History repeating

Again and again, it repeats, history.

It seems like when we learn about all the events that make up who we are as a species, they all seem to fit together in a masterful quilt. Each event makes perfect sense... takes the only spot it could in the scheme of the universe. It just couldn't be any other way. For example: after the French Revolution, there was no possible way that France could continue being a leftist country. The Thermidorian reaction was inevitable when you think about it, because all thiongs have a center, and the world cannot veer too far off course. That's why there's always a pull between right and left, good and evil, men and women, fire and ice. It's always to pull towards the center.

So why can't we tell what will happen in the future? If we can see patterns in the way the past has been shaped, can't we be able to see what will happen in the next phase of humanity? If a new field of research was formed, scholars of what has yet to pass, wouldn't there be a chance horrible things would be prevented from happening?
Think about it: doesn't it seem like for any country in a bad economic situation, a strong and ruthless dictator comes and makes things worse? Lets think... Castro, Hitler... doesn't it all make sense? Now if someone recognized these signs and remedied the situation cautiously without advancing the wrong people, couldn't the world have been a more peaceful environment for mankind?

Well see what humanity comes up with.

Sweet Freedom

Is it not strange that one of the things humans value most is freedom, but we really never experience it?

Somehow it seems that humans have a strange habit of binding ourselves at hands and feet. We trap ourselves in the rat-race of everyday life and agendas that try to organize every bit of our life into a rational cage of thought and action. If this is what we want, then is freedom necessary? Is it as good as people have made it out to be?

"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains"
I think Rousseau pretty much summed up the human sitch. We are never free- something always leads us on a path which we cannot determine. We can bind ourselves with ideas, we can strangle ourselves with love, we can give away identity to belong to a group... never are we truly free, and most likely freedom never really exists.

Relation to New Moon: Bella's dad told her that she has to leave Forks because of the depressed way she is asking, but Bella point-blank refuses. Bella has formed a bond with the town, and has sacrificed her freedom for the happiness she had found there. Although her father could MAKE her move, it would be against FREE WILL. That is, the will of Bella's 'freedom'. Her wish, that she is bound to by her own doing.

Music

I was listening to MPR this morning and I heard a broadcast of my favorite cellist, Steven Isserlis. He was talking, how ironic, about my favorite composer- Felix Mendelssohn. Turns out, somewhere in Steven's family tree, he's related to Mendelssohn! How cool is that? Life just throws out these things at you... it's interesting how things fit together.

Anyways, if you've thought about it, didn't we all originate somewhere in Africa? When we all had strange-looking skulls that they find underground these days.
So would you inflict harm on a sibling? If we're really all related, then shouldn't we just be all happy and joyful and live together in joyful harmony?

The answer is no.

Just as we re-live the patterns of life in a small family atmosphere, there is always a need for sibling rivalry. Always. No-one is satisfied with just peace... because with ultimate peace comes ultimate violence: people are restrained from doing what they're instinctually made to do. People always have to compete, and for this reason, World Peace and other such Utopian ideas are impossible: someone will always try to come out on top and cheat other out of something. Thats just the way things work. It's not a bad thing or a good thing, just natural.

Same thing happens in New Moon... Jacob and Edward find it very hard to coexist, because if they did they would both be giving up something they really want. The conflict springing up between them is strictly natural and predictable.

C'est la vie.

Drama Drama Drama!!

You wouldn't beleive the commotion!

When 40 people are stuffed into a single room at the Hyatt downtown Minneapolis...
When everyone is staring anxiously at two people, two people who stand before everyone else...

It's amazing.

Human emotions are interesting... just the way we feel and interact with other people. Our emotions aren't independent variables- the way someone else feels will affect us... We can make people feel better, or worse, just by something we do. I think that this is all so intuitive that no-one gives it credit, and thus we don't give ourselves credit for our power over other people.

Some people prize being able to put away their emotions in place of a cold and ruthless demeanor. This packed room at the Hyatt was observing just this. The cool manner of one cornered and crushed the other with disturbing ease... something out of a "Nature" show about predators. I suppose it could make us 'stronger' to not be emotional, because others will not see our weaknesses. However, somehow emotionality for me, is much more natural to see... I understand the person and can identify with them. When a cold exterior is displayed, I can sit back and watch in awe, but I cannot feel like I share their pain or determination. However when an emotional person is in front of me I suddenly feel like I am a part of what they're telling me, like everything they're saying somehow involves me. It's pretty interesting, actually.

Just some thoughts. You can cross-apply it to New Moon: I suppose I admire Edward a lot (being non-emotional but very intriguing), but Jacob is a lot easier for me to identify with as a character, just because he can't really help himself but project his feelings.

Still Snowy...

Is cold synonymous with 'depressing'?

How about warm? Does it mean 'loving' and 'happy'?

Somehow I think that those are peoples' intuitive reactions to temperature... and it kinda fits with New Moon too. Edward is very cold, and he is also serious and solemn. At the other end of the scale, Jacob is very warm, and also fun-loving, energetic and motivated.

Snowfall

It falls from the sky

in ebbing flurries

swirling through the frigid air

a strange ballet

of many dancers

dropping light as angel hair

It's snowy outside! Sitting in the Eagan High School cafeteria, I could see the snow as it grew and grew, soon none of the ground could be seen, then the trees were covered, then it was all just a wash of white.

I wonder if it ever snows in Forks? It doesn't seem to... Bella always talks about if as a more rainy place. But imagine living somewhere snowy with a vampire! Brrrrrrr.

It's pretty.

Debate ---> Life: relations and analysis

So I just got back from the Novice State debate tournament.

You know, debate is a very interesting activity to engage in. You'd think that arguing an issue is just intuitive and natural, but it's amazing how much a good debater has to transform themselves from round to round. You have to truly beleive in both sides of the topic, otherwise you won't be able to debate it well. One round you're affirming, the next you're negating... but you never really know. Sometimes people adjust involuntarily to their opponent. I talked with someone today who said that she debates better against hard opponents than bad opponents. I thought it was interesting, but it kinda makes sense: someone elses power motivates you to your own.

Yeah, sorry bout that.

Anyways, in New Moon, Bella tries to put up a good face by adjusting to the people around her, but somehow she just didn't make it convincing. Her opponent was herself, she was trying to make herself beleive something that she just couldn't. Those kinds of games never work... like playing chess against yourself.