3. The relationship between humans and gods is pure adoration. The people depend on the gods to give them things, and keep them safe and when the gods follow through with that, the people praise them and prostrate them. Humans always have to be on good terms with the god, or the gods could ruin all of the good that has been happening on earth. The gods have ultimate control, and so if you upset them, the consequences could be catastrophic.
4. The tone is very serious. All three of the praise songs are not to be taken lightly. They are full of strong beliefs, concentration, and over all seriousness. After all, this is what these people believe in, and they certainly wouldn't joke about such a pensive topic such as these.
5. Over all, I think that the river goddess orisha, Oshun, appealed to me the most. She seems to be really well rounded, thoughtful, and full of care. To her everyone is her child, and she would treat everyone like this with no diminished value. She is the reason many of the people are here on this earth, and nobody ever forgets that. Everyone adores her so, and is always grateful for the acts that she's performed. I would say that out of all of the orishas, she is the one that the people appreciate the most.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Capital Punishment.
I am not strongly for or against the death penalty. It has its pros and cons, and depending on the circumstance I can be swayed either way.
I believe that if somebody killed a person, not out of self defence but for whatever the reason may be, then they should as well receive the death penalty. Nobody has any right to decide to kill another person or not. It's just something that you don't do (duh).
Now, if someone killed a person out of self defence...say someone broke into a house, or you needed to protect yourself, then it would be alright to kill the person. Provided these circumstances. It still doesn't make it right to kill anyone, but if you're doing it out of self defence then that could be understood.
Horrible crimes deserve horrible punishments. When the horrible people who kidnap and rape kids, then deserve to go through the same exact pain that they put the child through. This is where it gets kind of wishy-washy. Death just seems like an easy way out of what they did. They don't suffer enough, and I think that they should go through the amount of pain that they've caused other people.
But since the government doesn't believe in that, the worst punishment you can receive is death. So, for now, for the people that deserve the death penalty that's what they'll get. Quick and it's done, and they'll never be able to act however they acted before they ended up on death row again.
I believe that if somebody killed a person, not out of self defence but for whatever the reason may be, then they should as well receive the death penalty. Nobody has any right to decide to kill another person or not. It's just something that you don't do (duh).
Now, if someone killed a person out of self defence...say someone broke into a house, or you needed to protect yourself, then it would be alright to kill the person. Provided these circumstances. It still doesn't make it right to kill anyone, but if you're doing it out of self defence then that could be understood.
Horrible crimes deserve horrible punishments. When the horrible people who kidnap and rape kids, then deserve to go through the same exact pain that they put the child through. This is where it gets kind of wishy-washy. Death just seems like an easy way out of what they did. They don't suffer enough, and I think that they should go through the amount of pain that they've caused other people.
But since the government doesn't believe in that, the worst punishment you can receive is death. So, for now, for the people that deserve the death penalty that's what they'll get. Quick and it's done, and they'll never be able to act however they acted before they ended up on death row again.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Critic's Review.
When Rain Clouds Gather.
By: Bessie Head
3/5
In When Rain Clouds Gather, we've been introduced to many characters. Makhaya, Gilbert, Dinorego, Maria, Mma-Millipede, Paulina Sesbo, Chief Matenge, and Chief Sekoto.
Makhaya has escaped from his old country to go to Botswana. Once he finds himself inside of the Botswana borders, he is hiding as a refugee inside of Dinorego's house. When Dinorego first met Makhaya, he took Makhaya under his wing, and introduced him to his daughter, Maria, and his good friend Gilbert.
Gilbert has big plans for Golema Mmidi; plans to modernize the country and open the people's eyes to new cash crops and other doorways. He needs to change the way that the people of the country see things. Introducing tobacco, millet, and other cash crops is just the start of his plan. With those cash crops in order, the money will be reeling in for all of the people in the country, and with that money will come intelligence, with intelligence comes women's rights. The women would be able to speak out for theme selves, and the brutal actions towards them would be stopped. The men would be able to stay home with their family and not have to travel around with cattle and children will be able to stay home and go to school. Although all of this sounds like a wonderful plan, bigger people have other ideas about Gilbert and his friends.
Chief Matenge highly dislikes Dinorego and Gilbert. He feels that they are trying to take over (especially Gilbert) when really they are only trying to help. When the Chief finds out about both of them hiding a refugee in the borders, he is absolutely furious and wants to get Makhaya thrown out A-SAP. The Chief only wants to stay in power and rule over all of the land which can't be done on account of his biggest enemy: Chief Sekoto, his brother. Both of the brothers despise each other, and can't stand to be near one another. Hence why their ruling areas have been split in half. Chief Sekoto rules one half, while Chief Matenge rules the other half. These two characters are pretty sketchy, and Chief Matenge thinks that his brother is plotting to kill him so naturally his hate only grows for his brother.
This book is pretty good so far, although the plot has kind of come to a level right now. But I'm sure it's only a matter of time when some more action starts up. Hopefully something will happen between Paulina and Makhaya.
By: Bessie Head
3/5
In When Rain Clouds Gather, we've been introduced to many characters. Makhaya, Gilbert, Dinorego, Maria, Mma-Millipede, Paulina Sesbo, Chief Matenge, and Chief Sekoto.
Makhaya has escaped from his old country to go to Botswana. Once he finds himself inside of the Botswana borders, he is hiding as a refugee inside of Dinorego's house. When Dinorego first met Makhaya, he took Makhaya under his wing, and introduced him to his daughter, Maria, and his good friend Gilbert.
Gilbert has big plans for Golema Mmidi; plans to modernize the country and open the people's eyes to new cash crops and other doorways. He needs to change the way that the people of the country see things. Introducing tobacco, millet, and other cash crops is just the start of his plan. With those cash crops in order, the money will be reeling in for all of the people in the country, and with that money will come intelligence, with intelligence comes women's rights. The women would be able to speak out for theme selves, and the brutal actions towards them would be stopped. The men would be able to stay home with their family and not have to travel around with cattle and children will be able to stay home and go to school. Although all of this sounds like a wonderful plan, bigger people have other ideas about Gilbert and his friends.
Chief Matenge highly dislikes Dinorego and Gilbert. He feels that they are trying to take over (especially Gilbert) when really they are only trying to help. When the Chief finds out about both of them hiding a refugee in the borders, he is absolutely furious and wants to get Makhaya thrown out A-SAP. The Chief only wants to stay in power and rule over all of the land which can't be done on account of his biggest enemy: Chief Sekoto, his brother. Both of the brothers despise each other, and can't stand to be near one another. Hence why their ruling areas have been split in half. Chief Sekoto rules one half, while Chief Matenge rules the other half. These two characters are pretty sketchy, and Chief Matenge thinks that his brother is plotting to kill him so naturally his hate only grows for his brother.
This book is pretty good so far, although the plot has kind of come to a level right now. But I'm sure it's only a matter of time when some more action starts up. Hopefully something will happen between Paulina and Makhaya.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
A Typical Day at School.
My school starts at 7:30 every morning, and we get out at 2:15. At my school we only have 4 blocks a day for 2 quarters. We're on something called block scheduling which means that after our first 2 quarters, or semester, is up then we switch classes, so all in all we take 8 classes a year. Four classes a day seems really small, which it is, but each period lasts 90 minutes. Also, I know that that sounds long as well, but it's actually really great because the teacher gets to teach the whole lesson, give you your homework, and you're able to do your homework in class. I rarely have any homework, and when I do, it's max. a half hour because it's only the other things that I didn't get to finish in class. So it's really great, and it makes it so much easier for you to have a job and do extracurriculars.
Currently I am taking Alg II, Wind Ensemble II, English II and Jazz Band II. So I pretty much spend half of my day in some type of music class or another. Last semester I took Chemistry Hon, Wind Ensemble II, World History Hon and Jazz Band II.
And then there's lunch...every one's favorite time of the day, aside from school being let out. At my school there are two cafeterias: the east and the west. Some kids eat in the cafeterias while others, such as myself, eat out in the courtyard on picnic benches or on the grass. We also have a pavilion where kids can eat out by the soccer and softball fields. I usually bring my lunch because I'm on the Track and Field team and can't eat the cafeteria food and then end up running out in the heat at 2:45. Lots of kids do eat the school lunch though. The most popular meal, by far, would be the nachos. Everyone looks forward to nacho day, and the lines to both of the cafeterias are so ridiculously long.
In my city there are 3 public high schools, and my school is the smallest one of the three. Although my school is a VPA (visual and performing arts) school our whopping 1,734 students barely compares to the two other school populations. You would think that an arts school such as mine would reel in more kids, but it doesn't. It's actually nice though, because you get to know just about the whole school, where as at other big schools you could be in the same grade as someone and never even know that the person existed. Being a small school also makes it so much easier get across campus and to learn in class. We have 7 minutes to get from class to class, which is more than enough time and you never have to rush. The average number of students in one class is 19-20.
So overall, I really don't mind going to a small school. It's great also because being at an arts school, kids get to focus on the arts and what they really aspire to do. Music, dance, art, theater are the VPAs students have to choose from; there are also different academies such as the law academy and environmental science academy and ROTC. It's really just a great atmosphere, and it really makes you enjoy school, and it makes you actually like being here to learn and hang out with your friends.
Currently I am taking Alg II, Wind Ensemble II, English II and Jazz Band II. So I pretty much spend half of my day in some type of music class or another. Last semester I took Chemistry Hon, Wind Ensemble II, World History Hon and Jazz Band II.
And then there's lunch...every one's favorite time of the day, aside from school being let out. At my school there are two cafeterias: the east and the west. Some kids eat in the cafeterias while others, such as myself, eat out in the courtyard on picnic benches or on the grass. We also have a pavilion where kids can eat out by the soccer and softball fields. I usually bring my lunch because I'm on the Track and Field team and can't eat the cafeteria food and then end up running out in the heat at 2:45. Lots of kids do eat the school lunch though. The most popular meal, by far, would be the nachos. Everyone looks forward to nacho day, and the lines to both of the cafeterias are so ridiculously long.
In my city there are 3 public high schools, and my school is the smallest one of the three. Although my school is a VPA (visual and performing arts) school our whopping 1,734 students barely compares to the two other school populations. You would think that an arts school such as mine would reel in more kids, but it doesn't. It's actually nice though, because you get to know just about the whole school, where as at other big schools you could be in the same grade as someone and never even know that the person existed. Being a small school also makes it so much easier get across campus and to learn in class. We have 7 minutes to get from class to class, which is more than enough time and you never have to rush. The average number of students in one class is 19-20.
So overall, I really don't mind going to a small school. It's great also because being at an arts school, kids get to focus on the arts and what they really aspire to do. Music, dance, art, theater are the VPAs students have to choose from; there are also different academies such as the law academy and environmental science academy and ROTC. It's really just a great atmosphere, and it really makes you enjoy school, and it makes you actually like being here to learn and hang out with your friends.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Think Through: A Drop of Milk.
1. Who exactly is Doondari, and how did he come to be the creator of the world? Why a drop of milk? Why did he have to create blidness in the first place? If he hadn't come up with blindness, then the world would be basically perfect...wouldn't it?
2. According to this story, the world came from a drop of milk, and Doondari came down and formed that drop of milk into stone, fire, water and air. Ultimately creating the five elements. From those elements he created man, and with the man Doondari created the feelings and attributes of man.
4. Blindness defeats man because man cannot see if he's blind. But if blindness defeats man, then sleep defeats blindness because you can't see when you're sleeping, so it's like you actually are blind, only you know that when you wake up you'll still have your sight as opposed to if you were blind and could never gain your sight back.
5. I think that Doondari returns as Gueno to complete the cycle. Once he came as Gueno, carrying immortality, he had made the full circle back to the starting of man. Also, I think he came back as Gueno so that maybe people could give the immortality attribute to the gods, because if the gods weren't immortal, then they would end up being just like man, and there would be nothing special about them hence them not exceeding man, but being equal.
6. I've found that humans aren't perfect, never were and never will be. Every human has his flaws and learns to cope with them and figure around it. Doondari going one step further and creating blindness just created the domino effect and many other attributes of man sprang up. So really, even in great people such as Doondari, there are still flaws. Nobody will ever be perfect, no matter how hard you try.
7. If man had not been proud, then the world would be nearly perfect. It's just like Pandora's box in the sense that if Pandora had not opened the box, then we wouldn't have been exposed to all of the horrible things that were enclosed in it. But life isn't like that, nothing is ever perfect, and there will always be consequences and reactions for your actions.
8. In all of these accounts of the creation of the world, they end up making man. Although after they make man, they're not satisfied and they go a step further, and then creates all of the feelings that associate with man, some being okay while others being more on the dim side. If only they had stopped just at man instead of going further and ending up with flaws, but that just shows you that every man will have his own flaws to deal with.
9. I have to say that I don't really like the reason that death came to be. Worrying isn't all that bad...I mean, obviously if you do it so much that it totally stresses you out and you start having anxiety attacks, then it's not good and the result could be death. But overall, people rarely worry that much, and the result of minor worrying isn't death, just stress.
2. According to this story, the world came from a drop of milk, and Doondari came down and formed that drop of milk into stone, fire, water and air. Ultimately creating the five elements. From those elements he created man, and with the man Doondari created the feelings and attributes of man.
4. Blindness defeats man because man cannot see if he's blind. But if blindness defeats man, then sleep defeats blindness because you can't see when you're sleeping, so it's like you actually are blind, only you know that when you wake up you'll still have your sight as opposed to if you were blind and could never gain your sight back.
5. I think that Doondari returns as Gueno to complete the cycle. Once he came as Gueno, carrying immortality, he had made the full circle back to the starting of man. Also, I think he came back as Gueno so that maybe people could give the immortality attribute to the gods, because if the gods weren't immortal, then they would end up being just like man, and there would be nothing special about them hence them not exceeding man, but being equal.
6. I've found that humans aren't perfect, never were and never will be. Every human has his flaws and learns to cope with them and figure around it. Doondari going one step further and creating blindness just created the domino effect and many other attributes of man sprang up. So really, even in great people such as Doondari, there are still flaws. Nobody will ever be perfect, no matter how hard you try.
7. If man had not been proud, then the world would be nearly perfect. It's just like Pandora's box in the sense that if Pandora had not opened the box, then we wouldn't have been exposed to all of the horrible things that were enclosed in it. But life isn't like that, nothing is ever perfect, and there will always be consequences and reactions for your actions.
8. In all of these accounts of the creation of the world, they end up making man. Although after they make man, they're not satisfied and they go a step further, and then creates all of the feelings that associate with man, some being okay while others being more on the dim side. If only they had stopped just at man instead of going further and ending up with flaws, but that just shows you that every man will have his own flaws to deal with.
9. I have to say that I don't really like the reason that death came to be. Worrying isn't all that bad...I mean, obviously if you do it so much that it totally stresses you out and you start having anxiety attacks, then it's not good and the result could be death. But overall, people rarely worry that much, and the result of minor worrying isn't death, just stress.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
When Rain Clouds Gather.
PLOT SUMMARY-
A lot has happened in When Rain Clouds Gather since the first chapter. Makhaya is now safely in the Botswana borders, or so he thinks. Both Chief Matenge and Joas Tsepe want badly to throw Makhaya in jail, as a result of him being a refugee. George Appleby-Smith, a police officer, has declared that he would 'stick his neck out' for Makhaya, no matter what happens, and has also helped Makhaya to get his papers in which allow him to become a resident of Botswana and no longer be considered a refugee. George is acting under Cheif Sekoto, who is Cheif Matenge's brother and is much more kind and generous than his sibling as well Years ago both of the cheifs had an argument, and split up, so now they rule two different parts of the land, and are in much contempt for eachother. Chief Matenge has a plot to kill his brother, and Chief Sekoto wishes, with George's help, to protect Makhaya and throw Chief Matenge into jail. Although Makhaya has obvious enemies, he also has made great friends, who'll stand by him no matter what. Dinorega has taken him under his wing, and introduced Makhaya to his daughter, Maria, and adopted son Gilbert. Makhaya has been working with Gilbert on his agriculture project; trying to get rid of the cattle co-operatives and start planting millet, which could grown in conditions with only three inches of rain. Just recently we have been introduced to a new character, Paulina Sebeso. She moved to Botswana, with her two children, Isaac and Lorato, after her husband died. I think she fancies Makhaya, because she sent her daughter over to Makhaya one day in order to give him greetings that her mother offered. Makhaya responded rudely, and then walked away. Paulina thinks that he likes Maria, but that thought was quickly shut down as Gilbert proposed to Maria later that night.
CENTRAL CONFLICT-
The central conflict is mainly between the two chiefs. Their contempt for each other is shown very obviously. These feelings get in the way of how they rule and influences their thoughts. Whatever one wants, the other wants the exact opposite. I do like Chief Sekoto much more than his brother, because he wants to help Makhaya rather than getting him in trouble and getting him banished out of the country or thrown in jail. However, Cheif Matenge wants nothing more than to throw out the refugee and see the downfall of his brother, as well as all of Makhaya's friends; especially Dinorega and Gilbert.
MAIN CHARACTER-
Makhaya seems like a very intelligent and shy person. He doesn't really like much talk, but he does enjoy listening and learning. He doesn't seem as bad as Chief Matenge makes him out to be. He really wants to learn about the agriculture and what Gilbert has to teach him. He also seems really reserved. Makhaya doesn't really like to make bother to starting conversation, or forcing himself upon people. Although, he is really headstrong with his beliefs and opinions, such as those on government. He reminds me of the breeze; coming and going as he pleases, never being too uptight or serious, and just going with the flow, wherever he ends up, he'll gain knowledge as well as spread knowledge.
A lot has happened in When Rain Clouds Gather since the first chapter. Makhaya is now safely in the Botswana borders, or so he thinks. Both Chief Matenge and Joas Tsepe want badly to throw Makhaya in jail, as a result of him being a refugee. George Appleby-Smith, a police officer, has declared that he would 'stick his neck out' for Makhaya, no matter what happens, and has also helped Makhaya to get his papers in which allow him to become a resident of Botswana and no longer be considered a refugee. George is acting under Cheif Sekoto, who is Cheif Matenge's brother and is much more kind and generous than his sibling as well Years ago both of the cheifs had an argument, and split up, so now they rule two different parts of the land, and are in much contempt for eachother. Chief Matenge has a plot to kill his brother, and Chief Sekoto wishes, with George's help, to protect Makhaya and throw Chief Matenge into jail. Although Makhaya has obvious enemies, he also has made great friends, who'll stand by him no matter what. Dinorega has taken him under his wing, and introduced Makhaya to his daughter, Maria, and adopted son Gilbert. Makhaya has been working with Gilbert on his agriculture project; trying to get rid of the cattle co-operatives and start planting millet, which could grown in conditions with only three inches of rain. Just recently we have been introduced to a new character, Paulina Sebeso. She moved to Botswana, with her two children, Isaac and Lorato, after her husband died. I think she fancies Makhaya, because she sent her daughter over to Makhaya one day in order to give him greetings that her mother offered. Makhaya responded rudely, and then walked away. Paulina thinks that he likes Maria, but that thought was quickly shut down as Gilbert proposed to Maria later that night.
CENTRAL CONFLICT-
The central conflict is mainly between the two chiefs. Their contempt for each other is shown very obviously. These feelings get in the way of how they rule and influences their thoughts. Whatever one wants, the other wants the exact opposite. I do like Chief Sekoto much more than his brother, because he wants to help Makhaya rather than getting him in trouble and getting him banished out of the country or thrown in jail. However, Cheif Matenge wants nothing more than to throw out the refugee and see the downfall of his brother, as well as all of Makhaya's friends; especially Dinorega and Gilbert.
MAIN CHARACTER-
Makhaya seems like a very intelligent and shy person. He doesn't really like much talk, but he does enjoy listening and learning. He doesn't seem as bad as Chief Matenge makes him out to be. He really wants to learn about the agriculture and what Gilbert has to teach him. He also seems really reserved. Makhaya doesn't really like to make bother to starting conversation, or forcing himself upon people. Although, he is really headstrong with his beliefs and opinions, such as those on government. He reminds me of the breeze; coming and going as he pleases, never being too uptight or serious, and just going with the flow, wherever he ends up, he'll gain knowledge as well as spread knowledge.
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