Human society faces disagreements and violence, in some cases, as they relate to beliefs about themselves and others. Religion plays a big role on how others react to certain situations. For example, the satirist of the Charlie Hebdo attack faced religious discontent and aggression because he created a depiction of Allah, something that is forbidden in the Muslim religion and culture. Satire and humor could potentially move society toward solutions rather than violence by criticizing religion and certain situations by dealing with them in the right way. If one can understand the religion they are satirizing, one can succeed in providing humor to a situation that involves religious tension without provoking violence or a negative reaction. This appears to be evident because the satirists of the Charlie Hebdo most likely were unaware of the views of Muslim religion, and how they depict their god, Allah.
Watching the news the other day, I watched a story about the New York police department that accidently killed a black man while he was resisting his arrest. He died while a police officer put him in a choke hold. Some argue that it is his fault and some say that he deserved it because of resisting aggressively. This could start more riots because of the ferguson trial that has happened recently. If the police officer is proven innocent, this will also cause more violent riots.
-Heather McArdle The questions that we have to ask ourselves when we write are somewhat basic most of the time. Who is the author? What is the purpose for he/she to write this? These questions are more starting questions than the ones that actually help explain the writing well. Its the questions that go beyond the visible surface of the writing that really help us understand what's happening when we read. What inspired he/she to write this? Why did the author use a specific word instead of some other one? Its these questions that really help us to understand what the author is trying to convey to us through their writing. -Max The book I am currently reading is "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy. The plot is the journey of a Man and a Boy traveling through a post-apocalyptic world, desolate, isolated, and covered in ash. The majority of the story, ironically, takes place on a road as the two characters travel, occasionally stopping to search for food or to rest. What really grasped me and caused to me to wonder about is; the irreplaceable sensation of hope throughout the book. What drives the characters to continue on? In a place so barren and unforgiving, living in a constant struggle just to stay alive, the Man and the Boy cling to whatever hope is left. It is uncanny how easy it would be to give up, end the struggle and suffering. Is it the bond between the two? Could it just be that they want to keep the most invaluable resource they have; their lives?
-Jack |