Happy New Year!
This week we start incorporating blogs into our weekly work. These blogs are our place to respond to each other and to build our ideas about the world, literature, and poetry.
For this week's blog, I am asking you to read the poem by Richard Blanco, "One Day."
Once you have read the poem, I want you to think about how new years bring with them new hopes and dreams. Identify the dreams and hopes that you think we need as a country, a school, a community, and an individual.
Your response explaining these hopes and dreams for the future should be about two-three paragraphs in length. Please be sure to cite examples from the poem.
Once you have posted, please go back and read the responses of others and comment on at least three people's ideas.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMan its crazy to believe that another year has passed us by. At times like these I agree that the best thing to do is to take the lessons we learned in the past to heart and begin to look forward into the future. So then what has the past taught us? Well recently I’ve been thinking about it and I can say that the most important lesson I have been taught in my life is the necessity to give back. After all, in each of our lives we have and our continuing to be given the support and care of those around us to pursue our dreams like how Blanco’s mom had “ring-up groceries [...] for twenty years, so [he] could write this poem” (Blanco 14-15). Or how our teachers spend their nights crafting lessons that can enrich our minds. Isn’t it only right that we aspire to pay it forward? I mean, as Charlie Chaplin once said, “We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness, not by each other’s misery.” Sadly though at this given moment, it does not seem very easy to do so.
ReplyDeleteSo then, what is it that I think are the dreams and hopes that we need? Personally, I believe we need to dream that one day, we will once again see one another. Part of the reason that this year has been so disheartening and it seems that humanity has lost itself is that we have been cut off from one another. We have had our vital human tendency to be able to interact and help one another forcibly taken away from us. So then if there is anything I hope for as an individual, it is that I hope I can start reconnecting with my friends and community and giving back once again. If there is something our community and school should dream to do, let it be this, let us dream a future that is better then our current and let us begin to work towards rebuilding what we have lost. And, if their is a hope that can resonate throughout our country let it be the hope that humanities humanity will once again return to its full brilliance. And thus I ask you dear reader, let us begin to find that “new constellation” of our future that is “waiting for us to map it [..] together” (Blanco 67-69).
I totally agree with this Chase! I think it's very easy to take for granted the things others do for us on a daily basis. In the case of teachers and grocery cashiers, it can be easy to brush it off because it's just "part of their job." But I think humanity will be a lot better off in the long run if we were all able to understand the importance of other people's actions that affect our lives. And while I too look forward to reconnecting with the community, I think we should all try to connect with people that we otherwise wouldn't have, people that we sometimes take for granted. The poem focuses on the entire nation uniting, and though it needs to start on a local level, I think we need to keep pushing on a larger level. As you said, it's human nature to help people, so hopefully 2021 will teach people to help those outside of their personal circle.
DeleteThank you for your thoughts Chase! I like what you said about how we should focus on working towards a time that is better than what we are facing currently. I am a firm believer in maintaining an optimistic mindset, so I agree that the only way to move forward is to believe in the future. Also, I love your word choice of describing humanity as having a certain “brilliance” -- it creates a picture of us, as a whole, giving off our hope as a light for others to follow. And, I have one question for you: is it really necessary to rebuild what we have lost, or should we instead turn our energy toward building up something new?
DeleteI agree with you Chase. As an extrovert, I didn't realize just how much I missed talking/interacting with other people. I agree with your thoughts on what an Individual hopes for in today's society. Great Work!
DeleteWhen looking into the future for the society as a whole, it feels necessary to address the hopes and dreams of ourselves to bring forward new and better change into the world. With recent events in the world, it is important to set this path of hopes and dreams everyone can strive for. So, to further benefit ourselves, first we must look at what each of us hold dear to our hearts and have that reflect into each and everyone’s hopes and dreams. For me, I see my dream being for unity and commonality. Looking into this, the placement of unity with society acts as a factor for people to understand one another, show compassion, and work for a better tomorrow. The idea of unity leading to these fundamentals to society are brought through Blanco as he states, “ . . . praising a mother who knew how to give, or forgiving a father who couldn’t give what you wanted” (Blanco 58-60). People should look to uphold the times that brought joy and laughter to them. People should look at other times that brought this down as temporary and move on from the event, look to establish new ground with the person rather than having hate and resentment. Society with constant hate will result in no progress being made for the future, but once we are able to move past this, the progress made reflects our emotions towards one another and that it will be made with unity having no restraints to advance the living of society as a whole.
ReplyDeleteTo move on, the hope and dream within society that I wish for in the future is that of peaceful unity, where hate does not lead to a divide amongst all who coincide within the world. Individuals should seek to understand people's thoughts and emotions to bring joy to their life and have their feeling of passion shine to others so the hopes and dreams of one lights as a beacon for others to learn from. So, to look into further detail, when examining the country, people should be open minded to others ideas and look for how an outcome can be reached where people stand together on issues rather than divided. As a community and school, these should look at how they can help individuals that leads to a further emotional connection being established with each other so that each of us may work for better living as a whole. Lastly, as an individual, the person should look to examine what they can provide to others that may bring them joy and happiness to their life rather than looking at how their resentment can lead to further hate for people. If we as a society seek for the betterment of the world, then we must look to become unified and understand one another. This is done so that people may connect through each others in means of compassion, work for a better tomorrow, and establish new connections through joy. So, I ask for people to look into the unity with people in your life and establish a clear understanding of people’s thoughts and emotions. I look to remind people one final time that our “cities and plains are mingled by one wind - our breath” (Blanco 34-35).
So if you couldn't tell Clayton, I do completely agree with above all else we need to unite together and begin to help one another. However, I'm not sure if we need to understand each other in order to be able to do this. Even if we can't comprehend the complex problems others are facing I want to believe we can still desire to help them.
DeleteI 100% agree with all of this! I think unity is a common goal for everyone, especially in these trying times. Understanding each other, and why people feel the way they do, can only bring us closer to that goal. So much of hate is caused by a fear of the unknown, so the more sympathy people have for others, the less resentment people will have. I also agree that open-mindedness is vital to accomplish this goal. The quote you used at the end perfectly summarized it, as we are all connected by the single thread of humanity. It's up to us to go and find that common thread among others.
DeleteI see that positivity, compassion, and unity are very important to you -- and rightfully so! I agree that, in order to really make a change in society, we must start with changing our own mindsets. However, how is it that we can broadcast this idea to other people? How can we change the minds of those who are intent on maintaining hate and division in society?
DeleteConnection to other human beings are not to feigned as forms of hate. If it would be out of hate, then how irritable is it to live in the constant misery of pretend. The desire to share our thoughts reside in every human, though some thoughts are forms of attack to another. That´s my interpretation of your paragraphs. See you at school tomorrow (@``)
DeleteI agree that we need to further our attempts of emotionally connecting with each other in the school environment. How do you think that we can further these connections?
DeleteWhen I first read “One Today” by Richard Blanco, I felt a sense of connectedness with not just the country, but the entire human race. To many, New Years is a time to focus on goals and growth for the upcoming year, but this motivation tends to be individualized. The most common resolutions tend to be to exercise more, get organized, spend less money, etc. This year however, many people I’ve talked to are making simpler ones, like to be more appreciative. 2020 was a stressful time for everyone, and everyone shares the same hope for a better 2021. And while everyone is trying to improve things in their own life, a lot are forgetting about how to improve the community as a whole. After all, we are not as different as we sometimes think.
ReplyDeleteYes, a new year is an opportunity to better oneself. But we tend to forget the idea of bettering the nation as a whole. The poem opens with “One sun rose on us today” (Blanco 1), followed later by “One light, waking up rooftops, under each one, a story” (Blanco 5). The imagery of a sun rising over a new horizon reminded me of the start of a new year, a chance to make things better. The lines focus on both the individual and communal aspect of humanity. Each of us leads a unique life, but we are all connected in certain ways. We all have the same 24 hours, the same 365 days for the year. I think a good resolution for the world would be to try to understand each other more. As the poem says, “on our way to clean tables, read ledgers, or save lives-- / to teach geometry, or ring-up groceries as my mother did / for twenty years, so I could write this poem” (Blanco 13-15). All of the people in these professions live totally different lives, but each are essential to society. We tend to judge people based on their jobs and what we deem a “respected” job. But if we were able to take a step back and understand their role in society, understand their point of view, maybe there would be less judgement. With less judgement, there is more kindness and understanding, a step I think this country desperately needs in these times.
So much of the division in the country, in the world, could be diminished if we all just had the patience and understanding necessary for sympathy and compassion. The future is a direct product of our actions; we cannot just wish for change and wait for it to come. With the new year, I think we should all focus on how to make this dream a reality. After all, Blanco writes, “...one country--all of us-- / facing the stars / hope--a new constellation / waiting for us to map it, / waiting for us to name it--together” (Blanco 65-69). As we usher in a new year, as we share a collective hope for a better future, I hope we remember to stop and think just of ourselves, and look at things from a different perspective.
Hi Ava! After reading a few of these posts, I find it interesting the different lines from the poem that stood out to us. The ones you chose really helped support your ideas, especially your comments on roles in society and the things that connect everyone together. I love what you said about wishing for change vs taking action; we need to dedicate this year to being one of action, so that we can finally see the change we have been dreaming about.
DeleteYo Ava! Oh my gosh yes you nailed it perfectly with the sentiment that we must look at the world through others point of view to make the world a better place. I couldn't describe it better myself. However, I do often wonder if it is better to focus on improving ourselves first or society since how much can we do to help others if we have figured out ourselves first?
DeleteTechnically, January 1st is just the day that follows December 31st. It does not hold more potential for change than any other day of the year, and yet it has come to represent the ultimate fresh start. New Year’s Day marks the beginning of infinite possibilities, and its inherent optimism is the lens through which we choose to view the year before us. While many people take this opportunity to make resolutions for themselves, few manage to maintain those resolutions past a few months. What happens to their initial motivation to improve? It is my theory that, if each person directed their dreams to a bigger purpose, they would be able to push through the whole year with the same hope that they started it with.
ReplyDeleteBy “a bigger purpose,” I mean that it is important to expand our aspirations to all the groups we belong to, in order to improve our lives on multiple levels. The largest level we are part of is our country, and the hope we need to focus on is unity. Currently, our nation is so divided, whether that is by false ideas of race, arguments about politics, or simply a daily lack of compassion for our fellow citizens. What we need to focus on is not our differences, but what links us together. In his poem “One Today,” Richard Blano says that the atmosphere of each part of the country is “mingled by one wind -- our breath” (Blanco 35). He reminds us that we are all just humans, striving to make the most of life. This can also be applied to our smaller communities; by acknowledging that every individual is trying their best, others can step in to support them in their endeavors.
Taking another step smaller, within local communities are groups of young people, specifically students. Students are the future, and therefore the hope we have for schools is to be encouraging. Students must always be told that they can achieve the things they set out to do, and that they have worth even if they are not perfect. Blanco describes this mindset as “the ‘I have a dream’ we keep dreaming” (Blanco 19). Along with goals of unity for our nation, support for others in our community, and perseverance as a learner, I have some hopes for myself. I hope to be kind, to do my best, and to never hold myself back. While these resolutions are simple, they may have a significant impact on the groups I am a part of. As long as we embrace a new direction to New Years resolutions, I am confident that we will continue “jutting into a sky that yields to our resilience” (Blanco 54) -- for the benefit of us all.
I definitely agree with you here. We as students need to give back more. Although it is hard for us during these times, there are plenty of ways we can give back. We can check up on friends that are struggling or volunteer at local businesses. As you said, we are the future whether we like it or not. It is our job to do work for the betterment of others. If we set the example now, imagine what our world will be like in years to come.
DeleteI wholeheartedly agree that the new year is just another day. That our nation is divided, and that even as our thoughts divide us, we are still together in our humanity.
DeleteI love these thoughts! I think it's really inspiring to see how setting goals that better humanity as a whole may be easier to stick to than personal ones. I know I've given up on many resolutions over the years, but if there was a greater purpose to them maybe I would have persevered. I also love the idea of looking to students as the future, because I felt it tied in how the poem brought up that hope for a better tomorrow. It's up to us to create the world we want to see.
DeleteMight I just say Alyssa, I found great beauty in the way you shaped your argument to branch first out to the large picture but then take it back to focus in on the narrow, where as most would have gone from small to large. The only question I pose to you is one I've recently been thinking on, that being you mentioned on the large scale is our country but why not the world as a whole? I've been pondering what a future would look like if we began to look at ourselves as humans instead of Americans or people instead of countries. Just an idea I though you might take enjoyment in considering since you seem to have an appreciation for looking past our differences.
DeleteI admire your statement regarding how even though we are not perfect, we still have worth. Self-worth is such a difficult journey and it is one that I am on. Also, even if resolutions are simple, that doesn't mean that they aren't helpful! Even just making your bed everyday can be a resolution.
DeleteI really love this argument and agree with you completely that we do need to look at the bigger picture to have a better outcome and that outcome being the world less divided then we have become.
DeleteI agree as not only is the world divided, but the new year doesn't feel all that different. But we're all still human and we can improve in the future.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe world and our country seem to be dividing more and more. The world is divided based on power and culture while our country is split by political views and unstable social climates. As human beings, we tend to spend so much time trying to distinguish the individuality of one another, that we forget to see each other how we really are. We are all one race living on the same planet in the same universe. As Blanco says "One ground. Our ground, rooting us to every stalk
ReplyDeleteof corn,/ every head of wheat sown by sweat/
and hands..." (4). I think we start to take a step back and see one another for our commonalities, not our differences. If we take steps with other people's shoes, we will understand the true issues that they face and the obstacles that are holding them back.
In light of the recent events at the Capitol Building in Washington D.C., it is clear that we are spending too much of time judging people by their differences. Our country is so divided at the moment that just the mention of the opposing political party will spark argument. This country was not founded on division. It was founded because people came together and died together so that we would have freedom. I think, as this new year is upon us, we need to return to those previous beliefs of comradery. I think as a country, we have forgotten what it means to be American. We need to see both sides of an issue and understand that there is not always one group of people that is at fault. We have forgotten that we have had a common history so that we have a common future together.
As individuals, there is one characteristic that we all need to adopt as we embark through 2021 that will make all of our lives better. We all, as humans, need to show more empathy. We tend to believe that we are always right and only see things from a closed mindset. We as individuals have our own set of biases and experiences that makes each and every one of us unique. We each grew up in a different environment and under different expectations. We can't expect everyone to act just like we do. We need to start basing our actions on the needs of others. For example, we as students could all have a smile on our face in the morning or even throughout each class we have. It wouldn't take all that much effort, but I'm sure it would make the teacher's day. There is definitely a time where we should focus on ourselves, but whether we like it or not, there are 7 billion more people like us out there. If we understand that, Blanco says that there always exists "a new constellation/ waiting for us to map it,/ waiting for us to name it—together." (9). As we dive further into the new year, it is important that we try to see each other for our commonalities rather than our differences.
I disagree with the idea that we need to somewhat ignore our differences entirely, especially political ones because certain political ideas cannot coexist with one another. If we allow all ideas the same space within political discourse democracy, especially our might not survive. I agree that focusing on what we have in common is important but the fact that we are all human is not the only thing that makes our ideas worth sharing.
DeleteI do agree that our country needs to focus on the things that unites us, but I don´t agree with the lines that this country is found upon being together. I think I know what you mean, spiritually. Historically, the US is born after declaring independence and with the Loyalists and Patriots, who fought against one another for the freedom from the bear of the British crown.
DeleteI really like how you mention extending empathy to one another. That we as individuals tend to assume our correctness without truly looking at a problem from another's perspective. However, I do wonder if we as a country ever knew what "being an American" was? Is there a definite answer, even? I don't say this to discredit your thoughts, please know this. I just truly think it is something that more of us should ponder more frequently. There are so many different histories packed into the development of our country's (ex. Black, Native, minority Immigrant), histories that we still today are uncovering. And although I understand where you are coming from in the second paragraph, this country was literally built by those who were segregated from society, not by everyone working together. But, I also would like to credit your incorporation of the first quote. I haven't seen many people reference it yet and I think your interpretation and incorporation of it is an interesting lens to launch from. Especially with how you preface it by speaking briefly on the complexities of individuality.
DeleteI agree that as we move on, the world feels more divded than it's ever been. I also agree that we can do so many small things that would please others. I think that if we start with the small things we can progessively get better and better as a society.
DeleteNew Year’s is often associated with resolutions and hope for improvement, and it seems like this year, people are more desperate for things to improve than ever before in recent history. Seven years ago, Richard Blano wrote “One Today” for Obama’s presidential inauguration. A lot has changed since then, but his poem is equally--if not more--relevant today. He writes, “all of us as vital as the one light we move through, / the same light on blackboards with lessons for the day: / equations to solve, history to question, or atoms imagined, / the “I have a dream” we keep dreaming, / or the impossible vocabulary of sorrow that won’t explain / the empty desks of twenty children marked absent / today, and forever” (Blanco 16-22). I think all Americans can understand the same feeling of sorrow that comes with prolonged isolation or loss of a loved one. Many people are emotionally drained after the past year, so personal growth and improvement is an important goal to focus on. If people want 2021 to be better for everyone, they first have to make sure they can do their part to improve the one thing they’re directly in control of: themselves. I think many people hope to be happier and more content with life, but the truth is that life will never be perfect. People have to learn to live with and accept the imperfections. But, there are things right now that do need to be fixed. America will never be perfect, but the current state of the country is near disastrous.
ReplyDeleteThe dream America needs to achieve most right now is a sense of unity. Everyone is itching to return to normal life and be around other people again, but at the same time, the hostility and resentment between many people is growing rapidly. Recent events have only served to increase this ever-expanding rift between Americans. Fear and uncertainty about the future has them on edge, and it seems that many Americans have chosen to resort to violence as a means to ensure the future they want for the country. But if the civil unrest in the United States is to ever be resolved, its citizens need to work together to create a solution that ensures “liberty and justice for all”. Even though our political opinions may differ, in the end we are a single country that shares the same core values. Blanco writes, “we head home: through the gloss of rain or weight / of snow, or the plum blush of dusk, but always—home, / always under one sky, our sky” (Blanco 61-63). 2020 was a terrible year for rain in the sense that everything seemed gray and hopeless, but people have hope that 2021 will have clearer skies. Blanco reminds us that regardless of our differences, we all look up to the same sky from this country we call our home.
I agree that this year was terrible, and the state of our country has reached disastrous proportions. I am fearful for what the future brings, but ultimately I have hope for all the good that the future may bring.
DeleteYour math is wrong, 2013 is 8 years ago...considering when he drafted it perhaps 9 years. And yeah I do feel that fear was the feeling that united this country during 2020, and now it´s invading 2021 too. I do want to look up to the clear blue sky.
DeleteNew years bring new dreams and new opportunities because the new year is seen as a chance for new beginnings even if in reality there is no real difference between new years eve and new years except for the significance we assign to them. It’s good that we as a society assign value to setting goals and aspirations for our lives and ways to better ourselves, our society, and our world. If we individually better ourselves we can make the world a better place but we alone as individual citizens in the world cannot change our world completely. Blanco speaks to our individuality and how that comes together to form the framework of our world: “My face, your face, millions of faces in morning’s mirrors, each one yawning to life crescendoing into our day:” (Blanco lines 7,8). My dreams for the future include many things, but currently many of my worries about the world include how our country will move forward from the problems we have come in contact with over the course of this year, a dishonest leader who exacerbated a pandemic and lied to his supporters, a poorly handled pandemic with preventable consequences, a riot in our capitol that lasted far too long, peaceful protests that only became riotous through provocation, hornets that beheaded honeybees, the west coast was on fire, Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away and was far too quickly replaced by an extremely conservative judge, the president of the United states got Covid-19, the president claimed his opponent’s win was fraudulent with zero evidence. The point is, this year was a lot and quite a bit of it was preventable, I wish we had more control in this crazy world. I think we all want more control in our insane lives. So many people have passed away this year, and it’s just, crazy, this idea is echoed in the poem here: “or the impossible vocabulary of sorrow that won’t explain the empty desks of twenty children marked absent today, and forever” (Blanco lines: 20-22).
ReplyDeleteOur goals for this year need to be to care for each other and to push the people in power to be better. We need to make them accountable for their actions in every way possible. I am rarely this furious on this level, we need to be aware of how important strong and democratic leadership is in this trying time. As a country our goals need to be to strive for democracy, to bring us together in these trying times, not drive us further apart. I hope as a country we can once again be whole, even with all the holes and fractures that formed during 2020. As a school our goals need to be to figure out how to safely meet together and to get through this with as few people getting sick as possible. Our hopes: that we will successfully and safely get through this pandemic and this year. As a community our goals should be to strive to be the best we can during these trying times, to hold each other up and give each other hope for the future. Our hopes to work together and love each other and to be together safely once again. For myself my goal is to not get sick, that my family and I can stay safe and healthy during this crazy time, to continue being creative, and to make sure I keep up with everything I need to get done. My hopes are that we can get through this together, that we can fight injustice and set things right. My hopes and dreams for this year remind me of the final stanza of the poem “We head home: through the gloss of rain or weight, of snow, or the plum blush of dusk, but always—home,
always under one sky, our sky. And always one moon, like a silent drum tapping on every rooftop, and every window, of one country—all of us—, facing the stars, hope—a new constellation, waiting for us to map it, waiting for us to name it—together.
I agree that new year's day is really no different then every other day before or after it. I also love the message you have at the beginning about how setting aspirations is a wonderful thing to do, but only if we actually act on them.
DeleteSwing along the mountains and roll around those hills. Like rain droplets condensing beneath the ends of the creek and boarding into a waterfall, another year is coming along. Days in and days out the dew accumulates, and we go to work, to school, and to home. We eat, joke around, take a nap perhaps, or do something spectacular such as scoring a goal or accidentally falling down the staircases and knocking out a bruise. Then, a new year approaches us. And we reflect ourselves in happiness or shame. A new year builds off the structures that we have provided ourselves in the old, though predicting the future by using the past may not be accurate. The efforts spent learning a new task or spent with someone that you love trickles into a puddle. In Richard Blanco’s poem, “Not Today,” he expands on his ideas of a new year. He reads, “The dust of farms and deserts, cities and plains mingled by one wind—our breath” (Blanco). The span of the earth, though so quadrantal, swirls together with the act of human discourse.
ReplyDeleteSimply put, we each have our own thoughts that we make. As the man rolled his Rs, I know he speaks Spanish. Moving from Madrid to the US, speaking vastly of his poem, he sought for a rhythm to be felt by each of us. Not just divided as Spain, United States, or Chad, but as something that can be understood (as long as you speak English). I do think that as a world, we do need to focus more on solving problems by collaboration rather than by creating new problems to diminish the severity of our old ones. In the smaller perspective, for the people who surround me, we should not give up on the main course of life. As my friends would put it, ‘it be like that so you gotta do.’ Our link to the world can be preserved when a friendly nod towards a new year is seen by each of our own foresights. Emphasizing on togetherness, the poet reads, “hope—a new constellation waiting for us to map it, waiting for us to name it—together” (Blanco). And as for me, I believe in the power of water. The power to form H-bonds. The unwilting grit for adhesive forces to stay on the brink of the cup. As days go by, a year is slowly formed by what happens. Each smile, each tear, each little weather effect, binds together and forms the overall temperature of the earth.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI loved how you included both positive events and negative ones in your sentence about doing something spectacular. Oftentimes spectacular things are only regarded as positive and I appreciate the uncommon perspective. It's also really cool how you compare human connection to the H-bonds of water. And I agree with that analogy, how every little interaction advances human relations on a global scale.
DeleteYou noticing the dialect of Blanco is impressive and really cool!! I am learning Spanish and I absolutely love it. Also, I agree with the power of water. I have been drawn to water due to it's persistence and strength and it is so encouraging. The fact that water can break down cliffs and turn them into valleys is inspiring.
DeleteI very much enjoyed your take on this topic. I completely agree with you on how we need to focus on working on issues together instead of creating even more problems between us. Also I love the chem comparison at the end!
DeleteTime is a concept borne of human construct but something near none of us could imagine living without. Both terrifying and comforting in its progression. Time stops for no one and pauses for nothing. Whether we show up for work or remain at home, it is of little consequence to time. Making it to a new year is the greatest achievement to some, fighting to be excluded from the “[...]twenty children marked absent / today, and forever” (Blanko 21-22). For others, the mark of a new year is the same as any other day. Even further, some take the new year as a time to change themselves to mirror the person they want to be. I think all approaches to the turning of the calendar are admirable, especially for the individuals who fight to live each and every day. I applaud you in your endeavors, and it is certainly not going to waste!
ReplyDeleteThis year particularly, I think we all need to stop focusing just on our lives, but the bigger picture. More of us need to look into world news, or even just the goings on in states other then our own. In early December, a call to action was going around to save the Arctic. Our government had decided to open oil contract bids on a section of the land in Antarctica that had, until then, been protected. The land they decided to auction off houses several endangered species and is sacred to the Native tribes that live on the land. I’m willing to bet that not many people at our high school knew about this occurrence. This event is just one of thousands of examples I could have used. Especially in the light of the pandemic still running rampant, I think everyone needs to stop thinking about themselves and the people immediately around them. Instead, our focuses should extend further. How do our actions today effect my neighbor's neighbor? By making this choice, how am I impacting someone I’ve yet to meet? There are millions of people out there that we will never know, “millions of faces in morning’s mirrors” (Blanko 7). These questions and thoughts are ones that don’t cross our minds very often, and I am not excluded here. Pandemic or not, I believe all of us should take the time to expand our informational intake. And, I think most importantly, actively look for opinions that differ from your own. Acquiring information is valuable, but only acquiring information from one side of a story is dangerous.
America right now exists as a nation divided on a political scale. Not to say that it is all that defines us, but I do believe it is one of the most prominent identifiers at the present. If we are to recover from the pandemic that has impacted each and every one of us, these divides need to fade from our forethought. Not just the political divides, but any constructed separation that interferes with human connection. It matters not, at the end of the day, with what platform we align ourselves with. We are all human, and we all want the freedom to exist. Loftily, all I hope for this year is that we can heal as a nation. For some day in the future where, “one wind carrying our lives / without prejudice” (Blanko 45-46) can take host in every individual. That the wounds inflicted to all, old and new, can be soothed. It will not be easy nor will it be quick. And some times, I do not think it is even possible. For it is a task that the impatient will not long endure. But, with increasing naiveté, I desperately hope that our political unrest calms. That all who wish to contribute to this nation’s growth, will do so with proceedings of civility. As it was once said by the founding fathers, “ambition counters ambition” and I just hope that violence is not the ambition’s resolve.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI agree with you 100% in terms of political views being a main factor in the way we are divided. Nicely written!
DeleteA new year brings upon varied stressors, but also a more obvious opportunity for growth. Each day is an opportunity, but it is not seen like that to some. On New Years Eve, my friend asked me what I wanted to leave behind in 2020. I answered, "insecurities" in a delighted tone, because I knew how much I had been struggling this year with my image. Writing this, I come to the conclusion that in order to accept my insecurities and flaws, I need to acknowledge them first. Being self-aware is an overwhelming task, but it can be done with each little step. Now, I know that being able to just be here is a serious blessing and that being born was against the odds. I believe that when Blanco writes, "Breathe. Hear it through the day's gorgeous din of honking cabs..."(35-36), he encapsulates how breathing allows us to be grateful for life and how we can hear our breath, even when the bustle of everyday life goes on around us. Similarly, this is exactly what our country should want to do in order to improve. We as a nation must recognize the atrocities that have taken place here and in the world around us. For example, we have to educate ourselves on the Uighur re-education camps in China, the Libyan slave trade, the continuation of the death penalty for innocent prisoners, femicide in many places including Brazil, the Flint water crisis, the need for gun control laws, etc. There is just an ongoing list of events that we need to petition, protest against, and become educated on. An issue that I mentioned above is included in Blanco's piece and he states: "...the impossible vocabulary of sorrow that won't explain the empty desks of twenty children marked absent today, and forever"(20-22). This event was the disturbing Sandy Hook shooting and school shootings absolutely haunt me. If you do not recognize any of the issues that I mentioned, I beg you to do your research on how you can make a difference.
ReplyDeleteI believe Brunswick to be a pretty tight-knitted community, but there is always room for improvement. We could absolutely do more for those in need. In my opinion, the people without homes in Brunswick are not seen very often, but we know that these souls exist and that they just need a little boost in order to get back into their groove. At my work, this man who is homeless comes into our bathrooms and is in their for awhile, and we assumed that he takes a 'shower' in there. We do not know how, but that is the most probable reason that the hand-dryer goes on for that long. We try to give him a sandwich and catch him before he makes his swift exit, but he always declines and just wants to leave. I think that he may be embarrassed, but we just want to give him food and I completely understand why he would be embarrassed and it breaks my heart. We could do more food drives and clothes drives for those in need, especially during the holidays and the colder seasons. Moving forward, as a school, we have especially grown in the aspect of being vulnerable with one another. But, we can still improve. I am the secretary of Bring Change 2 Mind and it is a club dedicated to the end of the stigma surrounding mental health. This is a huge step and having the videos that we watch during like first or second period about tips about how to balance life(you know those ones; I just can't think of them). Blanco describes how we mentally cope daily when he writes, "...some days guessing at the weather of our lives, some days giving thanks for a love that loves you back..."(56-58). Today was one of those days that I was very thankful for someone in my life who has been so good to me and has opened parts of myself that have been hidden for so, so long. Overall, our progress in each of these environments is portrayed daily, but as I have stated plenty times, there is always room for improvement.
I think this was written very nicely and can agree there is indeed always room for improvement.
DeleteJanuary 1st, another day but for some reason comes along with the idea that everything will change. A great concept but a strange one. A push to become a better person than you were the day before. This concept should instead be pushed for the idea of taking one day after another to be the best you possible. When reading One Today by Richard Blanco I came to a general understanding that you get so used to day by day life you forget the little things. We forget everything happening around us if it is not in our normal route. One example being "...gorgeous din of honking cabs.."(36). This is something we hear daily , may not be cabs and may not link it to anything positive showing we don't enjoy the way life works and the little attributions to making it the world we live in. With that being said this poem was written for former president Obama's inauguration , this shows that from one aspect we have made growth and from another we are in the same boat we have been in. The author makes a reference to Sandy Hook, "..20 kids marked absent today.." and goes on to explain the sadness behind the situation. Although we may have made these situations within schools safer there is no promise to something like Sandy Hook to never happen again. We all must recognize the change needed not only within our community but throughout the world. These events and/or problems within may not affect you personally or result in any issue for you but that does not mean you should ignore it.
ReplyDeleteRelating this poem to current events I would like to mention the Black Lives Matter Movement. You may ask, how this relates to this topic of change within our new year or the poem in any way? This topic being something our generation is known for being very passionate about and promoting change shows the dream we have to finally become equal. One line that stuck out to me was "..and every window, of one country-all of us- facing the stars..." this gave me a sense of togetherness and concept of being one. One prominent issue within is us as people being divided. This is the worst thing that could happen for all of us and it comes from a root problem of politics. We can each have our own views and opinions but one thing that we should come together and agree on is basic human rights and accepting one another. This is the biggest thing I want to see happen throughout my life and more specifically in the next couple years. This is a bold statement in which one could consider a stretch but with our generation changing the things they have changed and being as passionate as we are I believe it could happen. The only way for this to happen is for people to reach out when help is needed and be able to come together and agree we need what's best for one another.
Lastly , the obvious topic being spoken about around the world is the Capitol rioting. Regardless which side of the political scale you are on you should be able to agree this was wrong and had no real outcome. This had been a terrible moment and something that will go down in history but it was a bonding moment for both left and right to realize these people were not rioting in what they "believed for" but instead did it out of anger. This political side ( general statement ) is known for the Blue Lives Matter protests , being a movement to support the police. This riot at the Capitol had shown they were not standing for what they believed in and if they had respected the police like their movement is passionate about they would have had more respect for the building and the police handing the situation. ".. waiting for us to name it together.." again a line that represents a feeling of togetherness and a bonding throughout. Overall within this poem and throughout the world we can all agree America has never been perfect and probably won't ever be but there is change that needs to be made.
Thinking now that once again, another year has passed. I feel as though nothing has really changed, I will continue to do my work and I will continue to age as time goes on, slowly that's for sure. With the New year, brings the ideas of change and by change I mean swift and immediate change within our lives. Although, everyone also seems to forget that as the poem states we remain with "One sun...one ground...one sky...one home" (1-61). Nothing is truly changing in such rapid fashion but that doesn't change the new hopes, new dreams and new goals people set at the beginning of the year to be finished at the latest of 11:59:59pm on the 31st of December. People's hopes and goals shift and change with time, as does our commitment. So to keep a goal for a whole year for many is no easy task.
ReplyDeleteIn the poem, "One Day", there is the idea that everyone will still wake up in the morning, with the same house, the same face, the same sky up above and the ground beneath their feet. It is an ideal that everyone around the world holds themselves to except for when the New year comes around, they begin to dream of drastic changes around them within months of the new year, but are often left dissatisfied by their lack of achievement as they broke or disregarded their goal of the year. As a country, I believe that we need the goals of change within the people and within proper representation. As a community, I feel a goal best suited for us is that. But as a society, I feel we need to push ourselves to be more than what our comfort zone allows us to be, head out of the comfort zone and experience the uncomfortable side of life, especially within the pandemic with the issues of social distancing we should be social in other ways, such as video chat or socially distanced conversations in public open areas, which allow for spread to be a bit less. I do wonder what this year will hold, will it be for better or for worse? I do not know, only time can tell and I can hope for everything I want but I must also brace for the worst.
I totally see what you're saying when it comes to a lack of real change in people. Many will wildly state the things they will do when the new year comes and then when that time comes they fail to do so. I feel we should hold ourselves more accountable to our goals. With this I feel we could make much more progress towards the betterment of our city, state, country, or species.
DeleteAs a country, I feel like the country needs to focus on the future and how we can improve as a whole. It's also funny how similar we all are and yet people will act like we're different species and don't deserve to be treated equally and fairly. Looking at the poem, a line like the opening, "One sun rose on us today, kindled over our shores, peeking over the Smokies, greeting the faces
ReplyDeleteof the Great Lakes, spreading a simple truth
across the Great Plains, then charging across the Rockies"(1-4).Despite where we might be geographically in the world or country, we all live under the same sun and that's a similarity everyone in the world shares. As a country, we need to dream about a better society where everyone is treated equally. As a community, it's a much smaller scale but the dreams and hopes of the country are also the same with a few different perspectives.For example, the community might focus more on the needs of the people where as the country focuses on how people should behave in society.
In the poem, "One Today" the author uses many generalizations but it's very effective in conveying his message. In my cases, these generalizations apply to me. My parents don't have a college degree and their jobs don't pay the greatest. Yet, it gives me hope of which I believe schools have this goal as well. Schools try to prepare students for the real world, of which Individuals our age try and do the same thing. Schools and Individuals need to prepare for the real world and find their dreams. For me, I wouldn't have known what I wanted to do with my life but Brunswick helped me figure it out. So I believe that the hopes of schools are to help students figure out what they want to do with their lives.
I completely agree with your opening statements. It is very frustrating to see how even though we are all the same species we tend to try to find differences between us and demonize each other for those differences. Without these things happening the world would most likely be more advanced and together and to be honest that makes me bitter in some aspects.
DeleteI believe that the year that passed was a hard one on the world. Many have passed away, lost their jobs, and the country feels more divided in many ways more than ever. I feel that as we move into our new year I feel we need to know how to learn from the tragedies and mistakes we made last year. Teaching and learning from those things are the ways countries better themselves and drives progression in society.
ReplyDeleteIn "One Day" by Richard Blanco, Blanco discusses how as a country we are connected in many ways. When looking at that I think that we all have a common connection between us and therefore should have a similar goal. The line that showed me that is:One light, waking up rooftops, under each one, a story told by our silent gestures moving behind windows"(Blano 5). We see that no matter our differences we all wake up in the same country and therefore should work towards bettering it no matter your role.