The Importance of Literature
            At best, literature plays a miniscule role in my life. I have never found it particularly interesting nor worthy of grasping my invaluable attention. Somehow I have always preferred visuals on a screen rather than words on a page. However when film directors do manage to bring the few marvels of books to the splendor of cinema halls, the result certainly has the potential to be brilliant. In the case of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson’s interpretation of the much loved novel mirrored a profound knowledge of film and of  course Middle Earth. Surely, there are few who could have done better a job than the knight from New Zealand. As Tolkien’s rhythmic and joyous English (which was in a class of its own) was intricately mixed in with the most vivid of graphics, the literature of The Lord of the Rings had been elevated to a height scaled by few. There is no rule stating that literature must invariably be embodied in books – in fact it is best observed (in my astute opinion) when visual aid is provided for the mixture of both can make for an unforgettable treat

Seeing the Doctor  

Clogged, the nostril became 

Teary, the darker pupil 

His body, the subject of another 

The hand rose and shuddered 

Daunting but luring 

Then the voice rung and soon no more 

Escorted he was, seeing only the door  

The poem is told from the point of view of an onlooker as he witnesses a certain art enthusiast being drawn, almost hypnotically to the brilliance of Vincent van Gogh's work. 

Perhaps an audience which appreciates art and paintings alike, would be able to extract the most joy from the poem above.  

There is no reticent or deceptively hidden message in the poem as it only intends to convey the profound nature of van Gogh's work and how he was truly adept at his trade.  

One of the senses in the poem concerns the nose as the "nostril" becomes blocked due to the pastel like aura of the painting.   

As the art enthusiast began to feel tears in his eyes or "pupil", the rather despondent frown of Dr. Gauchet was having a considerable emotion impact on him or her.   

Edited by Edward Li 

  

Do Seek Their Meat from God

            By reading “Do Seek Their Meat from God” it was clear that Sir Charles Roberts was certainly an astute writer who could use his way with words to manipulate the emotions of his readers. In this particular case, it was especially impressive how the gifted author induced suspenseful substance to the climax. As the panther solemnly strode towards the baby to slake its appetence for food, the reader found himself almost scanning the page to digest the brilliance quicker. Though the denouement was calm and provided a pleasant ending, the scene preluding it was much more vivacious and in a way nerve wracking. An abundance of feelings were felt by the audience and that is why the technique and ability embedded in the literature should be well acclaimed. 

Love Is…

Love is a connection

Between two

Its pulsating nature                                                           

Will never let its bond die

Love is being worthy

Of god’s greatest gift

Love is candour

It is tough

It is an infection

It is an obsession

Without love, there cannot be growth

There cannot be prospering

There cannot be a reason to live

Love is like nothing else

It will trap you

It will entrance you 

It will make you

Love is thinking

Think of the same person all the time

Love is beautiful

Love is a pure good   

English Seminar

1)      What are the similarities between Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and his other renowned statement to the public, the “I Have a Dream” speech?

To witness one man put in writing the equivalent amount of voice and tone he would have used when delivering a message orally is quite rightly mind boggling. It is for sure the work of a highly skilled writer. Not to say that he wasn’t a proficient orator as well but the effective implementation of expression in his writing transcended his note to another level. This much was apparent; Martin Luther King Jr. certainly had a way with words. His “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and the famous “I have a Dream” speech were clear examples of an exceptional grasp of the English language. Essentially they both conveyed the same point of how the longstanding oppression of the “Negro” was long overdue and what had to be done to combat it. In both the means of communication, Martin Luther King Jr. did not deliver his case, instead he preached it. “Let it ring”, “now is the time”, “we will not be satisfied” and of course “I have a Dream” were some of the everlasting phrases that echoed around the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. As a way of keeping his listener or reader interested, the Nobel Peace Prize winner presented his views in a different and intriguing manner. In his letter to his fellow clergymen from inside the confines of a tiny prison cell, the former minister wrote "… remain true to it as long as the cord of life shall lighten” when discussing the role the church had played in helping blacks to attain freedom. And similarly in his speech to one of the largest communions ever recorded, the reverend stated with deafening lethality “One hundred years later the life of the negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination” displaying his dedication to the cause and how he once again used expressions in his letter and speech.    

2)      How did Martin Luther King Jr.’s views on racial oppression compare with those of Malcolm X.?  

It is safe to say that the moral values of Martin Luther King Jr. rarely came under suspicion. Sadly the same cannot be said for Malcolm X whose true intentions were often shrouded in doubt. The biggest difference between the pair was probably that the latter did not support the non violent stance of the civil rights movement. Malcolm X believed that a more aggressive approach would be more prudent in earning his people their freedom. In fact he was so influential that many blacks stated that he was a better representative of their community than the civil rights members. During his more youthful years, Malcolm X preached black supremacy and advocated the separation of blacks and Caucasians vividly displaying how farfetched his views were from Martin Luther King’s. He was even on several occasions accused of being anti-Semitic and a “downright racist”. However his views did change substantially over the years as he eventually worked with civil rights leader and unequivocally disavowed racism. Despite the endless controversy which engulfed him during his lifetime, Malcolm X is considered to be one of the most influential men in history and a brilliant man who could have been even more.      

3)      What were the main reasons for Martin Luther King Jr. of all people being the one to make a significant change concerning racial discrimination and how did he instill his beliefs and passion in his letter?  

                       

Martin Luther King Jr. descended from a long line of reverends and church affiliates which went a long way in forming some of his beliefs and ideologies. Even though times were most challenging for the black man during his childhood, the renowned freedom fighter came from a relatively affluent background. He exploited this affluence in a financial manner as he quickly graduate from high school and earned numerous degrees from several universities. Through his education he learned of Mahatma Gandhi and Howard Stern who proved to be greatly influential from him. Enlightened by how they had dealt with their tougher times, Martin Luther King knew that the only way to raise the social standing of the “negro” was through peace. It was during a visit to the birthplace of Gandhi where this was affirmed and a sequence of “non violent direct action” rallies and gatherings ensued. And when he spoke to the masses he used what he had learned. His knowledge was staggering. His emotions heartfelt. His vision clear enough to see even from the farthest ranging of horizons. The reverend inspired his fellow man through chanting and repeating the definitive points of a particular lecture. Through precise details and recounting of what life was like under the darkness of racism, he gave the people a sense of unfortunate familiarity and how they couldn’t withstand it anymore.  

4)      How critical was Martin Luther King’s Christian background in eventually helping him emerge victorious against bigotry.  

It wasn’t just that he was Christian which was important. It was how deeply rooted his faith was within the religion. In fact as a boy, the man who became one of the best known ministers of all time was quite skeptical of many of the teachings within the bible. Soon however his beliefs were transformed from moderate to devout. Once he was leader of the civil rights movement, he often spoke of his acceptance of other religions and cultures as well. He credited this to Christianity and how the “God Almighty” had placed him on the “path to righteousness”. Martin Luther King’s involvement with his religion was also contributive to how he would pursue freedom and equality through peace. It was indeed a mixture of God’s and Gandhi’s influence upon him which was arguably his most critical lesson as it changed the future of the blacks forever.    

5)      If alive today, would Martin Luther King Jr. be content with the state of not only America but the world in terms of persecution and intolerance?   

It’s a matter of opinion really but it is likely that Martin Luther King would be pleased with the progress the United States and the world has made in making bigotry and injustice extinct. Although it is imperative to note that he wouldn’t refute the obvious need for further improvement either. But one cannot deny that the people of this world have come a long way from the valleys of oppression and hatred. Yes there are parts of the world which are completely grief stricken and in the midst of dire confusion but to consider that at one point in history, it was near impossible for two people of different skin color to simply converse, it is unthinkable that there is no hope for the world today. While moving forward, the human race has trudged off occasionally but definitely. And to think how simplistic Martin Luther King’s hopes really were. “I have a dream that one day little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers” was one of his greatest dreams. Though that came true, there are still countless problems the world faces. Thankfully in the general public of the world, acceptance and love has settled in and the countless problems only originate from what are minorities. We witness interracial marriages and relations all the time and while adversity may loom, Martin Luther King will be proud of the unity within the human race.  

Works Cited

·       Letter From Birmingham Jail

·       "Martin Luther King - I Have A Dream - August 28, 1963 - YouTube." YouTube. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs>.

·       "Martin Luther King, Jr." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.>.

·       "Malcolm X." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X>.

·       "Letter from Birmingham Jail." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_from_Birmingham_Jail>.

·       "I Have a Dream." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Have_a_Dream>.

·       "I Have A Dream Speech - Martin Luther King Speeches." Martin Luther King Online - Speeches, Pictures, Quotes, Biography, Videos of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.!Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://www.mlkonline.net/dream.html>.

If someone asked me if I preferred a nice leisurely hike in the woods or a ride on the subway, I would probably opt to pursue the first option. Not because I am a nature enthusiast but because the subway would not be my personal possession. It might seem a little strange but I find a great deal of comfort in knowing that a certain object has only been under my care and no one has so much as even touched it. I guess certain parts of "A Plea for the Physical" would apply to me but then again it's not like I despise the great outdoors either. As to whether I prefer to simply view a sports event or actually take part in one is debatable and very much conditional. This is true in the sense that I would never do anything else during the same time as a Chelsea F.C. soccer game if it was under my control (or maybe even when not in my control) but in most other circumstances I would indeed like to play the sport myself. Shoveling snow or checking my email? I think the answer to that is pretty obvious. I mean why would I in any case want to shovel the snow? However, generally I do enjoy the physical part of life such as playing sports and participating in other activities but who doesn't like to watch the occasional "Two and a Half Men" episode or play a game of "Call of Duty" here and there?