Fahrenheit 451 Analysis.

Prompt: Discuss how montags changing perception of fire mirrors his personal development. Use specific examples from the text in you argument.

In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, we see the main character-Montag- change his perception on a lot of different points, from human relationships, to love, to children. One of the most significant things that he changes his perception to is Fire. Montag works as a fire man in Fahrenheit 451. But unlike the Fire Men of today, these fire men start fires, They burn book and the houses of people who own them, because in this society book are illegal. In the book Montags perception of Fire and burning changes, and the use of fire by the author mirrors such change.
         In the beginning of the book Montag has a great love and passion for burning and carrying out his duties as a Fire Man. "It was a great pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see thing eaten, to see things blackened and changed."(Pg.3) This quote clearly illustrates montags love for burning. It is satisfying to him. Fire mirrors such a lust and passion for burning. "With the brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world, the blood pounded in his head, and his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning to bring down the tatters and charcoal ruins of history. "(Pg.3) This quote shoes Montags fondness of fire and also fire as something beautiful to Montag. From this quote it is clear that Montag feels empowered by fire, it makes him feel powerful and purposeful. These quotes show how Montag feels about fire and how fire reflects such feeling. In he beginning of the book Montag has a passion for fire and burning, fire is used to mirror this.
            In the middle of the book Montag being to question his profession as a Fire Man as well as the deed of burning books. In the book Montag and the rest of the Fire Men received a call to burn a house because it contained books. This call resulted in the burning of a house as well as a woman who refused to leave her books. Montag being to feel guilt over this. In a conversation with his wife Montag says "We burn a thousand books. We burnt a woman."(Pg.50) Montags continues on to say "There must be something in books, things we cant imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You dont stay for nothing."(Pg.51) Fire reflects this feeling because as Montag begins to question himself and his profession he begins to reject the idea of being a Fire Man. "He pressed at the pain in his eyes and suddenly the odor of kerosene mande him vomit."(Pg.49) This shows that Montags rejection fo fire mirrors his questioning of the burning of books and his profession as a Fire Man.
            During the end of the book we see Montag lose all faith in his work, not only this but Montag begins to rebel agains the Fire Men and the practice of burning books. Montag tries to hide books, store them and memorize them. Montag does this because he is sick of the world he is living in. At one point Montag yells at one of his wife's friends "'Go home'. Montag fixed his eyes upon her, quietly. 'Go home and think of your first husband divorced and your second husband killed in a jet and your third husband blowing his brains out, go home and think of the dozen abortions you've had, go home and thing of that  and your damn caesarian sections, too, and your children who hate your guts..."(Pg.101) This quote shows some of the things that Montag thinks is wrong in this world. But as Montag continues to try and understand books and as Montags actions are starting to be realized by authority Montag uses fire to destroy his past. At one point in the book Montag uses fire to burn down his own house. By doing this Montag feels cleansed of all the things that he hated, all the meaningless things. "He burnt the bedroom walls and the cosmetic chest because he wanted to change everything, the chairs, the tables, and in the dining room the silverware and plastic dishes, everything that showed that he had lives here in this empty house with this strange women who would forget him tomorrow."(Pg.116) This shows how Montag is using fire to cleanse himself. Montags hatred of his world, of all the superficial people and things is reflected by his using of fire as  an eraser to forget the past.
           In the book Fahrenheit 451 we see the main character Guy Montag interact in this futuristic world, with different and frighting values. beliefs and culture. Fire is used throughout the book to image and accent what Montag is feeling and how he might act. By reading and thinking about the book we can see the Bradbury changes Montags perception of fire as Montag develops throughout the story. This book can  teach us a lot about who we are, were we have been and were we are going as a race.

TU Tuesday. Local

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Troubling-issues-at-Guilderland-nursing-home-3533412.php

We have all heard stories, jokes and references about the same problem. But i never thought that it coupld be happening right behind out school. "State inspectors have cited the Guilderland Center Nursing Home for 52 deficiencies over the past three years, more than double the statewide average." This is bad news and advertising for nursing homes, who in this country at least seem to get a bad reputation. Also its grim news for a place that many of us could be heading, hopefully much later in life. The article states to prove its point that "The average nursing home in New York has been cited for 24 deficiencies,.." While this news could be worse i dont find it all that comforting. Unfortunatly other offenses have taken place at the nursing home, one employee at the nursing home was "...accused of grabbing the breast of a 95-year-old resident in 2010, leaving a sizable bruise..." Not only thins but neglect and a lack of safety has also taken place inside the establishment. SOmeone from a inspection group stated "'Clearly you have staffing problems here,..'" Although I think that this maybe a large part of the problem the underlying problem is within our culture. As stated before the average number of Nursing Home deficiencies in New Yrok State is 24. I dont know about you but when i'm old and fragile-which i hope never happens- i do not want to live in a place with any number of observable deficiencies. I think that our culture frankly treats our elderly like crap, with disrespect. Think about it. other cultures do not. i remember in my History class last year we were begin taught by a woman in her older years. She started one lesson telling us about  cultures in Africa who hold their elders in high regards. They have barley to life a finger and what they require is at their fingertips. People value them for their wisdom and what they have to offer to a community. I understand that America is a youth worshiping nation. It always has been and always will be. Its a great part of being an American. But we should try to improve the way we lok at the elderly, because in truth they are our most valuable educators, and frankly were all headed that way.

Prompt Number 48

When i think about war now there isn't much emotion. There isn't much patriotism. There isn't a clear or defiant cause. For most of the years of my life america has been at war. I have forgotten what it is like to live in a county that isn't at war. Is it really that much different? You tell me i have no idea. Things would be different if it was WWII or WWI, the Civil war, The Revolution. All those wars, i would describe as necessary evils. The cause of them is pretty obvious. All the same no matter what war it is we all need to remember people who willingly risk their lives for their friends, family, and country

What isCrippling Us?

I do believe that the author is making a good point. I believe that there is, something wrong with the way kids are taught in America and more importantly the way teachers teach. Dont get me wrong i love all my teachers and most of them challenge me a fair amount but too many time shave i seen teachers who have NO CLUE on what they are doing. Its not enough that they just know the material, they have to be taught on how to convey it to kids in an understanding manner that everyone can absorb not JUST the advanced students. As Gatto says about school teachers "Boardroom is a common condition of school teachers." I think that this is true. I will say this though, for the most part guilderland high school does a great job of hiring quality teachers. Not everybody of course, but i haven't ever had an unenthusiastic teacher at GHS. But there is something that i would like to point out about the article. When Gatto says "...a considerable number of well-known Americans never went through the twelve-year wringer our kids currently go through, and they turned out all right. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln?.." I just want to point out that all those people lived more than 100 years ago. They didn't have public education. They had one roomschool houses for rich white boys and that was it. I'd also like to point out that the author did not include one accomplished female in his list. Anyway  I do agree with him that much can be learned-most in-fact- out side of a classroom. That what summer vacation is about. 

          Anyway, there are several ways to connect this to Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. One way is that Bradbury describes through the character Clarisse McClellan, that the children of her generation are irresponsible. Similar to the way in which Gatto describes children of this generation as being board and unmotivated. Talking about a past generation Clarisse says "...they believed in responsibility..." and later she says "Do you know, i'm responsible. I was spanked when I needed it, years ago..." Bradbury made some accurate predictions on the futre of our nation, as good science fiction authors do. And Gatto, pointed out some of the weaker points in our system, they seem to tie into Bradbury's predictions pretty well. 

Tried And True

I would choose a knight. I would choose this one simply because i feel like the middle ages would have been a fun time if you were healthy. My daily life? Well i think that everyday i would wake up, go shoot the breeze with the king cause i would make sure that i was his favorite, I would aim to make myself popular among the towns people as well as the royal family. I would work my way up through the ranks with my 21 century intelligence. Then after acquiring very close friends i would go off with them and have an adventure of some kind. Ive always wanted to do that, just walk off on an adventure, not knowing where your going, maybe the town was just ransacked by bad people and we had to run away. Yeah that'd be cool. Of course i would enjoy it. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r36wikH36JM

We can spend hours and hours, arguing about some of the greatest leaders in history. Abe Lincoln, Margret Thatcher, Washington, Sitting Bull, heck, even Jesus. We can argue about which ones of them were better, purer and with the best intentions. But I believe that the best leaders are those who have been thrust into a position of leadership, and have accepted the challenge for the good of others not for themselves. Great leaders are not given their place. Sir Winston Churchill is a great example of a leader, who was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and never once faltered. In his speech to Harrow University in 1941, during Great Brittians 3rd year in the Second World War he said the following "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never! In nothing great or small. large or petty, Never give in." This is a perfect quote of his, perseverance, his determination to bring his country up from the ruins and fight the Nazis. He is proud of what he has done to the country also, in the speech he also says "...the great improvement in the position of our country..." he knows that he has helped this country out of one of its darkest times and, he knows there is further to go.  "Why when I was here last time we were all alone, desperately alone."but later in the speech he says "We are not poorly armed to-day". All these quotes show his attitude, it was positive, it was a positive "lets go kick some butt" attitude.
           Churchill succeeded Neville Chamberlain, constantly opposing his, and most of Europe's policy of appeasement "Churchill took the lead in warning about Nazi Germany and in campaigning for rearmament." In his first several years of office he had to deal with the constant Air Raids on Brittian during the Battle Of brittian in 1940. After Brittian successfully defended themselves with the help of the shelter of their subway system and anti- aircraft fire the Nazis backed off. Brittian continues to fight on mainland europe and had a hard war infront of them until 1945 when the nazis were defeated.
          I think believe that many lessons can be taken from Sir Winston Churchill, his quotes, his speeches and his actions. Too many times in life do people give in to intimidation and fatigue, the only person- usually- who is standing in our way is ourselves. One of my favorite quotes of all time, helps me to keep on going when all seems lost and never give in.
"When your going through hell, keep going"
                                                       -Sir Winston Churchill

4 A Community I Love

A Community i love has to be Altamont. My house rests on the boundary between Guilderland and Altamont. I grew up in the woods of altamont. I made a lot of friends in the village from a very young age. It was like growing up in a movie, we would go hiking up waterfalls or swimming in ponds, trespassing, playing football at the park, eating ice cream and going to the Altamont fair every year. I love that town because its so relaxed. Its like a picture out of the 1950's