Found Essay: He and I

After reading the following essay, “He and I,” by Natalia Ginzburg, I was absolutely speechless—to say the least. This author seemed to elaborate on the true beauty of people and relationships in a whole new way. She introduces the essay by explaining that it “captures the seesaw of human companionship and love with a patience and sensitivity to interconnectedness that it is hard to imagine a male essayist attempting, much less equaling.” That is some powerful stuff right there. Essentially though, that is exactly, no…wrong word, precisely what she is writing about.

He and I? I and he? Ginzburg goes back and forth between the two throughout the whole story. He likes doing that; I like doing this. He hates doing that; I like doing this. They say opposites attract, right? I started to think that in the beginning too, but as I neared the end, I wasn’t quite sure anymore. Here’s a taste at what I am trying to get at:

“He always feels hot, I always feel cold. In summer when it really is hot he does nothing but complain about how hot he feels. He is irritated if he seems me put a jumper on in the evening. He speaks several languages well; I do not speak any well. He manages—in his own way—to speak the languages that he doesn’t know. He has an excellent sense of direction, I have none at all.”

And it goes on like that for about, mmmm, eight more pages...literally. But, those next eight pages are extremely beautiful, insightful, and intriguing. Honestly, I think this is one of my favorite essays by far; it seems to capture human relationships at their finest.

And so I go on thinking that in the end she’s going to say, oh, but how I love him…or I would be lost in life without him…or even, he is the cheese to my macaroni (you know what I am trying to get at?)…but she doesn’t. Instead she ends the piece reflecting on when they first met, almost like she is contemplating something.

 “I sometimes ask myself if it was us, these two people, almost twenty years ago on the Via Nazionale, two people who conversed so politely, so urbanely, as the sun was setting; who chatted a little about everything perhaps and about nothing two friends talking, two young intellectuals out for a walk; so young, so educated, so uninvolved, so ready to judge one another with kind impartiality so ready to say goodbye to one another forever, as the sun set, at the corner of the street.”

Although ultimately it seems like this essay follows the whole “love acquired, love lost” type of deal, Ginzburg addresses it with such delicacy and simplicity that it seems complete opposite to that first thought. Perhaps this story is true, perhaps it is fiction. Either way, I think in the long run author Natalia Ginzburg leaves the decision to the reader at the end: Is it worth trying anymore, or is it time to give up completely?

Found Essay: Life is a Matter of Perspective

 Overtime, “You begin to see the world, not as it is, but as you are.” Author Peter Bennett addresses such points like this as well as others in his essay titled, “Life is a Matter of Perspective.” If you really think about that first quote, I bet you your mind will flip. It seems so innocent, but honestly, stop for just a second…. Do your life, thoughts, and actions seemed to be shaped and influenced loosely by this transparent idea? Perspective is a funny thing, isn’t it? It falls in line with the notion of perception too—and life is all about perception. Bennett goes on to provide another stunning statement, “It’s hard to see the real picture of life when you live inside the frame.” Isn’t that just crazy to think about?!? We are all on a path in life—always moving forward, although at times it may not seem like it. We have to remember to take ourselves out of the “picture” and see at a different angle. Like the famous quote we all have heard too many times claims, “Image yourself in someone else’s shoes.”

In addition, the author also identifies the idea that you cannot take things at face value. People, as well as other miscellaneous objects, events, etc. in life, are not always as they seem. He quotes, “The sun may appear to move across the sky each day, but it’s actually the earth that’s moving.” If we do not continue to seek new, fresh perspectives in life, we soon will not be able to know what’s real—what’s reality. All you have to do is change perception and see the world anew.

Bennett also hints at the idea that “changing your view or changing your perspective can change your life for the better.” For example, here he sheds a new light (a.k.a new perspective) on old topics and issues. Take a look:

Spiritualism: We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.

Humor: I’m well balanced. I have a chip on both shoulders.

Recruiting Talent: A baseball scout told the team manager, “I found the greatest pitcher of all time. He struck out 27 guys, only one guy had a foul tip.” The manager said, “Sign the guy who hit the foul ball.”

Yourself: Are you in the way or on the way?

Politics: In 1912, Emmaline Panhurst went to prison 12 times in her fight to gain universal suffrage for women. “We are not here because we are lawbreakers; we are here in our efforts to become lawmakers,” she said.”

Art: “Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth.” – Picasso

Prison: “I felt that I could go and have a vacation,” said Martha Stewart describing her attitude on serving five months in prison, an incarceration that forced her to slow down and smell the roses, even if they were behind barbed wire.

Jail: Ralph Waldo Emerson went to visit his fellow transcendentalist, Henry Thoreau in jail. Thoreau was protesting slavery by refusing to pay a poll tax. “Why are you in there?” Emerson asked. “Why are you out there?” Thoreau replied.

Pessimism: A man asked his rabbi why is it that a slice of bread with butter on it always lands with the buttered side down. The rabbi had never heard this before, so they tried it. The rabbi buttered the bread, dropped it and it landed with the buttered side up. The rabbi pointed to it, and said, “Well?” The man protested, “But rabbi, you buttered the wrong side.” Understand that some sour pusses will never change, so there’s never a need to be angry at them. See what perspective can do.

Sales: Instead of saying, “If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.” Try, “I will follow up with you in two weeks, but in the meantime, feel free to call with any questions.” 

Business: Don’t focus on profits; focus on the factors that produce the profits.

By simply flipping those topics and their perspectives around, they took on a whole new meaning. Just think, if you begin to change your perspective and outlook on life, your whole world will take on a new meaning too. It all lies in your possession and control. After all, it’s your own perception that you are living in.

Article: http://www.laverneonline.com/2010/08/10/life-is-a-matter-of-perspective-an-essay-by-peter-bennett/

The Great Lawsuit vs. If Men Could Menstruate

After reading both articles, I would have to say I am overall thoroughly amused. Both Margaret Fuller and Gloria Steinem have such clear, powerful voices that radiate off the pages; their inner forces pull you in and beg you to keep reading on. Now, these articles weren’t exactly the type of reading material I was expecting going into AP Composition, but hey, they made me think and form thoughts, opinions, and ideas…so I think they’re a good pick.

"The Great Lawsuit" brought up numerous points about the struggles and rights of women throughout history. I loved the line, “All men are privately influenced by women.” I think that should read, “All of history was and is privately influenced by women.” It is true. Although in the past, women have not always been in the center spotlight, they have be major influences—that I am sure—affected men in some ways. Author Margaret Fuller also brought up the idea that expanding women’s rights would not create collision, but in a sense “bring forth ravishing harmony.” This is the same idea that two minds are better and or stronger than one. It is just common sense. So of course there will be differences in thinking and opinions, but that is easily surmountable. And this happens to every two people in the world, not just solely between a man and a woman. Once both minds have reached an agreement, harmony will present itself.

In addition, author Gloria Steinem in her article, "If Men Could Menstruate", addressed such similar points. I couldn’t help but laugh while reading her piece. This was such a—I guess some could call—gentle topic, but Ms. Steinem was totally and completely unafraid of expressing her thoughts on the matter. I just loved her bravery! It was awesome! Other than making me smile at her relatable and agreeable arguments, the best part of this article was the idea that she had turned a negative into a positive. And as the lady’s story that she described helped her understand the power of positive thinking, so did she. I felt much better about the topic and, in a way, more powerful too after reading. She turned the subject of menstruation into a joke that involved men—which is remarkably impressive in itself (insert winky face here). And as she pointed out at the end of her article, “logic is in the eye of the logician.” It is your own viewpoint that will alter and affect your ideas and opinions. For you can only think for yourself. This is a “feel-good” article for women. So show it to your sister, mom, or even grandmother and let them form their own thoughts. And then together, you all can imagine a world and what it would be like if men could menstruate. 

Is Google Making Us Stupid? Yes? No? Maybe?

Wow. This article was something else entirely. Who would have ever thought that Google, a search engine designed to provide us with endless informative information, could actually make us—dare I say—stupid. Ha! It just makes me laugh at how (sorry to put it this way) “dumb” the human race can be. Often times we like to elaborate on the advantages of things versus the disadvantages. And in this case, I am not quite sure which one outweighs the other.

This article was extremely relatable, which is kind of sickening to admit. I myself even notice that overtime, yes, it has become more difficult for me to concentrate on heavy focus-demanding topics. I feel as if I can no longer really indulge myself in a book. I feel as if any article or written passage over a couple paragraphs is too hard to even think about trying to read it. It is sad to see what technology has done to us. We have become more dependent on our gadgets, and less involved in our own very life flashing before our eyes. Not to mention even that our thinking process has be totally altered as well.

Author Nicholas Carr brings up a great point: what exactly is the internet doing to our brains? Does anyone know? Will anyone know? Will we eventually turn into “pancake people,” as he put it, or will we all become super-genius humans with brain capacities similar to that of a computer? It’s rather scary to think about in either direction. So perhaps only time will tell as it always does, but in the meantime maybe there is a way we can rewire the way our brain has been altered by our dear friend, the Net. Maybe we can overcome this so called tragedy on our brain that the internet is responsible for. The internet has changed the way we think completely, but I think there is a way to claim back our own lost intelligence. I think there is a way that we can re-train our brain to once again think on its own.

First things first, we need to limit the time that we are exposed to the internet—even technology. Take a few hours every day to just…be. Next, we need to start reading again. Pick out a few books and try to spend time focusing and concentration on what you are reading. Remember to choose books that are of interest to you; that way they will be much easier to read, and you will find them more enjoyable. And lastly, begin to think on your own. Form opinions. Develop ideas. Read. Write. Indulge your mind in creative processes. Think for yourself. We have been doing it for many, many years before the internet even existed, so why can’t we learn to do it again?  

So say goodbye to the brain that the internet has provided us, and say hello to your very own brain. For it is much smarter, wiser, and accurate than any other device on this planet—including our dear friend, the Net.