The Laramie Project was a tragic murder, but after watching the videos, they only solidify my belief that it was not a hate crime. But what the video made clear was how people tend to fixate on one possibility with the exclusion of all others. Which in this case is the debate of whether or not it is a hate crime. Now I want to make it clear that I mean no disrespect to the Shepard's. But why they would kill Matthew because he was gay makes no sense, and its understandable to find any way to convict your sons murderer at any cost. But there is no indication that it was a hate crime, and the testimony's were ignored because people again were fixated on one thing, the idea that is was a hate crime. I just don't see it, Maybe if there was more evidence to prove it was in fact a hate crime I would agree. But with the case being clouded in mystery, I'm hard pressed to believe that accusation.

Beyond the Vertical
Layton the man who wrote this memoir could be described as a true adventurer, often climbing without the right gear on cliffs that no one had ever climbed before. And for many years simply followed his passion of climbing, but after some time, he needed to find himself and left rock climbing for many years. After listening to the presentation i found that this rock climbing was his escape from reality and when he wrote the book he realized that had to be faced and he needed to find himself. And no as a 70 year old man he returned to rock climbing and will continue to climb until he physically cannot anymore.

No Limits
This memoir written by non other then Micheal Phelps. He's practically a fish, his body having the perfect disproportions which allow him to...well effectively be a fish. Leading to his many gold medals for the Olympics. But growing up it wasn't so easy, he was continually told by his teachers that he couldn't achieve anything in life. That he would be a failure. But with his mother on his side, he was determined to prove them wrong, and be the best he could be which just so happens to be world class Olympian status.

The Pact
Is a Memoir of three kids; Hunt, Davis, and Jenkins. These three grew up in Newark, New Jersey, where daily life would be echoed by gunshots and gang violence. They have always been best friends however when they were younger they made this pact to do something with their lives and make a difference in their communities. Running into gangs and having ordeals with authorities mean't it would be a tough time for them to make their aspiration. But they stuck together and stayed strong and all three became doctors and have even started foundations to help support inner city kids in New Jersey.

Mighty Be Our Powers
This story is about the in Liberia. The factions of the war being the American Liberians vs the Native Liberians. But what makes this memoir different from the other stories about war is perspective, this memoir takes the perspective of a woman experiencing the war around her. The author Leymah Gbowee tells her story as she tries to reunite the events that unfolded around her.

    The Laramie Project acts one and two are for me the descriptors of the play. Setting the ground work so to speak, the first act really showed peoples diversion of the murder of Matthew Shepard. By focusing on the are as opposed to the brutal crime itself, seeming as though Matthew was being put aft of the town of Laramie. As if the pristine beauty of the area was made more important then his death.
    The Second Act of the play went more in depth about Matthew and his assailants, giving more context to the background to them. Along with the reveal of Matthew sexuality, there was speculation as to whether the crime was a hate crime and discrimination of homosexuals or if it was a robbery gone bad. As the story develops, people begin to be blind to other possibilities of the crime. Originally you could see the depth at which people would go to avoid the murder, but know the town is fixated on the idea that it might be a hate crime. This brings a second concern for me which is people being blind to other possibilities that might in fact be correct, and possibly altering the truths that might be told.

      A Stolen Life is a memoir of a young woman who was kidnapped for eighteen years. This woman named Jaycee was kidnapped as a little girl. Jaycee's kidnappers took her using a stun gun, incapacitating her before she was able to run or scream. The last remnant of her freedom for the next 18 years was the pine cone she felt the day she was taken. After 18 years of rape and terrible living conditions, until officers had finally found her. Now she is left to struggle with never having a childhood and having to take care of two children she didn't intend on having.

     Inside the Helmet a memoir of Micheal Straham the ex-football no having gone commentator. The memoir is about his NFL career although this was written before his last year in the NFL. Talking of his anger and conflicts with coach Caughlin, which at first was pure hatred. But later goes on to talk about the friendship that they have and how they remain every good friends. Including all of his injuries, one of the biggest focal points was the skepticism of whether or not Micheal would play in another season of the NFL to win a Superbowl. Which he did by the way for his last season of the NFL.

Journal Entry 5

Sept. 24. 2013.

            Well there are many lessons to learn in life but those lessons have yet to be found. Each of us has to learn the lessons we require to go through life. But in that same way we all need have to learn from our journey in life, as we are all different we can’t expect others to learn the lessons each of us has to discover.

            So with that unfortunately I cannot tell you lessons I have learned because truth be told I don’t believe I have learned them yet. And rather than giving you lies about how I might have learned a lesson. So I strongly believe that I can’t tell you any lesson without absolute certainty that I have in fact learned. So with that I’ll see if I caught any in the film:

1.      Never take anything for granted, the kids learned to make the best of any situation and make the most of a bad situation.

2.      Do good deeds, they are what define you as a person. Someone who is willing to go beyond their misfortunes to help someone less fortunate then themselves.

3.      Make friend those people you help can help you in return and be by your side through the thick and thin. Moving forward with you through the journey of life, and who knows you might learn something from them along the way.

4.      Believe in something. Belief and hope are what drives us to do great and allow us the ability to do the extraordinary.

5.      Keep your individuality and don’t be afraid of what you can accomplish when you show who you truly are. There should be no reason for you to withdraw yourself when we are all meant to be great.

The War. It is a deep depiction of what soldiers can experience after a war. It resembles the challenges they face and what they want to leave behind. Things that define and make them who they are. There is only so much our soldiers can take however. Some come home with disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or P.T.S.D. The War however, through the eyes of Lidia Simmons and her brother Stu, shows what it’s really like. What people will go through and experience with someone affected by P.T.S.D. In the case of the Simmons family, they have been experiencing this challenge for some time. Lois along her children Lidia and Stu have been coping with Stephens P.T.S.D. Being the wife of Lois and father of the two children, they are beginning to learn what has been bothering him over the years. As told through the eyes of Lidia, there is much to tell of this family.

            Lidia is a 12 year old girl is caught in the good and bad things of life. At a time where being different isn’t what anyone wants or needs. Living in the Deep South is also why the times are so troubling, with racism at a high she stands out among her peers. With her best friends Amber and Elvadine, they go through the thick and thin together. Doing everything from smoke to standing up for each other. That will become more important later as she taught by her father, Stephen, what it means to be a good person. The day their father came home from the hospital was the day Lidia and Stu saw what had happened to their father. It became apparent to them that their father had come back changed from the war, although he didn’t talk about it so much it was obvious he was hurt by it. Lidia didn’t know why he was acting so different but she wasn’t so curious to know as her brother. Stu was thirteen just a year older then Lidia but the example for her, listening to every word Stephen said and taking it to heart. But as he found out from his father Stu learned of how his father left his best friend in Vietnam. How Stephen had been everywhere with him. But the day they were attacked in Vietnam, both of them sustained injuries. Stephen carried his friend Dodge to the extraction zone but with the helicopter almost full to capacity, he was faced with a choice. To leave Dodge behind or save himself. By leaving Dodge to die alone in Vietnam, he was never able to forgive himself for leaving his best friend behind.

            Once learned Lidia and Stu began understanding the lesson he was trying to teach them. Some more difficult than others, they attempt to understand his intensions as to why he is being so kind and tolerant with everyone. But as their father becomes better and more determined to find a good job, they soon learn of why and what Stephen was teaching them. One the verge of Breaking down Stephen told his wife Lois of why he needed to teach Lidia and Stu right. Why it was so important for him to make the commitment to his family and to himself that anything is possible. He wanted to make a difference in the world and believed he could do that by joining the Marine Corp, but by screwing up all his life all he wanted to do was to make sure Lidia and Stu grew up well. By being good people they would be the good deed Stephen has wanted in life, they are the difference in the world he wanted to make.

            In the end, to convey the message to Lidia and Stu he had to be killed for them to understand his true intentions. Why he wanted what he wanted. To show them that as long as you believe in something then anything is possible and no matter how badly you want to give up, never quit. And always remember there are people less fortunate then yourself so always be thankful for what you have and the ability to do good. 

Journal 4

Sept. 19. 2013.

                        Well what the G.I.s had to experience during the Vietnam War was very rough, not only physically but mentally as well. The number of people coming back with symptoms of PTSD was larger and larger. That number still grows today. But as in the Vietnam War our soldiers had other things to contend with as they went home. These being the people they came back to. America now having seen the first televised war were able to see the violence of war and all the death.

           People began to disrespect and hate their involvement in the war although many people who were in the where drafted. People getting forced to join a war effort they didn't believe in. These people slandered our G.I.s and labeled them baby killers and murderers for being part of a war they didn't want to join. The disrespect and hatred they received was completely wrong and Ill directed. How could someone sit there and harp on a person who was thrown into a war that they didn't want to join.

La Journal 2

September. 10. 2013.

           

            I can't bring to mind what bets memory I have had that has really impacted my life. All the life experience I have had are small are nothing major but a series of smaller events that make up the basis of my character. So there is not a perticular event or memory in my eyes. As for a description...well I find it hard to see, feel, hear, taste, and smell a memory that has no physical presence.

            Being a tad bit unfair on my part I will give you the slightest bit of insight as to why I elected to choose not to tell you about myself. And as far as that goes I will say that there is no need to. I most likely wont be coming back to visit or see anyone here and from experiences of mine I know not to trust people so easily and I don't. Keeping people a fair bit distant from you is a good way to avoid future events. But don't take it as I have not been open to people before but I know where that can lead you and I prefer not to go down that road again. So I will let you make your best geuss as to the reason I decide to recluse my feeling from others and avoid telling people about myself. Who knows maybe even my high level of modesty or my rejection of compliments, etc...

As the title of this Blog might suggest, I have an interest in our Armed forces. In particular I'm interested in the Marine Corp. Now the reason for this just seemed to appear when I was a kid always watching the military channel and all the documentaries about the military. And as I watched over the years I kept hearing the rank of  captain, over and over. Now as I've gotten older I've been able to actually join the delayed entry program for the Marine Corp Reserves and have my contract signed as well. With my ship date being June 9, 2014, I will join the point one percent of Americans who can call themselves Marines. As a Marine I will be joining the best of the best in my journey to be a captain in the corp. To do this I just have to follow one motto, "Simper Fidelis" or "Always  Faithful".