is seen on television is not necessarily a better life but a different life than his. He asks his mother to fix turtle stew because he saw a program where a Polynesian tribe cooked a turtle and threw it in a stew. Above all other things the boy will desire change in his life of eating cereal morning and beans every night. The most intriguing part of the piece is how easily the boy will forget the TV fantasies and continue to live his life as a young boy with no regrets. He never shows any feelings of hatred for the life his family leads; rather he shows an aspiration to fit in the community. He wants the white people on the block like the plumber, who turns away when Gary walks by, to make him feel welcome to walk by his home and maybe even engage in polite conversation as he sees on TV. The boy just wants to fit in.

Post 3:From Ragged Dick By Horatio Alger

brewsnblues — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:52:00 +0000

A short story by Horatio Alger, From Ragged Dick, is a fictional story of poverty to prosperity in order to promote an American dream that hard work pays off. This story shows how a simple and poor Richard Hunter or “Ragged Dick” becomes a hard working employee for a modest wage by playing to role of the hero in the story. The reason behind his success is because of hard work and determination for education.

When Dick goes on an “excursion” across town on the ferry he is put into a hero position in order to save a little boys life whom has fallen over and drowning. Dick jumps into the water to save the boy’s life before even considering the reward that the father shouts out for the rescue of the boy. This spectacle of heroism is little seen today as people are generally more concerned with themselves. More importantly we are taught to not be a hero in those kinds of situations in order to not sacrifice another life for the rescue of another. Now the responsibility of rescue is up generally up to the father of the child. Now thinking about it why wouldn’t it be? Is it not the duty of the father or guardian to look after their children and not to pay off some stranger to do it for them? This fictional story shows the changes that time has made in our world where heroism does not happen very often and is not rewarded very often. This narrative gives false hope to anyone hoping to succeed now, thinking that they will find an opportunity and capitalize on it. In the end the “hero” does become rewarded not just because of his rescue but also because of his desire to learn and work hard. That is the point that may be all too well missed because of the emphasis on instant rewards in today’s society. The hero’s acceptance of the job offer by the father instead of demanding a cash award is what should be really taken out of this story because it does show the true American dream of working hard and becoming wealthy.

Post 2:Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments By James Madison

brewsnblues — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:58:24 +0000

In James Madison’s Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments he shows his opposition to Patrick Henry’s Assessment Bill. The Assessment Bill proposed having support for Anglican Ministers at the expense of the ministers of other religious sects. Madison confronts this opinion head on with several reasons why this should be avoided in the free world. He shows from history that both religion and government would be benefited in from the separation.

One strong example of the benefits of the Christian church is when he states that if a teacher of church history is inquired about the best times it has seen the answer would be when it was unaffiliated with a type of governing power. He cites example of the Inquisition where thousands of people were trialed and killed because of faith differences. This is applicable now as well as in the 18^th century where the church will ultimately benefit from the separation. The people of America do not want to have some one tell them what religion is best for them. If they are forced into an undesired situation they will rebel and attack like a cornered animal. The forcing of religion also would somewhat contradict the faith aspect that religion is generally based on. There is not any physical evidence of religious encounters, but people continue to believe in these religions based on faith that it does exist. By taking away the choice the faith seems to be forced and lacking the experience that is supposed to come with faith.

The other strong and appealing argument for the separation of church and state is how it will make America “luster” compared to other countries. He brings up that most Nations have favored religions and there are many that are trying to escape those countries to a place of refuge just as the first settlers of this established nation did. It would be hypocritical and unfavorable to push others away in order to favor a religion. The separation was something that sets our nation apart from all others, and was what would keep people flocking to our country in search of freedom from tyranny. This separation would give the people that have a choice in faith but nowhere to practice it a place to live in peace. With all of the support from a large number of different faiths our nation could become more powerful and we would have people that would be proud to live in a country where they will not be persecuted for their faith. These points and others are why we as American citizens can drive by multiple different religious gathering places on the same street without even thinking anything of it.

Post 1: An Indian Story By Roger Jack

brewsnblues — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:48:32 +0000

An Indian Story by Roger Jack is an insightful look into a way of life that differs from the American way of life. The author describes a way of life that is family based in a different way than it is in our society. In his story he informs us of having run away from his father’s house when he was young to go to live with his aunt Greta. He is then taken and raised by his aunt with his father’s permission. This type of extended family values is unknown to most of us reading this. In our society this switch of guardians for a child would normally only come after a death of both parents. It shows that there is some kind of understanding that all the children of a community will be taken care of by all of the elders of the community equally without question. Jack writes about how he was not forced to go to college right away after he graduated because his aunt thought that he needed time to rest his brain. While not showing a lack of value on education the view here seems to be that there is a more relaxed view on education, and as previously stated that the community will take care of everyone until they are able to take care of themselves. In today’s culture education is of great importance and it is stressed that the youth will complete their education as soon as possible and once that is through they are expected to use their knowledge to make a new life on their own. Most of this can be attributed to the desire to have a higher standard of living. With all of the material goods such as a nice flatware, large TVs, and technologically advanced equipment if we go astray from the path that is intended for us we are likely we will not have all of what we are “supposed” to have. The material items that are marketed in this country drive the standards of living higher, but with that comes the push to work harder to make up for those higher standards. Maybe it is time for a shift in culture back towards having family is more important than driving a nice car.