Nobody.

"Ignorance is bliss,"

As the saying goes.

A statement as true as can be.

While we wander through life,

What we don't see,

Are the people called,

"Nobodies."

We don't know their names,

Nor are we aware of their stories.

The nobodies are no good.

Poor, hungry and ill.

You say you've never seen such a sight?

Look around.

To our left and to our right.

People leading different lives.

Have we tried to help?

Have we made an effort?

Not now, not ever.

But, why not?

Oh!

Well, what if we become a nobody?

Going unnoticed, day in and day out.

What would happen then?

The fear sets in,

Like a monster in the closet.

We can't go that low,

Can't become trash on the street.

Nobody will care for a nobody.

Nobody will notice the nobodies,

Like a fly on the wall,

Or a crack in the sidewalk.

Because as the saying goes,

"Ignorance is bliss."

Character Analysis: Living with a "Little-Man Complex"

   What would it be like to never measure up? The character Curley from the novella, Of Mice and Men, knows exactly how it feels. He is the arrogant figure of the story, suffering from the ever agitating, "little-man syndrome." Curley's American dream consists of the need for recognized masculinity and high social status. He is the perfect cliche of, "that one wannabe-kid."
  
   As a too short male, maintaining an exceedingly self-righteous mindset, things for Curley are not easy. He's the boss' son, therefore he believes he should be shown the utmost respect. Although it's a simple action, "like the boss, he wore high-heeled boots," as a status quo. Contrary to his narcissistic beliefs, he does not deserve this respect, nor does he receive it. "This guy, Curley, sounds like a son- of a- bitch to me," as the character George stated bluntly, reflecting the views of the surrounding workers. It's excruciatingly apparent that Curley's fellow laborers dislike him immensely. Through all the obvious disdain, Curley still believes he should be respected. In turn, he threatens larger men just to prove his social standing. He's completely aware of the fact that he'll never measure up, but it does not weaken his attempts to be the one on top.
  
   Aside from his desire for social respect, Curley craves recognition for his masculinity, too. One specific form of proving himself is his idea that controlling his wife will make him appear bigger and badder. He needs to be in control at all times, therefore he pushes his wife around. When he's not in complete control, he becomes enraged, "'You seen a girl around here?' He demanded angrily." For Curley, a lack of control equals a lack of strength. To be the man in charge is to be the toughest.
  
   Curley is simply insecure. Whether it be from a social standpoint, or a physical one, he'll never succeed in his ruthless attempts to be number one. He'll never achieve his American dream.

What Ever Happened to Simplicity?

By Taylor Hellums

  In the heart of a sleepy town called Mt. Pleasant, lies a school. Down a small paved road, and into a gravel parking lot, there is a worn side walk. At the end of the walkway sits a modest, weathered, rock building. All around the building stand a variety of trees, strong and old as can be. The towering cedars and prickley pines cast a calm shadow over the schoolhouse, a relief from the sweltering heat of early August. A small ways ahead, set back a few steps from a tall, narrow arch, is a set of glass doors. The beaten building isn't a spectacular sight to behold, but rather an understated structure with many memories to it's name.

"Strike for God's Sake." Yeah, Not a Great Idea.

  If a person, any person, came to you today and said, "harm these people, it'll get you into heaven," would you? Hopefully, your answer would be an obvious, "NO!" That wasn't the case for Usama bin Laden's many followers. Usama utilized false statements and unachievable promises in order to make his followers do as he pleased,"Smile in the face of hardship young man, for you are heading toward eternal paradise." He told of heaven, a paradise that they would not enter unless they did as he told. Bin Laden fabricated a beautiful paradise, claiming that his followers wouldn't get in unless they did as he said, "they will come back [from battle] with God's blessings." It was his intention to brain-wash his followers into believing that killing thousands, upon thousands, of people would save them a spot in Heaven. "Remember: 'How many small groups beat big groups by the will of God," bin Laden led them to the understanding that God wanted you to harm people, mass amounts, obviously, in order to gaurantee your place in paradise. As a Christian, myself, I'd say he is far from the truth. The people he led to believe such terrible lies, will recieve their punishment, one way or another, all thanks to Usama bin Laden.

I Am..

I am edgy and sarcastic.

I wonder if he'll ever make up for the last fifteen years.

I hear their words of disapproval, although they are not spoken.

I see love in my baby brother's innocent eyes.

I want to mend every broken-hearted person.

I am edgy and sarcastic.

I pretend to sing for millions.

I feel God's soft reassurance.

I touch the hands of the fans along my stage.

I worry I will become my father's daughter.

I cry behind closed doors.
I am edgy and sarcastic.

I understand that happiness is a life without regrets.

I say be who you are, not who they want you to be.
I dream of being somebody who made a difference.
I try to stay true to myself.
I hope to make some one smile each day.
I am edgy and sarcastic.

I Love That Accent of Your's, Huckleberry Finn! Hah, JK LOL.

   *Excuse the odd page numbers; I have The Unabridged Mark Twain, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn doesn’t start until page 748.

   Pardon me, could you repeat that? "Say- who is you? Whar is you? Dog my cats ef I didn' hear sumf'n. Well, I knows what I's gwyne to do. I's gwyne to set down here and listen tell I hears it agin." I was merely three pages into the classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, and I was completely lost. Huck Finn, being the- mostly- uneducated country boy that he was, along with his pal Tom Sawyer, and slave friend, Jim, understanding speech between the characters of this book was quite difficult.

   Nowadays, a popular form of communication is text messaging. Simple acronyms such as, “JK,” (just kidding), “LOL,” (laugh out loud), and “WRYD?” (what are you doing?), are commonly used when communicating via electronics. So, why is it so easy for me to read crazy acronyms, but have to re-read a sentence from this book three times before I understand it? It’s all about the time period. In today’s society you see things like said acronyms on a near daily basis. When do you ever SEE speech such as Huck Finn’s? (Living in the Arkansas, just as Huck lived in Missouri, you HEAR a lot of it, but that’s a whole other ball game.)

   Relating to Huck is not an easy process. He’s primarily uneducated, he doesn’t have the luxuries of a good family, or a comfortable home, and he’s a bit mischievous, but all-in-all, his speech is the hardest for me to relate to. You see, I’m the type of person that sincerely detests grammatical errors, although I do tend to make them myself. Reading this book, I just wanted to take it and re-write it myself. Now don’t get me wrong, I think the story itself is excellent, and I understand that Mark Twain used this form of speech to reflect Huck’s southern draw and lack of schooling, but it drove me insane. Yes, Mister Twain did an amazing job of utilizing southern slang, but as a reader, I enjoy making up the character’s voice in my head, without stumbling over the words, or misunderstanding a simple statement. “Jim said he believed it was spirits; but I says: “No, spirits wouldn’t say, ‘dern the dern fog.’” (Page 831.) In my opinion, I could’ve understood just as easily that the previous statement was supposed to be said with an accent if it had been worded as “Jim said he believed it was spirits; but I said: “No, spirits wouldn’t say, ‘darn the darn fog.’” It’s easier to read, but based on the person saying it, you still understand that it should be said in a southern way.

   The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was indeed an excellent story. I guess I just can’t seem to appreciate the intricate ways of Mark Twain’s mind.

Seems it's Easier to Find a Hollister Store Than it is to Find Yourself

   Misguided Ghosts- Paramore

   When people think of the word “teenager” all sorts of clichés come to mind, such as, “These are the best years of your life,” and, “Enjoy your youth while it lasts!” Well, in my personal opinion, being a teenager is nowhere near all it’s cracked up to be. The song “Misguided Ghosts” by Paramore represents the ever haunting feeling of trying to figure out who you are.

  
   You see, when you’re little, you dream of being a teenager. “Oh, the big kids get to do everything!” You just can’t wait to be like them, but once you’re there… you just want it to be over with. Yes, as a teenager you don’t have to worry about bills, and kids, and what not, but you still have worries- they may not be as significant as adult worries- but they’re still present. Popularity can often be the biggest worry amongst adolescence.

   An “average” teenager strives to fit in. They can buy the right clothes, have the right hair, say the right things, and yet they still aren’t part of the “in-crowd.”  Why not? They ask themselves this question constantly. Why am I not good enough? Childish things such as popularity can seriously distort a child’s view of his/herself. I believe Paramore states it perfectly when they say “I’m trying to find my place, but it might not be here where I feel safe.” This statement reflects the feeling of trying to find who you are as a person, yet wanting to be a part of the “cool kids.” Trying to be a part of such things can alter your path in finding yourself, it can veer off in a direction that you may not necessarily need to go.

   I was one of those kids who yearned for acceptance. I tried my best to buy the right brand-names and do the right things, but it was never what I really wanted. So, my eighth grade year I decided I was going to be myself finally. I dropped the Hollister act and headed over to Hot Topic. I was done trying to be somebody I’m not. In the process, I lost many people who I considered my friends, but I also came to know who really liked me for myself. It’s not an easy process, becoming who you truly are, after being someone you’re not for so long. That’s why I believe many teenagers never get the chance to truly be themselves due to the fact that they just want to fit in.
 

   “The ones we trusted the most, pushed us far away.” Paramore understands that being a teenager and trying to find who you are is not easy. “This is life; pain is just a simple compromise, so we can get what we want out of it.” When you finally find yourself, you can either “…compromise…”, or finally, “...get what you want out of it.”

A Heartache Across the World

The inspiration for this thINK assignment was a letter written in 1952, by a woman, named Louise Duquette, to her husband, Norman Duquette, who was overseas at the time. Louise's Letter



  Do you know what it's like to have a loved one in the military who's been sent to war? There's nothing like the feeling of wondering whether or not you'll ever speak to that person again. In the letter that Louise Duquette sent to her husband in 1952, Louise displayed affection and bittersweet feelings. It was evident that she, along with their two small children, missed their husband and father greatly; "...it is high time you are coming home because Jan is beginning to call every man she sees in a magazine 'Daddy'."
 
  Reading her letter reminded me of the multiple times I had to say goodbye to my father, a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force, who went on to become a U.S. Army Sniper. When you're young, it's not always easy to understand why Daddy isn't home with you, or why you only see him two, three times a year. How do you explain that to a child? I can completely relate with the little girl that was mentioned in the letter; when you're little and Daddy isn't near, you start to forget who he even is. I can't possibly imagine how Lieutenant Duquette felt when he read that his little girl was calling different men- that she didn't know- "daddy."

  Although serving in the military is a wonderful thing to do for your country, being left behind for months, and months, at a time is never easy. Thankfully, this story has a good ending.  Lieutenant Duquette was reunited with his family after spending a horrible 587 days as a North Korean prisoner of war. In the year 1998 he returned to Korea, to visit his son John, a Lieutenant Colonel in the army who was stationed in Seoul. Being a child left while a parent is at war isn't easy, but there can still be a happy ending, after all.

Annotated Photo

Picnik collage, a photo by TaylorA.H. on Flickr.

First picture, (drawing of child),- as a reader:
Would rather draw than read books.

Second picture, (photo of myself), -as myself:
Live for music, myself, and God.

Third picture, (fan that I found on my farm), -as a writer:
Random as possible; strives for uniqueness.